Garry Black Photography

ASK GARRY!

PAGE #10

Stock Photography

Camera Club Presentation

Camera Club Presentation

Beginning in Photography

Creating Thumbnails

Camera Equip 35mm vs APS

 

 Question:

GARRY I PERSONALLY CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE LECTURE GIVEN AT THE TORONTO CAMERA CLUB ON NOVEMBER 9th. I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL AND REAFFIRMED SOME CONCEPTS I HAD IN RELATION TO SHOOTING TECHNIQUES AND CAMERA EQUIPMENT. I GRADUATED FROM HUMBER COLLEGE -IN TORONTO- IN PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES AND CONTINUE STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY TO EXCEL IN THE FIELD AND HOPE SOME DAY TO MAKE IT INTO A STOCK AGENCY. GARRY I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME ANY PIECE OF ADVICE REGARDING THIS MATTER OF ENTERING A STOCK AGENCY. HOPING TO SEE YOU AGAIN AT THE TORONTO CAMERA CLUB.

Answer:

I am glad that you enjoyed my presentation.

I am not exactly sure what you mean by "entering a stock agency". Could you please be a little more specific?

Such as:
Choosing a stock agency?
Stock agency contracts?
Your portfolio?
How much money can you make?
Royalty free stock?

I have some information on my web site about stock on the following page http://www.garryblack.com/ask01.htm

 Question:

Just great Garry. Thanks for a wonderful talk and amazing photos. You are a natural educator, has anyone told you that before? You are so relaxed and your love and enthusiasm for the work just spills all over the place.

 Answer:

Thanks for your encouraging words on my presentation. I have been teaching photography workshops for over 15 years, in that time I have received a lot of praise for my teaching skills, but it is always nice to hear it.

Question:

Thanks for the answer and congratulations for the great lecture yesterday (Thursday, 9th) at the Toronto Camera Club. I really appreciated the fact that you took time to answer me. I would never expect that. Regarding the lecture, I really liked what you said about using any light and not only those "magic moments" before and after sunset. I work full-time and am working on my masters degree, so I have to use any free time to practice and that almost never happens in the times when the light is considered appropriate. Moreover, when I have a whole day off I want to keep shooting all the time as you said you do.

The editor of Practical Photography wrote once that he felt frustrated one day when he went to Madrid because of the harsh sunlight during most of the day. However, to compensate for the frustration he went to see a couple of expositions and was really impressed how the local photographers master the harsh light producing amazing and colourful pictures. Well, after seeing your pictures, especially those at Masterfile, I figure I have lots more to learn and practice. Unfortunately, the weather in Toronto is not collaborating. Maybe I'll try some studio shots as you suggested.

You should really consider writing a book. You have the gift of being able to put complex techniques in very simple terms, making them sound very easy. You could do it through the Internet as Stephen King, using the honor system for downloads and publishing in parts, every six months or so. Anyways, it's just an idea.

Thanks a lot,

Answer:

Thank you for your encouraging words on my presentation. I am glad that you enjoyed it and gained some more knowledge about photography.

Regarding a book, I really don't have the time available that I would require producing a book that I would be proud of. I teach a couple of workshops each year, I enjoy giving instructional programs, and then going out with the students and helping them hone their skills. Maybe when I am older, and slow down a little, then I will write a book.

If you ever have any questions, just ask!

Question:

I don't know if you'll ever have time to answer or even read this, but I hope you'll. I've started to get interest for photography in April this year (2000). So far, I've already managed to acquire lots of information and learn by myself how to take proper exposed pictures, how to develop my own films, how to print b&W and color including ilfochrome. I usually recur to books at the public library or information from websites.

I saw your site the other day and have to say that your pictures are impressive. I also noticed by your biography that you're a self-taught. Well, I plan to take one of your workshops when it comes to happen in Canada again, but meanwhile what do you suggest to someone who's starting? I'll probably never turn into a professional, but I wanted to take great pictures like you do. I have Pentax equipment, as I could not afford Nikon. I liked what you said about zoom lens, but to get the image definition you get you probably use high-end zoom lens, the ones that cost a couple of thousand US each right?

