Kala Minko Photography

Change We can Believe in

2009-11-10T21:42:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow my blog will officially be moved to www.Kalaminkophotography.wordpress.com so check it out and continue to follow me there!

Photos

2009-11-04T15:32:00.006-05:00

I found some great photographers today on the web. Jeremy and Claire Weiss. The do some pretty amazing stuff to check out their site just click the picture above!

Holiday Portraits 2

2009-11-04T15:28:00.003-05:00

Thanks to our wonderful classmates holiday portraits are coming along great! We should be ready to shoot by next week!

Honeycomb

2009-11-04T15:24:00.002-05:00

Today in photojournalism we learned about a honeycomb. It is an attachment for a light that makes your light very directional! This video tells you all about it so check it out

Beach

2009-11-04T12:15:00.002-05:00

I am hopefully doing a shoot on the beach soon. I found a really helpful article on shooting at the beach. Its pretty simple stuff but stuff I tend to forget while out shooting.

A fast lens

2009-11-03T22:10:00.002-05:00

I really wanna get the Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens. Its really fast and I haven't really shot with fixed lenses since film and I wanna start shooting with them again!

Inspiration

2009-11-03T21:36:00.006-05:00

I thought this image was awesome and will use it for inspiration on my fantasy shoot

Light

2009-11-03T21:28:00.002-05:00

I found a great video that uses 2 sb800's and a 600 to do a photo shoot with. It was really helpful in explaining using flashes as strobes!

Holiday Portraits

2009-11-03T19:06:00.003-05:00

So I have to admit I was a little skeptical about Holiday Portraits. But I am loving the way its all coming together now! Thanks to Deb we have a beautiful bow on our massive present and Brett's design made it fun and exactly what we were going for. So I can officially say this christmas is going to be funky and whimsical!

Blogging

2009-11-02T21:57:00.002-05:00

While I was blogging I decided to check out other photographers blogs. I stumbled upon Laura Jade Photography. She is an amazing photographer form the U.K. I really enjoyed her post about some behind the scenes photos of a fantasy shoot she did. Her creativity is really inspiring!

Mental Block

2009-11-02T21:38:00.003-05:00

I have been racking my brain for ideas for fantasy photography. Today I found an image on sasthamcotta.wordpress.com. I really like the mood and lighting of this image its dark and sweet at the same time!

From Gwinnett Tech to Professional Photographer

2009-11-02T21:10:00.003-05:00

Matt Hanner is a previous graduate from Gwinnett Technical College. I had the privileged of hanging out with this amazing photographer before I stared the Commercial Photography program. His understanding and use of light is truly unique. His personal drive has taken him many places in life and led to his ongoing success as a working photographer. To check out more of his work click here. I highly recommend you guys to visit his site!

HALLOWEEN

2009-11-02T15:31:00.003-05:00

I shot some pictures for River Forest Golf Club's Halloween Party. It was so much fun and I learned alot about setting up a backdrop under cover if you think it is going to rain! And also about using a fill flash. The turn out was a little low because of the rain but I had a great time and it was worth it.

Calling all Nikon Users

2009-10-30T19:04:00.002-04:00

I just bought a flash and have to figure out how to use it and use it well for my photojournalism class. I found a great article that talks about Nikon flashes.

Ambient Light

2009-10-30T18:55:00.002-04:00

I found this pretty helpful video on ambient light. I will be having to use ambient light in my portrait class next week and I am a little nervous about it!

No Rules

2009-10-29T22:48:00.003-04:00

We have all heard of the rule of thirds. This is a simple way of planning the composition of photographs. I have just found out some interesting information that states this is not an effective rule in photography. While reading Jake Garn's blog I learned about the Golden Mean. It is a more effective way of setting up photographs. It is based on natural patterns and mathematical occurrences in nature. It is so awesome to think of visual appeal being based on nature and even the creation of the universe rather than a simple grid with some lines.

Get Conected

2009-10-29T22:20:00.002-04:00

In my photojournalism class we have been talking about using a fill flash in photography. In some cases the photographer might want to take the flash off of their camera and use it as a side light or bounce it off some surface. In order to allow your speedlight to communicate with your camera you must have a sync cord attached. This one is inexpensive and works with my flash!

Expensive Glass

2009-10-28T14:45:00.003-04:00

I have been wanting a fast telephoto lens. This lens is awesome but its price is not in my budget right now. It cost about 2,000! The AFS VR ED 70-200 f/2.8G is Nikon's first professional lens to feature VR technology and also the first pro G lens. I guess I will keep dreaming about this one!

Music

2009-10-28T14:30:00.005-04:00

I thought about doing some band photography for my flash assignment. So I came across a really cool music photographer name Steve Gerrard. if you are interested in music photography you should check him out!

