Category Archives: career

ART, camera phone, career, Iphone 5, location, location shoot, music, photography, San Diego, Snapseed, Travel, work

On The Road…Again

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I’m no expert but it appears the economy is improving.  The first two months of 2014 were the busiest I’ve ever had.  I know it’s a small sample to base the year on but other photographers have told me they’re off to a good start also.  If photographers are working, businesses are marketing and looking to growth.  That’s what we do, we help our client market, sell and grow their business.

I spent a lot of the month on the road.  Several trips to Orange County surrounded a couple San Diego projects and then I went to the Bay Area for a couple shoots up there.  After a quick respite back home and starting a new local project, I went to Alaska for a quick shoot.  I know, why send a San Diego photographer there, it’s because my client trusts me to get what they need.  Maybe an idea for a future blog.

Well I need to wrap this up.  I have another couple projects in Orange County and LA this week.  I hope everyone else is busy.

About my image gallery:  All images shot with my iPhone while traveling.  Post was in Snapseed.

career, photography, San Diego

Are you LinkedIn……?

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IMG_2230  I guess the real title should be why I don’t connect with other photographers.

I consider my self fairly successful, at least for the market I work in.  That’s why I finally started marketing better a few years ago at the suggestion of a millionaire friend of mine.  We talked and the reality was I needed to change, to expand my network.

First I revamped my portfolio www.zwink.com and then after doing some serious soul searching decided to focus my marketing on architectural photography even though I love to shoot it all (well almost).  One of the marketing tools my friend Bob suggested was Linkedin, a professional networking site used primarily at that time for people looking for job opportunities and business connections.  The basic idea is to network, to explore and gain new opportunities.

When I was new to Linkedin there were not a lot of photographers using the service.  Now that has changed.  I constantly get requests from other photographers wanting me “to add you to my professional network”.  I don’t think so.  A lot of my contacts are people I either work with or want to work with.  Why tell others who my market is?  Is it paranoia?  No, I had someone I thought was a friend steal one of my clients.  Approached them offering to do the work cheap and for trade.  He is no longer working in this town….  His business model didn’t work and I learned my lesson.

So….. if you’re a photographer meet me on Facebook, @zphotog on Twitter, or better yet email or call me.  I’ll still be your friend.

My website is:  www.zwink.com            And my older work is archived at:  www.bigstudioz.com

ART, career, family, Kansas, Lightroom 5, location shoot, photography, Travel

Been there, Done that?????

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_JDZ8515A

Have you?  Have you been to that place more that once where you start to shoot the same photos the same way?  STOP……. don’t go into autopilot.  You know what works, now look for something different.  Whether a different angle, different lens, different time of day or a new technique, explore it.  Dare to be different, that how you become better.  Don’t go home with the same or similar images.  STIMULATE YOUR VISION!!!

Techy stuff:  camera-Nikon D800 and Nikon D600.  Lenses Nikkor 14-24 and 70-200.  Processed in Adobe Lightroom 5.  Locaton, Macksville, Kansas, population aprox. 500.

More of my work:  http://zwink.com

career, location shoot, photography, San Diego, Sports

Old Memories

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Atlanta 98 celebration

San Diego Padres celebrating their 1998 NLCS title against the Atlanta Braves.

  1,564 people liked this photo on Facebook……..

  How many know who shot the photo…….

  Isn’t the creator of a photo sometimes as important to know as the image, especially if it has historical significance?

  Good photos are made, not just taken…..

  DON’T FORGET THE PHOTOGRAPHERS……..credit them please

  Photo by:  Joel Zwink/San Diego Padres circa 1998

career, family, location shoot

Whose Story is this?

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I don’t know what the attraction is but cemeteries draw me to them.  Is it curiosity, a little macabre or the photographer in me.  Believe me, I’m in no hurry and definitely not looking for a resting place.  That, will be someone else’s problem.  I won’t be around… lol.  Sometimes I’m alone, sometimes Patti my wife will go with me.  I’ve never asked her why, we just do.  Often we start out together exploring but often separate.  And then quietly call the other when there is a perceived story to share.  We don’t do this at home, only when we’re traveling.  Maybe it the anthropologist in us that looks for clues about the past and the culture we’re invading.  I could write more on my thoughts, but I’ll hold onto them.  Maybe for an addendum if there’s enough curiosity.

TECHY STUFF:  The above images were taken at a abandoned, unattended graveyard we came across at Port Allen near Glass Beach on Kaua’i.  What was interesting was all the writing on the markers and headstones in one area were all Japanese or Chinese, the middle part to young Hawaiian children that died within the first couple years and then the other side to a small section of Hawaiian families.  We don’t know their stories, but we sure speculated for a while.

