Photographer makes cameras unique, questionably insane

Some people are just very crafty. They can build things out of nothing. Just look at all the steampunk, wii-mods, hacked gadgets, and killer flying jelly-fish that will eventually take over the world. You name it and those people can do it. Wayne Martin Belger is one of those guys. But Belger doesn't build gadgets. He builds custom cameras made of unique and rare parts. I know what you're thinking. He uses gold, or platinum, or bedazzles the shit out of them (AWESOME!), but you're wrong.....DEAD wrong.

He uses things such as dead baby skulls, preserved infant hearts, and HIV infected blood. Makes that sculpture of the effiel tower you made out of macaroni look pretty stupid now doesn't it.

Click through for the full story

The fashionable photog

Ever gone to a location on the move, especially for you event photographers, and you had so much equipment, or so many distasteful fanny-pack looking things, that you looked like a japanese tourist at disneyland? Well, thanks to Wired.com and their review of these awesome photo bags such as the one shown above. These baby's are worth their slightly high price tag because they successfully merge form with function.

Gone are the drab days of black bags. Fashionable earth tones, and bright oranges fill make up these bags, and they have all the storage one needs when shooting on location. I guess now i can sell my state-of-the-art camera bag* and finally upgrade to a fashionable one.

*trashbag with zip-tie

Click through for the full list o'bags.

Miley Cyrus is topless, child of Satan?

Some photos are done with the intent to stir up controversy in its viewers. The photoshoot of Miley Cyrus is not one of those photos. The above photo was taken for the cover of Vanity Fair and was shot by uber-famous, Anne Lebovitz, a.k.a Jesus Christ Superstar of Photography. However after taking these photos, both her and Cyrus seem to have fallen from grace, with Cyrus quick to point the finger and deflect any of the bad press from her.

In an apology from Cyrus written to Entertainment Tonight, she says that:

"I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed," she tells ET. "I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."

Cyrus as you know, is the 15-year old Hannah Montana, Disney cash-cow and daughter of Mr. Mullet himself, Billy Ray Cyrus who was in attendance at the shoot. Is this photo of Cyrus appropriate? Of course it is. It was tastefully done, nothing more than a bare back was shown. Was this photo appropriate in the context of who Cyrus is and her audience? Not so much. But shit if you can't handle that photo, don't come over to my house on Tuesdays, or as I like to call it naked-palooza.

Click through for the full story.

photo courtesy of vanity fair

Moments in Time

These photos are so good, I can't even write a post. Instead, I'll whip out a haiku for all of you out there.

Very Nice Photos
Looking very sharp and clear
Wish I had talent

Click through for all the photos.

Ladies of Flickr

Well, it's Monday morning, and I think just about everybody has a case of the Monday's. During my days in med school (i watched doogie howser pretty regularly) I learned that a cure for the Monday's is attractive ladies. So i present to you, Babes of Flickr. A compilation of model shots all posted on flickr. So now you don't have to stay up till 3 a.m. searching the web.

What's that you say? I deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for the category of Awesome for this find? No, please 4 is enough for me.

Click through for the full site.

Photography: more than just pointing and shooting

The job of a photographer is very simple on it's surface. To most people, photography is as simple as owning a camera and taking a picture. Thanks to technology, everyone can consider themselves a photographer. By today's standards, there are probably 2 million photographers on myspace what with their cool stylized highly contrasted, i'm looking pensive while holding the camera above my head in the bathroom. But photography is much more than that. It takes thought, planning, keen reflexes, a moment too soon, or too late and you miss the shot completely (see Lee Harvey Oswold murder, or the planting of a flag on iwo jima) and a very sharp eye for what makes a good picture (framing, lighting, subject, etc)

This write up done on Reuters about a sub-editor's project of playing photographer and the trials and tribulations she discovered.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world, some guy pretends to be a blogger by blogging about people who pretend to be photographers.

Click through for the full story in all it's awesome news-worthyness.

Photographer Spotlight #1: Stuck in Customs

Have you ever been taking photos and thought to yourself "Why don't i think of a way to shoot in HD and become awesome like That Blogger Guy?" Well if you have, stop because I found some amazing photos shot in "HD" that make me want to sell my soul to him. Although I know that can't happen anymore....stupid vegas.

