Three FREE Things You Can Do At This Year's PhotoPro Expo 2017

Hi Everybody,

I sure hope everyone had a happy, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.  Things are such a whirlwind this time of year so I've let the dust settle for a few days but now I want to bring you up to date on this year's PhotoPro Expo.

PhotoPro Expo 2017 is once again the best photography convention in the Midwest, near downtown Cincinnati OH and now it only costs $128.99 for all my Newsletter readers. Not bad since this beats the regular price of $159 or $179 at the door. Register Now for only $128.99 (reg $159) using PROMO CODE PPE17DPT

Now here's the latest show news!

Pre and Post Conference BONUS

Programs & Parties

-Peter Hurley's Day long class is filling up fast so check it out and reserve your seat while you can. [Details Here!]

-Suzette Allen, our Photoshop Guru, is giving away a bunch of cool stuff at her Thursday BONUS Program: [Details Here!]

• One free Live Portrait
• One free Triple Scoop Music song
• One Bay Photo Product certificate
• One year Pro Show Web subscription
• Suzette’s Video series on PS Video Editing

-Tony Corbell, our lighting Master Extraordinaire, Thursday "Hands On" BONUS class is filling fast!

Check it out RIGHT HERE!

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Three FREE Things You Can Do At This Year's PhotoPro Expo 2017

1. Attend Blair Phillips' Thursday Night's Program entitled: Dance Your Way To Larger Profits sponsored by H&H Labs. Blair is a great speaker and a PPE favorite who always brings his infectious enthusiasm to everyone who attends his program.

2. Attend the Expo Trade Show for FREE this year! All you need to get in the door is the FREE Trade Show Pass that you can download right here!

3. Join the "LIVE" Shootout on the Trade Show floor. 

Not only will you be able to build your portfolio but if you hang around a while you will see 6 of our TOP Speakers including Peter Hurley, Tony Corbell, and Hanson Fong, doing "LIVE" DEMOS!!

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Remember, you still have time to register for

the entire show at the great price

of only $128.99 (reg $159)

using PROMO CODE PPE17DPT

 

 

We're less than 4 weeks away and we have our best line-up ever! 

Click here 

or on the banner below for all the conference details.

You really don't want to miss this year's show!

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Hey Gang,

That's it for me today. Please check out all the good things happening at this year's convention.  You won’t want to miss it. I hope to see you there!

Cheers,

David

PhotoPro Expo 2017 Kicks Off It's Best Photo Conference EVER At The BEST Black Friday PRICE Ever - ONLY $119.99!

Hi Gang, You’ve got yo check this out!

PhotoPro Expo 2017 Kicks Off It's Best Photo Conference EVER At The BEST Black Friday PRICE Ever - ONLY $119.99 with PROMO CODE PPE17BF  - only till Midnight Monday!

I can't believe it - PHOTOPRO EXPO 2017 is right around the corner January 26-30. That's only 8 weeks away and has our best line-up ever! Just check out all the famous faces below. Click here for all the conference details

For the next few DAYS you can register for ONLY $119.99 with PROMO CODE PPE17BF - on-line registration only.  That's our special Black Friday pricing and our BEST price ever!

USE PROMO CODE PPE17BF

to get special $119.99 pricing!

I'm really going to get into trouble with the PHOTOPRO EXPO accounting team for pricing the show so low - so grab it while you can before they make me change it back to the regular price of $159 ;~) 

You really don't want to miss this year's show!

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Hey Gang,

That's it for me today. Happy Turkey Day to everybody and I hope to see you soon.

Adios for now,

David

A Weekend To Be Remembered - The Wedding I Didn't Photograph.

Good Morning Everybody,

I know it's been quite a while since I've checked in with you at DigitalProTalk but as I sit here at the fabulously beautiful Ojai Valley Resort and Spa in Ojai, California on our patio with the soft, cool morning breezes and looking out onto the mountains kissed by the morning sun I reminisce about all my years in wedding photography.

On this wonderful weekend I mark the 24th occasion of my spending time with the families whose Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and weddings I have photographed since 1999. I have been honored to photograph 23 of those 24 wonderful events but this weekend I get to "take a by" on the photography end of things.  LaDawn and I are here as invited guests of the family and what a joy it is just to spend time with the mothers and fathers of the bride and groom and their extensive extended family.

