Behind the Shot - Audio

Periodically I get a guest on Behind the Shot that makes me nervous. This episode is one of those moments. Wish me luck... David Hume Kennerly is a legend. In fact, I would wager money that other 'legends' look to David Hume Kennerly as the standard by which they are judged. All of that is to say that there is no 'starting point' when trying to explain the photojournalist David Hume Kennerly. Still, the blog is here, and I have to start somewhere. Travel with me back to 1972... (insert way back machine sounds here) David was awarded the 1972 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Featured Photography, with a winning portfolio that included Ali being knocked down in the 15th round during the Ali v. Frazier “Fight of the Century,” images of the Vietnam and Cambodia wars, and refugees escaping into India from East Pakistan. David was just 25 at the time. Two years later, at just 27, he was appointed President Gerald R. Ford's Personal White House Photographer, the third person to have that job. Again, I have to stress this, by the time David was 27 he'd seen and documented more history that most of us learn in school. In the years since, David has photographed U.S. presidents from Johnson to Biden, and covered thirteen presidential campaigns. He was a Newsweek magazine contributing editor for ten years, and a contributing photographer for Time & Life and George magazines. American Photo named Kennerly “One of the 100 Most Important People in Photography.” Washingtonian Magazine called him "One of the 50 most important journalists in Washington, DC". That is David Hume Kennerly. One of the most important photographers ever, and his TedX talk has a title that really sums it up: Telling the Story in 1/60th of a Second As an author, David is just as successful. Kennerly has published several books of his work, Shooter, Photo Op, Seinoff: The Final Days of Seinfeld, Photo du Jour, Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford, and David Hume Kennerly On the iPhone. He was also a major contributor to the CNN 2016 book, Unprecedented: The Election that Changed Everything. His exclusive portrait of Trump is on the cover. He was executive producer of The Spymasters, a 2015 CBS/Showtime documentary about the directors of the CIA. He also produced The Presidents' Gatekeepers, a four-hour Discovery Channel film about White House chiefs of staff.  Kennerly was nominated for a Primetime Emmy as executive producer of NBC's, The Taking of Flight 847, and was the writer and executive producer of a two-hour NBC pilot filmed in Thailand, Shooter, starring Helen Hunt. Shooter, based on Kennerly's Vietnam experiences, won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography. In 2019 The University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography acquired the David Hume Kennerly Archive that features almost a million images, prints, objects, memorabilia, correspondence and documents. University President Dr. Robert C. Robbins appointed Kennerly as the university's first Presidential Scholar. When trying to pick an image for this show I lost over an hour browsing through David's site, specifically his 'Greatest Hits' gallery. The image of U.S. President Gerald Ford at the desk in the Oval Office, feet up is amazing. This was the day after he became president, August 10, 1974, and the bookshelves are empty because Nixon's things had been removed, but Ford's memorabilia had yet to arrive, due to the suddenness of the transition. The image of Mohammed Ali being knocked down in the 15th round at Madison Square Garden by Joe Frazier was part of Kennerly's Pulitzer Prize-winning portfolio. Then there was "The Hug", an image where Michelle Obama is hugging former president George W. Bush. Picking one image was hard, but with David's help we found the shot. There is a quote on David's website from James Earl Jones that wraps up David's career perfectly: “David Hume Kennerly is like Forrest Gump, except he was really there.”

To introduce the guest on this show I'd like to start by giving a bit of background... The first time I met Troy Miller I was doing a presentation at a local photo group, Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videographers. I had never been involved in groups like IEPPV, but they had asked me to speak at one of their monthly meetings. The way it was explained to me, after years of having landscape, wedding, and portrait photographers speak, was that they wanted something different. As a music photographer, I knew most of the people there would have no connection to my genre, but within 5 minutes something odd happened. While I was setting up, someone walking in said "Hi Troy" to me. I assumed they'd simply gotten my name wrong, until it happened again. Come to find out, Troy Miller was a real person, and like me he always wore a black beanie. These two people though I was Troy. I wouldn't know until later what an amazing compliment that was. I met Troy later that night and, in all honesty, my life changed at that moment. Over the years since, Troy has become one of my closest friends, I'd argue... family. That may color my opinions a bit, but much of what I do today has a direct link to Troy. I ended up joining IEPPV because of that friendship, and ended up on the board. I started entering image competitions, and then judging them, at his suggestion. I was able to speak at the PPC Convention and Expo, because Troy told them about me, and that led to me liking the education side of things so much that I now regularly teach workshops. When I left the old network I was on, I had decided that I was done with podcasting. I was not going to re-launch Behind the Shot on my own. In fact, I had zero desire to manage the backend of a podcast. When I mentioned that to Troy his response was straight to the point... "you have to do it". In fairness, he had to say that about 10 times before I decided to give it a try, but Troy Miller has been encouraging and supportive throughout almost my entire journey in photography. Most importantly, I see images in my head differently than before I met him. So, why did I need this back story before talking directly about Troy? Because he does this for everyone he knows. He helps, mentors, teaches, and encourages people. He is passionate about photography at a level I am not sure anyone else is. That brings me to Troy Miller, The Photographer... Troy is a wedding photographer for a living. Along with his wife Marjorie, they run Imagery Concepts, a successful wedding photography business based in Southern California. He is also a fine art photographer, that loves photographing the world around him. His site spicyjello.com is home to his fire, ice, water, and kelp images, but this is a guy that can shoot anything. I have walked down the Las Vegas strip with him confused at what he's photographing... I actually couldn't "see" what he could. I am baffled at the way he sees light. Troy is an educator, lecturer, image competition judge and PPA Master Photographer. He has done a few online classes for my old network, This Week in Photo, and recently released his Capture One 21 Complete course for TWiP Pro members. He has also racked up an impressive list of awards: PPA 2nd Place Grand Imaging Award in Wedding PPA Image Competition Gold Medalist Image chosen to represent the USA in the PPA World Photographic Cup PPC Wedding Photographer of the Year PPC Commercial Photographer of the Year Images in the PPA Loan Collection PPC Expo Digital Café Chair and lecturer IEPPV Wedding Photographer of the Year IEPPV Photographer of the Year My first introduction to Infrared photography was also through Troy. We were at Photoshop World, and Rick Sammon suggested we all head out to Red Rock the next day. I of course asked "what time", and Rick suggested we pick him up at 4:30am. As a side note, 4:30am is hell to me.

