CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-06-18 16:46:00 (7 comments, 5 reshares, 85 +1s)

Photo essay of reenactments of historical events

Check out these photos of people around the world reenacting military and religious events. 

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/06/reenacting-the-past/100535/

Photo credit: Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko
#HolyKaw 

2013-06-18 16:45:35 (4 comments, 5 reshares, 49 +1s)

Camera Geek Alert – Sony RX1 Hands-On Review
http://bit.ly/19g05TW

Small cameras with big sensors are clearly an important part of the future. From the shockingly affordable cinema cameras from Blackmagic Designs to my beloved Olympus E-M5, it’s clear to see that camera manufacturers are responding to a demand for compact camera systems. Sony is up there toward the front of the “big sensor/small camera” charge and seem to be pushing the technology forward, with last years Cybershot RX100, and now this years Cybershot RX1, which packs a full-frame 35mm sensor into a camera body that could almost fit in your pocket.  

All that goodness comes at a price though. When the camera was first announced, my studio geeked out a little since we often get advanced or first run versions. Such was the case with the RX-1. Being camera nerdy we dug into the thing as soon as it arrived viapals at ... more »

2013-06-17 16:59:17 (4 comments, 6 reshares, 122 +1s)

"Measure twice cut once." 
Same goes for finding the best angle on a shot like this. Pro Mountain Biker/Badass Jill Kintner demonstrates her mastery of geometry in this shot for a Stevens Pass  ad: http://bit.ly/XJO1qe

2013-06-14 16:34:52 (10 comments, 16 reshares, 202 +1s)

Dispelling a Photography Myth [5 Travel-Free Ways to Find the Photo-Worthy]

http://bit.ly/13GKP0j

Not long ago I stumbled upon the work of GMB Akash, a photographer from Bangladesh who has accrued a respectable trophy case of international awards for his work. He’s won a handful of “firsts” for his people — first Bangladeshi to win the Young Reporters Award from the Scope Photo Festival in Paris and get selected for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass in the Netherlands, for example. Click through the image tabs above to see some of his finer work.

What struck me about Akash’s work (in addition to their quality) was that so much of it was shot in his own backyard.

It’s easy for photographers to buy into the fallacy that more exotic = better photos. Hell, I’m guilty of it at times. Roll back the calendar a couple weeks in this very blog andyou’ll find m... more »

2013-06-13 16:26:33 (9 comments, 5 reshares, 131 +1s)

10 Essentials to Go the Extra Mile (for Your Clients + Crew)

http://bit.ly/10fxj5o

One of the ways you can set yourself apart as a creative professional is to really go the extra mile for both your client(s) and your crew. This applies to YOU, whether you’re a photographer or director producing your own jobs with a small crew, or a producer wrangling a hefty crew with a lot of moving parts. Here are some things to think about before your next shoot:

1. Flights: We do a lot of traveling around here, and we all know that flying can be a pain in the you-know-what. Lines, waiting, more lines, more waiting. Knowing whether people prefer a window or aisle, bulkhead or exit row, goes a long way to make the experience that much better. Be sure to include frequent flier numbers, when applicable. Also, how is everyone getting to the airport? Can you arrange for a car service toc... more »

2013-06-12 16:29:47 (20 comments, 25 reshares, 370 +1s)

Dream Photos and Proof That Our Mind is Made of Creative Gold [work of Ronen Goldman]

http://bit.ly/12G9tkJ

What’s in a dream? For me, dreams have always been an incredibly powerful driver for creativity. At least a day or two every week, I wake up at 3am, scurry out of bed and make some notes about a future piece of work, an idea that needs development,etc. In short, the rooms of our subconscious are ripe with fruit for the picking. I’ve been considering creating a series of images of my own dreams and in doing so, stumbled on the work of Ronen Goldman. Ronen’s work is solid, simple and clean with a sprinkle of surreal, never overdone or overly dramatic. He imposes time and budgetary limits on himself so he can complete the work – focus on “making” rather than pontificating, which is something I really appreciate. As a part of researching for my future project,had a chanc... more »

2013-06-11 16:56:31 (5 comments, 7 reshares, 117 +1s)

Photo Geek Alert — The Camera Sensor as Emulsion + Why Your Digital Camera is More Like Film Stock Than You Realize

http://bit.ly/11drnVF

Geek alert. Although the mentality stems from the last century, the megapixel wars are not over. It is, however, safe to say that those of us familiar with our cameras have started to realize that they are much more than megapixels + dynamic range. There are other factors that we have come to admit are important to consider – case in point, the sensor. Some are noisy, some are big, some are juicy, others are…well… you get my point. These apparent truths prompted a conversation with my friend Sohail and led him to this in-depth post about the comparison of digital sensors and processing systems that go into today’s cameras — all with the emulsion (the photo sensitive side of film) discussion that used to kick around in the era offilm. It’s ... more »