Anyway, here's one photographer that really makes me appreciate the ability, talent, and overall ingenuity of people out there.

Click through to get some mo' of dis' funky fresh photo action.

Shout to Brandon who actually has been stuck in customs.

Product Spotlight #1: Nikon D60

Well considering I'm on a goodwill rampage, I'd like to introduce the product spotlight! In this little post we will take a look at the good (and the bad) products that come across my sight line. If you see a product you like, give me a shout! Don't see a product you like? Well then, that's your fault! Game, Set, and Match....

Go to www.dphotojournal.com for more AWESOME reviews

"Nikon D60 is a Digital SLR camera (announced 28 January’08) features 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor, Airflow Control System and Image Sensor Cleaning Function, 0.18-second start-up time, Active D-Lighting, In-Camera ReTouch Menu, Eye-Fi Memory Support, and a 2.5″ Color LCD with Eye Sensor. The D60 will be packaged with the 3x zoom AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens and will be available throughout the United States beginning in February 2008."

Tip of the Month #1

Seeing as I am a Professional*, I decided that it was in the best interest of everyone to share some of the awesome tips that I found on the web through google learned in all my years of work. The above photo is an example of bounce photography.

“Bounce is a great alternative to direct flash, especially for people pictures made under low ceilings or near white walls. As its name implies, you bounce the flash off a nearby surface rather than blasting it directly at your subjects. Bounce creates much softer light for highlights and shadows that better convey the shaping of a person’s face.

Also, when shooting groups two or three people deep, a ceiling bounce can provide much more even lighting front-to-back than direct. Further good news: bounce is an effective way to prevent redeye.”

One of the most useful tips out there that can make any simple photograph dramatic, sharp, or just plain "wow that really sucks" is the use of a flash. Although these tips work better for those with DSLR cameras used with an external flash, some affects may be achieved with Digital point-and-shoots by contacting McGiver.

Click through to view the entire rant on flash photography.

* This in ono way means iI am an expert or professional.

Photo Contest of the day!

Worth1000.com is a great source to see all the creative (and many not so creative) people's attempts at creating and manipulating photos based on certain themes.

Most of the time they will have contests going on with small cash prizes and what not. I'd enter them but I prefer spreading the love around and giving all the other peoples a chance to win. I know, I know, I'm a giver.

Click through to check out the site and join some contests while you're there. If you win, remember to say I taught you everything you know.

Christopher Huet is Super talented, Wow....

Just came across this awesome site of a group of photographers/designers/my heros. These people do some retardedly awesome work. Their concepts and the execution of those concepts are just straight ridiculous. They've definetly done some big-time commercial work and unlike some people (see previous blog) they have actually taken time and paid attention to detail.

Bravo to you Christopher Huet Agency. Now excuse me while i go flog myself in shame in comparison to you.

Pictures + Photoshop - Skill = AWESOME!

So i just had to share this awesome blog. Basically it is a compilation of artwork, usually big-name commercial work (i.e. movie posters, game boxes, editorial photos, etc) that has either been totally butchered or the due-diligence that is required for large scale commercial products was apparently not brought to the office that day.

More Disasters are just a click away.

Shout out to Brandon, who likes Korean Mothers for the link.

Welcome to the end of the internet...

Examples of great* photography? check. Examples of horrible** photography? double check. Great sources of photography and even more sources completely unrelated to photography but equally entertaining? Si se puede! In 2007 over 36 million cameras were sold in the U.S. alone so there are bound to be plenty of pictures out there that tell even more stories and that's what we want to find. Other blog sites, Professional photographers, amateur photographers, semi/amateur/professional photographers, people who hate photographers (my fav.) and so on. We know you have them and we want them, so don't bogart those goodies! Hit our polls, click our links, comment on the well (poorly) written posts written in the wee hours of the day.

So you know what they say about pictures, they paint 1000 words. So if you multiply 1000 words by 2 bajillion photos per year, multiply that by 3.14, carry the 2......I'm gonna need another abacus here real quick.

*great is subjective to my opinion which, in my opinion, is AWESOME
** my photos.