When describing Blair Bunting's photography there are few way to approach it. First of all there is the website bio version, which starts: "Blair Bunting is an advertising photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona specializing in portraits of professional athletes for commercial sports campaigns." That's such an understatement, accurate yes, but it doesn't begin to cover what Blair creates. While known for his portraits of athletes for commercial photography, Blair also creates amazing art from subjects ranging from celebrities to trains. Blair's career began back in high school with his father teaching him about photography, and early on there was passion for the art. It was his father that gave him his very first camera, a 1972 Nikon F, a piece of history that still sits on Blair's desk at home. Blair has had the good fortune to shoot campaigns around the globe for a diversified list of clients that range from television shows shot for The Discovery Channel to athletes photographed for Muscle Milk. That early passion for the art still exists today, and leads to opportunities at every turn. In August of 2008 he decided to have his hand at photographing autos, not out of a quest for work, but in an attempt to create some images to put on his walls… He began shooting for Chevrolet two months later. All of this has led to Blair being named as a Canon Explorer of Light, putting him at the absolute top of his field. That early beginning learning photography from his father, for a career that has seen so much success, is mirrored by a quote from Blair on the Canon Explorer's of Light page: "I am grateful everyday I can go out and take photos, and I consider myself fortunate to have made photography into a career" Even with the success and recognition that Blair has received in the photographic world, he still holds true that his most important legacy will be helping other photographers to be successful in their careers. This is one of the many reasons I am so excited to have Blair on the show. Before recording, or even scheduling the show, we chatted on the phone for a bit. The plan was to discuss picking the image we would talk about, but the conversation was about all things photographic, and talking with Blair felt so natural, like we'd known each other for a while. On set he constantly pushes the idea that everyone is equally important, from the assistant to the photographer. This demeanor and approach towards comfortable shoots has made for clients that return for years. Often describing his own life as, “quite a random existence,” many of his accomplishments have come outside of the photographic field. From being chosen as the honorary commander of a US Air Force fighter squadron to being recognized as an ambassador in the watch industry, his life has been anything but ordinary. However, he says his greatest honor is that of marrying his wife, Erin. Join Canon Explorer of Light Blair Bunting and me as we discuss how he sculpts with light, his image of boxer Mike Tyson, lighting ratios, and a favorite drink recipe of his, on this Behind the Shot. Connect with Blair Website: blairbunting.com Blog: blog.blairbunting.com Instagram: @blair.bunting Facebook: @BlairBuntingPhotographer Twitter: @blairbunting Canon Explorer's of Light: usa.canon.com Blair Around the Internet FStoppers: fstoppers.com Profoto:  profoto.com Adorama: adorama.com Blair's Photographer Picks Ami Vitale: amivitale.com Robert Capa: magnumphotos.com/photographer/robert-capa Show Mentioned by Blair The Genius of Photography, Episode 3 - Right Place, Right Time: archive.org Blair's Old Fashioned Recipe Maker's 46 - 3 Shots Carpano Antica Vermouth - 1/2 to 1 Shot Luxardo Cherries Orange Slice Hand Pressed Sugar Muddle it all together