2013-06-10 16:39:42 (9 comments, 24 reshares, 112 +1s)

Photographs Have Been Lying To You All Along — The Sordid History of Image Manipulation

http://bit.ly/15QQr85

With Adobe Photoshop looking ahead to its 25th anniversary, a handful of clever advertising pranks, and the recent exhibit at the National Gallery of Art on the history of photo manipulation [deets at the link above], I thought we’d wax nostalgic for a hot minute on how far photography has come — and hasn’t come — from those pre-school days of cutting, coloring and pasting.

For those of us who love to wrench around in Photoshop on a good photograph…give it that extra somethin sometin…This is not news. But the fact IS that nowadays we inherently question the authority and authenticity of every photograph. This speaks to the ease with which any photographer today — professional or otherwise — can enhance, alter and outright mislead for funor nefarious purp... more »

2013-06-07 17:03:50 (8 comments, 24 reshares, 130 +1s)

Falcon Chasing A Downhill Mountain Biker — Behind-the-Scenes on the Photoshoot That Captured It

http://bit.ly/ZyjBrM

Been shooting some freeride mountain biking lately and was poking around the web when I stumbled on this yesterday…behind the scenes on how this crew filmed a peregrine falcon chasing (and grabbing at) professional downhill mountain biker Gee Atherton over bumps, jumps and at insane speeds.
Love the The Earth Unplugged crew’s approach and patience, plus the ingenuity that they used in a)the concept; and b)the filming techniques. #muchrespect

I’m not a gear guy, but wondering if you caught the equipment they were using? None of this would have been possible just 5 years ago, or it certainly would have cost 50x what this probably cost to make today.

Check out the link to see the full BHS and the Final Product:
http:... more »

2013-06-04 17:03:03 (11 comments, 19 reshares, 153 +1s)

Indie Filmers + Photogs Continue to Step Up — Cascada Kayak Film Is Worth Your Attention

http://bit.ly/11fIzsj

The banal and boring quickly get lost as noise among the infinite video and photo uploads that occur across the interwebs on the daily. To rise above and be seen, you need to step your shit up, big time.

The peeps over at NRS Films and Forge are on a serious streak of producing killer, award-winning films of their paddling adventures. “Is this a vacation?” they ask themselves? Watch the video and tell me this is anything but passion-pursuit disguised as hard work. No one wakes up in the morning and says, “I think I’ll spend the day in the rainy jungle getting eaten alive by a blood-thirsty insect population and subjecting myself to countless viruses — all for the hell of it.” You’ve got to have a damn good reason to put yourself in thatplace. For Erik... more »

2013-05-31 18:40:16 (10 comments, 30 reshares, 134 +1s)

Worth the watch

2013-05-30 16:55:05 (12 comments, 20 reshares, 188 +1s)

The Fuji X100s Review: Brutally Simple & Highly Effective (Even If You Didn’t Want to Admit It)

http://bit.ly/114ZUEo

I was onto the rush of mirrorless cameras pretty early – mostly from manufacturers sharing with me what was “coming soon”, but I admit that I didn’t really “get” it, until I started receiving early versions, prototypes and demos from the marketing folks at all your fav manufactures. Only then did I truly understand the punch that these little cameras pack – because they’re good. I loved the concept, but hated the tiny sensors and the poor performance. Well, those days are gone, and now these cameras are really good. I’ve highlighted mirrorless a bunch in the past, but those were just my initial impressions… In this post, I tapped my tech homie Sohail to sound off on a proper camera review for the Fuji X100s. He’s tackled the NikonD7100 in a past review ... more »

2013-05-29 16:26:23 (5 comments, 13 reshares, 57 +1s)

TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE. Building a Creative Career + Life with Renowned Author Chris Guillebeau on #cjLIVE [REWATCH]]

http://bit.ly/18uDPHZ

Are you ready to have that lightbulb moment? Yes? Then stop reading and hit PLAY on the vid on my blog (link above).

