PhotoNight at UNC

Vivian and I appreciate photography lovers of of all kinds. We especially love talking with college and university students who are launching their photo careers. This year we’ve spoken at several schools where we’ve had the privilege of reviewing portfolios, and listening to the unique stories that have shaped these students’ path. It’s energizing and invigorating to see their projects and give feedback on their many and insightful questions.

Last night I spoke at PhotoNight at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about our journey from photojournalism to stock to humanitarian photography. The audience was attentive, enthusiastic, and even nice enough to stay for a group shot afterwards.

We continue to tell students that traditional routes to this profession are rapidly changing, but developing technologies are also creating different opportunities to carve out new directions in this field. If you’re interested in studying photojournalism at the undergraduate or graduate level, this school is definitely worth investigating. The faculty and staff are terrific. If you are particularly interested in multimedia, check out their multimedia projects.

Each school we’ve been invited to has a different photo emphasis, goal and time frame. Check out these links for the schools where we’ve spoken:

University of North Carolina
University of Florida
North Georgia Technical College
University of the Nations, Hawaii

If you read Day 1 or Day 2 just skip to the photos!  Here is what I said yesterday. It still stands!

“How in the world do you make a living as a humanitarian photographer?” That is the question, implied or direct, that I get asked almost every week. My answers don’t always satisfy, so I asked nine photographers that specialize in humanitarian photography if and/or how they augment their earnings from this type of photography to sustain their business. OK, I really asked ten, but that last photographer never responded…probably out of Twitter, Facebook, email, phone and Skype range.

As you will see, these photographers have found solutions that are varied and creative. Passion drives this arena of photography. Resourcefulness sustains it.

I personally augment our earnings by shooting stock for Getty Images. Click on this link for a video of some of that work: Getty Images.

Make sure you check out the links for the featured photographers as well as their blog posts, podcasts and books. You will learn a lot and go away inspired to make a difference with your photography.

All photographs are Copyrighted by the individual photographers.

No use laboring over saying something new. Here is what I said yesterday. It still stands!

“How in the world do you make a living as a humanitarian photographer?” That is the question, implied or direct, that I get asked almost every week. My answers don’t always satisfy, so I asked nine photographers that specialize in humanitarian photography if and/or how they augment their earnings from this type of photography to sustain their business. OK, I really asked ten, but that last photographer never responded…probably out of Twitter, Facebook, email, phone and Skype range.

As you will see, these photographers have found solutions that are varied and creative. Passion drives this arena of photography. Resourcefulness sustains it.

I personally augment our earnings by shooting stock for Getty Images. Click on this link for a video of some of that work: Getty Images.

Make sure you check out the links for the featured photographers as well as their blog posts, podcasts and books. You will learn a lot and go away inspired to make a difference with your photography.

All photographs are Copyrighted by the individual photographers.

As you will see, these photographers have found solutions that are varied and creative. Passion drives this arena of photography. Resourcefulness sustains it.

I personally augment our earnings by shooting stock for Getty Images. Click on this link for a video of some of that work: Getty Images.

Make sure you check out the links for the featured photographers as well as their blog posts, podcasts and books. You will learn a lot and go away inspired to make a difference with your photography.

I will roll out these posts over three days. Today I want to introduce you to David duChemin, Mario Mattei and Karl Grobl. Come back the next two days for the other six photographers. None of us can take too much goodness in one day!

All photographs are Copyrighted by the individual photographers.

A few weeks back, I was asked by Matt Brandon in an interview, why, if I cared for people so much, did I not also shoot local projects. He said, “You don’t have to be in Swaziland to help people. There are all kinds of people in your neighborhood you could help (with your photography).” His comments really got me thinking about the nearby Atlanta community. I know so little about the needs and problems here and the people that are trying to help.

In an effort to do something about that, my wife and I joined a downtown co-working network of social entrepreneurs and policy makers called The Hub Atlanta. Our hope in doing this is to rub shoulders with people in our backyard that are radically trying to make Atlanta a better place.

As a way to meet these people and learn of their projects and passions, we decided to do a portrait of each person in a style similar to our Visitors project that we do at our home. The results of the first shoot can be seen here. We have also included a behind-the-scenes time-lapse of the process.

The featured member photo below is of Akin Afolayan, the executive director of Hope Floats Initiative, “an Atlanta-based nonprofit with a mission  to develop and deliver creative solutions in areas of alternative shelter and housing advocacy, accessible healthcare, environmental stewardship, and poverty alleviation programs.”

Behind the Scenes-Atlanta from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

As creatives, we tend to fall into the trap of comparing our work to others. Here is a hint for long-term survival in this field: Do not compare yourselves to others. Comparing yourself to others is a sure route to depression and paralysis. If you fall into the comparison trap, you will become so fearful that it will block your imagination. You will freeze up and produce nothing of value. You will be paralyzed and unable to flow in any kind of creativity. Sounds pretty harsh, but I have been there. I know from whence I speak!

The only reason I bring this up now is that once I saw her portrait on the computer monitor, I was tempted to be jealous. I was tempted to compare her shot to my work. Great work, Megan, and congrats on the award. I think I will just enjoy your photo and not compare anything!

Photo Copyright© Megan Bailey

Last year David duChemin of www.pixelatedimage.com and I had a great time teaching at the School of Photography, University of the Nations, Hawaii. This year he wasn’t able to make it but, nevertheless, his wisdom is still being imparted to the new students via his book, Within the Frame. It is required reading for all.

Vivian and I had a great week teaching to and learning from the students. We always come away both exhausted and energized from these intense teaching experiences. Click on the Vimeo link below to see a short timelapse created for David’s benefit as a class exercise.

Video and stills  ©www.garyschapman.com

Thanks for the wisdom, David from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

Dave LaBelle | The Lesson from Francis Gardler on Vimeo.

This section of the blog, INSPIRATION, focuses on individuals that inspire us through their creativity, insight, originality, artistry and vision.

As a launching point for this blog series, I can think of no better inspiration than this video series about photographer/educator Dave LaBelle by Francis Gardler. Anyone who truly cares about people will come away from this with a truer and clearer vision about how and why to immerse ourselves into the daily lives of people. One of Dave’s main points throughout the series is for photographers to put themselves in the place of those they are photographing. We gain empathy for and sensitivity toward our subjects when we consider how they feel, what they are thinking and what matters to them.

I urge you to take the time to watch this entire series. Let Dave’s attitude, words and wisdom sink in and refresh you. I warn you, it is long for an internet piece. But, your time will be rewarded in a way that can’t quite be expressed in words. You just know, deep inside, that you are going away renewed and with a reborn sense of purpose.

Thank you Dave and Francis for your INSPIRATION.