Let's start here... Cliff Mautner's career in photography spans 38 years. Think about that for a minute... 38 years ago Nikon released the world's first SLR with Matrix Metering, the Nikon FA, and the world's first camera with a 1/250 sec. flash sync speed, the FE2. Man, we've come a long way, and Cliff has been there for all of it. Cliff's career has included multiple genres. After 15 years and 6000 assignments as a photojournalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as shooting for an eclectic array of commercial clients ranging from Comcast to Subaru, Cliff launched his wedding photography career. After about 1100 weddings or so, he still brings the same passion and intensity with him to each event with an emphasis on creating authentic moments in some of the most difficult light imaginable. His ability to blend his lifetime of experience in photojournalism and commercial photography with his wedding photography is amazing. Browsing through his portfolio quickly reveals a journalistic approach to capturing his client's most important day. Experience like Cliff's, and more importantly talent like Cliff's, comes with recognition. Cliff is a very proud Nikon Ambassador to the United States, and an Ambassador for Light & Motion. He was named one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world by American PHOTO magazine, and has received the Nikon WPPI Photographer of the Year award. He has also has been honored with the International Photographic Council Leadership medal at the United Nations, presented with the WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a two time WPPI Grand Award winner for photojournalism. Like I said.... talent like this gets recognized. Join Nikon Ambassador, and Light & Motion Ambassador, Cliff Mautner and me as we explore the challenging world of wedding photography, and the art of light painting, on this Behind the Shot. Connect with Cliff Website: cmphotography.com Instagram: @cliffmautner Facebook: @CliffMautnerPhotography Facebook Group: Cliff Mautner Education Twitter: @cliffmautner The Lighting and Skillset Bootcamp Website: cmbootcamp.com Nikon Ambassadors: nikonusa.com Light & Motion Collections: lightandmotion.com/collections/camera Ambassadors: lightandmotion.com/blogs/ambassadors Cliff's KelbyOne Classes Website: kelbyone.com Cliff's Photographer Picks Dave Black: daveblackphotography.com Mark Edward Harris: markedwardharris.com Larry Price: larrycprice.com Elliott Erwitt: elliotterwitt.com Diane Arbus: fraenkelgallery.com Sebastião Salgado: icp.org Sebastião Salgado Documentary: The Salt of the Earth

I have writer's block because of my guest. In fact, describing William Snyder is so difficult that I've been waiting to write this for two days. I'm ready to give it a shot now, but let me say up front that there is little chance I will be able to convey in writing the talent of William Snyder. Professor William Snyder - yup, he's a professor - is a four-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer and editor. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, William returned there 27 years after graduating from the Professional Photography program to chair the Photojournalism program. Now, as the Director of the Advertising Photography Program, he continues teaching, and has been chosen as an RIT Outstanding Alumnus, selected for the The Isaiah Thomas Award in Publishing, and has won the Frank J. Romano Endowed Prize for Publishing Entrepreneurship. In between his graduating and then returning to RIT in 2008 William had a legendary career in journalism. After a few years at The Miami News, he moved on to The Dallas Morning News. For 15 years he was a staff photographer, winning many top photography awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism in 1989 (along with a DMN reporter and artist) for their special report on a 1985 airplane crash, the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for his pictures of ill and orphaned children living in desperate conditions in Romania and, along with fellow photographer and RIT grad Ken Geiger, the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News photography for their photographic coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Moving up the ranks, Snyder served as the Night Photo Editor, Assignments Editor, Metro/Suburban Photo Editor, and Assistant Director of Photography in the DMN's aggressive Collin County bureau. I hope you are starting to see why telling Williams story is difficult.... his career path is amazing. In 2005 William was named The Morning News' Director of Photography. In 2006 the DMN staff won numerous awards, including: The Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina; 12 awards in Pictures of the Year International including Photographer of the Year; Four awards in NPPA's Best Of Photojournalism; and APME Texas Star Photographer of the Year. Again, William Snyder is one hell of a talented photographer, editor, and now professor. I was lucky enough to meet William during this past year's pandemic. Our mutual friend David Bergman, who's been on the show himself for the episode Composition, Creativity, and Workflow , and who does the Adorama show Ask David Bergman, along with his Shoot From the Pit workshops, has been doing regular Zoom Happy Hours with his friends. Whenever there is someone there I don't know I look them up, and when I looked up William I noticed something that stopped me cold... William is the photographer for the legendary band The Who! Holy crap. Looking through his music photography I was in awe. It wasn't just The Who, it was every damn band I loved growing up. His book, "Join Together (with the band)"  I need to get still, but I will for sure. With clients like Time Magazine, Life Magazine, Sports illustrated, The Sunday New York Times, USA Today, Holiday Inn and more, I could do more shows with William than perhaps anyone I have ever met. I wanted to start strong, and had every intention of talking about a shot from his storied career with The Who, and then something happened - I saw a photo I knew very well. When I mentioned today's image to William he replied "I have regrets about the situation - I shoulda, coulda, woulda if I had I been really smart", and right then I knew I wanted to know, no, needed to know, what a "really smart" William would have changed. Join photographer, journalist, editor, educator, professor, and four-time Pulitzer Prize winner William Snyder and me as we dive into what it took to photograph what would become a classic album cover - St...

