Read and Write #10: Listing 10 Ways To Jumpstart Photography Inspiration

  1. Shoot a sporting event
  2. Shoot favorite food
  3. Listen to favorite music
  4. Go through CD covers
  5. Shoot for a holiday theme
  6. Take on a photo assignment or challenge
  7. Shoot a family event
  8. Take a self portrait
  9. Use a prop in an interesting way
  10. Tell a story in five pictures

Read and Write #9: Social Media Trends of 2021

  1. Show Your Audience Your “Reel” Brand Personality with Instagram Reels or TikTok: Reels on Instagram or TikTok can generate more engagement than a regular video post. One of our previous assignments allowed yourself to create a 15-20 second reel about anything, I decided upon adding my own logo “Munir’s Most Valuable Photography”, then a few of specialties such as food photography, toy photography, emotion series, and much more.
  2. Make New Friends, But Keep The Old: Don’t Leave Long-Form Video Out: In addition to Instagram and TikTok reels, YouTube allows creators to express their content to a wider range of viewers. If I were to create a YouTube channel when starting a photography business, I would create videos about the day in the life of a student who snaps photographs of his delicious meals naturally unedited.
  3. Stories Capabilities Are Not Only Here to Stay, They’re Growing: Stories on Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat allows the audience to see consistent content, potentially interesting the audience to click on the page to see the posts. If I were to post stories for starting a photography business, I would post sneak peaks into incoming projects trying to give hints to the audience and having a questionnaire to see what everyone is anticipating.
  4. Replace Face-to-Face Time with Screen-to-Screen Time: Live videos can allow in-time interaction between a creator and their audience potentially sparking interest for application to the business. If I were to do live videos when starting a photography business, I would pin comments of the audience potentially allowing themselves to be apart and have a conversation with myself.
  5. Make eCommerce Even Easier: Social Media Becoming a One-Stop Shop: Hyperlink are key to any business, if the link to a website is too difficult to maneuver, this could lead the audience to lose interest. If I were to have eCommerce when starting a photography business, I would allow whoever clicks on the hyperlink to be interested with beautifully edited photographs and smoothness of widgets that can allow themselves to browse through the website.
  6. When It Comes to Content Strategy, Knowledge is Power: Knowledge is power in the field of photography because allow the specialization of food photography can be applied to another area. If I were starting a photography business, I would offer suggestions to upcoming photographers of the equipment I use, the type of editing software I use, and how I found an interest in the particular area.
  7. Just Because You Can Go Text-Heavy on Facebook, Doesn’t Mean You Should: Although a text-heavy message can allow the point to directly appointed to, it may drive an audience in a different direction. If I were to start a photography business, I would choose to be detailed in response that are text-medium with hints of small talk.
  8. Keep What’s Behind the Brand and Behind the Screen at the Forefront-People: In any business, a customer should be their number one priority even in the field of photography. If I were to start a photography business, I would ensure that the customer’s interest comes first, allowing the audience to suggest photographs that can be done even if it is the weirdest request. I can specialize one day out of the week to be on live with the audience randomly selecting a comment to photograph and edit later that evening.

Read and Write #8: The Broad Museum Collection Critique

Birthdays, marriages, and holidays are just a few of the festive nostalgic traditions that Jeff Koon captures in his work. Jeff Koon’s sculptures are not only philosophical, but also aesthetic and appealing to the eye in ways that question viewers. Particularly those who are unsure of what fine art is. In his exploitation of common, familiar, and cheaply made items, such as a party hat, he challenges the distinction between high art and low culture. Koon’s continuing obsession with childhood memories and childlike consciousness is exemplified by this piece.

