TWIP PODCAST #97 - The Return of TWiP
Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 3:38PM 
The Show is in the feed or you can download it at Pixelcorps.TV
This week: Getting ripped off in New York City, How not to get a Photography sponsorship, and an interview with Brooks instructor Ralph A. Clevenger.
Hosts: Frederick Van Johnson, Steve Simon, Aaron Mahler
This episode sponsored by Audible.com. Go to audiblepodcast.com/twip for a free downloadable book.
Intro Music by Scott Cannizzaro
Show producer Aaron Mahler at www.halfpress.com or www.twitter.com/halfpress
Show notes by Bruce Clarke at www.momentsindigital.com or www.twitter.com/bruceclarke
NEWS & DISCUSSION
NY Attorney General Fines, Closes Down Infamously Scammy Camera Stores
Stores affected include Best Price Camera, Foto Connection, 1 Way Photo, 86th Street Photo, Broadway Photo, Camera Whiz, and Sonic Photo. These stores were using bait and switch, calling up customers to harass them into buying extra batteries or accessories, leaving threatening voicemails, overcharging credit cards, and charging phony "restocking fees". NY Attorney General's office announced yesterday that it has closed down two stores completely and fined all seven businesses a total of $655,000 plus $100,000 legal fees.
When Steve is in New York he shops at all the reputable stores including B+H, Adorama and Calumet. Fred asks Aaron and Steve if they'd ever consider buying things used from eBay or Craig's List? Steve has in the past without any issues. Aaron did experiment on Craig's list once looking at a 5D and it eventually wound up being too good to be true so he bailed before losing any money.
New company to develop future Nikon firmware
Firmware development for all Nikon digital cameras and interchangeable lenses will now be undertaken by a new company named Nikon Imaging Systems. The new company is a joint venture between Fujitsu Broad Solution & Consulting Inc. and Nikon Systems, a subsidiary of Nikon Corporation. The initial investment will be around $1m and the company will employ 100 people. The objective of the company will be to proceed with the establishment of firmware platforms and to accelerate the speed and quality of firmware development.
SPONSOR - AUDIBLE
This episode sponsored by Audible.com. Go to audiblepodcast.com/twip for a free downloadable book. This week we have two picks. The first is from Fred and it's called The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists by Neil Strauss. Aaron's pick is from Ken Follett and it is called A Dangerous Fortune.
Discussion on the Camera in the iPhone 3GS
Fred asks Aaron for his impressions on the new camera in the iPhone 3GS. Aaron definitely feels the camera is better and he is particularly fond of the new touch to control focus and exposure. Aaron also likes the improved close focusing capabilities of the new iPhone. This improved capability will likely mean improved functionality not necessarily in terms of photography but in terms of being able to read barcodes. The new screen also does a better job of repelling oil from your face and fingers.
PHOTO ASSIGNMENT & CURRENT POLL
We'll take a break from the photography assignment this month and come back next month with a new assignment. The most recent poll question was: Other than for vacation, how far will you travel for your own personal photography endeavors? The results were:
(2%)
(23%)
(38%)
(37%)
Watch for our next poll coming soon. Head on over to twiplog.com and look for the poll on the left hand side.
INTERVIEW WITH RALPH A. CLEVENGER
Fred: This week's guest is Ralph A. Clevenger who is one of the world's leading nature photographers. Ralph is currently teaching at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. You grew up in Africa. How was growing up in Africa?
Ralph: I grew up in North Africa so my playground was the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean sea. There weren't really any animals where I was - I was more interested in what Jacqeues Costeau was doing and the underwater world.
Fred: As a teenager, did you know you wanted to be a photographer?
Ralph: That came way later. We moved back to the States when I was 6. I was wanting to become a marine biologist at an early age. I went on to get a degree in zoology and worked as a professional diver in the science area and underwater photography is one of my major genres.
Fred: Now you are a teacher at the Brooks Institute of Photography and you've been there now for how long?
Ralph: Twenty-seven years.
Fred: Wow. You must know just about everybody then. Let's talk about photography education overall. Is it necessary for someone who wants to be a professional photographer to go through formal training somewhere like the Brooks Institute or can they just get some books from their local Barnes and Noble and pick it up that way?
Ralph: No, you've never needed a certificate or professional training to be a photographer but one of the things a school like Brooks gives people is a broader scope of what photography is. It introduces them to enough things that they can change their minds later and choose to dabble in other things.
Fred: How has the economy affected photographers coming in with bright eyes and big ideas? Is there a dwindling of that or are there more people looking for alternative career paths jumping into photography?
Ralph: We are seeing less students overall with more students going into trades. Also there are more opportunities to get a very good photographic education in other places for less money so that seems to be the direction lately. It's how much do you want to spend on your education that anyone thinking about going to any college has to answer?