It's the return of Moose Peterson! The first time Moose Peterson was on the show I was pretty nervous. Usually I am trying to calm guests that are nervous about being on a show, but this was different. Moose is a legend in every sense of the word. He's a Nikon Ambassador, the recipient of the John Muir Conservation Award, a Research Associate with the Endangered Species Recovery Program, and that's just a partial list. Luckily, my nervousness faded quickly. Moose is such a down-to-earth guy that I was feeling great by the time I hit record. Shortly after that first show, I was at PhotoshopWorld in Las Vegas and saw Moose at a speakers booth. I decided to say hi in person, but I know that sometimes, at shows like that, speakers of Moose's caliber can be very busy. I was prepared for him to either not remember me, or be too rushed to chat for any length of time, but neither was an issue. Moose remembered me, and we had a great chat about the old warbirds - planes like my Dad flew, like a P40 or a P51D. I grew up with my Dad telling me stories about these classic aircraft. That conversation is part of the reason I have wanted to have Moose back on the show. He's mostly known for his wildlife, landscape, and nature photography, but Moose is one of the most amazing aviation photographers I have seen. I have had aviation photography on the show before. My friend Scott Dworkin was on for the show "Top Gun Photo Tips", but Moose photographs a totally different kind of aircraft, classic warbirds. He was the creative producer/photographer of his acclaimed film: Warbirds and The Men Who Flew Them, and his images take you back in time. His use of light in this genre is so special. As an educator he shares his knowledge through his writing, being published in over 143 magazines worldwide, and having authored 29 books. He also lectures across the country to thousands of photographers every year. His current education project is the Moose Peterson Aviation Seminar, and as usual Moose is living on the edge of technology. He will be teaching this seminar both to a live in-person audience, and streaming the seminar at the same time! This seminar is happening just a few days after this show goes live, on July 31, 2021, so act quickly if you're interested in attending. Join Nikon Ambassador Moose Peterson and me as we take a close look at how he creates his beautiful aviation photos, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Moose Personal: moosepeterson.com Portfolio: moosepeterson.myportfolio.com Aviation: warbirdimages.com Normandy Bound: normandybound.com Facebook: @MoosePeterson Instagram: @MoosePeterson Twitter: @MoosePeterson Moose's Aviation Seminar The Moose Peterson Aviation Seminar: moosepeterson.com

Everybody loves a good meal, and it seems like everybody is posting photos of their food, but when food photography is done right you can seemingly taste it. That's where Freddy Clark comes in, and when he gets his hands on a nice cool adult beverage you will want a drink. Freddy is a New Jersey based beverage and food photographer, and his images will make you hungry and thirsty. I have been lucky enough to get to know Freddy over the past few years. Rick Sammon suggested him as a guest awhile back, and we did a show on food photography, titled "Tastier Photos". Getting to know Freddy has been somewhat of a flashback for me. I have been in radio for about 40 years. When Freddy was fresh out of college he took that same path, as both an on-air personality and production director. After a decade of radio Freddy made a change, he went into tech, which is weird because I am an I.T. consultant "for a living". The parallels between Freddy and myself keep going. His move to photography came with the birth of his daughter, while for me it was when my son was in high school. Freddy tried out various photographic genres, including portraiture, landscapes, street photography, and even wedding photography, before finding his passion in food and beverage. Through Santé Beverage & Food Photography Freddy is now living his dream. He has also moved into the education space, teaching for outlets like Princeton Photo Workshops. I did a class for Princeton earlier this year, thanks to an introduction from Freddy. Along with doing workshops with legends like Rick Sammon, Freddy has also created his own workshops, and his latest is the workshop you may have heard me mention on the show. Freddy can explain it better than me, but the Wanderers Photographic Cultural Experience is designed to be a recurring event. I have described it as an opportunity to experience the people, history, music, and food of a destination city… ALL IN ONE WORKSHOP The first Wanderers Workshop will be Sunday, October 10th, through Thursday, October 14th, 2021 in New Orleans. Freddy will be joined by three other instructors: Ant Pruitt, the host of the Hands on Photography Podcast; Andrew Scrivani, another food and beverage photographer that is a New York Times contributor; and me! This workshop includes a lot, and has very limited space, so check it soon if you are at all interested. Join food and beverage photographer Freddy Clark and me as we grab a drink and examine the refreshing world of beverage photography on this Behind the Shot. Connect with Freddy Website: freddyclark.photography | santephoto.com Twitter: @santephoto Instagram: @santephoto Freddy's Classes Website: princetonphotoworkshop.com New Orleans Workshop - Wanderers Photographic Cultural Experiences Website: wanderersphoto.com Cookbook with Freddy's Photos on Amazon A Meal for All Seasons: Anton's at the Swan Freddy's Photographer Pick Rob Grimm: rggphoto.com

Damian Strohmeyer is a Boston based photographer that's just as comfortable photographing a Super Bowl, as he is shooting a portrait. His body of work spans from fast action sports, like The World Series, The World Cup, The Stanley Cup, The Olympics, and 27 Super Bowls, to commercial or editorial work. I have had a lot of world class photographers on this show, and Damian takes that to the next level. Damian's career is like a highlight reel. Throughout his over 25 years at Sports Illustrated magazine he worked on over 2,000 assignments and produced 72 covers. I thought that was a typo the first time I read it. Having 72 SI covers on its own puts you head and shoulders above your peers. It's no wonder his work is exhibited at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Damian is a member of the exclusive Canon "Explorers of Light" program, a group that includes some of the world's most influential photographers. I am always fascinated by the common threads in a photographer's portfolio, and in Damian's case I am awe struck by his ability to capture the perfect moment. His sense of photographic timing is some of the best I have seen. While in the midst of a live, fast action moment, he has the ability to seemingly slow the moment down, and allow himself to freeze time with his camera at the perfect instant. It's amazing. As a live music photographer I have to capture these types of fleeting moments regularly, and yet I feel like I'd miss the majority of the same moments Damian captures, were I in that situation. On the education side of things Damian does group and individual photo lessons, along with various speaking engagements through the Explorers of Light program. Join photographer, educator, and Canon Explorer of Light Damian Strohmeyer and me as we explore the keys to improving your photographic timing, and discuss his image of a slide into home plate during a game between Oregon State and North Carolina, on this Behind the Shot. Connect with Damian Website: damianstrohmeyer.com Facebook: @damian.strohmeyer Instagram: @damianstroh LinkedIN: @damianstrohmeyer Damian's' Photographer Pick Atiba Jefferson: Atiba Jefferson