My guest in last week’s cjLIVE was none other than the globe trotting, “self employed for life” hacker Chris Guillebeau. In addition to being all those things plus the founder of the World Domination Summit (most amazing name ever for a creative conference…) he is a best-selling author of The $100 Startup as well as The Art of Non-Comformity. This show lit up the internet with responses to Chris’s explanation of the ACTUAL TACTICS that he has employed to help him achieve amazing success. Go to the blog to hear:

_Why “Follow your passion,” sounds great – but that anything worth doing takessacrifices.
more »

2013-05-28 17:14:27 (9 comments, 24 reshares, 90 +1s)

How To Reboot, Refresh & Refocus Your Creativity — The Fine Art of the Sabbatical

http://bit.ly/12fFi3E

Many of us have …ahem…fantasies about shutting down the laptop and closing up the studio for an extended period to go try something different. Pick up horseback riding. Learn a new language. Fly a plane. We all know our creative souls need it, but making the move is frightening. A couple months ago my writer friend Ben dropped in to share his thoughts on strategic renewal and scheduling breaks throughout the work day. His post about doing more by doing less was a hit with many of you. Well he’s back, and he’s talking about breaks again. Big breaks. Weeks, months, even…um…a year. Read on to find out how a sabbatical may help you keep that love feeling fresh. Take it away, Ben.

Thanks, Chase.

My second love is soccer. I play it, I coach it and Ifollow it. (A... more »

2013-05-24 16:48:22 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 22 +1s)

60 Second Portrait – Ishmael Butler

http://bit.ly/14IitD0

Shabazz Palaces front-man Ishmael Butler was gracious enough to pose for this 60 Second Portrait back when he was on set for the cjLIVE episode with Ian Ruhter. Ishmael was one of the subjects of our massive tintype portraits along with Chris Ballew. Enjoy!

http://bit.ly/14IitD0

2013-05-23 18:07:59 (12 comments, 7 reshares, 86 +1s)

5 Great Film Cameras on a Tiny Budget
http://bit.ly/18lmfDL

You know I love film. Just shot my Polaroid 600E yesterday and loved it. Shot the Hassie the week before, and just loaded a roll into my Lomo ‘Sardine’. That said, seeing that damn near everything has (obviously and justly) gone digital, film cameras are dirt cheap. And whether you’re a seasoned pro or an iphone snapper, a good dose of shooting actual film would be good for you. Trust me on this. So that’s why I’ve taken the time to wrangle five great cameras for under $300 that you can use to re-invigorate your film shooting, even if it’s just for a little flirt with nostalgia. … (and I know that there are a lot of sweet cameras OVER $300…i’ve listed a few of my fav’s in the comments. Please share yours there too….)


Canonet QL17 GIII. 
This camera, in its heyday, was known as the “poorman’s Leica,” and with d... more »

2013-05-22 19:33:48 (8 comments, 23 reshares, 189 +1s)

The Internet is Made of Cats — Here’s Proof That Cats Drive Creativity

http://bit.ly/10n1FxJ

As any regular Redditor knows, the internet is made of cats. They’ve been with us since the days of the Egyptians – although days they have their own reality show. What is it with these damn cats? As the collection of images below indicates, cats have played the role of creative muses in the lives of some pretty famous creatives, including Dali, Picasso and Warhol. [Warhol, it should be noted, once owned 25 cats, all of which he named Sam.]

Might the kitty companion be a key to unlocking the creative mind? I’ll posit that any loyal pet provides, at a minimum, a set of ears to bounce ideas off of and a second set of eyes to look upon your work-in-progress. Sure, feedback may be at a minimum, but at least you’ll be spared harsh criticism. [worth noting - there is a growingbody of sci... more »

2013-05-22 19:15:17 (11 comments, 30 reshares, 277 +1s)

"The distance from where you ARE to where you WANT to be... is not as far as you think." 
http://bit.ly/N1gHoG

2013-05-22 18:04:13 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 50 +1s)

TUNE IN! 
We are LIVE RIGHT NOW with Chris Guillebeau. http://bit.ly/N1gHoG

2013-05-22 17:52:06 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

LIVE in 10 minutes! www.chasejarvis.com/live
http://bit.ly/N1gHoG

2013-05-22 15:12:25 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

We are LIVE in moments! Tune in. +Chris Guillebeau is going to blow some minds today on the show: http://bit.ly/18NM7cF

2013-05-20 17:08:06 (6 comments, 4 reshares, 51 +1s)

chasejarvisTECH: How To Build a Pro Cine-Boom on a Shoestring [literally]

http://bit.ly/10J3xnp

In my last chasejarvisTECH piece you got a peek at the gear I packed away for the 19,000 foot climb up Kilimanjaro for the Summit on the Summit. There were more than a few comments on how much “stuff” went with me. It’s all relative I suppose, but when you get down to it that was a fairly bare-bone operation for a job that still yielded high-end results.

