SHIFT/TILT: NYC WORKSHOP TEASERS

We just wrapped our SHIFT/TILT workshop at the ACE Hotel in New York City with some lovely and amazing students, talent and staff.

We're holed up at the hotel for a few extra days while Hurricane Irene prepares to rear her ugly head.  It was planned as a two-day workshop, but we decided to consolidate the bulk of the workshop into a single day, just in case things were to go crazy on Sunday.  At this point, every out-of-town student who was planning on coming decided it best to stay with their families and play it safe.  It was a tough pill to swallow after months of planning and much personal and financial investment, but we all have to play the cards we're dealt.

A handful of local students decided to weather the storm and join us for a day of sharing, shooting and running through the empty streets in the rain.  In the end, we were able to get some amazing photos (think 'I Am Legend' or 'Vanilla Sky') because the streets were deserted.

Props go to Jove Meyer for coordinating the weekend, Tony Yang for being my partner in crime, our amazing models Ali, Maya and Kelly, my gifted brother, Riky, who provided video coverage -- and most of all the dedicated students who stared a little girl named Irene in the face and kept shooting anyway.

STORY

It's all about story.  You are not a photographer.  You are a storyteller.  Instead of a pen and notebook, the primary tools of your craft are a camera and your vision.  You are a technician and an artist in one.

I want you to know that you have the capacity to heal hearts and mend souls with your storytelling.  It's one thing to think, "I want to make kick-ass imagery."  It's another thing altogether to think, "I want to create imagery that has the potential to save a troubled marriage."

"Everyone has beautiful stories; not everyone knows how to tell them." - Jesh de Rox

That's where we come in.

Leica M6 + 50mm f/2 Summicron + Kodak TMAX 400

M6 + TMAX400

I should be sleeping since my flight to JFK leaves in about 8 hours. I have a handful of portrait sessions in NYC, a portrait shoot and wedding in Washington DC, another two portrait sessions back in New York, and finally my two-day SHIFT/TILT: NYC workshop, co-hosted by Tony Yang.

I've occupied much of my last three days here in Korea test driving my M6 and 50mm f/2 Summicron, familiarizing myself with different types of film stock in the process. The images below were all shot on Kodak TMAX 400 film. I'm also trying out Fuji Neopan 100 and Tri-X 100 for B&W, and Kodak Portra 160 and 400 for color.

I made the noob mistake of shooting a roll of Portra 400 at 50 ISO because it was so bright out yesterday. My lab guy politely informed me not to push color stock more than a single stop in either direction -- meaning I should keep Portra 400 between 200 - 800 ISO. Shooting at 50 ISO is a full 3 stops from 400. That would be okay if it was B&W stock, I was told, but for color film, it's a big no-no.

I'll be posting my thoughts on the filmstock that I'm trying out in the coming weeks.

I'm going to miss my two beautiful boys and my special gal, Jenny while I'm gone. If you are in Seoul and want to lend a hand or hang out with my loves while I'm gone, I'm sure Jenny would appreciate the help and company. ^^

Love you three so much, daddy misses you already.

FIRST ROLL  //  LEICA M6 + KODAK PORTRA 400

My first roll of color film with my new(ish) Leica M6. It's a bit grainy because I had pushed the ISO to 640 from the night before my early morning stroll. The rangefinder system has taken some getting used to -- however, having complete control over absolutely everything the camera is doing is much more suited to my approach to and style of photography. The shutter is so quiet, and the camera is diminutive. I can get away with street and candid photography a lot easier than with a DSLR.

I bumped into my friend, Amarisse, who works as TBS Radio as a live broadcast announcer for traffic and weather. It was a lot of fun getting a peek inside the live radio broadcast world. The shutter was even quiet enough to take a few shots while she was giving a live traffic update.

M6 + PORTRA  //  FIRST ROLL PREVIEW

Very excited about jumping in the deep end with film.  My first 100% film wedding is next week in Washington DC.