Well, if you have a time to give me an advice in what to read, what to try, etc. that would be great. I really miss having someone to critic what I've got so far. I thought about going into a course, but they're are either darn expensive or way too basic. What did you do when you're learning?

Answer:

It's funny, when I was learning photography, I also thought I'll probably never turn into a professional photographer. You never can be certain what the future holds for us!

It sounds to me that you are on the same track that I was on nearly 20 years ago. I did everything that you have done so far. The equipment that I had back then was not even as good as the equipment that you have. I had "Black's Cameras" (no relation) cheap "Makinon" lenses I paid $99.99 for a wide angle zoom and a telephoto zoom - they were one of the worst quality lenses that money could buy - today, the screws in my cameras cost more. But at least they got me started in photography, in fact the first picture of mine that ever sold was taken with one of those lenses, which goes to show you that it is the photographer that makes the pictures not the equipment.

I will be in Toronto next week Thursday Nov. 9th speaking at the Toronto Camera Club http://www.torontocameraclub.com/ You should contact them to see if they have any tickets left. Then you can ask me all sorts of questions in person.

Question:

I have a Sony digital camera. I am having a difficult time getting quality thumbnail photos to put on my website. Any suggestions?

Answer:

I use Adobe Photoshop to create my thumbnails - but it is a really expensive program, especially if you only want to create thumbnails. Another program that I use to keep track of my photos is Thumbs Plus http://www.cerious.com/ you can download a trail copy of the program and see if the results are what you are looking for.


This is a 2 part Question - Answer

Question:

I am just now developing my photography skills. I am 19 and I travel worldwide and year round, so I have unlimited photo ops. My questions is which camera do you think would be better. I have a choice between an older canon with several different lenses, but is not auto-focus. My other choice is getting a newer Nikon with just the zoom lens but it does have auto-focus. Is auto-focus better or does it really make such a difference? Or is auto focus better for a quick photo chance? Are newer cameras worth the money in your opinion? This is a great web page, I really learned a lot.

Answer:

Before I recommend either camera, give me some more information about what type of things that you would like to photograph. Such as people, landscape, nature, cities, etc. or just about everything. Also what are the focal lengths (i.e. 24mm; 50mm; 80 - 200mm zoom) of the lenses or the range of the zoom lens that you are considering buying? What are the camera models that you are looking at? How serious do you want to get with your photography?

Follow up Question:

The cameras both have 24 and 50 mm lenses, but the older cannon has an added 100mm and maybe a 200mm if I can get it. The Cannon is a rebel camera, but it was made in 1990. The Nikon in a pronea APS. I want to photograph landscapes, close-ups of flowers with insects, waterfalls, skylines etc....Not so much people. I don't plan on making a career out of photography, but I am taking it pretty seriously, I want to blow up some of my better pictures and have them framed. Thanks for your help.

Answer:

The two cameras are very different. The Canon is a 35mm camera; the range of film speeds and types are much greater for this camera than the Nikon Pronea which is an APS (film type) camera. The 35mm film is slightly larger than the APS film, so it would be better for enlargements.

The truth is that everyone I know that has bought an APS SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera, has regretted it because of the limitations of the camera system and camera functions. Where the APS cameras that are good are the point and shoot models, which you wouldn't be interested in, as they are really only for snapshots.

The subject matter that you want to photograph doesn't require the use of autofocus lenses. If you were to photograph people, then I would say autofocus would be useful.

Have you looked at the newer Canon Rebel cameras? They usually have a 28 - 85 zoom lens (or somewhere around there) if you can get the 24 - 85 lens, get that one as it would be much more useful. Then later, or at the same time you could get an 80 - 200 zoom. Then you would have everything that you would need. This is the camera that I recommend quite often as a good entry-level model.

The only reason that I mention the new Rebel is that the one you are looking at is ten years old, which is the age that a lot of cameras start to fail.

If you have a new batch of questions, just ask!

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