Fred: How much would one have to spend to get an education at somewhere like Brooks?
Ralph: It's not as much as some people think it is. It's a 3 year full-time program and it's about $28,000 per year in tuition. The school has a lot of equipment that students can check out. It's not out of control but you do have to be careful.
Fred: We talked about the early beginnings. What got you into photography?
Ralph: My dad always had one of those wind-up keystone cameras and he used it to film our lives while we travelled. He also had a still camera. In 5th grade he bought me a darkroom set and it was more just for fun and not something I was seriously intersted in. After I got my zoology degree and started working I realized that I needed a higher degree to go anywhere in science and I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend another three or four years going back to school. My girlfriend went to art school and she encouraged me to try photography. I had an underwater camera and found the Brooks Institute which had an underwater photography program and so I decided to enroll. I never imagined myself as a photographer or as a teacher.
Fred: If you had to shoot one genre, what would it be?
Ralph: Underwater is what I've done the longest. I just love taking pictures. Anything outdoors is something that I want to photograph.
Fred: Where do you fall on the discussion on where the line is on what you can manipulate?
Ralph: In photography in general, the greatest thing digital has brought is that we get to be painters. It's whatever you can create. Within specific genres there are some ethical issues of course.
Fred: One of your latest projects has been a book with Peachpit Press called Photographing Nature. Is that out yet?
Ralph: Not yet. It should be out sometime in October. I actually still have two chapters to write. It's the first book that is 100% my images and words and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I own a lot of nature photography books and did my homework trying to figure out what works best. I designed my book to be like my class and I think that's what will make it different than a lot of other books.
Fred: Is it a how-to guide or a coffe table book?
Ralph: I'd like to think it's a combination of the two.
Fred: Speaking of beautiful images, I'm looking at an image of an iceberg that you shot that is just amazing. Can you tell us how you got that image?
Ralph: It was actually created by a mentor of mine Craig Arnet. It's actually comprised of four photos. It was done back in 1997 or 1998 by the two of us and his team of Photoshop experts. I did all the research and figured out what a real iceberg would look like underwater. The image of the sky and the water background was taken off the coast of California. The top part of the iceberg was taken in Antarctica and the bottom iceberg was taken above water in Alaska.
Fred: Let me ask you a question about the book. It has sample Q&A questions from classes and assignments from the Brooks Institute but you also have a Flickr site setup where people can contribute and share images. Tell me a bit more about that venture into social networking.
Ralph: We haven't finalized all that stuff yet but Peachpit really likes interactivity with their books. For a lot of people it will be a great way to get more information about specific images.
Fred: Where can people learn more about you?
Ralph: You can visit my website at http://www.ralphclevenger.com/. To learn more about the book, head over to Peachpit.com and search for Ralph Clevenger.
LISTENER QUESTIONS
Q. Timothy Liebe asks: I've heard plenty about the best DSLRs, but am curious to hear what the panelists think the best overall Point& Shoot camera is - one with HD video capability, RAW stills as well as JPEG, decent glass and portability.
A. Steve likes the Nikon 6000, the new Olympus Pen, and the Sigma DP2. Fred is definitely interested in the Olympus Pen but is staying faithful to his Canon G9. When he's not using his DSLR or his G9, Fred's iPhone is the P&S that he always has with him. Aaron doesn't presently have a P&S other than his iPhone but he's been trying to find a G9 in good condition online. Steve brings up that Photojojo reported that the most popular camera on Flickr right now is the iPhone.
Q. Jackie Spencer Q: Hello guys I would like your input on getting sponsorship with a camera company.
A. Steve says the first thing is to establish yourself as a photographer and then make contact with the company whose equipment you use. Many companies will buy photographs that they use in their marketing materials and they normally look for a full-time professional who works with the public. Make contact and do great work and hopefully something will come from it. Fred got a lot of these type of requests from photographers when he worked at Adobe and the response typically is what is the return on investment for the company.
If you want to get your question into us, visit the TWiPlog and submit your listener question through the site.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Steve - Quantum Turbo SC Slim battery
Aaron - http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com - All time favorite: The Closeness of You
Frederick - Factron iPhone Case with interchangeable lenses and the Nikon D4X
NEXT WEEK
An interview with Chase Jarvis.
WRAP UP
Aaron Mahler - www.halfpress.com or www.twitter.com/halfpress
Steve Simon - www.stevesimonphoto.com or www.twitter.com/stevesimon
Frederick Van Johnson - www.frederickvan.com or www.twitter.com/frederickvan
Visit the blog at www.twiplog.com and the Flickr critique group.
Show notes by Bruce Clarke at www.momentsindigital.com or www.twitter.com/bruceclarke
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