It was "bride's choice” on the photographer for the wedding but the groom's family still wanted us to part of the festivities. We could not be more pleased to accept their invitation! 

As I said, this is my 24th occasion to be with the family this weekend.  And what makes this occasion so joyful for me is the fact that I have watched most, no, nearly of the the young adults attending grow up over these past 16 years. I have photographed 5 of the weddings of whom the Bar/Bat Mitzvahs I have photographed in years past.

I'm proud of each and everyone of the siblings and cousins in this large loving family. During the speeches at the rehearsal dinner last night it was just so inspiring to see how each toast maker carried off their sentiments with humor, class, and style. Each one had indeed come of age.

We as parents all hope for our children the very best even though that parenting path is at times burdened with challenges, stress, and frustration - the norm for most, if not all parents.  But to see Tobi, Aaron, Joey, Robby, Mammie, Amy, Johnny, and all  rise to occasion of the wonderful wedding celebration brings hope, joy  and pride to all the guests looking on last evening.

Before we headed back to our room, LaDawn and I visited with most of the groom’s siblings and cousins last night  just to affirm to each of them how we felt about being with them and being part of the weekend celebration. I guess I felt like the photographic uncle is so many respects having watched all 22 cousins grow up over the past 16 years. Like I said, it's been a wonderful weekend.

Later this afternoon we celebrate Johnny and Melissa's wedding and LaDawn and I can't wait to raise a glass to toast the new couple.

This wonderful profession has been extensively rewarding for me over the 50+ years since my first wedding. Those rewards have come in the way of financial and professional success. But the highest and best reward of being a photographer for so many years with loyal and supportive clients is to watch the new generation come in and begin to take charge of our world.

The feeling that's most prominent for me this weekend is that our future is in good hands.

To Johnny & Melissa, parents, siblings, cousins, friends and extended aunts & uncles,

I say "l'chaim!"

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That’s it for today.  I’ll try to get a few wedding images up tomorrow.

See ‘ya everybody.

Thanks for stopping by, David

My Brand New Apps Are Ready To Go At Only $1.99 each!

Good Morning Everybody,

I know I’ve been laying low for a while but  I’m writing today to get the news out about my brand new $1.99 Photography Apps!

Here is the backstory. Last year, my good friend and great photographer Rick Sammon,  asked me to be part of his Mobile Masters Group and twisted my arm to produce three wedding apps [link]. Rick is really an App Master.  I finally completed the project and they look great! Read the rest of the story on the very first set of David Ziser Apps [link] below. You're going to love them

My Brand New Apps Are Ready To Go At Only $1.99 each!

As I mentioned above, I am thrilled to be announcing my brand new Wedding Apps on Lighting, Lenses, and Composition [link].  Each App contains 25 of my favorite images per App topic along with the back story, exposure data, and lighting diagram for each image. I think you'll love them!

For years we've been offering  the Hot Shots Series available at my DigitalProTalk Market Place in a printed version. Now we can offer them at a fraction of the cost - only $1.99 each - in their new App form! The printed version was very popular years ago but technology marches on and now they are a "steal of a deal" for less than two bucks each! 

We offer three titles so far:

David Ziser's Hot Shots Lighting - Lighting creates the mood and feeling in a photograph. Learn from the master, via end-result images and lighting diagrams, how you can create images with impact though the use of lighting.

David Ziser's Hot Shots Lenses - Lenses help photographers tell a story - their story and the story of the subject. Learn how to use lenses - from wide to telephoto - wisely to capture the all-important, once-in-a-lifetimes event for the bride and groom.

David Ziser's Hot Shots - Composition - Learn how to successfully compose an image via end-result images and illustrations that explain composition techniques. Camera, lens and exposure info is included too.

I hope you love the Apps. One more time – here is the link to the apps.

Enjoy!  David

p.s. Don't forget - LaDawn wanted me to let you know that she has marked things down again at our Digital Resource Center [link]. Get the deals - some up to 80% off - while they last as we will be closing the Digital Resource Center in this summer.

Tomorrow Night - 12 Keys to Awesome Off-Camera Flash – FREE Webcast!!!

Hey everybody - don't miss this FREE 90 minute July 8th Webcast tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. with award winning photographer, trainer, and author - Michael Mowbray! 

