Presentation: “Taking Your Work to the Next Level; Strength, Statement, Simplification”

 

On Tuesday evening November 11th, I will be giving a presentation at the Western Reserve Photographic Society. I enjoy these evening events because I get to mix with friends new and old. Also, there is an element of satisfaction as I am able to connect on an educational level and perhaps help a few people advance in their photographic journey. This will be my 3rd appearance at WRPS in recent years.

You can learn more about WRPS at: http://www.wrpsphoto.org/

The topic of my talk is “Taking Your Work to the Next Level; Strength, Statement, and Simplification”. I am especially pleased that this topic transcends all forms of cameras and technology and speaks about the essence of the photograph. You should all find interest in that, right? If not, why do you practice photography?

The talk starts at 7:30 PM at Lake Farmparks (note: this is a changed location for WRPS). The address is 8800 Chardon Road in Kirtland, Ohio. You can get directions at the Lake Farmparks Website at http://www.lakemetroparks.com/select-park/farmpark.shtml

As far as the talk goes here is what will be covered:

• Strength – captivating the viewer and getting their attention
• Statement – telling a story and say something
• Simplification – avoid distraction and cutting out the noise

I hope you can make it. I intend to make this an entertaining, informative, and inspirational evening.

My thoughts on HDR

First off, the essentials. The range of tonal intensity between the darkest and lightest parts of a scene is called the tonal range. Here are my opinions…

• Older digital cameras (and films) have a narrow tolerance for recording large tonal ranges. This is seen as highlight clipping or shadow blocking. Modern digital cameras improve on this slightly by having more latitude.
• The human eye has a broader perception for tonal range, but even that has a limit.
• Numerous solution have appeared over the years to artificially recreate a wide tonal range in a photograph beyond what a camera is capable of recording.
• For the most part, three aesthetic factors stand in the way of success:
  • Paper prints, at best, can only represent about 8 tone steps. The eye expects this because of its long familiarity with photographs. Attempts to compress dynamics into this range can look apparent and telltale of manipulation.
  • Anything that tries to represent a scene beyond what the eye could naturally see (about 12 tone steps) will be perceived as manipulated and mentally rejected as phony.
  • Enthusiastic photographer’s caught up in the current trend to apply dynamic range compression techniques seem hell bent on accomplishing the feat and less concerned with the perception of the image. We are talking ego over art.

Now, before I go on, let me explain that the computer offers us at least 4 different ways to represent a high dynamic range (HDR) scene.

1. Shoot a very accurate exposure with the intent of extracting shadows and highlight using Photoshop’s Curves and/or Shadow/Highlight tools. This is a technique that I rely on extensively since it produces the most impressive, authentic results.
2. Combine two pictures taken at different exposure setting using layers and blending masks (in Photoshop). This technique was first introduced to me by Michael Reichmann. Please see his original article for more info: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml I occasionally use this method with some success, scene dependent. The photography above was produced in that manner. I was able to subtly control the rendering of the tones; no automation was used.
3. Use Photoshop’s HDR Tools to merge and blend multiple exposures. I have had miserable experiences with this because it seems like poorly written software (or at least unexplainable). On the other hand, a few days ago, my friend Kirby Flanagan, showed me a photograph prepared in this manner that was great. They say that each edition of Photoshop (CS, CS2, CS3, CS4) improves on this, so the time may be right.
4. Other HDR Software is stated to do a better job than Photoshop HDR Tool. I know nothing of this except it is all the rage. Again, I attain my HDR results in other ways so I have not bothered with this.

I frequently judge camera club competitions. I sit there and immediately pick out the the HDR-processed extravaganzas because of their unrealistic, ineffective, and frankly, pasty results. Until I saw Kirby’s picture the other day, I though that there would never be any hope.

The problem is, that these photographs are being presented as recoveries of reality, rather than distortions of reality. (Yes, I certainly do interpretive styles also, but I do not claim that these derivatives are intended to be reality. With me it is strictly “art for arts sake”, and the buyer is well aware that I am turning a few dials.)

What do I do as a judge? These folks are all out there in the crowd, salivating for awards, and turning out things I cannot appreciate, both because of the insincerity and the rendition. I am surely in the minority because the HDR craze has taken off like nothing I have ever witnessed in photography since my initial foray into the field 35 years ago.