Fashion Forward

2009-10-28T09:07:00.004-04:00

I found a really helpful article about setting up your workflow for fashion photography. I am really bad at being organized so this definitely helped me!

gone in a FLASH

2009-10-27T23:44:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow in photojournalism we are learning how to use out flashes and how to light with one light in a field setting. I am very excited to experiment with my flash!

Fashion or Flop

2009-10-27T23:31:00.005-04:00

We have a fashion photo shoot due next week so I have been looking at so many fashion photographers like Patrick Demarchelier. He is a really great fashion photographer that has recently got into toning down on his retouching, claiming he is tired of the obsession with "perfect" models! I think this is really great to see someone of his status to want more of a "real" quality to models today.

Adorama

2009-10-27T23:06:00.003-04:00

I am taking some pictures at the Halloween Festival at River Forest Golf Club. I need a fast professional looking print service to whip out some 5 x 7's and wallets for me. I have normally done all of my printing myself and unfamiliar with print services. I was thinking about using Adorama to keep it fairly cheap. Help! If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know!

Tamrac Adventure 9 - Photo/Computer Backpack

2009-10-26T23:21:00.003-04:00

Well I am beginning to think I need a bigger bag for all of my camera equipment! I have been looking and I know I don't want something huge and heavy but I do want one that will allow me to carry everything I need. So I found this Tamrac Backpack it looks sufficient but I do want to keep looking around a bit to make sure I get the right bag to fit my needs!

The Vally

2009-10-26T23:04:00.004-04:00

Balazs Gardi is a Hungarian photographer who has been named Photographer of the Year in the Px3 Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2008 and Human Condition Competition. He took first place with an image called "The Vally" which shows a man holding a wounded child. The child had several shrapnel wounds from a U.S. air strike that targeted an area where insurgents were believed to be. Including the boy at least 7 other villagers were wounded and 5 civilians died. This is one of the compelling images that makes me want to be a photographer. Will the evil embedded so deeply in humanity ever cease?

Passive or Aggressive

2009-10-26T22:48:00.004-04:00

I came across an article on passive journalism today and wanted to share it. This article talks about photojournalism that takes place in a passive slow paced environment. So many images in photojournalism rely on a high energy and emotional settings; such as sports or war photography. I thought the compare and contrast between the two styles was really interesting. I think I prefer the images yielded by the high energy environment like the one below but the article is cool none the less.

Jake Garn

2009-10-25T21:22:00.004-04:00

Jake Garn is a fashion photographer from Utah. He does lots of whimsical fun fashion photos. I really like his style its fresh and innovative!

Student Photographic Society

2009-10-25T20:52:00.004-04:00

I am a part of the SPS (Student Photographic Society) and they provide a lot of articles for photographers starting out. I really think you can take the most amazing images out there and still fail as a freelance photographer. The key is knowing how to start and run a independent small business. With this knowledge a photographer can be creative and successful at the same time. With the economy down and art jobs scarce knowing how to survive as a working photographer is somewhat of a fogged distant dream. I found some articles that go over marketing tips for freelance photographers. It was really helpful to me just to explain the market I will be diving into when I get out of school. Article one goes over setting up for a buisness and Article two explains what to do after that! So check these out if your interested.

Feature: Round Two

2009-10-25T18:40:00.007-04:00

A feature is a light-hearted image that is used in the news to give the public a break from all of the serious and sometimes sad images frequently used. It can be funny and usually portrays "a slice of life". I posted the picture of the clown from my first photo shoot last week. These are a few images I got from my second shoot at the Twin Oaks Fun Farm in Forsyth, Ga. I'm having trouble deciding which ones to use. So comment and let me know your thoughts about which one best fits a "feature"!

Urban Slums are the Fastest Growing Human Habitat

2009-10-23T22:17:00.012-04:00

I was looking for some tips on photojournalism and I came across this video with Jonas Bendiksen, a magnum Photographer. In his video he talks about photojournalism and surviving in an age where everyone is a photographer. According to him, the ideas of the photographer are the key element that sets one apart from the competition. He discusses one of his latest projects called The Places We Live which talks about living in slums today.Its really interesting hope you enjoy.

2009-10-21T16:21:00.004-04:00

Out with the old, in with the new?

2009-10-21T15:33:00.003-04:00

There is an awesome exhibit on october 23- 26th! The Automated Darkroom Presents Photos of our Youth will be held at Atlanta Fulton County Library. This event will explore timeless photographs taken 20+ years ago. I really think history and knowing the past is important in photography and this would be an awesome event to attend!

The Fair

2009-10-21T11:21:00.003-04:00

I shot the perry fair last weekend. This is the feature shot I got for my photojournalism assignment. I think I am going to reshoot this weekend because this background is a little distracting in this one.

Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar

2009-10-21T10:36:00.002-04:00

This is annual Photojournalism event filled with conferences and photo contest judged by working photographers. There are prices and registration information on this website and there is even a discount for students!