Read and Write #7: Photography Job Hunting on Indeed

  • Option #1: Sports Photography Intern
  • Corporation/Job Site: City Athletes, Corp.
  • Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  • Job Type: Intern

According to the full job description found on Indeed states “the responsibilities of the Sports Photography Intern include attending athletic events and practices in the Bay Area to photograph local amateur athletes,”.  In sports photography, advertising purposes are normally done as controlled shoots where the athletes performs for the camera and the photographs produced are used to sell or endorse products. There are different areas to position yourself such as end zones, sidelines, stands, and catwalks (only found in indoor stadiums). End-zones allow head-on view of the action, sidelines allow side-to-side action offering great views of quarterbacks throwing and getting hit. Shooting from the stands allows an elevated look offering the most important details of shapes and lighting. Calculation is key for settings and lighting where after you calculate the depth of field, make sure you have a fast-enough shutter speed such as 1/1000 for shooting football. Then use the ISO setting on your camera to make it work!

  • Option #2: Summer Camp Photography Intern
  • Corporation/Job Site: Sprouts Cooking Club
  • Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  • Job Type: Part-time Internship (Remote)

According to the full job description found on Indeed states “as Sprouts’ Summer Photography Intern, you will be part of the Sprouts Marketing team playing an integral role in creating the magic that is the Sprouts’ Summer Camp,”. In food photography, natural light changes once every hours, existing lighting gives you the ability to move around and provide options when shooting. You can shoot subjects farther away, such as landscapes, since you do not need to worry about the artificial lights illuminating the scene and can change from how you see the color to how it results in a photograph. Taking photographs outside means you need to know how to work with natural factors such as the time of day, direction of the sun in relation to your subject, when to use flash, and how to take advantage of “bad” weather days. Using natural or existing light tends to create more natural-looking photographs and allows photographer freedom. Bright noonday sun is often one of the worst times to photograph because the light is severe and there are very few shadows, which is also harsh.

Read and Write #6: Two articles read from Canon lens experience: Donna Dotan: “Architectural Photographer” and Ralph Lee Hopkins: “Wildlife Photographer”

Donna Dotan takes a series of photos at different times of day, or even in different weather conditions, which help to tell a more complete story about the building’s relationship with its surroundings. When it comes to photographing, decent lighting should always be a top priority. Great architectural lighting draws attention to a room, a specific structure, or an environment, and thus plays an important role in shaping one’s perception of what is important in that architectural project. Taking the time to find a new perspective from which to photograph will reveal a previously unseen form or abstraction of a building’s detail, resulting in a new level of beauty. One of the most significant faults in architectural photography is objectifying a structure to the point that it can only be viewed from a single perspective. A wide-angle lens is widely used to photograph buildings and interior spaces and using a tripod will allow you to shoot in low-light situations, among other things. Returning to the same location over and over can uncover new layers of architecture that can be used to communicate a building’s evolution, or even degeneration, over time.

Ralph Lee Hopkins is fascinated by the natural world in all of its forms. The vegetable and mineral kingdoms (plants and rocks) dominate most landscape views, but the animal kingdom can also be seen. Though images can only be changed with a clear understanding of what modifications are appropriate, applications like Photoshop and Lightroom are simple to use and provide advanced features like lens correction. A polarizing filter can help add contrast and make images more vibrant. A drone equipped with a high-quality camera might be an interesting way to go if the photographer is searching for anything more advanced. The term “backlighting” refers to the placement of light behind the subject, with the subject sandwiched between the photographer and the light source. The light shining behind an animal will highlight and draw attention to the animal’s distinguishing features. Getting the once-in-a-lifetime action shot might be luck, but luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Many wildlife photographers consider themselves at the mercy of established natural light for their images, so a flash or LED light are often overlooked alternatives that can add an extra dimension to animal photographs.

Read and Write #5: Favorite Photograph From The 100 Most Influential Photographs

Title: Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
Photographer: Unknown
Year: 1932

The men in this photograph are among the construction workers who helped create the Rockefeller Center. However, the photograph, which was taken on the 69th floor of the flagship RCA Building (Now the GE Building). It was part of a promotion for the giant skyscraper complex. Furthermore, the image depicts workers who appear to be “on top of the world”. Representations of many others who are victims of the system. They also are forced to sit on the scrapper, hundreds of feet above the ground, with no protection in the open. The power relations of society are the structure. Class distinctions reveal the power relationship. The picture is intended to sell happiness to people who use the company’s services; this is the promise made by the company. The fact that the image has been manipulated, however, demonstrates how photographs can deceive people’s minds. The success of this photograph is determined by the emotional impact it has.