St. Louis wedding photographer Sal Cincotta, and his award winning studio, take photography to a level few will ever achieve. Traveling the world to document their client's most cherished moments, Sal and his team push the envelope with every shoot. Don't take my word for it... One Eyeland named Sal the #1 Wedding Photographer in the world! When I first saw that I wanted to write more about it, but whatever I wrote seemed to fall short. Being named the top in any field is amazing, but number one in the competitive world of wedding photography? Let's just let that speak for itself. While often referred to as a Wedding Photographer, Sal is just as well respected for his work in Fashion, Headshot, and Senior photography. Sal is a Canon Explorer of Light, putting him in an elite group of creatives. He's also a double Master of WPPI, a PPA Photographic Craftsman, and a PPA Master of Photography. Profoto named Sal a Legend of Light for his outstanding skill and contribution to the American Photographic Community. When you have a resume like that, your clients tend to match that level. Sal's client list includes Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, the St. Louis Cardinals, and even photographing President Obama at the White House. Contributing to the community, as referenced in the Profoto recognition, is a key part of Sal's work. He's an author, educator, and the publisher of Shutter Magazine, a source for cutting edge technical and business insights from leading photographers. Join Canon Explorer of Light Sal Cincotta and me as we talk about using perspective and composition to create stronger images, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Sal Website: salcincotta.com Facebook: @salcincotta Instagram: @salcincotta Twitter: @salcincotta Shutter Magazine Website: behindtheshutter.com ShutterFest: shutterfest.com Evolve Edits Website: evolveedits.com

One of the best parts of doing this podcast is the never ending inspiration I see from amazing photographic talents. Sometimes, the guests I get on the show are photographers I stumble upon while browsing the web, sometimes they are part of some bigger organization that introduces me to them, and on a rare occasion they are a suggestion from a someone that watches the show. That last one is the case today. M L Adelman filled out my contact form and wrote: "Please consider interviewing two time Pulitzer Prize winner, Essdras M Suarez. He retired from photojournalism several years ago and is now giving back teaching others to take their photography to the next level. He is a delightful personality and a very giving photog." One look at his website and I knew I needed to get Essdras on the show. Essdras Suarez is a two-time Pulitzer Prizewinning photojournalist, and being a photojournalist isn't what many people think. In one interview, Essdras explained that "as a newspaper photographer you were expected to wear many hats. In addition to being a photojournalist, you were expected to be a travel photographer, documentary photographer, food and product photographer, and a portrait photographer, among other things". With that background, he can shoot pretty much anything. If you ask him though, his favorite overall subject is people. It's in that space I think his superpower lies. He has an ability to make that which is normal look extraordinary. His career has included covering the war in Iraq, the Columbia Shuttle disaster in 2003, a U.S. backed military coup against Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide, the Indonesia Tsunami in 2004, the Gaza Strip Evacuation in 2006, the Newtown Elementary school shooting in 2012, and the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013. Essdras has seen a lot in his over 20 years in the field. He continues to work for outlets such as the Washington Post and ZUMA Press Agency, and his images have been published in publications such as Mother Jones, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Boston Globe, New York Times. Essdras' list of awards is long, and fully reflects his talent in telling a story in a very special way. This also explains the two Pulitzers. As a sought after speaker and educator, he now also shares his knowledge with others through his EMS Photo Adventures LLC, where he is focused on creating and leading educationally geared, on-site and virtual custom photo programs including educational webinars, and short- and long-term mentorship programs. Join photographer, photojournalist, educator, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Essdras Suarez and me as we discuss his captivating image of Islamic Jihadists in Gaza City, and as we chat about the challenges of photojournalism today, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Essdras Website: essdras.com Facebook: @essdras.m.suarez Instagram: @essdras_001 Twitter: @essdrasmsuarez Essdras' Photographer Pick Dominic Chavez: dominicchavez.com