My real work:  http://www.zwink.com

P.S.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY FRIENDS, READERS AND FELLOW BLOGGERS.

career, Lightroom 3, location shoot, photography, San Diego

Image taker or maker

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Which are you?  I am a Image Maker.  Even with my iPhone (yes I admit I have and use one) I think before I hit the shutter.  I think that is the difference.  Good Image Makers, aka photographers and videographers think and don’t just react to a scene, situation or event.  Another good qualifier is to look at a body of images and see if they make sense.  Yes, make sense, do they tell  the story or stimulate a response?  So…… even if you’re an amateur next time, look and compose before you take that picture.  Happy shooting…

Techy stuff:  All images shot at Sunset at Mission Beach, Ca. with a Nikon D3 and processed in LightRoom3.

career, photography, San Diego

ASMP RESOLVE……

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(To my regular blog readers this post is directed at ASMP, an organization I’ve belonged to and believed in since 1992.  If you don’t belong, think about it.  Protect your rights as an Image Maker.)

2013 New Year Resolutions for ASMP

Here are some resolutions or answers I would like to see for the coming year.
1. Resolve the dreaded * asterisk. The election season is coming soon and I hope the National Board can solve this before it get blown up again. My take…… do away with it. Don’t do any thing to influence voters one way or another. Please do it sooner than later.
2. On the subject of the election I would like to see high profile photographers be more involved and run. Out of aprox. 7,000 members there has to be some fresh talent out there.
3. Experienced GM pros, pay back and get involved with the local chapters. Help strengthen the local chapters that helped when you were younger. And don’t give us the “I’m too busy excuse”. We’re all busy.
4. Look at #3. There is no reason for a non-GM to be President of a local chapter. And before you reply, talk to National, they quietly passed it to allow anyone in the chapter to be pres. now.
5. In 2013 I would like to see ASMP be more relevant to General Members. For several years a push has been made to sign up more non-GM members making GMs more of a minority in the organization. When I was joined I was given the goal to become a GM and often reminded that ASMP was founded to advance the cause of the GM in the industry. I would like ASMP to clarify their current mission statement. Are we (as a group) here to support the pros or here to support the new influx into the society who has no goal to be a GM?
6. These are some of my questions and possible resolutions for ASMP for the coming year. May you all grow in your business for 2013.
It’s not too early. Think about it. What would you like to see in ASMP for 2013?

©2012 ZWINK PHOTOGRAPHY

techy stuff:  www.asmp.org           local organization:  www.asmp-sd.org    my site:  www.zwink.com

career, Lightroom 4, location shoot, photography, Travel

Getaway

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We all need that special place.  Be it close by or halfway around the world we all need a place that has a hold on us.  The place that feels good, has the mojo to help recharge us, that make you feel safe, that you don’t forget and often return to.

Kauai, the northern most Hawaiian island, is our special place.  We’ve been coming here on and off for 24 years, since our honeymoon.  We have experienced the island go through many changes, a hurricane, an abundance of water, a drought, the effect of the economic collapse,  the death of a beloved local surfer and the resiliency to survive, never forget and move on.  We’ve also seen a kind, compassionate, caring culture  of the people that love their home.  The “aloha” factor.

This is our special place, it is a part of us.  No matter the situation we alway have a unique experience.  I try to share what we love about Kauai with our friends through my photography of our travels and adventures.  Every person has to find their own “special place” .  Kauai, just saying it warms my heart, it will always be our special place that keeps calling to come back.  What does it for you?

techy stuff:  all images shot with the new Nikon D600 and processed in Adobe Lightroom 4.  My website is www.zwink.com

career, Lightroom 4, location shoot, photography, San Diego, Sports

I used to shoot Sports

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I am an architectural photographer who also does corporate and commercial work.  I used to shoot sports but due to personal reasons have stayed away from the genre.  BUT……. the more things change…

My friend Stan Liu, an accomplished sports photog himself generously offer me a credential to go shoot the San Diego State v. UNLV football game.  What a great time.  The game was sloppy but being able to capture athletes in an intense competition was exhilarating and made me remember why I had chosen that lifestyle for so long.  If only I could have figured out how to make money doing it.  Thanks Stan.

Techy notes:  Shot with a Nikon D700 with a booster for the motor, Nikkor 400 f2.8 lens and images processed in Adobe Lightroom 4.

Websites: http://www.zwink.com and my archived sports and editorial site:  http://bigstudioz.com