PORTRAITURE
So Poetik Soul has decided on their album photos, which is a great thing. Therefore I can now show amazing photos from the shoot which were not selected for the debut album, "The Unlikely". Woo-Hoo!
The photo below was taken on a iron beam which was about three feet off the ground. The width was about one and half feet so Sarah and Tennia did not have much room to maneuver. That "extra" excitement made this particular setup really funny to me.
I love the angle and the depth in this shot. And of course Sarah and Tennia look amazing.
Urban Fine Art
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Photography Class #2 of 4 - The Camera
TEACHING
So Class #2 was chock full of information. I could not help but have to make this mostly a lecture class.
Fortunately I started the class off with a sneak peek into a photo shoot I had done over the weekend with the female group Poetik Soul. I went through each of the proofs I selected and explained what was going on during the shoot and conceptually why I took the shots I did. The students seemed to really enjoy the behind the scenes action.
Then we got into information overload time. Half of my class use a Point and Shoot camera and the other half use a DSLR (interchangeable lenses) so this made it interesting. The topics of White Balance and Histograms had some people pulling out their manuals (which is a great thing to read). That's when I knew the class would take some time...lol.
We also went over ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture. Needless to say class was extended by about forty minutes. I OD'd by putting too much information in one class. Next time I will save the Shutter Speed and Aperture for a subsequent class.
With the Thanksgiving break landing on a Thursday I knew my students would have two weeks to practice the new things they had learned so I tried to stuff them like a turkey. Next week at the beginning of Class #3 we will do a little review and some in class exercises. It should be a fun one.
I do love teaching. It is truly a great feeling to help people in their learning curve.
Two classes completed. Two more to go.
So Class #2 was chock full of information. I could not help but have to make this mostly a lecture class.
Fortunately I started the class off with a sneak peek into a photo shoot I had done over the weekend with the female group Poetik Soul. I went through each of the proofs I selected and explained what was going on during the shoot and conceptually why I took the shots I did. The students seemed to really enjoy the behind the scenes action.
Then we got into information overload time. Half of my class use a Point and Shoot camera and the other half use a DSLR (interchangeable lenses) so this made it interesting. The topics of White Balance and Histograms had some people pulling out their manuals (which is a great thing to read). That's when I knew the class would take some time...lol.
We also went over ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture. Needless to say class was extended by about forty minutes. I OD'd by putting too much information in one class. Next time I will save the Shutter Speed and Aperture for a subsequent class.
With the Thanksgiving break landing on a Thursday I knew my students would have two weeks to practice the new things they had learned so I tried to stuff them like a turkey. Next week at the beginning of Class #3 we will do a little review and some in class exercises. It should be a fun one.
I do love teaching. It is truly a great feeling to help people in their learning curve.
Two classes completed. Two more to go.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Urban Fine Art Fave - "Sarah (of Poetik Soul)"
PORTRAITURE
The photo shoot with Poetik Soul produced amazing photos. I would share more of them with you but I want Poetik Soul to enjoy some exclusivity in sharing their photos with their debut album set to release in January 2011.
That being said I decided to take a beautiful studio portrait of Sarah and put an urban fine art flavoring to it. The original photo had a white seamless background before I started playing with it in my digital darkroom. I rather enjoy this rosy silver-esque coloring.
Urban Fine Art
The photo shoot with Poetik Soul produced amazing photos. I would share more of them with you but I want Poetik Soul to enjoy some exclusivity in sharing their photos with their debut album set to release in January 2011.
That being said I decided to take a beautiful studio portrait of Sarah and put an urban fine art flavoring to it. The original photo had a white seamless background before I started playing with it in my digital darkroom. I rather enjoy this rosy silver-esque coloring.
Urban Fine Art
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Not That Big A Deal
REFLECTION
With all the hustle and bustle of running businesses and doing ministry, sometimes I don't stop. I just keep going. The TED video below caused me to stop. I strongly urge you to watch it and consider Scott Stratten's words.
With all the hustle and bustle of running businesses and doing ministry, sometimes I don't stop. I just keep going. The TED video below caused me to stop. I strongly urge you to watch it and consider Scott Stratten's words.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Chase Jarvis on Social Art: Photoplus Expo Keynote Address
INSPIRATION
I was in the room when this Keynote Address took place in NYC last month. Chase Jarvis and the panel were very inspiring.
For all you photographers and artists, please enjoy.
I was in the room when this Keynote Address took place in NYC last month. Chase Jarvis and the panel were very inspiring.
For all you photographers and artists, please enjoy.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Photography Class #1 of 4 - The Vision
TEACHING
So last week was my first time teaching a photography class. This was done in conjunction with Hip Hope Academy and Elements Church in Bronx, NY. We had 10 students which made for a very intimate setting.
Philisophically I believe the most important thing in photography is the person taking the photo, not the camera. To me the camera is merely an extension of the eye and vision of the person. With this premise I set out my first class to explore the heart and mind of my students.
