Creating a Different Point of View

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I attended the Grass Roots Music and Dance Festival near Ithaca, N.Y. recently and because there were so many photographers taking the same record shots of the musicians and colorful characters in the audience that I decided that I wanted to shoot something completely different.  During the “Happiness Parade” I moved in close and concentrated just on hands and the colorful costumes.  This was a rewarding experience and will make great mementos for me.

Action Dancing At Weddings

The great photojournalist Robert Capa once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” Capa wasn’t advocating the use of longer lenses; he was telling us to physically get closer — to become more involved and intimate with our subjects.   It is the philosophy I use when I am shooting dancing at weddings. I am literally just a few feet away using the widest angle lens I have. Its close, its hot, and its intimate!

Scouting Portrait Locations

Scouting locations is so important.

I had an opportunity to take a family portrait in West Danby, NY.  This is central new york farm country and what better location than outside near the pasture scheduled at a time of day when the light would be right.  Since scouting locations is so important to me I made a Sunday afternoon drive to the location and found a patch of grass and a tree to add to the design. On the day of the shoot I had an assistant to help wrangle the dogs and hang a huge white fabric reflector just out of view.  I am extremely happy with the results.

Open 4 Gallery Night - June 3rd!

I will be hosting an open house on Friday, June 3, at the 102 W. State Street studio to show off new  "By the Way: More Images From Road Trip America". My series of contemporary work  continues with a presentation of oddball urban landscapes in his studio above Handwork Craft Cooperative on the corner of State and Cayuga. The collection of photographs are a representation of the small towns, famous landmarks, and very out of the way places presented with a slightly skewed vision that has been my trademark. I create images that capture those magic instants - the ones that the camera sees best - that reveal us and the places we build and live in for all of their beautiful irony and poignancy. Open Hours, M-F 8:30am to 5:00pm; weekends by chance.

Trees growing out of concrete, perfectly preserved older vehicles, and parking garages shoehorned into the tightest of spaces.  Add a palm tree and you are there.   

Reflections on Aerial Photography

Aerial photography is an area that many people have little knowledge of.  What actually makes a good aerial photo?

The most important aspect of a good aerial photo is to pick a day with good visibility and minimal haze.  A conversation between the photographer and the client is exptremely important to get exact locations and acreage to be included in the photos.  GPS coordinates of the property (if obtainable) are ideal. The photographer and the pilot need to work as a team, and both need to be knowledgeable of the assignment.  A lot of pilots have taken photographers up in the past and are familiar with what angles and views make for good images.  If the pilot is not familiar with flying for an aerial photographic shoot, it will make the job much more difficult.  Also, the orientation of the buildings in the photographs is important to know so that the photographer and pilot know whether to go up in the morning or afternoon. 

Another common question I get is airplane or helicopter.  A helicopter is good as it has greater maneuverability and can fly at lower altitudes which give you better angles for aerial photos.  Another benefit of a helicopter is that it can move forward very slowly to get the perfect view.  A plane has to turn around and come back. The downside of helicopters is simply higher costs.

Avoid shooting through airplane windows as they will distort your photos when using a telephoto lens.  I use a very fast lens (usually f/2.8) with image stabilization and a professional high-resolution digital SLR camera.  

The most important part of aerial photography, however, is a good conversation of expectations with the client.  Understanding the exact angles and views that the client wants is always the number one priority before going up in the air. 

New look at JonReis.com!

I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new website! The new site features interactive slideshows for each area of photography I specialize in–weddings, commercial (architecture, aerial, advertising), portraits (business, family, student), and fine art.

A BIG thank you to Amy Porter, our in-house Art Director who worked on the design development to create a look and feel that reflects our evolving direction in the world of photography.  We've been working hard on this redesign for months, and we're so happy (and relieved!) that it's finally launched.

Here's a snapshot of our new site, and a link!
http://www.jonreis.com

State of the Art Gallery

In order to maintain a fresh eye in the commercial sector of my business I need to recharge my creative batteries on a weekly basis.  This involves working on my personal vision and presenting my iconic quirky images at my gallery or in juried exhibits.  A photograph that I submitted to the juried photography show at State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, New York won a cash prize in March 2011.  The photo was part of an on-going series I call Social Studies which documents the American Social landscape. The image: Right Turn Only was one of many taken at the Veterans Day parade in November 2010.  I find covering the getting ready portion of the parade as fascinating as the parade itself. Going back to my roots as a social documentary photographer renewed my interest in candid people photography.  Patience and timing are the key as the people are constantly moving in and out of the frame, acting, and re-acting.  It is wonderful when everything falls into place for a split second and you get it.  Which photo is your favorite?