This picture is trustworthy because it is common for laborers to pause and eat their lunch in order to waste as little time as possible. This photograph is also recognized in the United States as a symbol of the American working class during the Great Depression. Because of the Great Depression, this photograph appeals to your sense of logic. It is well known that during that difficult time, men would do anything for a job in order to provide for their families. These men would go to any length to provide for their families. Because it captures the true essence of the Great Depression, you are emotionally drawn to this photograph. It shows just how difficult times were, and it became a symbol for everyone who was lucky enough to have a job at the time. It makes those who are lucky grateful for what they have and how they obtained it. My gaze is constantly drawn back to the man on the girder’s far right side. I get the impression that he’s becoming more attuned to me as a viewer, and that his gaze is revealing something. He has a whiskey flask in his hand and is staring into the camera. In comparison to the other men, he appears to be lost, as if he doesn’t want to be there. Perhaps he’s only up there risking his life in such a job because he doesn’t have any other options because of the Depression. Also, if he is carrying alcohol, it appears that he is drinking it in a very dangerous location; these men appear to be fearless.

Read and Write #4: Why Is Photography Important?

Moments happen all the time and can happen quickly; photography captures these moments so we can savor them. Photography is a hobby that allows for a great deal of artistic expression, technological knowledge, and a wide range of image capture techniques. Start approaching strangers when you’re ready. Develop a friendly relationship with the people you want to photograph. Bring your camera and approach the subject when you feel comfortable with the people you want to photograph. The world is much grander and more exquisite than the region that surrounds us, with beautiful variations. Your life’s journey is recorded by photography. From your childhood photos to your child’s photos to your grandchild’s photos, there’s something for everyone.

Photography altered our perception of the world by allowing us to see more images from more locations and periods than ever before. A good photograph and story can tap into our most primitive feelings, allowing us to process the magnitude and gravity of climate change as a societal problem. Photography can show objects that the human eye is unable to perceive. Long exposures taken by telescopes reveal astronomical information that would otherwise be invisible. The use of photography in historical documentation has become indispensable. It gives us a look at parts of society that haven’t been discussed or studied before. One snapshot could not only recall an event or detail, but also to transport you back to the thoughts, sounds, and even smells of the time.

Read and Write #3: Critique of Silver List Photographers

  • Vikesh Kapoor: While looking through the Silvereye 2021 exhibitions I stumbled upon Vikesh Kapoor who has a simple but efficient sections to allow the audience to view his portfolio smoothly. It is separated into three sections: Photographs (See You At Home and A Collaborative Polaroid), Songs (Discography, Concerts, and Videos), About (Upcoming, Contact, and CV). Starting with the “See You At Home” section is a slideshow of photographs beginning with “Before Immigration, 1969” exploring stories such as Vikesh’s parents, Shailendra and Sarla emigrating from India in 1977 and moving into a small town in Pennsylvania. Now as U.S citizens, these photographs will demonstrate the type of life lived by his parents before emigration. “A Collaborative Polaroid” section discuss how the pandemic and our current society has affected the African American community where 50% of the proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the Loveland Foundation. Vikesh Kapoor’s current project is an ongoing personal narrative that explores the sense of loss from one’s heritage while aging as an immigrant in a non-native culture.
  • David Emitt Adams: While looking through the Silvereye 2021 exhibitions I stumbled upon David Emitt Adams who additionally has a simple but efficient sections to allow the audience to view his portfolio smoothly. It is separated into three sections: Portfolios (POWER, Conversations with History, 36 Exposures, Installation Views, Miles (Early Work, Video, and Student Work), Information (2018 Italy Workshop, Information, Etherton Gallery, CV, Contact, and Old News), and Press (The New York Times, The Washington Post, What Will You Remember, Wichita Public Radio). David is gaining national and international attention as an artist whose current practice engages historical media. David’s current practice engages historical photographic methods to create an informed contemporary dialogue about the past and present. David engages in a labor-intensive wet-plate collodion process to inscribe desert imagery on discarded, rusted cans salvaged from these landscapes. The artist describes how their “rich patina is the evidence of light and time, the two main components inherent in the nature of photography.