REGISTER FOR FREE RIGHT HERE!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, PhotoPro Network is presenting an entire series of "Members Only"webcasts this year but is making this first webcast open to everybody FREE!!!

Michael is an amazing photographer who has perfected the art of lighting with his little speed-lighting gems. Check out his images here and his new Speed-lighting book "Shoot To Thrill" right here. I just picked up my Kindle copy and can't wait to get into it!

This "LIVE" rapid fire program is just what any photographer needs to take his/her lighting and photography beyond the competition!

FREE REGISTRATION RIGHT HERE!

I’ll be moderating the program with my good friend Paul Goodman – we both hope to see you there!

P.S.  We also have a few copies of Michael’s new book give-a-ways for our audience too!!

More Slovenian Travels & Budapest Master Class Update: A Day At The Opera – Part 2

Good Morning Everybody,

Yesterday we headed out to explore more of the countryside. We had heard about the quaint little town of Ptuj – pronounced pa-too-ee – I know, our letters in the US don’t sound the same in other parts of the world but with a little practice you eventually figure it out ;~)  Anyway, Ptuj is the oldest town in Slovenia and is located on the Drava River. It also is home to one of the oldest wine cellar in Slovenia dating back to 1239.  You guessed it – we had to take the 90 minute tour.

We also toured the Ptuj Castle as well which turned out to be quite a nice surprise with so much to see from the castle including rich historical details,  to 15th and 16th century paintings, weapons,  armor, musical instruments, and cultural costumes.  It was a very nice day in Ptuj. 

We then discovered we were less that an hour from Zagreb, Croatia.  We decided to add a third country to our itinerary for the day.  After a few passport checks we were on our way.  Zagreb was a busy, bustling city of nearly one million people.  We also hit it during rush hour and were stuck in traffic for a while.

The first thing that hit LaDawn and I was the amount of graffiti painted everywhere – a real turn off for the both of us.  But in all fairness we need to give the city a second look since it is always on the recommended list of most travel guides.

We finally got back to our cottage about 6:15, just in time to enjoy the evening sunset and a glass of fine Slovenian wine.  It was a good day.

OK gang, that was the travel update.  Now let’s get on with more images and descriptions from my Master Class two weeks ago – here we go…

Budapest Master Class Update: A Day At The Opera – Part 2

I mentioned a few days ago that the highlight of my Master Class with my good friend Clay Blackmore was shooting at the famed Hungarian State Opera House.  Check out  A Day At The Opera – Part 1 right here.  I had so many favorite images from that day’s shoot, I decided to spread them out over two posts.  Good news – today I finally get to show you the rest of my FAVS.  I hope you enjoy them.

After shooting on the main staircase of the Opera House from about every conceivable angle, I couldn’t resist trying a few more locations.  We had three instructors working at this location – that would be Clay, Jared Platt – our Lightroom instructor who was also on board for the week, and myself. With a little exploration of the surrounds here are a few more images from the day’s session.

Photo 1: I wondered out onto the balcony to see what was happening – photographically speaking.  The street surrounds were cluttered with buildings, power lines, signs, cars, trucks, pedestrians etc.  It was mid-day direct sun-light, not the ideal lighting but often what we face on a wedding day. I did spot an area that I thought would make for a nice portrait of our Daniel Craig look-a-like male model. I’m thinking…. if I can really constrict the background and just use the windows of the building across the street as my background, those windows would create the repeating element I’m often seeking to enhance my portraits. It became a tight crop but I think it worked well for this image.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Tamron 28-300mm VC lens at 200mm, 1/500 second (HSFS) at F5.6, ISO 200.  Lighting camera right, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite directly.

Photo2:  This image was made from the balcony of the Opera House as I looked down at the street below.  While photographing the portrait above, I looked over to the street below and loved the lines I saw in my potential composition. Look at the gentle S-curve line running through the scene just to the right of the bride.  The row of traffic barriers across the top of the image served to frame out the top part of the composition. The street lamp offered a nice visual balance to the rest of the scene.

All I had to do was light my subject.  That was accomplished by having my assistant, Roland in this case, bring the light in from camera right.  I got the direction of light I wanted without having to settle for the less dramatic/flat natural light.  I love how the image turned out.