2009-10-20T21:08:00.002-04:00

Howardena Pindell’s collection of work will be shown at Sandler Hudson Gallery on Oct 23rd, 2009. She is a really awesome artist who explores ideas of feminism, racism, and exploitation through her varied artwork. She not only takes split photographs but also does collages and paintings. If you have a free minute Friday you should check her out! To get more info visit art relsh And here is an example of her work

Flickr

2009-10-20T17:28:00.004-04:00

I just created a new Flickr account! Click the picture above to see some of my favorite photos!

Pin Up

2009-10-20T16:04:00.006-04:00

Today at school we had to shoot a high key or low key portrait. I chose low key, which means predominately dark tones on a black background. My wonderful classmate Jayne was my model and she did a great job. We did a 50's pin up style photo shoot and it was so much fun!

powdered sugar, ferris wheels, and red necks

2009-10-19T22:59:00.004-04:00

Well I got some really good shots at the Perry Fair this weekend. Its the biggest fair in Georgia and draws an interesting crowd. I will be posting some pictures soon. The weather was pretty freezing but the funnel cakes we excellent!

Imaging USA

2009-10-19T22:41:00.004-04:00

When: January 10-12
Where: Nashville, Tn
What: Imaging USA

Imaging USA 2010 is going to be a great learning experience for me and my fellow students.
This event will include Photography classes and conferences, and even parties by Nikon and Cannon. I'm really looking forward to this event, I'm ready to be inspired!

I can see clearly now

2009-10-19T21:49:00.003-04:00

I am so excited about my new lens! It should arrive tomorrow sometime. The sigma 17-70mm 2.8 lens will be the fastest lens I have! I cant wait for it to get here so I can get out and start shooting with it.

China Cat Rider

2009-10-14T15:03:00.002-04:00

Today I found out about an event at Georgia Perimeter College. It is an awesome exhibit about chinese photographers. The work of 5 chinese photographers will be displayed tomorrow at the college. To find out more details you can visit the Atlanta celebrates photography website!

She had ribbons in her hair and bells on her shoes

2009-10-13T22:06:00.013-04:00

Today in portraiture class we shot kids....with a camera of course. You could either bring your own child in or photograph someone's kid. With no kids of my own (and not even wanting to entertain that idea for longer than a second) I thought of the cutest kid I knew: Abby Minko. A year and a half old. 3ft tall. 25 pounds of rambunctious energy........

Are you a Mac or a PC?

2009-10-12T20:27:00.004-04:00

I just designed my very own Macbook Pro! With 500 GB of hardrive space, 4 GB memory, and a 15 inch non-glare display I'm ready for some serious photo editing. All of this amounts to the grand total of about $2,600. I am expecting to make this expensive purchase in a couple of weeks!

Music to my ears and eyes!

2009-10-12T17:46:00.006-04:00

Allan Tannenbaum is a photojournalist who did amazing music photography in the 70's and 80's. His style combines two things I love...music and photography! He has continued his photography through the years and still captures stunning images to this day. Some of his recent events include photographs about 9/11 and even photographs of New York City the night Obama was elected. These are a few of his images:

surfs up

2009-10-12T11:30:00.004-04:00

So surfing is an incredible sport that I have never had the opportunity to try. It also makes great material for photographs. What is more beautiful than the ocean mixed with tropical sunsets and beautiful people. I like the vibe surfing brings also. The ocean itself is one of the most peaceful places on earth. Jeff Divine is one of the original surf photographers. He started photographing surfers in the 60's before surfing became just another a corporate money making market. I feel he really captures the magical aspect of life in his photographs. In each photograph one can really feel the person or even the wave he is photographing. He preserved the surfing culture of the 60's and 70's in his photographs. Here are a few examples of his work..

Wedding Bells

2009-10-11T21:34:00.003-04:00

I wanted to let you guys know about a wedding photographer that inspires me. Jasmine Star is an international wedding photographer based in Orange County, California. I really like her shooting style! It might have something to do with the fact that she was voted in the top ten wedding photographers of 2009. In any case, I really enjoy reading her blog and looking at her photos.

Got Milk?

2009-10-11T20:52:00.008-04:00

Last tuesday we had pet portraits at school. I brought my cat greta in for her close-up. It was a bit challenging but it was a blast! This is what I got! I hope you enjoy.

I saw a Flash of light

2009-10-09T23:29:00.004-04:00

I ordered the nikon sb-600 from amazon.com today! Unfortunately the item I ordered was out of stock. I received a very polite call from the owner of the company informing me of this error. So I will still be getting the flash but from a different company. I am very excited to be getting this new piece of equipment!

The blogging begins

2009-09-30T20:17:00.001-04:00

I guess I will have to learn how to be addicted to my computer!