Read and Write on the $10,000 B&H Photography Shopping Spree

  • Before Shopping Spree: $10,000.00
  • After Shopping Spree: $7,872.27
  • Remaining Balance Saved: $2,127.73

            Food styling is the complex of techniques, knowledge, and tools required to work as a professional food stylist. A food stylist’s job is to arrange food in an attractive setting for professional photographs or broadcasts. Each food stylist has their own tools, the common tools include kitchen tools such as knives and graters but also non kitchen tools such as tweezers, water spray, rulers, scissors, and paint brushes. Tampered with food stylists, chemicals, tools, etc. Brushes used to put paint and chemicals on food. Sponges used to support food or even to build it. Chemicals used to keep food fresh and shiny. The purpose of the $10,000 B&H photography shopping spree is to make food look desirable by evoking a certain sense or emotion in a photograph usually for the purpose of sales. To shoot, I would purchase a $2,299.00 Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Camera with a 24-105mm, f/4L II Lens and Accessory Kit with a memory card, spare battery, and a camera bag. Although, the Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Camera is set with a f/4L, I would need to purchase a Canon EF 24-70mm, f/2.8L II USM Lens for $1,899.00. Tripods are a necessity because it is the portable three-legged frame used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of the camera. Furthermore, I would be purchasing the Magnus VT-300 Video Tripod with Fluid Heads for $79.95 and a Canon BR-E1 Wireless Remote Control for $42.95 to shoot when I am not standing next to the camera. A simple clear protective filter is used to guard the interior of the camera and the rear element of the lens when the lens adapter is in use, so a Canon Drop-In Clear Filter A would cost $129.95. An external flash is a supplementary flash unit that connects to the camera with a cable or is triggered by the light from the camera’s internal flash so a Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT is stock for $499.00.  A 5-in-1 reflector is a common accessory for almost every genre of the photography and there is no exception here. It provides a means to reflect, subtract, and diffuse light to help sculpt the image I want so an Impact 5-in-1 Collapsible Oval Reflector with Solid Gold (42 X 72”) would cost $66.49.  I am accustomed to trusting what I see on the back of your camera but, when shooting food, I typically will have more time to pay attention to the details and reshoot until I get what I want. Reviewing what I shoot on a larger screen will lead to better results so a Tether Tools TetherPro USB Type-C Male to USB Type C-Male Cable (15’, Orange) for $56.95 to connect to a Space-Gray 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU, and 16‑core Neural Engine, 16GB unified memory, 2TB SSD storage, 13-inch Retina display with True Tone, Backlit Magic Keyboard – US English, Touch Bar and Touch ID, Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro for $2,798.98 to round off the shopping spree.

Read and Write On “Why Being a Photographer Is (Probably) the Best Job in the World,”

            The bare essentials for starting a photography business include a camera, a domain and website, a computer or laptop, Adobe Lightroom or Aperture, an external hard, a camera lens, and insurance. But, being a photographer in today’s world is vastly different from being one in the years before: the times before digital photography and Instagram. Due to the rise of the ubiquity of photos, video, and imagery in our culture, the way we use and consume media is drastically different. The accessibly of photography is designed to allow everyone to capture their perspective of the world with creativity and control, regardless of their sight or knowledge of photography. This impulse to save our recorded memories is as powerful force, one that tells us much about the role of photography in our lives and speaks to our constant desire to distill our most precious moments into images. Photography can easily be a casual side hustle you pursue during your free time, or a full-time business with benefits such as a creative outlet, money, independence, travel, and job opportunities.