DAZNOTE:  Roland was pretty close to the subject to get the intensity of light on the subject that I wanted.  In fact, he was in the image.  But, like I’ve said many, many times, when you need to photograph your assistant to capture the lighting needed to enhance your image, be sure they are in a “Photoshop-able” area of the scene so you can simply remove them in post ;~)

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Tamron 28-300mm VC lens at 50mm, 1/800 second (HSFS) at F5.6, ISO 200.  Lighting camera right with Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite directly.

Photo 3: On our way back into the Opera House, LaDawn suggested that I make an image at the main entrance and try to pick up the beautiful ceiling detail.  I thought it was a great idea and we set up the shot. 

The problem was that the ambient light was so bright, we were going to lose the ceiling detail in the exposure.  I decided to not only backlight the bride, but light the ceiling as well with a third Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite directed toward the ceiling. I got the exact result I wanted.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Sigma 12 – 24 mm lens at 22mm, 1/200 second at F5.6, ISO 200.  Lighting camera right with Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella. Additional backlighting supplied by a second Canon speed-light and a third speed-light on the ground, behind the bride pointed towards the domed ceiling above the bride.

Photos 4, 5, and 6: Next we headed back into the Opera House.  Everyone else was hanging out on the second floor of the building which gave me complete reign on the first floor and what spectacular sights awaited us! Just look at the architecture and detail of the mosaic tile work throughout the floors, walls, and ceiling – unbelievable!!!

Lighting was basically the same for each of these three images – one on the bride, one for backlighting, and one on the ceiling behind and above the bride.  The only real change was in camera position or lens zoom setting to modify the composition and/or crop of the images. Pretty cool, don’t you think?

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Sigma 12–24 mm lens at 24mm, 20mm, and 22mm respectably, 1/20 second at F5.6, ISO 1600.  Lighting camera left in the first image, then moved my assistant to camera right with Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella for the second and third images. Additional backlighting supplied by a second Canon speed-light positioned on the floor about 12 feet behind the bride. A third speed-light behind the bride illuminating the ceiling behind and above her.

Photos 7 and 8: As I continued to explore the surrounds I discovered a great vantage point with me laying on the ground shooting up to the ceilings of the other floor levels above me.  WOW! What a site.  It was tricky to get the bride in a somewhat comfortable position – I was in “pain” by the way laying on my back in a half “sit-up” position to frame the bride up the way I wanted.  Who says wedding photograph can’t improve your abs :~)

Again, exposure and lighting was pretty much the same as with the previous three images with the addition of that third light illuminating the ceiling above and behind the bride.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Sigma 12–24 mm lens at 22mm, and 13mm respectably, 1/20 and 1/30 second respectably at F5.6, ISO 1600.  Lighting camera right for the first image then camera left for the second image using a  Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella. Additional backlighting supplied by a second Canon speed-light positioned on the floor behind the bride. And a third behind the bride illuminating the ceiling behind and above her.

There you have it, a great set of images from a super fun filled day of shooting at the Bulgarian State Opera House.  Boy, I can’t wait to go back – maybe next year :~)

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Hey gang, that’s going to wrap it for today.  I’ve got one more day of shooting to share with you so I hope you’ll check back.  It’s another fine set of images I think you’ll enjoy.

Have a great one and I’ll see you soon,

David

My Budapest Master Class: A Day At The Opera, Part 1

Good Morning Everybody,

We continued to have our photographic socks knocked off with the magnificent locations set up for us by Jeff and Roland. Thursday’s shoot, I think, was the “pièce de résistance” for the week!

On Thursday morning it was off to an on-location photographic shoot at the VERY impressive Hungarian State Opera House for our morning session. Built in 1875, the richly-decorated building is considered one of the architect’s masterpieces and one of the finest opera houses in all of Europe and the largest in all of Hungary. Built in the neo-Renaissance style, with it’s gilded vaulted ceilings covered in gorgeous murals, it’s marble columns, chandeliers, floor to ceiling mirrors,  vast sweeping staircase, rich velvet draping's, arches, arches, arches……truly a spectacular location.

The auditorium was being used for rehearsal for the upcoming production of Falstaff and was off limits for any interruptions. We were allowed a sneak peek at the end of our 4 hour session. The auditorium was built in a horse-shoe shape, holds 1261 seats, impressive box seats, spectacular staging and is said to have the third best acoustics in all of Europe. It was a first for the Opera House to “rent” the location for a photographic event and we extend to Jeff and Roland for making the arrangements a VERY BIG thanks.