As you see in this next installment, we had to make do without some of the other gear that we would have loved to have had along the way but left out for obvious reasons. I’m talking about cranes, jibs, dollies and the like. So sometimes you have to get creative.

My man Chris did just that, by lashing some cordelette climbing rope to a tripod to create a makeshift cinema boom. As the footage at the endproves,... more »

2013-05-17 16:27:56 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 36 +1s)

Kickstarter of the Week – The Glamour & The Squalor

http://bit.ly/10yftYS

Before the Internet made sourcing new music and rising bands a simple matter of keystrokes, bookmarks and RSS feeds, there was the radio DJ. Those with an insatiable thirst for the fresh and undiscovered relied on the savvy DJ with the right connections to feed us a steady diet of the up and coming, the unsigned, the ones-to-keep-an-eye-on.

For the unsigned and undiscovered, it was said DJ who provided the air time, created the buzz and could ultimately set the stage for stardom. Or at least greater notoriety.

One DJ who epitomized this role was Seattle’s Marco Collins, a local legend whose work on 107.7 The End helped propel the careers of notables like Weezer, Beck, Deathcab for Cutie and The Prodigy. And that’s just using the fingers on one hand. As Chris Ballew ofPresi... more »

2013-05-16 16:55:33 (5 comments, 10 reshares, 62 +1s)

TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE. Building a Creative Career + Life with Renowned Author Chris Guillebeau on #cjLIVE [Wednesday, May 22 11am PDT/2pm EDT]

Prepare to have that lightbulb moment for yourself while watching the next episode of chasejarvisLIVE on Wednesday, May 22 becuase my guest is the globe trotting, “self employed for life” hacker Chris Guillebeau. In addition to being all those things plus the founder of the World Domination Summit (most amazing name ever for a creative conference…) he is a best-selling author of The $100 Startup as well as The Art of Non-Comformity. And if all that ain’t enough – just this past April he accomplished a goal that no one in the history of time has done… visit every country in the world by age 35. [a few dignitaries have done it, but nobody of Chris' ripe age has ever pulled it off]. For a decade Chris has been championing a lifestyle thatbeautifully... more »

2013-05-15 20:34:44 (11 comments, 14 reshares, 213 +1s)

Living the Dream!

The first photo is the mock-up of my dream.

The second is the realization - the final product.

Go see how we bridged the gap -> http://bit.ly/12xlq7s

2013-05-14 16:39:12 (17 comments, 17 reshares, 115 +1s)

Dream Job — Color Cannons, Flying High & Turning Dreams Into Photographs for Samsung
http://bit.ly/12xlq7r

2013-05-14 14:34:22 (5 comments, 7 reshares, 78 +1s)

Dream Job — Color Cannons, Flying High & Turning Dreams Into Photographs for Samsung
http://bit.ly/12xlq7r


A NO BRAINER.
When someone comes to you and asks you if you’d like to create a photograph of your most vivid dream on their dime — let’s be clear on this one — you say YES.

Such was the case with Samsung and their creative agency Possible several weeks back. I got one of “those cool phone calls” where all your hard work comes into focus just for a second. (Dialogue in my brain = Wait a minute. Any photograph I want? Of my dreams?! And you’ll be my benefactor to make this happen? Yes Chase, creative freedom. We want to enable your imagination. Are there any images you’ve been excited to try to create but haven’t had the means or the opportunity?) Um. Hell yes. They had approached me with a completely blank canvas. Their only requirement? Thatthe image would be ... more »

2013-05-13 17:14:33 (8 comments, 20 reshares, 163 +1s)

Size Matters: How to Build a HUGE Panoramic Photo, From Capture to Final Image [272 Gigapixel !!]

http://bit.ly/12psbsX

Earlier in the week I shared my gear list for the hike up Kilimanjaro with Summit on the Summit. While on the mountain I snapped off a slew of panoramas and sent them to my buddy Mark, who does digital retouching with his company PARADOX VISUAL. I wanted him to build a BIIIIIG panorama that could be auctioned off for Summit on the Summit. And when I’m talking big, I’m talking 4 feet tall and 20 feet long. (see them in context of the gallery at the end of this post). Big, right? I’ve asked Mark to give us a little insight into the methods he used for creating that panorama, which you see in digital form above. I’d say he did a bang-up job. Take it away, Mark.

