Photographer Combines Street and Business Smarts

Photographer Scott Hugh Mitchell  carried a camera with him on his urban street walks ever since he was 14 – and he hasn’t stopped shooting still or video images ever since. We were drawn to this Adorama Camera video interview of the photographer, the youngest Hasselblad Photographer of the Month ever, because he’s insanely articulate about his education, training, and career path. You’ll be inspired by his dedication, drive, and vision.



Mitchell, now based in New York, attended school in San Diego and did much of his early shooting on the streets of Los Angeles. He’s drawn to street images and street art, as his “Graffiti Project” video (below) clearly demonstrates.

  

NYIP Student Successes

Many NYIP members have won prestigious awards in contests and photo fairs or have had their work exhibited in galleries. Other NYIP members are building careers shooting weddings, press events, corporate and commercial assignments, or have received professional recognition and publication of their photos. Here are some recent NYIP success stories:

 

Joseph Salonis, Arizona

  

Joseph has had great success getting his work published. His images have appeared on Lance Armstrong's Web site LiveStrong, eHow.com, Trails.com, the San Jose Examiner and the USA Today Travel section, to name just a few. Joseph has only been a student in our Complete Course in Professional Photography for about a year, but he says "None of these things would have

been possible without the support and knowledge I received from NYIP." Congratulations! 

 

Lila Stromer, Illinois

Since graduating from NYIP a year ago, Lila has started her own freelance photography business specializing in headshot, pet, and production photography. Lila was hired to take some photos for a local theater company producing a play by an emerging playwright who was about to be highlighted in American Theatre magazine. One of her photos was published with the story in the November 2010 issue. She also won a prize in the Tree House Humane Society photo contest. You can see her work on her Web Site — LilaStromerphotos.com.

 

Monica Starks, Michigan

 

Images Monica took at a Detroit rally on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination were published on the We Are One organization Web site. Monica's pictures were also part of an exhibit — Beautiful Detroit! Online Photo Gallery. You can see more of Monica's work on her own Web site.

  

Gary Bengsch, Georgia

 

Congratulations to Gary who won a First Place prize in a monthly online photo contest.  Gary also sells his fine art prints of his photos on his Web site.

Sal Cioppa, Ohio

Sal has been so busy operating his wedding photography business that he's had to ask for extra time to complete his NYIP Course. He says, "NYIP has really helped me sharpen my skills and, although I'm still learning and feeling my way, I'm getting better and better." In addition to his Web site — Columbus Wedding Photographers  — Sal has also created a video presentation of his wedding photos on Youtube for prospective clients.

Do you have an NYIP Success Story to tell? Email us at editors@nyip.com and let us know! 

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Photo Challenge Winner: Eric Roseberry - Army Pride

Congratulations to NYI Student Eric Roseberry for his winning photo seen below. We asked Eric to tell us a little about how he created this image.  Here's what he had to say:

"This is my son Private Johnathan Roseberry the evening prior to his graduation from basic military training. I wanted to convey a sense of pride in my son, and my belief that his choice to serve is heroic. The classic superman pose and low angle is intended to enhance that feel. The Infantry museum at Fort Benning offers a patriotic setting with a fine display of the flags of the 50 states. I used the flags to direct and hold attention on my son and used a narrow depth of field to limit their potential as a distraction.

Select a subject, draw attention to the subject with size and location in the frame. Eliminate unnecessary elements that draw attention away from that subject.

Camera Settings: 1/640 F4 ISO 200 80 - 200 MM @ 80 mm"

We thank Johnathan, and all members of the military for their service. We will be sending Eric a number of terrific photography books from the NYIP library for his prize.

Thanks to all who participated!

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When Photography Was Powered by Candlelight

In the days before cameras and sophisticated photographic technology, we relied on different processes to capture the human image. I was really drawn to this video from Mark Osterman, a photo process historian (yes, there are such people!) at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester, NY.  

Mark Osterman: f295 Symposium on 21^st Century Photography

First, if you haven’t been to this world-class institution—the world’s oldest photography museum, housed in a glorious Colonial Revival mansion—you’re missing out; this is a must-see destination for any photographer. You’ll see some amazing early photographic equipment and unforgettable images from all over the world.

Osterman actually built his own physionotrace, which he used in the video. A 1783 French invention, with modifications made continually throughout the early 1800s, the device allows an operator to use candlelight to trace a person’s physiognomy, specifically the profile. The result is a silhouette (here’s mine), which got its name from French finance minister Etienne de Silhouette; he enforced severe wartime economic policies in 1759, and his name started to become associated with anything cheap—and cutting a profile from black card was the least expensive way to record what a person looked like.  



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Photo Tips for the 2011 Airshow Season

Each summer, at air shows across the globe, awestruck spectators enjoy the power and precision of aerial demonstration teams and individual performers. In addition to what is happening in the air, there are often static displays on the ground. For photographers, these events provide outstanding photographic opportunities. After you shoot your first air show, you will likely return each year as I do. The tips below are based on my experiences at air shows around the New York area. To find a show near your hometown, check on the web at www.airshowbuzz.com

When I photographed my first air show many years ago, I used a 28-135mm lens. Yet, unless the plane was flying directly above me, I found that much more reach was necessary. Today, I use a 70-200mm for action that’s directly overhead, and a 400mm for tighter shooting. My camera does not have a full frame sensor, so a 400mm with a 1.6 crop factor is actually an effective 640mm lens. Just remember, air shows are usually several hours in duration, and longer lenses can get quite heavy. Image stabilization is a nice feature, but a tripod will give your arms a break and allow you to create sharp images consistently. While the majority of my aviation work is shot with longer lenses, I find that wide angle lenses are also useful for performance teams that are spread out in wide formations. By utilizing a few different options, you can capture more of the action, and will come home with a diverse collection of images.

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