A Day At The Opera: What a Shoot!

I’ve included several photos I want to share with you today.  I’ve given a brief recap of each image, what I was seeing in my mind’s eye and how I put the image together. Please enjoy the series.

Photo 1: This first image was really a lesson in composition. Look at the marble staircase.  Notice how I position the subject, Gary, at the intersection or where “X” marks the spot.  My rule: Wherever the eye is being led in the image – place your subject there.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Canon 24-105mm IS lens at 40mm, 1/50 second at F5.6 ISO 3200.  Lighting camera right, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella.

Photo2: This image below looks like it was taken pretty much like the first image but, in fact, there was a BIG difference in the lighting. The light was brought in from camera right obviously but not through my Zumbrella.  There just was no room for it in this tight corner space of the opera house.  I asked my assistant to remove the Zumbrella, flip the speed-light 180 degrees and bounce the light off the beige marbled wall.  Since the light is still coming from the same direction, the lighting pattern is still the same as if I used my trusty Zumbrella.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Canon 24-105mm IS lens at 40mm, 1/80 second at F5.6 ISO 3200.  Lighting camera right, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite bounced off the wall camera right.

Photo 3:  Set up for this image is pretty much like the first image with the minor exception that I wanted the bride’s head to be positioned at the corner of the two intersecting arches you see behind her.  I also added a second speed-light behind her dress to give a bit more background separation or backlighting to the bride.  I really love the final results in this image.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Sigma 12 – 24 mm lens at 24mm, 1/80 second at F5.6 ISO 3200.  Lighting camera left, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella.  A second Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite is place on the floor behind the bride about 10 feet away pointing up at her shoulder blades.

Photo 4: This image was made seconds before the above image.  I simply moved a bit closer to the bride and re-positioned the bride’s face in the arch you see behind her.  A nice close up, don’t you think?

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Sigma 12 – 24 mm lens at 24mm, 1/80 second at F5.6 ISO 3200.  Lighting camera left, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella.

Photo 5: Here is another image where I’m playing around with subject placement in the space of the opera’s magnificent staircase.  This time I wanted to see more of the grandeur of staircase.  I carefully positioned the bride’s head with in the interior frame element, or better said, in front of the window you see behind her.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Sigma 12 – 24 mm lens at 13mm, 1/80 second at F5.6 ISO 1600.  Lighting camera left, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my Zumbrella.  A second Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite is place on the floor behind the bride about 10 feet away pointing up at her shoulder blades and dialed down from the earlier image above.

Photo 6:  In this next image I took the top position on the staircase and shot down the steps.  The composition is quite different that in all the previous images yet still strikingly impressive!  To add to the impressive scale of the space, I used my Canon fish to bring in as much of the grandeur of the surrounds as possible.  I subsequently did a giant lens correction in Lightroom 5 to remove any hint of the fisheye effect.

Lighting-wise: Due to all the highly reflective marble of the staircase railing I really needed to control the light on the railing camera right.  Using my Zumbrella would have heavily illuminated the rail.  I reduced the “cone of light” coming out of my flash by placing a black “beer koozie” over the flash head to give me a very restricted “cone of light” falling on the subject but not on the marble railing. Pretty  easy, cheap and cool solution, I think ;~)

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Canon 8-15 Fisheye at 15mm, 1/40 second at F6.3 ISO 1600.  Lighting camera right, Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite through my beer koozie.  A second Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite is place on the floor behind the bride and groom about 10 feet away pointing up at their shoulder blades.

Photo 7: This is a signature “Ziser” shot, as LaDawn likes to call it!  I take this photograph at every wedding – but not necessarily is such spectacular locations.  Wide lens, add some backlighting and shoot away. This image was again captured using the Canon 8-15 Fisheye but correcting the “fish” effect in Lightroom 5 certainly added to the dramatics. If this had been an actual couple the next image would have been the couple sharing a kiss and then sometimes I even have the groom dip the bride, all in the same location and using the same lighting.

Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with my Canon 8-15 Fisheye at 15mm, 1/80 second at F6.3 ISO 2500.  Lighting from behind supplied by my Canon 600 EX-RT speed-lite placed on the floor behind the bride and groom about 10 feet away pointing up at their shoulder blades.