Thanks, Chase. First things first. I want to thank Chase and his crew that I worked with onbuildin... more »

2013-05-10 17:40:38 (17 comments, 21 reshares, 208 +1s)

Never ‘Work’ Again — On Following Your Passion with Photographer Ian Ruhter [When Dreams Collide]

http://bit.ly/YKPMpO

They say that when you leave your old life behind and walk the path you’re meant to be on, be prepared to leave some friends behind, and be prepared to make new ones. This has definitely been the case on my own personal path. When I finally ditched the things in my life that everyone else wanted me to do and began a fulltime charge of my life’s dream of being an artist, it put my life on a collision course with energy, vitality, and some seriously creative / talented people who have both inspired me and strengthened my resolve to continue on this path. That’s not to say shit doesn’t get hard, and that there’s an unending amount of work…but it’s just one kind of work – the kind that draws you in – not the kind that sinks your soul.
One of those co... more »

2013-05-09 16:57:28 (12 comments, 16 reshares, 256 +1s)

Moving The Camera Pays Big: New Gyro Game-Changer by Teton Gravity Research [interview + product]

http://bit.ly/13Fnonw

Fancy gimbals are the rage these days and I love ‘em all. Not withstanding some homies of mine from my hard core action sports days, Teton Gravity Research, recently announced a partnership with Gyro Stabilized-Systems and launched the GSS C520, a game-changing 4K camera platform that makes that footy that you and I shoot look like sh*t in comparison. Having worked with these cats a bunch and having seen a sneak peek of the Bay Area aerial footage video above, I wanted to know more. So I sat down with TGR founder Todd Jones to get the scoop and see the new work behind this aerial gimbal game changer.

I know the details of course, but share with the readers your production company Teton Gravity Research.

The short version is… TGR is an actionspo... more »

2013-05-08 17:38:20 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 33 +1s)

A Solid Interview. Photography + Entrepreneurialism  [ Tearing Down Walls - A Podcast with Jenni Hogan]

http://bit.ly/143TpFs

In these days of media sound bites, those of us who are lucky enough to get a stage rarely get to give lengthy accounts of our experiences. This is a more lengthy account.

What we discuss:
-beginning as a photographer
-how “making it” is really not “making it” at all – just another chapter
-#1 iTunes app from 2009 (Wired, Macworld, NYT top app) Best Camera – and what I learned
-how creativeLIVE came to be
-how creativity is the new literacy and cL is a big part of that future.

Big thanks to Jenni for having me on the show. Here is the complete podcast, below:

Take a listen to the complete podcast, here -->http://bit.ly/ZExZhS

2013-05-07 16:18:05 (7 comments, 5 reshares, 61 +1s)

chasejarvisTECH: Packing Your Gear for a 60 Mile Hike up Kilimanjaro

http://bit.ly/12dS8KL

A few months ago I was fortunate enough to be part of an expedition to bring greater awareness to the scarcity of fresh drinking water experienced by many countries around the world. Called Summit on the Summit, the expedition was a 60 mile hike up Kilimanjaro and included some artists, educators and guides who shared my interest in this awareness project, including Mark Foster, Justin Chatwin and Beau Garrett.

I put together this short video to give y’all a glimpse of the gear I packed for the trek. I kept it pretty light and stuck to two main camera systems:

_Nikon D4 platform
_Olympus OM-D platform

Watch the vid for the full deets on my tech choices for this amazing journey:
http://bit.ly/12dS8KL

2013-05-06 16:24:04 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 100 +1s)

We Are Not Our Toys. Or Are We?

http://bit.ly/11bLoBB

A recent NPR story “Why Politicians Want Children to be Seen and Heard” spoke to the effectiveness of children as political messengers. Federal gun law supporters use images of children to play on the emotions of the masses. “Save Our Children” and all that jazz. Annoying as hell to get ‘used’. But real. And effective stuff, no doubt.

Children have long been the fodder of photogs. Back in January I shined the bloglight on Danny Goldfield, who spent seven years photographing children from over 169 countries — all of whom happened to live in New York City. The portraits are heartwarming and powerful for their diversity and depiction of the innocence and resilience of youth.

Flashback also to the World Press Photo of the Year. The cries of anger and sorrow captured in the faces of a group of mencarrying two ... more »

2013-05-03 20:21:07 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 58 +1s)

Chase Jarvis 60: Macklemore

http://bit.ly/124OUcy

I’m grateful to have so many friends in the Seattle community who influence and inspire me. Among them – Ben Haggerty.

