Photo Communiqué

lighting technique SYMPOSIUM

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:55:44 -0800

Lighting Technique for the Modern Portrait is for 2 days with class hours 10:00 to 4:00

Arrive as early as 9:30 for coffee and settling in.

Choose from these dates. Second day is a discounted opt in day.

April 9 & 10, 2024

July15 & 16, 2024

Opt in for Day 2 only if attending first day.
Day 1 is practicing Available Window Light and Constant Lighting. Lori will lead each section with instruction, theory and demonstration, followed by attendees testing and troubleshooting the light in camera with two styled models. Lori will be available for coaching and answering questions.

We will use reflection, diffusion, flagging and also open shade and distancing.

Day 2 is practicing strobe. Bring your own, or utilize ours. Please understand your equipment before class.

We will work with diffusion and bounce, along with flagging. Also practicing power levels for different results and styles.

We will work with a female and a male styled model and each other.

After lunch, have your laptop ready since Lori will be sharing techniques in post processing. Toning and Color Grading plus a little PS retouching and some Generative Fill work to help you become familiar with the tool.

This class structure is a PORTRAIT WALK throughout the facility. Please read out FYI section to learn more.

We limit this class to 6 attendees to ensure your success. You will make your newest friends while learning this skill as a group.

***This is an Intermediate to Advanced Class intended for photographers looking to expand their portrait lighting training.

Knowledge of camera basics and exposure is critical. Lori will help get you through if struggling.

* Industrial Chic location of 300,000 sq feet...Read More

Apple's Photo Stream Has Shut Down

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 18:45:00 -0700

Scrolling through social media posts this past month I noticed that there was a little panic and even more confusion about the quietly convenient and accessible Photo Stream was being shut down by the end of July. This led to comments about external hard drives and how best to save all of those precious iPhone images, screenshots and videos we carry everywhere with us. It’s our modern day plastic wallet insert where we carried about 14 photos of our family, mainly school pictures. We just knew it was there. Our little do it all devices, including iPhone is all that on steroids times 100.
So then, the note that we could lose access is a terrifying thought. A busy schedule doesn’t warrant phasing over to a new system, or does it?
I created a walk through video to share that you already have exactly what you need and so much more in place. Keep in mind that Photo Stream only stored your last 1000 images for only 30 days at a time to sync in the Cloud for all your devices to enjoy. Your workflow is going to be much easier!
Since we are photographers, many of us are creating video content along with pictures of kittens and little Jimmy on our iPhone’s. I use my iPhone to create campaigns so I’m keeping content there to build those on the fly.
We should always think about a back up plan, and eventually pulling things off into external’s because space can be used up quickly. Also, simply buy into additional storage with iCloud. I use the $2.99 plan which gives me about 10,000 images and 1000 videos of about 10 minutes or less. So, I do keep them moving but have no worries on the day to day.
We interviewed Rachel Kim of Copyright Alliance non-profit to gain understanding of the services offered. We found them at the 2023 PPA Conference, Imaging USA held in Nashville.
Their Washington, D.C. based free service supports creatives across a wide spectrum. Lately on their newsletter via my email inbox, they have been tackling the AI sector that is sweeping industries with new challenges. Within their WEBINARS they are “The Unified Voice of the Copyright Community!”
I believe once you dive in to the website and newsletter topics, you will be immersed into learning things that surprise you and give you power to protect your work.
Photo Communiqué fully supports the mission!
Join the movement at Copyright Alliance
#Unite4Copyright
Apologies for the lighting, it was in the EXPO space and I felt it was important to make this interview, so in order to sync up to an available lavalier, I used my ‘vintage’ iPod 5 for the audible portion.
“We are a non-profit organization advocating and educating about copyright law.”_ RACHEL KIM
GREATNESS and how the modern portrait was perceived so many years ago. The rules were being created and already broken with great success. We watched and learned. We will continue to study the iconic photographers of another age. The light, the style, the imagination… all of it.
Douglas Kirkland was never afraid to create beautiful portraiture along with documentary style pictures of iconic people that history keeps in our minds. Marilyn, Brigitte, Raquel, Jack, Elizabeth, Faye, Audrey, Judy, Coco and beyond.
I will let Douglas speak to you through an interview that is adored. His personality shows through here.
Portrait of Douglas Kirkland by Patricia Lanza
A wonderful interview with Depth of Field for B&H PHOTO
“Douglas Kirkland (1934 – 2022), has passed away at age 88 on October 2, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. His unforgettable images and generous, exuberant spirit touched generations and will continue to do so. Kirkland was the recipient of the 2003 Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Photography.
Douglas Kirkland was born in Toronto Canada. He joined Look Magazine in his early twenties, and later Life Magazine during the golden age of 60’s/70’s...Read More