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Hey gang, I’ve still got about another half dozen images to show you but time is running short on this end so I’ll try to get them up over the weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend in what ever part of the world you’re reading this and I’ll see you again soon.

David

 

Today I’m Celebrating the 44th Anniversary of My 21st Birthday! Last History Recap

Good Morning Everybody,

Today is a BIG day in my life – it’s one of those “milestone birthdays”.  I’ll give you a hint – I just received my Medicare Card in the mail.  Yep, I’m celebrating the 44th anniversary of my 21st birthday today;~) Now the good news is that I sure don’t feel that old and thankfully, many folks tell me I don’t look my age.  I guess that is some consolation ;~)  So, what does LaDawn get me for my birthday – A TANDEM SKYDIVING ADVENTURE!!! Uhmmm…. I wonder if there’s a new life insurance policy floating around here somewhere? OK, just kidding LaDawn ;~)

So for today’s post I thought I would recap the DAVID A. ZISER PHOTOGRAPHY history posts I’ve been running the last few weeks.  I promise this is my last post reminiscing about the good old days.  But, like I said earlier, I hope these posts offer some insights into my growth and success in this business to the new and aspiring photographers considering this profession as their own.

That said, let me lead off today’s post with a photograph that we just stumbled upon over the weekend.  It’s a class photo of my very first class I ever took.  That was way back in 1979, and my first instructor was the legendary Monte Zucker.  That was quite the class. Click on the image for a larger view. Pictured here is my good friend, John Miele who went on to become the youngest PPA President ever.  Also pictured are my Aussie buddies talented photographer Robert Piccoli and Michael Warshall, current owner of NuLab Professional Imaging in Australia.  Michael and I still stay in touch.

You’ll also see Monte with his wife, yes, his wife Sandy in the front row. David Bentley, still a good friend is pictured in the back row. Eva, standing next to Michael eventually went on to marry Mark Roberts, owner of Art Leather, the largest wedding album manufacturer at the time. And, I can’t forget Gerhard Bakker, a major influence for all photographers at the time.  I’ve linked up where I could so check out the links for the rest of the stories. If you know any of the other photographers in this image not mentioned please drop me a comment.

The Life and Times of DAVID A. ZISER PHOTOGRAPHY

OK gang, I promise this is the last look  back on the life and times of DAVID A. ZISER PHOTOGRAPHY.  Here is the recap of all the links I’ve been running the last few weeks all gathered in one place should you ever want to visit them again.  Enjoy!

The Brief History Of Ziser Photography & Many Thank You’s To All Who Helped Me Reach This Milestone. [link]

50 Years Later: Celebrating Life, Photography and Friendships!  [link]

50 Years Later: A Grand Celebration & A Peek Down Memory Lane   [link]

Why not take a peek back in time with me in my WayBack Machine and smile at the images from my humble beginnings:

The Violinist: [link] Taken 45 years ago at age 20.

Budding Photographer: [link]

WayBack Machine #2: [link] Images taken in 1978 – the beginning of my studio career, age 30.

Oldie But A Goodie Wedding Image: [link] Image probably around 1980.

WayBack Machine #3: [link]

Engagement Sessions ‘80’s Style: [link]

WayBack Machine #5: [link]

WayBack Machine #6: [link]

And finally my life philosophy of why I got started in photography and what this wonderful profession means to me.

A Visit By A Friend – ASP THESIS 1988

Part 1: Life Is Too Darn Short To NOT Do What You What To Do With Your Life!   [link]

Part 2: Seeing The Magic Happen For The First Time - Amazing! And Time For Commitment! [link]

Part 3: Sameness Kills Enthusiasm! [link]

Part 4: Developing Your Own Distinct Style [link]

Part 5: Questions Seeking Answers  [link]

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today.  And starting today, I’m only looking forward to see what's next over the distant mountain ridge – greater challenges, beautiful travels, new friends, new memories to try and remember ;~) and many more sunrises and sunsets.

Have a great one everybody.

See ya’ soon!

-David

Questions Seeking Answers: A Visit With A Friend - Part 5

Good Morning Everybody,

Sorry for the lengthy delay in getting this last section up.  I‘ve been working overtime on next year’s PhotoPro Expo and we just had to get a few things nailed down last week.  I’ll give you a few more details this week. That said, time to get moving with my last installment of “A Visit By A friend.”  Here we go… 

Questions Seeking Answers :  A Visit With A Friend - Part 5

“When making our photographs for our clients we are not just using the hardware tools of cameras, lenses, rolls of film, and filters. We must also use our compositional tools of light, color, detail, form, shape, depth, balance and perspective as well. We constantly need to be squeezing that thing we call our brain to get those creative juices flowing.