Known to the world as Macklemore, Ben and his talented musical partner-in-crime Ryan Lewis have been on rocket-ship ride to hip hop stardom in the last 7 months. They have been touring non-stop and sold millions of downloads their #1 hit song Thriftshop from the incredible album The Heist. They have appeared on Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Colbert Report and all the other major talk shows and venues along the way. It’s been fun to watch. We were fortunate enough to have them on our humble little show chasejarvisLIVE back in October of 2011. After the show I caught up with Ben for this portrait. Enjoy the moment.

Macklemore is a talented and a wonderful human being who reminds usall t... more »

2013-05-03 17:06:25 (6 comments, 13 reshares, 113 +1s)

Kickstarter of the Week – Stop Motion Love Story: Interview with the 11 Year Old Director

http://bit.ly/10wWQjM

I don’t know what you were doing when you were 11, but I know I wasn’t directing movies. Hell, I wasn’t even standing in front of that pool. Trinity Anderson, on the other hand, has jumped into the deep end and seems to managing just fine, thank you.

The 11-year-old and her father, Barry Anderson, are wrapping up production on her latest stop-motion film (a genre she’s been at since she was 4) and have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help cover the rest of production costs. The film is titled Me & Ewe. It is a sheep love story.

I caught up with Trinity and Barry before her performance rehearsals (she’s also an actor) to talk a bit more about her project.

For the record, this is my first time interviewing an11-year-old... more »

2013-05-03 02:22:54 (21 comments, 15 reshares, 203 +1s)

Turn Love Into Money — Matt Schwartz’s 8×10 Polaroids Kick Instagram to the Back Seat

http://bit.ly/132JKjw

The phrase “Old school” can’t do justice to New York photographer Matt Schwartz’s methodology. Lugging around an 8×10 Polaroid camera to shoot stylized surf-themed pics (that are pretty easy on the eyes) that could pass as faded stills from unused Endless Summer clips, Schwartz has eschewed the conveniences of the modern camera and smart phone camera apps for an approach that has never let him down. That he does it without commercial motivation may be exactly why he has had so much commercial success.

Matt’s story is hard not to love. When his first attempt at selling his work to an ad agency failed, he went completely DIY and hired his own models and bought his own props to realize his vision. That vision has since caught the eye of Billabong, Levisand Surfrider, ... more »

2013-05-01 22:12:54 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

Last day to catch Joey L on his deep dive into commercial portrait photos FREE & LIVE on CreativeLIVE: http://bit.ly/18fCssk

2013-05-01 16:33:48 (16 comments, 17 reshares, 88 +1s)

F*&$ the SATs – “I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate” [A Public Service Announcement]:

http://bit.ly/12mWzl0

Creativity is the new literacy, and I’ve got an anthem brewing over here… But what fires me up is that I’m not alone. So many of us are feeling this anthem right now. Times are changing. The old methods of memorization and rigid exams for a diverse student body is not working for today’s world. Those times were for the factory. But what now? The average US college student graduates with about $27,000 in debt. For what? Students in the arts graduate with the highest level of debt. For what? Student debt now outpaces credit card debt. For what?

The good news is, for those of us who came up through the traditional education system and always felt there was something off with that path, we are rapidly approaching a new era of freedom(wisdom) to l... more »

2013-04-30 16:31:23 (2 comments, 6 reshares, 76 +1s)

Nikon D7100 — A Definitive Review with Meaty Details [photo comparos + spec highlights]
http://bit.ly/101cHXO

Although gear isn’t even close to the most important part of photography, it’s still important. And choosing the best camera for your particular needs can be a daunting task – which is why I often get new gear to bang around with and it’s also why I associate with smart gear guys like my pal Sohail. In this review, Sohail puts the new Nikon 7100 through its paces in a way that I haven’t got the patience for…the details, with side by side photo / setting comparo’s and the like. Me? I just shoot the thing and feel it, take a peek at the files. But Sohail goes deep. So sit forward and read the good word below. Feel free to holler with questions – we’ll pick em up as best we can. Take it away Sohail… 
[for the purposes of Google + - you will have to click overto the blog to see all... more »

2013-04-29 16:43:30 (6 comments, 15 reshares, 135 +1s)

So You Want to Be a Commercial Photographer? Here’s How… [Joey L on creativeLIVE]:

 http://bit.ly/11S8vMO

Update: It’s official now, I’m dropping in as a guest on JoeyL’s show TODAY at 10:45 Seattle Time (1:45 NYC; 18:45 London). Join us – ask questions. I just was sent over the topics he’s going to grill me on and I haven’t given an interview this in-depth about commercial photography in more than a year. Tune in HERE to watch: http://bit.ly/VwH2yU
–
Occasionally I hand pick certain people that I’d like to see on creativeLIVE. Joey L is one of those people — and starting NOW, AND for the next 3 days, he’s going to be sharing everything he can muster about his approach to commercial portrait photography and personal projects. Specifically he will be walking photographs from concept, thru lighting, posing, shooting and post production…anddoing it all LIVE (so you ... more »

