Creativity #3
Creativity Thrives Within Strict Limitations.
by Benjamin Weatherston - December 4, 2012
Have you ever felt like you’ve been in a creative rut? Like your idea well has dried up? Like there’s nothing that stimulates your inner artist? It’s the visual version of writer’s block and it’s a horrible experience. Nothing makes you feel like more of a button pushing hack photo technician than a loss of artistic vision.
But whether you lost it through a late night blogging session or a week long pricing restructure it doesn’t really matter, it’s gone. How do you get it back? How do you instruct your brain to travel down avenues that are invisible? How do you think yourself out of a thought problem?
Photo Breakdown #3
Festival Photography: Complexity Doesn't Always Equal Creativity
by Benjamin Weatherston - August 23, 2012
Typical festival photography is very simple. It's usually not about a crazy set design or lighting setup. The goal is to take simple photos that let each artist's personality come through. Too much else and you're entering a coolness competition where everyone loses.
There were a few hurdles I had to overcome and some logistical considerations that needed some thought. But overall, I'm very happy with how they turned out and would love to share the experience with you.
Creativity #2
You are the most important thing to include in your portfolio.
by Benjamin Weatherston - April 4, 2012
Going back through images is both fun and annoying to me. It's fun because each image tells a story of people, places, lighting setups, camera settings, and where I was personally/professionally when I took that photo. It's annoying because sometimes I remember a lot of the bad people, places, lighting setups, camera settings, and exactly how bad I was personally/professionally when I took that images.
Photo Breakdown #2
The Most Practical Explanation Of The Inverse Square Law You'll Ever Read
by Benjamin Weatherston - September 24, 2011
There's a little trick I use for lighting the cyc in a pinch and it has to do with the inverse square law of light. I'll tell you what the trick is but first you have to listen to my smarts. The inverse square law is an obscure property of light that almost every photographer knows about but few can adequately explain, let alone use to their advantage.
Creativity #1
Tools + Materials + Creativity
by Benjamin Weatherston - September 14, 2011
Creativity is the most precious commodity on the earth today and yet there is no limit to it. It can be cultivated but cannot be farmed. It will survive great trauma but easily dies of starvation. Without it, civilization (at least the one I want to live in) comes crashing to a halt.
Do you have a creative mind? How do you know? Maybe you just look creative?
Photo Breakdown #1
One of the hardest parts was just getting the kids in the door.
by Benjamin Weatherston - August 30, 2011
When asked to shoot a bunch of students for The Ann magazine's September issue, I immediately knew what style I wanted. It's a lighting set up I'd been wanting to do for awhile. It's technical without being complicated and polished without looking high fashion. I could show you the lighting diagram and photos of the set build but there was more to this shoot that just taking pictures.
Going Pro #1
Sometimes professional photography is more about money than photos...sorry.
by Benjamin Weatherston - August 23, 2011
Many photographers talk about "Going Pro." Some of them actually do it, some of them say they do it and really don't, most of them never do it. There is even quite a bit of dispute as to what "Going Pro" really means. Does it mean that you got paid for doing a job? Does it mean you earn a certain percentage of your income with your photography? Does it mean you have no other job?
Welcome!
Isn't mandatory blogging banned under the Geneva Convention?
by Benjamin Weatherston - August 21, 2011
More than a few people have asked for a blog and we always seem to give in to peer pressure. Why didn't we start with one off the bat? Because writing thoughts and opinions on the internet is not the best way to get a brick and mortar rental studio up and running. Oh, and I hate writing. I know quite a few writers and am completely amazed at the ability to sit down everyday and just start writing. I'm convinced that novelists are exceptionally gifted and journalists are just simply not human. Am I a daily blogger? Not in a million years. Am I a yearly blogger? That's a sure fire way to make sure no one cares what you say. So in the spirit of setting reasonable expectations, let's just say that we'll make the best effort we can.