Category Archives: photography

family, friends, Guest Blogger, Iphone, personal, photography, Snapseed by Nik

Would you still love me if I had a BRAIN tumor?

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Charlie

(This is a guest blog written by my oldest daughter Rhianna.  “Rana” is our oldest, probably our most unique, well all our kids are Unique.  But she has alway seemed to have a very eclectic mixture of friends.  I met Charlie yesterday.  Charlie just finished treatment for a brain tumor.  He seems like a very happy kid.  We’re not sure if it was successful yet.)

 

Allow me to introduce you to Charlie! He is 14 years old, loves soccer & snowboarding and has a heart of gold! How bad do you want to pinch his freckled cheeks?!?! Back in March, after 8 weeks of complaining of headaches and umpteen tests his family received a phone call that would change their lives!

Charlie was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor! After surgery to remove the tumor and several rounds of chemo & radiation Charlie is on his way to recovery! This poor kid has been through more torture than anyone should ever have to go through let alone a child!!

Charlie is the youngest brother of one of my closest friends, Chelsea!! They are 12 years apart so Charlie is more like a child to Chelsea than a brother. She absolutely adores this kid and will do anything for him! And he certainly looks up to her! Next to Mom, he wants Chelsea there with him for all the bad as well as the good throughout this journey. I am forever in awe of this entire family and their love & commitment to each other and giving all they can to help charlie through this nightmare!!

For more info here is a online fundraiser to help defray the exhorbidant expense of the treatment and surgery.  http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-charlie-our-13-year-old-son-fight-brain-cancer/163010

Architecture, ART, Blog, Business, career, Kansas, location shoot, personal, photography, Travel

Is Diversity Good for the Career?

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0010600147I just spent the week going thru my Hawaii archives….and I came across a folder from a trip back home a couple years ago. Not sure where it is exactly, sometimes I just drive.  As a documentary photographer I’m drawn to places like this, to get a glimpse into our past.  I think then I’m partially a historian.

But in my day to day life I promote myself as a architectural and corporate photographer.  Can I do both?  Not if I want the big boys to take me serious.  This was a concept I struggled with mighty in the past.  I was trained as a photojournalist.  As such you had to learned to be good in several specialties.  The more diverse, the more value you were to the editorial brand.  I took pride in being able to venture into unknown situations and produce, it’s what we did.

As a “commercial” photographer the more you specialize, the more value you bring to the table, the more you can charge.  The perception is that your image as a specialist will bring more value to their product, brand and reputation.  It isn’t always who is the best image maker, who is perceived as such.

In my financial portfolio, I diversify, as a business owner I’m an Architectural Photographer (and don’t tell anyone, a darn good documentary, travel and corporate one also).

My work:  http://www.zwink.com  My editorial archives:  http://www.bigstudioz.com

Business, career, family, friends, Guest Blogger, photography

Are you an unsuspecting Mentor?

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KevinThe following is a blog on the Asmp.org site by my good friend, Kevin Lock who I’ve known a long time.  His blog post was part of a series about other photographers that had an effect on their careers and lives.  Here’s Kevin’s story.

Fellow photographer. Mentor. Friend.

Posted: 15 Oct 2014 09:01 PM PDT

[by Kevin Lock]

I met my mentor in college and didn’t even know it.

While attending San Diego State, I took my first ‘paying’ photographic job at the Daily Aztec.  After only being on staff for a few weeks I attended a slide show presentation on Somalia, presented by a photojournalist whom had begun the rocky transition from newspaper photographer to freelance.  After the presentation I ran down the photographer and interviewed him for an hour or so.  I had no idea at the time how profoundly this photographer would affect my career and how quickly.  I had just picked up my second job. Assistant.

Over the years my relationship with this photographer grew.  My photographic career metamorphosed.  He introduced me to his fellow photographers which led to new jobs, I mastered the art of being his gopher, dark room technician, second shooter, digital retoucher, studio manager, problem solver, occasional house sitter, and in time, business partner.  This ever evolving relationship has taken us on photographic adventures across the country and to a few international destinations.

It was with his encouragement that I joined the ASMP in 2003.   I attended a few board meetings and then he pushed me to run for president of my local chapter. After 2 years as president and as I approach my final year on the national board, I can’t help but think how differently things would be for me today had a photographer not taken interest in my journey and taken the time to help me succeed over the years.

Joel Zwink,  I thank you for your guidance, encouragement, and your friendship.

Kevin Lock is a current director of the ASMP.    While Kevin and Joel joined the ASMP at different times, they both continue to give back to their community by being photographers, helping photographers in San Diego and in a town near you.

 

Techy/Credits:  Photo of Kevin Lock by Joel Zwink

Kevin’s website:  http://www.kevinlockphotography.com

My sites:  http://www.zwink.com  –  http://www.bigstudioz.com

 

 

ART, Business, camera phone, HDR, hipstomatic, Iphone, Iphone 5, location, personal, photography, Snapseed, Travel

Is it Art, Pt.2?

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I wrote this post a little over a year ago on a different site.  I have spent a lot of time since then thinking about the topic and then expanding it to what is photography?  I’ll let you savor on the post for a couple days and then I’ll share some thoughts.