I did not want the first class to be a lecture so I included exercises to force the students to learn about themselves. It proved to be very fruitful as many were uncomfortable with the exercises. Just like lifting weights, there is no growth unless there is tension. So I added some tension for reflection, vision stretching, and personal assessments.
I was excited to share with them what I had learned over the past two and a half years of doing photography. Over and over I encouraged them with the reality of how doable photography really is. My testimony is a good example of that.
The task before me is how much of those two and a half years of learning I can squeeze in a six hour introductory workshop (four classes of ninety minutes). This should be very interesting.
In Class #2 tonight we will be going into the Camera.
So last week was my first time teaching a photography class. This was done in conjunction with Hip Hope Academy and Elements Church in Bronx, NY. We had 10 students which made for a very intimate setting.
Philisophically I believe the most important thing in photography is the person taking the photo, not the camera. To me the camera is merely an extension of the eye and vision of the person. With this premise I set out my first class to explore the heart and mind of my students.
I did not want the first class to be a lecture so I included exercises to force the students to learn about themselves. It proved to be very fruitful as many were uncomfortable with the exercises. Just like lifting weights, there is no growth unless there is tension. So I added some tension for reflection, vision stretching, and personal assessments.
I was excited to share with them what I had learned over the past two and a half years of doing photography. Over and over I encouraged them with the reality of how doable photography really is. My testimony is a good example of that.
The task before me is how much of those two and a half years of learning I can squeeze in a six hour introductory workshop (four classes of ninety minutes). This should be very interesting.
In Class #2 tonight we will be going into the Camera.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Urban Fine Art - "Poetik Soul"
PORTRAITURE
This weekend I was very excited to work with Poetik Soul. Tennia and Sarah are beautiful people in soul, spirit and body. It was a great pleasure to collaborate with them on this album cover photo shoot for their debut album.
Earlier this summer I had the pleasure to photograph Tennia's wedding. It is also convenient I have been cool with both of these women for some time now. This chemistry made the photo shoot fun and smooth in my Bronx studio as well as in the Bronx exteriors where we shot.
I would love to show you numerous photos from the shoot but in the meantime I will give you a small appetizer sneak peek of Poetik Soul. :)
Big shout-out to Andrea Karen (Makeup Artist) for doing her thang.
Urban Fine Art
This weekend I was very excited to work with Poetik Soul. Tennia and Sarah are beautiful people in soul, spirit and body. It was a great pleasure to collaborate with them on this album cover photo shoot for their debut album.
Earlier this summer I had the pleasure to photograph Tennia's wedding. It is also convenient I have been cool with both of these women for some time now. This chemistry made the photo shoot fun and smooth in my Bronx studio as well as in the Bronx exteriors where we shot.
I would love to show you numerous photos from the shoot but in the meantime I will give you a small appetizer sneak peek of Poetik Soul. :)
Big shout-out to Andrea Karen (Makeup Artist) for doing her thang.
Urban Fine Art
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tashera Simmons - Women of Strength Foundation
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
I had the great pleasure to photograph the Red Carpet Fundraiser for Tashera Simmon's Women of Strength Foundation. Many people came out to support and had a fun and refreshing time at Taj in midtown Manhattan.
Here is a slideshow I put together of the night's events.
Enjoy!
I had the great pleasure to photograph the Red Carpet Fundraiser for Tashera Simmon's Women of Strength Foundation. Many people came out to support and had a fun and refreshing time at Taj in midtown Manhattan.
Here is a slideshow I put together of the night's events.
Enjoy!
Tashera Simmons - Women of Strength Foundation from Joseph D. Martinez on Vimeo.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Women of Strength Portrait - Tashera Simmons
PORTRAITURE
About two months ago I got the call from 238 Beats regarding photographing Tashera Simmons for her Women of Strength Foundation Red Carpet Fundraiser. In light of all the images of Tashera on the internet with DMX, I wanted to find out who the real Tashera was.
Our phone conversation went very well. In that fifteen to twenty minute time span we were able to connect, joke around, and collaborate on the style, clothing and goal of the photo shoot.
By the time I arrived at her home and officially met her for the first time, we were already connected. This made the photo shoot so much easier.
The photo below truly portrays Tashera as a strong overcomer, who loves life and loves to have fun.
Portrait
About two months ago I got the call from 238 Beats regarding photographing Tashera Simmons for her Women of Strength Foundation Red Carpet Fundraiser. In light of all the images of Tashera on the internet with DMX, I wanted to find out who the real Tashera was.
Our phone conversation went very well. In that fifteen to twenty minute time span we were able to connect, joke around, and collaborate on the style, clothing and goal of the photo shoot.
By the time I arrived at her home and officially met her for the first time, we were already connected. This made the photo shoot so much easier.
The photo below truly portrays Tashera as a strong overcomer, who loves life and loves to have fun.
Portrait
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