Oddly, at least from my neck of the woods (NE Ohio), I feel a bit responsible. I have always sought to coax strong dynamic representations in my prints by traditional Photoshop methods, accurate exposure, calibrated systems, and top-quality media. People consistently remark about this. People have at times tried to emulate me. Any one can do what I do, but folks, there is no magic potion. IMHO, overdone HDR processing is very obvious and will not get you there.

It certainly bears repeating

Yesterday I sent out a mass email with a ton of news. For the sake of posterity, here’s what what was included…

Pre Holiday Art Shows

I am participating in 5 different Fine Art Exhibition/Shows from the middle of November through mid-December. I have had many customers ask to be reminded of these, so this is the first nudge I will be sending out. Remember, I will have the standard assortment of prints and cards that you have come to know, but, I will also have many new “standout” wall prints, ready to hang, printed in an amazing metallic finish. These make a wonderful gift. The photographs have been selected from my 2008 best sellers, so you will have many to choose from. In addition, the themed collector card sets that have proven popular would make the ideal holiday gift. I will have a high-definition large-screen video display of my offerings in my booth at these events making it very easy for you to make choices. I planned to be stocked up and ready to meet your holiday shopping needs. Here we go with the events…

• November 14, 15, and 16 – Cleveland By Hand Art & Craft Show – I-X Center – www.clevelandbyhand.com
• November 22 and 23 – Cincinnati By Hand Art & Craft Show – Duke Energy Convention Center – www.cincinnatibyhand.com
• November 28, 29, and 30 – Christmas In The Colonies – Medina County Fairgrounds – www.christmasinthecolonies.com
• December 5, 6, and 7 – Butler Holiday Craft Show – Butler Institute of American Art – www.butlerart.com
• December 20 – Countryside Conservancy Holiday Market – Happy Days Visitor Center – Route 303 in Boston

Gallery Exhibition

Once again, I have been honored to have a exhibition of my recent photography project at the Butler Institute of American Art. The exhibit, entitled “Call it a Loan; Borrowing a Piece of the Pacific Northwest”, will run at standard museum hours thought the end of 2008. It is timed in conjunction with Butler’s re-certification process and was personally selected to represent them by the management. It goes without saying, my gratitude for this opportunity is beyond words. You will find this exhibit on the second floor in the digital art wing. Once the exhibit closes, these works will be for sale, so contact me to reserve your art before it is gone. Here is the accompanying Artist’s Statement.

Never did I expect that a set of return trips to the Pacific Northwest would start a maelstrom of brain waves beckoning me to grow and explore this wondrous place. For three weeks during the Spring of 2008, I traversed three distinctly different regions of our Northwest: The Oregon Coastline; The Columbia River Gorge; and The Palouse Region of Southeast Washington. Sometimes I captured what I saw; at other times I only absorbed, reflecting rather than documenting.

This became a rich catharsis for me as I began to understand life unfettered in the realm of nature. What you are viewing here today is an exhibit of eight personal selections from a collection of about fifty that I show as examples of my photographs from this period. In making decisions to cull the exhibit, I reached inward for my inspiration – this is something one can easily do when commercial return is not the primary motive. You are looking into my soul.

From a technical standpoint, these are digital photographs taken using modern full frame SLR cameras and high quality lenses. I am somewhat of a stickler for technique and tend to spend a great deal of effort planning and executing to assure a striking outcome. Each image was carefully seasoned and cajoled in my processing system to bring out a “walk right in” characteristic. As such, I interpret with forethought. I do not simply document. After all, this is art.

This exhibit has been produced on Kodak Endura Professional Metallic Media to bring out a lustrous, striking gallery look with richness and head-turning capabilities. It is my first venture away from personally handmade pigment prints. I like the results and will be offering this option in the future.