2013-04-26 16:44:51 (26 comments, 69 reshares, 457 +1s)

Photo Geeks + Space Nerds Unite — Beautiful, Never Before Seen 360 Degree Images of Mercury
http://bit.ly/12NfGIA

Photo geeks and space nerds unite. Saw this and had to share it. This is the first time mankind has ever seen the planet Mercury in its entirety. Scientists used thousands of images collected for over a year by the MESSENGER probe to completely map the surface of the planet, taken at a resolution of 1km per pixel.

The yellow-orange sections are highly volcanic lava plains, and the dark blue areas are assumed to be minerals.

Watch the planet spin a complete 360 degrees and read more about the process HERE.

Serious credit goes to those slackers at NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab and the Carnegie Institution of Washington for the images.
http://bit.ly/12NfGIA

2013-04-25 16:27:34 (13 comments, 36 reshares, 322 +1s)

Stop Creating False Barriers Between You & The Photos You Want to Take  [aka Going to the End of the Earth to Get the Shot]
http://bit.ly/11HayU1

Are you pursuing your personal passions to get the pictures you want, or are you letting...ahem..."too many obstacles" stop you?

Here's a little inspiration. Using a weather balloon, a Gopro 2, a Multiplex Funjet and some other lo-fi equipment, David Windestål decided to get some first person footage of a trip to space. What he ends up with is an awesome video of the camera's trip into orbit, and a ton of inspiration for the rest of us.  Sure he could massaged the footage and edited differently / better.  But whatever.  In this post its the spirit that counts.  Because truth be told, he's doing cool shit.  And you...?

The takeaway is this:  you might not be as handy as David with a solderingiron, b... more »

2013-04-24 19:09:09 (15 comments, 19 reshares, 268 +1s)

21 Behind-the-Scenes Photos from an Un-Belizeable Photo Assignment
http://bit.ly/ZrJzOQ

If you’ve been following along socially you’re in the know that I’m on a commercial assignment in Belize that targets the life and wonder of our the world’s water, lakes, oceans, etc. [...You might remember this video of the SuperPod of dolphins from the South African leg of this campaign with long time friend Mike Horn...http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2012/09/dolphin-super-pod-stampede-south-africa/]

In short, I can’t say enough good stuff about Belize. It’s seemingly impossible to take a bad photo here…even without the high-falutin’ tools that we’ve been using –helicopters, boats, diving rigs, etc)… If you just had your phone, you could slay it here. Anyway – wanted to share some quick behind-the-scenes shots that let y’all in on a little of what we’ve had going.[#HumbleBrag?!]

... more »

2013-04-18 18:28:48 (7 comments, 8 reshares, 90 +1s)

Photo Kickstarter o' the Week - The Rocket Travel Slider
http://bit.ly/11DVAPF

"Sliders and dollies help you tell your story with beautiful camera moves." So sayeth filmmaker Zeke Kamm of Nice Industries. Hard to argue with that statement. Well-placed, well-executed dolly shots increase production value, no question there. They can also increase production time and total gear load, as traditional sliders are bulky and a bitch to set up.

That's where Kamm's Rocket Travel Slider comes in. Capable of delivering up to 10 foot long, smooth dolly shots, the Rocket Travel Slider sets up in minutes and breaks down into a tight little travel package the size of a shoe box. Schlepers rejoice: the Rocket Base Kit (sled w/ mount, wheels, bar ends) weighs in at a scant 3 1/2 lbs. Not bad for a slider that can support up to 45 lbs.

Kamm + Co. have developed a... more »

2013-04-17 16:38:46 (15 comments, 14 reshares, 114 +1s)

If You’ve Ever Asked Me To Review Your Photos, Here’s A Chance — Photo Contest + Camera Bag Giveaway
http://bit.ly/YvaIvj

Hey photo friends, a few weeks ago my staff video guru Erik and I shared a glimpse into an ideal everyday walk-around camera kit. It’s a kit that Erik uses everyday and one that I beg/borrow/steal when not on assignment. Well the good folks over at ThinkTank took note of the love we showed for their Retrospective line of camera bags and sent the studio three of them to do with them whatever we choose. Just so happens we have plenty of camera bags already (2 of the exact models they sent us…), so we want to give these badass bags away to you. So here’s what we’re gonna do:

We wanna see your street photography. Your best everyday photos from being out in the world, covering the earth and actively pursuing the unexpected. Post links to your photos inthe comments ... more »

2013-04-16 16:45:43 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 31 +1s)

(Cy)Eyeborgs, Slingshots & Skeletons: 3 Minutes of Filmmaking Pays Out $200,000
http://bit.ly/15d8Heo

GE’s Focus Forward films are 3-minute documentaries featuring some the world’s most exceptional and innovative people presenting their ideas and inventions. Each year the project awards $200,000 to winners of the Filmmaker Competition, many of which have their 3-minute films premiered at Sundance. You’re gonna wanna take a few minutes and enjoy one or two of these.