If you're here then I will assume you are, at a minimum, a fan of good photography. Perhaps it interests you as a craft, or an art, or more likely you are a photographer that wants to improve their skill set. That means you and I have something in common. I love the art of photography, the skill it takes to not only freeze a moment in time, but to know what moment to freeze and how best to freeze it. I am constantly trying to learn more about photography, and in that endeavor I watch a lot of videos and read a lot of articles, only to be disappointed in the quality of both the content and the person delivering it. So, when you find someone that consistently delivers fantastic content, and delivers it in a way that it can be understood by photographers of every skill level, that is special. That is Ant Pruitt. It seems like a recurring theme that an I.T. Pro gets into photography. That describes me, and so many others I know, and I am not entirely sure why it happens. Still, I have an idea. As a geek myself, I often say that if I'd known photography was geeky when I was younger I would have gotten into it way sooner in life - and I wish I had. Photography is tech, and if you don't believe me just check out my friend Don Komarechka's Photo Geek Weekly podcast. I met Ant because I am a fan of podcasts. The first podcasts I every subscribed to, and some of the ones I still never miss, were This Week in Tech, or TWiT, and MacBreak Weekly. In fact, when I started podcasting my dream was always to be on tech podcasts like those. These are two of the many podcasts on the TWiT network created by 'The Tech Guy' Leo Laporte. Early on it was obvious Leo was into photography. He has a photo segment on his radio show, and when I started taking pictures I used to join in the weekly challenges. Years later the TWiT network started a show called Focus on Photography, and knowing the network I had to check it out. The host was Ant Pruitt, a technology professional-turned photographer, videographer, and content creator. Immediately there was something different, a calmness in the storm that is photography education in the tech age. Over time that show was retired to make way for TWiT's current photography show Hands on Photography, where Ant shares tips, tricks, and techniques that can help creatives at every level. Again, it's hard to describe a show beyond the content, but if I could explain the brilliance of this show it would go to Ant's ability to share knowledge in a way that can be absorbed. Ant was born and raised in South Carolina, and was an enterprise I.T. pro for more than ten years in North Carolina, where he spent most of his adult life. I don't know if his ability is tied to his Southern Charm, but everything about Ant feels like home, like family. Eventually, he turned his creativity into a small business, providing writing, photography, video, and post-production services. He handled a range of assignments, including portraits, event photography, social media marketing, and interview videos. He also worked as a freelance writer for TechRepublic, covering consumer tech, enterprise IT, and tips for beginner content creators. A few weeks ago I was editing a show and, having recently had Ant on a Behind the Shot critique show as a panelist, started thinking about the normal Behind the Shot episode he had been on.... except there wasn't one. I emailed him about 30 seconds later to correct that mistake, and here we go... Join photographer, I.T. pro, writer, blogger, YouTuber, educator and all around creative Ant Pruitt and me as we dive into one of his long exposure images, and the life of being a creative, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Ant Website: antpruitt.com Instagram: @ant_pruitt Twitter: @ant_pruitt YouTube: @antpruitt Hands on Photography Podcast Website: twit.tv Wanderers Photographic Cultural Experiences Workshops - New Orleans Website: wanderersphoto.com

Join Scott Kelby and me on this episode of the Behind the Shot Podcast as we discuss his approach to Travel Photography, and as he shares some tips that can help you improve your photos, no matter what genre you photograph

Join award winning sports photographer, and Canon Explorer of Light Simon Bruty and me as discuss photographing without being heard, and as we take a deep dive into his photograph from the 2020 Master Golf Tournament, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join nautical photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Onne van der Wal and me as we discuss his amazing career photographing out on the ocean, and as we take a closer look behind one of his iconic images, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

I normally start these posts with some lofty statement about my guest's accomplishments, or some other overly deep setup. Not today. Today may be the easiest opening I have ever written... Vanessa Joy is a joy to work with. Every email I have received during the planning stages of this show has made me smile because of her email signature. She ends her emails.... "enJoy life". That sums up what you are in for on this episode. In doing some research on Vanessa another thing stood out to me, her website's About page starts off that page by saying: "Hello! First off, I’m just glad you’re here. Thank you. I could go on about the "history" of me, my awards and publications and my 20+ years in photography, but the truth is I just love marriage and being a part of one of the most important times in my couples’ lives." That is awesome. I owned a DJ business for 18 years, and I was on some of the top referral lists in So Cal. That is to say that I have worked a lot of weddings, with a lot of wedding photographers. That opening statement perfectly says what I always felt when I did a wedding, and what I rarely - if ever -  heard from a photographer I worked with. Still, if Vanessa won't list her accomplishments perhaps I can. There are only five Canon Explorers of Light in the field of Wedding Photography, just five. Vanessa is one of them. On it's own, that's enough of a list, but let me continue... Vanessa Joy photographs weddings from Austin and Dallas, TX, to New Jersey, New York City, and Manhattan, and of course is sought after for destination weddings. Her style is photojournalistic, and has let to multiple awards. Her work has been seen in The Knot, RangeFinder, Grace Ormonde, Brides, and more. Last time I counted she has 11 classes on CreativeLive, and you can even buy her preset packs. And yes, she's an author, with her book "The Off-Camera Flash Handbook: 32 Scenarios for Creating Beautiful Light and Stunning Photographs" available now. Let's just say that Vanessa Joy is at the top of the wedding photography game, and I am so glad to have her on the show. Please join Canon Explorer of Light Vanessa Joy and me as we jump head first into the wonderful world of Wedding Photography, while discussing this beautiful image of a bride framed by her veil, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Vanessa Website: vanessajoy.com Website for Photographers: breatheyourpassion.com Blog: vanessajoyphotographyblog.com Twitter: @vanessa__joy Instagram: @vanessajoy Facebook: @VJoyPhoto YouTube: @vanessajoy Vanessa's Book Amazon: The Off-Camera Flash Handbook: 32 Scenarios for Creating Beautiful Light and Stunning Photographs Vanessa's Secrets To Perfect Poses Speed Posing Course: speedposing.com Free Guide: Posing Inspiration Guide Vanessa's Photographer Picks Steven Kramer: kramerportraits.net Seth Miranda: lastxwitness.com

Please join Lensrentals Founder Roger Cicala, co-owner Drew Cicala, and me as we chat about all things gear rental. We'll discuss the process, benefits, misconceptions, use cases for renting gear and more. We even take a look at some of the strange things they have found inside returned lenses, on this episode of Behind the Shot. 