Mick Rock Tribute

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:00:00 -0800

"He was a photographic poet — a true force of nature who spent his days doing exactly what he loved, always in his own delightfully outrageous way."
*As explained on his website on the event of his passing.
My dear friend David Brommer of Suspect Photography sends me a text in the early evening. He lets me know of the passing of Mick Rock. I had to sit down. But once I gathered myself, I picked up my copy of EXPOSED. Then went out to my studio and made this tribute self portrait. I still don't understand the need to do this but I felt drawn. David aked me earlier to speak at the B&H Depth of Field Conference at the New Yorker where Mick would headline a keynote address on his retrospective career. Since it was rock & roll related David asked me to teach a concert photography portion to add value in that sector. I felt like I was the opener and I better be funny because the way Mick tells a story you can't help to smile alot as he speaks about his body of work in a very storytelling way. He's raw, he's gritty and swears some too. Haha, but it is all in good favor as we watch in awe his images come across the screens. David and I sat in the front row and felt utterly connected to Mick. Our inspiration tanks were full.
"From Warhol to Queen, British Photographer Mick Rock says he was the only photographer around when he...Read More

Quarantine Captures

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:09:30 -0700

I have been viewing CBS Sunday Morning for the past 20 years. This program is timely and an inspirational source for creatives and intellectuals. It is also a source of humanity for people that need a news story that gives them joy and a sense of peace.
From CBS, “Sunday Morning presents a snapshot of life in a time of pandemic,
featuring the work of photographer Jamie Harmon, whose photo series,
‘Quarantine Memphis,’ depicts Tennesseans in lockdown.”
So today, as I bring my first article back to Photo Communiqué after a much needed hiatus while I concentrated on family. Here, I am introducing a series in support of my favorite broadcast news magazine. This is very natural for me since they often feature photographers’ work as well as all other artist types. As I have come back into the realm of writing and creating stories for photographers I am met with COVID-19, the pandemic that seems to not escape anyone. We are left to bring in a new concentration, understanding and appreciation of our families more than ever. We are learning new skillsets and we idealize a next chapter for our businesses or even amateur perspectives.
We have seen plenty of pushback on the front porch photographer movement, much of it is due to the rules of social distancing and not staying home, especially for those seeking a profit during times when businesses are mostly grounded at the moment. In my mind I was searching for a different perspective as a journalist and as we all have witnessed,...Read More

Going Up?

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:53:31 -0700

While the skies may be friendly, it can be stressful to give up
our camera, even for a moment at security checkpoints.
Remember when our laptops newly needed to be pulled out of backpacks and briefcases for security checkpoints? To this day we snuggle them safely into our bags on the way to the airport only to expose them for screening in a vulnerable fashion before setting foot on the plane.
Recently on the way to Las Vegas WPPI convention, I had to go through additional screening. The agent took control of all possessions including my Think Tank Roller Derby which held a MacBook Pro that I had pulled out into a tray as standard procedure. Turns out there was another MacBook identical to mine in a bin coming through the X-ray machine and the agent took that one. In these cases you really don’t get to manage your belongings, “right over here ma’am,” while standing and waiting for the pat down and wiping of all items in the case, a gentleman walked over to us holding up a MacBook and declared that I may have his. Due to the agent’s mistake, turns out I did. The agent allowed the man to swap the laptops after he showed us a NASA sticker on the bottom. It was his official NASA business travel computer. Imagine if he hadn’t...Read More