Announcing DSLR Boot Camps 2009 Series

The DSLR Boot Camps have been around now for a few years and nearly 100 photographers have taken advantage of the in-depth training afforded them. Times change and so do we. I have decided to expand the class offerings to cover a broader range of interests as well as the varying levels of expertise. While these have not been planned out to the Nth degree, here is what you can expect. All classes have a size limit of 12 and are held in Brunswick at my well-equipped training facility. More dates will be added as these fill up. I am now taking reservations with 50% deposits…

• DSLR Boot Camp 101 – Photographic Principals and Camera Operation – 1/17/09 & 1/18/09 - 16 hours including guided field exercises – $159
• DSLR Boot Camp 201 – Photoshop CS4 Throughput- 1/24/09 & 1/25/09 – 16 hours – $229
• DSLR Boot Camp 202 – Lightroom 2.0 Throughput – 2/7/09 & 2/8/09 – 16 hours – $229
• DSLR Boot Camp 301 – Lightroom/Photoshop Interactions – 2/14/09 & 2/15/09 – 12 hours – $159
• DSLR Boot Camp 401 – Achieving Critical Artistry - 2/21/09 & 2/22/09 – 12 hours – $159

Please note that the above dates have been updated since this original post was placed online. The Boot Camp sessions now take place in a logical sequence and allow the requisite weekend off for the Super Bowl!

Field Workshops

I have many field workshops in the planning stages for next year. Stay tuned as I announce…

• Field Macro Photography
• Winter B&W Abstracts
• Panorama Extravaganza
• HDR Workout
• Spring Wildflowers
• Garden Scenics
• Fall in NE Ohio
• UP Michigan in Fall
• Spring in NE Ohio

Announcing: One-on-One Total Immersion Sessions

• If you are advancing.
• If you want to spend dedicated time expanding your specific skills and understanding.
• If you can spare a day.
• If you feel you want something more than you can get in a group setting.
• If you want hands on.
• If you want follow though.

Consider this exciting opportunity…

One-on-one Training Sessions

• Tailored to your individual needs and interests. (Photographic, Aesthetic, Technical, Commercial, etc.)
• Instructor: Bob Kulon, 35 years of professional know-how.
• All day ~ including lunch, local transportation, and unlimited studio prints.
• In the gallery/studio, in the field, or both.
• Limited to available open dates.
• Replaces all other mentoring offerings for 2009.
• $395 by mutual agreement and prior arrangement.
• Accepting reservations now.

Call me at 330-635-7557 or email bkulon@hotmail.com to get the ball rolling.

This will be a turning point for you – think about it!

Welcome One and All!

Welcome One and All!

Please visit often as my new Blog takes on a roll as my primary communication tool for the future. This will eventually replace some of the broadcast emails I send out and allow a “stretch” and permanent record of the concepts I choose to discuss.

Two things have prompted this:

• I am very sensitive to the perception of spam. This is somewhat unavoidable since over 1,000 people have asked to be on my mailing list. I do not discriminate and everyone gets everything. As I result, over time, I have reduced the content and frequency to be less of an apparent nuisance. In this Blog, I am able to write at greater length on specific topics without worrying about sending disinterested parties the information in their email. It is all about “pull” rather than “push”; “attraction” rather than “promotion”.
• Related to that, I feel free to make more frequent entries than any reasonable email campaign would permit. Sometimes you have an inspiration that needs to be shared. This is the place.

Of course, when one undertakes a blog project there are certain realities that need to be addressed. Here is how I intend to proceed and what you can expect:

• This will be less about me and more about what I do. Suffice it to say that my innermost feelings and passions run very deep. A public forum is no place for an adult professional to start getting personal. I am an entrepreneur and intend to use this vehicle to nurture that pursuit.
• Politics, religion, and culture will be off limits. I have no axe to grind and all people should understand that they are welcome.
• In all likelyhood, my opinions will be slightly understated. I am not meek. It is just that I have enough sense to realize that whatever you say on the public Internet will stick like glue. I enjoy having the latitude to change my mind every now and then (or even admit my errors). I don’t want to be penalized with archives that brand me one way or the other. If you want my firm beliefs, ask me in person, one-on-one.

OK, OK, OK.

Here’s what is in store…

• Announcements about my public enhibits and art shows.
• Announcements about my field workshops
• Announcements about my classroom training
• Thoughts about technique and improving one’s photography
• Thoughts about one’s approach to photography
• Advice to novices, enthusiasts, and pros
• Articles on my field adventures
• Notes of appreciation
• Announcement of related events by my friends in the business

Sound like a winner? Come back often. Better yet, link this Blog to your RSS reader so you will be notified as updates occure.

All the best,
Bob Kulon
Distinctive Photography
www.bobkulonphoto.com
bkulon@hotmail.com