Please join Canon Explorer of Light, headshot specialist, PsyPhotologist, author, and entrepreneur Peter Hurley, his guest (and the subject of today's photo) actor and singer Marina Pires, and me as we talk about all things headshots, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

On occasion I have a guest on Behind the Shot I find hard to describe. With SanDisk Extreme Team members Jonathan and Angela Scott that is not the case. In fact I have so much I want to say that I'm worried I will end up with a novel. I first learned of Jonathan and Angela through Rick Sammon, and in fact Rick has sent me a number of emails over the years telling me I need to get The Big Cat People on the show. Well, it's finally happened, and I couldn't be more excited to have Jonathan join me on this show. Jonathan and Angela Scott are award-winning wildlife photographers and authors who have made their name documenting the lives of lions, leopards and cheetahs in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Over the past 40 years, they have recorded every aspect of their existence and their travels through their stunning wildlife photography. The only couple to have won the Overall Award in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition as individuals, Jonathan and Angela are two of the best wildlife photographer working today. They have written and illustrated 34 books, including their Sacred Nature: Life’s Eternal Dance (HPH) that won the Gold Award for Photography in the prestigious Independent Publishers Book Awards, 2017. They hope to publish the second volume, titled Sacred Nature Volume 2: Reconnecting People to Our Planet, in early 2021. Jonathan is the presenter of the popular BBC/Animal Planet wildlife television program Big Cat Diary and has been featured in many other documentaries including two series of Elephant Diaries, and Big Bear Diary. He presented The Truth About Lions for BBC2 in 2011. Their latest TV show, currently on Animal Planet and Discovery, is Big Cat Tales. In addition to their artistry, Jonathan & Angela have also committed their lives to fighting for wildlife conservation. They are currently founding their own non-profit organization, The Sacred Nature Initiative (SNI). This initiative aims to Inspire, Educate, and Conserve, by forging meaningful partnerships with educators and local conservation organizations worldwide to address the loss of wilderness and plight of endangered species. There is a Kickstarter campaign running from February 2 to February 28, 2021 for the new book, Sacred Nature Volume 2: Reconnecting People to Our Planet, that will also help benefit The Sacred Nature Initiative. I have seen some previews of this book, and at 14" x 11", with 288 pages and 140 images, this is going to be pretty awesome. Join The Big Cat Man, Jonathan Scott, and me as we chat about photographing in the Maasai Mara, the ethical considerations related to wildlife photography, and more, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Jonathan and Angela Website: bigcatpeople.com Instagram: @thebigcatpeople Facebook: @JonathanAngelaScott YouTube: @thebigcatpeople Kickstarter Sacred Nature Volume 2: Reconnecting People to Our Planet The Sacred Nature Initiative bigcatpeople.com/sacred-nature Jonathan & Angela's Photo Safaris c4photosafaris.com Fine Art Prints bigcatpeople.com/prints Jonathan's Photographer Pick Vincent Munier

Join Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon and me as we take a closer look at one of his iconic portraits, taken in Death Valley, and as we explore his inspiring world of Sammonisms, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join wildlife photographer, and Canon Explorer of Light, Charles Glatzer and me as chat about how you can improve your wildlife photography, and as we do a deep dive into his "once in a lifetime" image of a bobcat dragging it's prey through the snow, on the episode of Behind the Shot.

A photographer whose publication credits include National Geographic Books, Time, Life Magazine, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon, Sierra Club, and Disney is someone I want to learn from, and in this case, that's Adam Jones. Adam is a photographer that has been internationally recognized for his nature, travel, and wildlife images.  Jones’s award-winning photography has been widely published in magazines, posters, calendars, and books, including nine coffee-table books. With images used in national advertising campaigns for clients such as Canon, Ford, Eddie Bauer, Miller Beer and Honda, it's no wonder Adam is in the rare group of artists known as Canon Explorers of Light. Adam is also recognized worldwide as an outstanding stock photographer, with his images represented by Getty Images, and Danita Delimont Stock Photography.  His work has sold for editorial and commercial uses in over 30 countries. In 1995 the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest selected Adam’s image, from over 19,000 entries, as the winner in the “In Praise of Plants” category. All of this experience, combined with Adam's enthusiasm for photography, has led to Adam being a popular and highly respected workshop leader and speaker at photography workshops around the world, helping students reach their full potential in the exciting world of digital photography. Join Canon Explorer of Light Adam Jones and me as we take a deep dive into how he made this amazing landscape, and discuss ways to improve your reflection photos, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Adam Website: adamjonesphoto.com Workshops: adamjonesphoto.com Instagram: @adam_jones_photo Facebook: facebook.com Twitter: @AdamsCamera Adam's Photographer Picks Art Wolfe: artwolfe.com John Shaw: johnshawphoto.com

Join photographer, voice, and purveyor of awesomeness Karen Hutton and me as we chat about how she made her image "Forest of Enlightenment", and explore her world of creativity, on this episode of Behind the Shot. 