As an example — in the Grand Prize winning film — Neil Harbisson, who was born with achromatopsia (a rare condition that causes complete color blindness) works with another inventor to create the “eyeborg,” an invention that translates color into sound. He wears this device on his head and it literally scans the world for color and transforms it into musical notes through a pair of earbuds. He isconsidered th... more »

2013-04-12 16:45:59 (35 comments, 54 reshares, 325 +1s)

Repurposed Vintage Cameras — Keep the Lights On + Other Unconventional Uses
http://bit.ly/16RQFNi

An invention doesn’t truly achieve obsolescence until it gets turned into a night light. Or a meat grinder. Such it is for these retro film cameras, repurposed for some good fun, inspiration, and to invoke a sense of nostalgia for the days of dark rooms. Somewhere a hipster just gasped “the horror” and a grandfather went looking for his Dualflex III. Before you freak (or hate on the hacking of old cameras in gags)…Maker of these beauties, Jason Hull says…

“I’m not modifying cameras if they are in pristine condition or if they’re rare, I’d rather they stay usable as cameras in those cases. The ones I’ve chosen are lightweight plastic, produced in huge numbers and easily found for sale at flea markets/ garage sales/ ebay.” [and i'll add that, in myexperience, they're... more »

2013-04-11 16:19:16 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 51 +1s)

Take My Art! Jay Shells + The Rap Lyric Street Sign Project:
http://bit.ly/ZjyzhF

Documentary makes the impermanent permanent. It's a satisfactory compromise for street artist Jason Shelowitz (AKA Jay Shells), whose 'Rap Quotes' project has the longevity of a fruit fly or a sand castle at low tide.

Inspired by many rappers' tendency to work the streets, blocks and parks of their upbringing into their lyrics, Shells decided to turn those shout-outs into official-looking street signs and hang them up at those specific street corners and locations. So the line "I'm blacker than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle" from Mos Def's track 'Champion Requiem' got printed on a sign and hung at that street corner, a section of Brooklyn where the rapper grew up.

As you can see in the documentary, Shells is only securing the signs with... more »

2013-04-10 17:07:30 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 45 +1s)

The Irreverence Episode (aka NOT GIVING A F#$%) — Author Julien Smith + Musical Guest MY GOODNESS on #cjLIVE [RE-WATCH]: http://bit.ly/10M9RrA

TWO amazing guests on the this episode of chasejarvisLIVE, which aired Wednesday, April 3, 2013.

Julien Smith is a NY Times best-selling author, CEO, voice actor and radio broadcaster. To fully enjoy his appearance on our show, you need to stop giving a f*#k right now. Not about your work, but about what other people – the haters, the doubters, the “experts”, your boss, your classmates – think. I went man crush when I read his post The Complete Guide to Not Giving A F*ck and The Short Sweet Guide to Being F*cking Awesome. I hit ‘like’ on Facebook, along with 53,839 other people (seriously) and promised myself to have him on the show that day. N.G.A.F. will set you free and put you on the path to being truly awesome. It willhelp you do y... more »

2013-04-09 16:56:26 (6 comments, 16 reshares, 110 +1s)

4 Great Ways to Get the Look of Film in Your Digital Darkroom
http://bit.ly/16KOjiY

A lot of us still shoot film for love and for fun. I’m often dragging around my Polaroid 600, my Hassie 500cm, some Lomo stuff (or these other film cameras)… but it’s next to impossible to have clients get fired up to shoot film in a professionals setting. They wanna see their picture NOW. Well, if you’ve ever been in a pickle over how to get the speed of digital with the look of film, join the crowd. In my studio we use a lot of digital tools to get this look and it seems there ar always new software toys emerging for this very job… But since I’m out on assignment now, I can’t think of a better guy to walk you through a handful of the very best options than my pal Sohail. And no doubt you all will have some other tricks not covered here to add…

Thanks Chase. As the man said, the“look” of film ... more »