Elton John / An Appreciation

Mon, 02 Jan 2017 13:32:33 -0800

Tate Modern in central London is hosting Elton John’s vast collection of photographers’ work.
The collection lives in John’s 18,000 square foot home in Atlanta, wall to wall and top to bottom. He only needed this much space to hang ‘the love of his life’ in art… photography. Not his own, but the work of many masters through time. These photographers told stories of fashion, lifestyle and social discourse. I won’t mention any names, I don’t want to dismiss the importance of any one artist in the collection or Elton’s fascination and appreciation of their work. What I will mention is who made the pictures above and at his bedside. Above you will find Man Ray in noir et blanc. To the right of his bed is the work of Irving Penn who photographed Elton John in a series of experimental portraiture, a quirky set which offers a distorted view of Sir Elton and adored by the subject in them.
"That's what photographs do ... they're like reading a book. Your imagination comes alive and you wonder what was going on when the photograph was taken" _elton john
The video below caught my attention for this article after researching Elton John. Previously, I was thrilled to photograph Sir Elton in concert. You see, in an age when photographers shooting for publication are often forced to sign contracts to give away the images to management of a performance upon request. Or, finding out at the last minute you will have to capture the essence of the show from hundreds of yards away (soundstage). I need the intimate moment of capture you only see when you are several feet away (in the pit). I nearly cried when told we would be photographing Elton from the stage front and did not require a contract. For...Read More

Bill Cunningham Tribute

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 06:18:49 -0700

“The best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been. Always will be.”
When I heard of the passing of Bill Cunningham this week, I felt I lost a friend, even though we never met. Through nearly 4 decades I have enjoyed his column in The New York Times named On The Street. He knew how to show us fashion in the real world, what people were really wearing opposed to the important runway shows that are a prevalent institution for clothing design in New York, Paris, Milan, London and all around the globe. You would find Bill at these events, he said they educate the eye, but his heart was truly on the street, doing what his instincts told him the world needed to see. He found paralleled fashion trends from the runway to the street, photographing views from his perspective. He loved the avant-garde and relished the classy dresser. Bill was always on the look out for the newest thing in fashion from head to toe. Bill Cunningham lived from 1929 - 2016.
Then I got to know him better thanks to Zeitgeist Films. I went to New York to see this film in a Soho theater The Film Forum. There was a standing ovation at the end.
Bill Cunningham New York
Although he was a sought after hat maker / designer in his 20’s, labeled William J (fun to know Marilyn Monroe was one of his clients). Bill made...Read More

Burt Shavitz Tribute

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 20:30:46 -0700

I first learned about Burt’s full story and the photographer side to his history from Burt’s Buzz, a profession he was good at while working with Time/Life and The International Herald Tribune in the 60’s, taking iconic portraits and other moments in time while living in New York City. Then, he found his true calling. The cultivation and raising of bee communities, eventually turning it into a pure health staple in many homes as we know it and see on almost every counter or make up aisle all over the world. The problem with this phenomenon was, Burt was not comfortable being an office man or in the limelight for Burt’s Bees. He found his peace living off the grid in rural Maine. He lived his life his way with Rufus Golden & Pasha Golden as his canine companions and best friends. Gone at 80 years. Burt lived from 1935 till 2015.
Burt shot an image of trash piled up on a nearby garbage barge in the forefront of the Statue of Liberty landscape. It was a catalyst for eco-consciousness in America. He was a freelance street story seeker. Shavitz shot an image of legend Malcom X during one of his speeches and another with poet-writer Allen Ginsberg. The image of the woman in the window was in his building and was the deciding factor to leave New York and head to Maine where he would live the rest of his life.
It is wonderful that Burt allowed all of us to peek into his life at 76 being such a private man. Take a look at the trailer for Burt’s Buzz. A pretty incredible story of a man who became one with nature after his birth in New York City. Catch it on Netflix. Filmmaker Jody Shapiro
Photo Credit: Robert F. Bukaty, AP
article by Lori Patrick