Join photographer, educator, speaker, and mentor Ron Clifford and me as discuss his beautiful B&W portrait, that he calls "The Baptism", on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join retired Navy SEAL, motivational speaker, author, and photographer, Darren McBurnett and me as we discuss his book "Uncommon Grit", his photographic style, and one of the amazing images from the book on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join Canon Explorer of Light, and master of capturing the perfect moment, Atiba Jefferson and me as we discuss moment, style, and more on this episode of Behind the Shot.

I am so honored to have the talented self-portrait artist Lizzy Gadd join me to discuss how she made this image, which my wife calls "Reflections in Beauty", on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join toy photographer extraordinaire Mitchel Wu and me as we take a deep dive into his playful image "Duke and Forky" on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join Canon Explorer of Light Joel Grimes and me as we chat about how you can elevate you lighting skillset, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join photographer and podcaster Jeff Harmon and me as we dive deep into how captured this 40 image stack of the Milky Way, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join the amazing pet photographer Kaylee Greer and me as we dive into her image of Dobby in the Pemigewasset River, and as we discuss creating pet photos that make a splash, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join SmugMug and Flickr Global Marketing Manager & Head of Ambassador Relations, and wonderful photographer, Alastair Jolly and me as we discuss the current state of online photo sharing, and as we take a look at his amazing use of light for his photo of Loch Achtriochtan, Glencoe, Scotland on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join me and Drew MacCallum, Advisor, Technical Information at Canon USA, as we try to answer some of the common questions related the new Canon EOS R5 and R6, along with the new RF lenses, following the announcement on July 9th, 2020.

Join Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon and me as we take a closer look at some of his images taken with the new Canon EOS R6 and new Canon lenses, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join Canon Explorer of Light Terrell Lloyd and me as we chat about how he gets the unique angles he does while shooting under the high pressure of an NFL football game, on this Behind the Shot.

Join photographer Pia Parolin and me as we chat about her image The Orange Cap, and discuss how to add color, contrast, and motion to your street photography on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join world renowned fashion photographer Lindsay Adler and me as we discuss what it takes to create an amazing commercial fashion image, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join Canon Explorer of Light Bob Davis and me as we examine his image of a mother cheetah in pursuit of a steenbok to feed her four cubs, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join me as I chat with one of the most accomplished sports photographers working today about how he captured an amazing image of the a ski jumper, with Olympic Rings as the back drop, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join beauty photographer Erin Holmstead and me as we discuss lightening up your photos with amazing creativity, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

I have never had a photographer like Colin Finlay on this show. I have read his bio so many times today, and yet I am having trouble writing this post because describing him is not easy. Colin Finlay is one of the foremost documentary photographers and filmmakers in the world. He has has chronicled the human condition with compassion, empathy, and dignity. He has covered war and conflict, disappearing traditions, the environment in both its glory and its devastation, genocide, famine, religious pilgrimage and global cultures. He has circled the globe twenty-seven times, reaching as far as Antarctica, the Arctic Circle and 95 incredible countries in-between. As far as recognition, Colin has been blessed with many awards and accolades, from Tiffany Crystal Eagles, and Emmy nods to a Knighthood. As you would expect, when someone is as talented as Colin in one area of creativity they are also gifted in other areas. Colin Finlay is also a multi-instrumental musician, and he uses his photography to create amazing mixed media art pieces. That's where we travel today. Join photographer and artist Colin Finlay and me as we discuss his amazing career, and how he made this amazing image, on this episode of Behind the Shot. Connect with Colin Website: colinfinlay.com Instagram: @colinfinlay Facebook: @colinfinlayphotographer

Join world renowned wedding photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Roberto Valenzuela and me as we discuss his process for creating such amazing artistic wedding images, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join me on this special Behind the Shot as I look back at the 2020 WPPI Conference and Expo, and talk to a few of the attendees.

Join Nikon Ambassador Deborah Sandidge and me as we journey to the Valensole Plateau area of France to talk about long exposures and how to improve your travel photography, and this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join Long Exposure, Night Sky, and Abandoned Site photographer and author Ken Lee to discuss the multi-shot image that graces the cover of his new book, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join the amazing photographer Glyn Dewis and me as explore how he made his image of WW II veteran, and MBE recipient Harry Billinge, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join all around creative Jefferson Graham and me as we discuss the benefits of doing a photowalk, and get a few tips, on this episode of Behind the Shot. 

Join food and beverage photographer Freddy Clark and me as we take a deep dive into his photo of an Apple Tarte Tartin, and discuss how to make tastier photos, on this edition of Behind the Shot.

Join renowned travel photographer Dave Williams and me as we chat about capturing not only the Aurora Borealis, but the night sky too, and this episode of Behind the Shot.

Join Twyla Jones and me as we jump into the world of family and couples photography, while examining her amazing minimalist portrait of a couple going to bed.

Join world renowned photographer Chris Rainier and me as we discuss documenting other cultures and one of the images from his new book MASK, on this episode of Behind the Shot. 

Join legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Peter Read Miller and me as we take a deep dive into his iconic shot of a flaming arrow lighting the Olympic Cauldron at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.