“By knowing that every time we are behind the camera we will be giving 110% helps keep our minds fresh, sharp, alive, and keeps our creativity fresh and exhilarating.

“Just as we exercise our bodies to keep them in shape, we need to exercise our mind to keep it operating at peak performance as well.”

He paused for a moment as if rolling this imaginary precious gem around in his hands and then he continued.

“Another facet, of the wedding jewel, often overlooked, and yet still one of the most important are the candids. Candids are some of the most important photographs we make on a wedding day. It is through the candids that the bride and groom can ‘visit’ with their families and friends and relive their wedding over and over again.

“Candids need to capture the fun and the excitement of the day for the clients. They need to be spontaneous and emotional, capturing the peak excitement when it happens. Maybe the groom gives grandma a big hug and kiss at the reception. This is a moment that grandma is going to remember weeks after the wedding. We need to capture that moment.

“Candids aren’t always happy. There can be tearful candids too. The bride and groom saying goodbye to mom and dad at the end of the evening, tears coming down their faces, tears of happiness, tears of joy - all of these things need to be included as part of our candid coverage. These candids are the memories!

“To me, all of these things together - the love, the romance, the anticipation, the excitement and the spontaneity are the essence of what we need to capture in our photography. It’s these tangibles and intangibles taken together that takes the uncut gem and transforms it into a beautiful jewel - the images that become the bride and groom’s wedding album.

“This same philosophy holds true with all types of photography. In portrait photography as well, I want to show feelings of the people involved.

“A photographer must always be searching for and using any design elements in his composition in order to create drama, excitement, and emotion in his photograph. The image has to grab the person looking at it, and not let them go. A photograph needs to capture feeling and emotion and give it back to the viewer.”

He paused again and we didn’t even look at each other. He put his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands thinking. Then he began again. “We can never tell ourselves that we know it all, that there is nothing else to learn. There are a million hallways that we can walk down, and a million doorways that we can open. We must constantly strive to improve our photography, to make it better, to take it just a step further, and try to push the limit - all of us need to be pushing the boundaries out together.

“We constantly need to be sharing with our fellow professionals, giving them the insights that we have gained in our own professional experience and letting them continue to pass these new ideas with their own improvements on to others. There can be no secrets. There is no greater joy in the world than to give something to someone else, then have them give it back to you in their new and improved version. Then we can pass it on to another to have it change and improve again. This cycle can do nothing but improve our photography and our profession. That needs to be the goal of everyone.

“Our profession offers a very valuable place to grow both personally and professionally. Our profession gives us a wonderful opportunity to enjoy our lives and also be able to touch other peoples lives. It is a way for us to share ourselves with other people. That is exactly what we do when we give our personal photographic interpretation to a particular wedding, Bar Mitzvah, portrait or a commercial illustration, or whatever it happens to be. We are giving a part of ourselves to someone else for them to enjoy.

“As we give, we grow, and as we grow we can receive. What we receive allows us to grow even more and to give again. What a wonderful living cycle. It what makes this profession such a wonderful profession in which to live our lives.”

And I wondered as I left him enjoying his morning if he sees more than leaves when he looks at a tree, more than clouds in the sky, more than feathers on the birds in his backyard. I hope his life through his viewfinder constantly teaches him to look beyond the outlines to the essence within. I hope this photographer is doubly blessed. Once with a career that is exciting and vital and again with the special vision to see more in life than most people ever will. I know he will help them try.

Perhaps we will talk again.

“Questions, always questions - questions seeking answers. When these questions come from within, so must the answers. With honest answers, not excuses, comes commitment - commitment to oneself. I  hope I always keep asking questions and never stop seeking answers.”

David A. Ziser - 1988

Submitted for fulfillment of requirements for:

American Society of Photographers Fellowship Degree

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today.  Tomorrow I’ll post a directory of all the posts I’ve made over the last two weeks.  Thanks for letting me share with you my retrospective of Ziser Photography.  It’s been and continues to be a great ride!

See ya’ tomorrow,  David