 I was in SF last week on an extensive corporate photo shoot for Swinerton.  When I was leaving I decided to take the Treasure Island exit on the way back to the airport.  The last time I was on TI was in 1975 when it was a Navy Base and I was a naive young seaman in Electronic Warfare school.  So many memories……  I first decided to do a quick photo shoot of the skyline which was etched in my memory.  I first shot it with my Nikon D3 and then decided to try my iPhone on Hipstamatic mode.  Ugh…… it looked as flat and hazy as the skyline.  So then I opened my new favorite app. Snapseed.  With a few adjustments and then a frame adjustment the above photo is what I ended up with.  I know, it looks grainy and it does.  But, the end result is that I’m going to print it on watercolor on my Epson inkjet printer.  A few years ago I did a similar series that I printed on the watercolor paper and it looked great.  Now, we’ll find out how IPhone photos hold up.

The techy stuff:  camera:  iPhone 4 (the 5 is on order)

Apps:  Hipstamatic and Snapseed by Nik

My real work is at:  http://www.zwink.com

babies, daughters, family, personal, photography

Birthday Girl

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 My three Gds (l-r) Payton, Natty and Parker

  This post is actually for my Granddaughter, Payton.  I hope someday she spends some time and reads my blog to see what “PoppaZ” did and thought.  But I’m a little ahead of myself.

  Payton Jo Rohrer was born seven years ago yesterday.  It has been a crazy time.  Having a grand daughter is the best reminder that you’re not young anymore.  I’m not….

 I was very blessed to have been invited to see the birth of Payton.  I was there documenting the experience  until the doctor told me to get out.  A short time later we heard the newborn cry.  And there she was.

  Payton created a lot of fun even before she was born.  Her mom, Tiffany, and I had several heated discussions about the choice of Payton as a name.  My argument, it’s a boy’s name and as a Charger’s  fan, it’s the same as Payton Manning, our arch nemesis, on the football field.  I lost the argument, and Payton Jo it was.

  Personally, I was hoping she’d be born on the 4th of July.  It would be special imagining her sharing a famous holiday as PoppaZ does (Cinco de Mayo).  But once again true to her Mom’s stubbornness Payton arrived on the 3rd instead.  She wasn’t going to share here birthday with anyone….. Happy Bday Pay.

 

 

Aerial, Architecture, Blog, Business, career, Lightroom 5, location, location shoot, photography, Video

A New View from Above

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I have done a lot of aerials for clients the last several years.  But as clients tightened their budgets the number of aerial assignments drastically decreased.  As an alternative we invested in a DJI Phantom Vision + and are in the early stages of testing.  They are several potential issue ranging from the paranoid uninformed public, insurance and future FAA regulations.  The plus side is being able to achieve lower level views than from a $650 per hour helicopter, work within tighter budgets and product creative imagery.  The times are changing but change can be fun.

More of my work is at:  www.zwink.com

Business, camera phone, Cruise, family, Iphone 5, Kansas, location, location shoot, personal, photography, Travel

How I get a week’s worth of Work!!!!!

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North Shore Turtle

GO ON VACATION…… SERIOUSLY!!!

  I have a phobia of losing clients by going on vacation.  So I try and be the good communicator and notify my clients of upcoming trips and vacations so they don’t (hopefully) schedule or plan anything during that time frame.  This way clients know and I have a few days to pack or relax before heading to the airport.

  WRONG…. I don’t know if it’s the law of attraction but 90% of the time I end up  shooting during the week and finishing the post production just before the early morning trip to the airport.  I end up catching up on my sleep on the flight to our destination.

  The last time I failed to send out my obligatory email was when my father died and I flew back to Kansas.  My primary client at the time called me the day of the funeral and asked if I could do a major rebranding shoot in two days.  No, I replied my father just passed away, can we reschedule the shoot for a week later.  No they replied.  That week I lost two very important parts of my life.  One can’t be replaced.

  btw, I’m going on vacation next Sat. and I sent “the email”.  I’m shooting for four days, doing one day of post production and then off to New Orleans.  I hope your thoughts of vacation are as productive.

Some of my vacation photos are at:  www:zwink.com

Blog, camera phone, Cruise, family, friends, Lightroom 5, location shoot, personal, photography, Travel, Uncategorized

Treasure your Vacation photos

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“Get yourself in the picture. Nothing is worse than a vacation with no shots of the family photographer. Get in the picture by using a tripod (or a steady surface such as a wall or a car hood) and the camera’s self-timer to make sure you’re included in the family memories.”

Borrowed quote from a Nikon site…..good advise.

 

More of my work at:  WWW.Zwink.com

Blog, Business, career, photography, San Diego

Do you belong?

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I have been a member of ASMP ever since I opened my own photography business.  It gave me a sense of community, I belonged.  When you have your own business, it is you against the world.  Whether you survive or prosper is up to you and only you.  But does it need to be that way?  When you belong to a group you immediately improve your chance to be successful.  Groups like ASMP or APA have education, business and advocacy programs.

Meet people that share a common link.  Network and you might find new opportunities at the least you will meet people you can talk ideas or point you in a right direction.

Asmp has over 7,000 members and growing.  As our industry has evolved, so has Asmp.  The local chapter has a wide range of programming.  I know, I’m the new Program Chair along with Matt Janecek.  Come take a look.  Our next meeting is at San Diego City College and features internationally renown photographer Vincent Versace.

If you like what you see then join us, and “Belong”.

My work is displayed at www.zwink.com, Interested in Asmp visit www.asmp.org or locally www.asmp-sd.org