Jason Janik: Life as a Dallas Photographer

2010-03-11T22:34:00.000-08:00

blog.quickdfw.com/archives/2010/03/a-million-screaming-tweens-can.html

When I was shooting the Taylor Swift concert last night here in Dallas, I noticed something... As Taylor swung and danced and shook, she had a few stray hairs fly off her head and down to the stage floor. One slowly floated down into a girl's hand at the edge of the stage. She held her hand out and watched it slowly land, like she was waiting for a snowflake to fall on a calm winter day.

I'm not sure if she kept the solitary hair and took it home, but I'm betting that single strand would fetch a nice reward on ebay! Not that I'm changing career paths to start capturing and selling celebrity hair... just saying, I'd rather sell it than keep it! I'm not much of an autograph guy, either - though I'd keep her autograph before I'd keep any of Taylor Swift's body parts!

Really, Rolling Stone? Really?!?

2010-03-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who thinks this, or is this one of the worst Rolling Stone covers in a long time? Nothing against Shaun White. I don't think it was his fault. The photographer, Terry Richardson, seems to have grabbed a cheap point and shoot, closed his eyes and pushed the shutter button. I feel bad, because he mentions it's his favorite cover work to date. If that's the case, I'd hate to see his worst!

Judge Joe is the man!!!

2010-03-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

Don't charge to shoot a wedding if you don't even know how to use your camera...

Ebby rocks...

2010-03-01T22:10:00.001-08:00

Between my corporate clients and the newspapers and magazines that I shoot for, I've had to photograph a lot of interesting people. However, very few hold a candle to Ebby Halliday.

I had to photograph Ebby during an event. She was the guest speaker, and boy can she speak! The stories she told were so humorous and captivating. And for a woman who is nearly 100 years old, she sure had a quick wit. I hope I can be that sharp at her age! Heck, I just hope I come close to living that long...

Canon TS-E 90mm...

2010-03-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

Who would've thought you can do so much with the Canon TS-E 90mm lens? I've been wanting the 24mm for a long time, but haven't yet bit the bullet on it. After seeing Jeff Dow's work with the 90, I can't stop thinking about the possibilities... I could do so much more with it than I thought I could. Look here:

www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=3090&WT.mc_id=EM1002EO03003

I love the moon...

2010-02-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

I love shooting the moon. I wish I could "really" photograph it, like with an observatory telescope, or some serious glass (like maybe a 1200mm L series lens). Since I don't have a professional need (or wallet) for that kind of gear, I have to settle for shooting the moon with my 70-200mm 2.8L and a basic 2x extender.

That type of camera gear won't get me huge shots worth selling to the scientific community, but it still gets some fun stuff to share on the web...

I'm sure you'll see more moon photos in a few months. For some reason, I just can't stop shooting the moon...

Jesus and a camera...

2010-02-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a photo project for the last 13 or 14 years now. The body of work doesn't have a title yet, but I've been calling it my Religious Graffiti work. It is basically messages and signs with the word God or Jesus in it.

What makes it interesting is the fact that these aren't formal signs on church property. They are spray painted in a Miami back alley, nailed to a tree on a lonely road or tattooed on an arm. They are more or less guerilla messages to the public, some of them done illegally! I like the complex nature of the work, how the message is supposed to be so pure and true, but the fact that some of the creators had to deface public property and break the law to do it... it is very compelling to me.

Of course, the world is too big for any idea to be new. Over the years, I've seen other people with similar bodies of work, most of them smaller and/or less compelling. However, my mother called me today. She ran across a book called Bible Road: Signs of Faith in the American Landscape. Photographed by Sam Fentress, the book contains work that apparently dates back 25 years. Like I said (and like John Lennon said before me), everything has been done before.

You can see some of his book here, in pdf form:

bibleroadbook.com/BibleRoad.pdf

It is very good. I think I'll buy a copy, or at least ask for a copy as a birthday present. And, I never really saw a book with my work. My plan was always to do a gallery show and print the pieces big. I'll eventually get around to doing it, but art sales and this economy don't really mix. Or, maybe I'm just trying to come up with a good reason to not formally show the work yet?!? I've been putting it off for several years, hoping to hit a few more states and get a few more images first. I better not wait too long...

Here are some samples of my religious graffiti work:

Photographing a conference...

2010-02-25T00:24:00.000-08:00

I was the event photographer for a conference held in Dallas by the AMA. The panel discussion was interesting, dealing with healthcare marketing and PR issues, and it had experts from several area publications speaking. It seemed like a typical scenario that a corporate event photographer might encounter, so I thought I'd use it as a tutorial of how to cover an event like this for your client...

Obviously, you'll want to get a shot of anyone who stands at the podium or in front of the microphone. These shots will include hosts, moderators, and featured speakers. The image can be pretty straight forward, showing the subject speaking to a crowd. The more shots of this nature, the better.

This is a must have photo! Both for internal and external use, a shot of all the speakers is a priority. Don't line them right up against the wall, though. You want to get some sense of where they were, so look for event posters, corporate logos or even sponsor banners to fill the background. You can try to get creative with these shots, but I've always found that the client just wants a straight forward, simple pose.

One thing that is overlooked is the entrance and/or sign-in table. Try to get an action shot of someone checking in or talking at the entrance. Another shot to add with this would be an outdoor building shot. Not always needed, but better safe than sorry...

The next four shots are your standard guest shots. Try to get a variety of tight shots, showing a couple guests posed, a few guests networking and chatting, maybe some guests enjoying the provided refreshments, etc. These images can be valuable to your client, so the more variety the better!

Next up is an important one for your client! Get shots of all the signs, banners, posters, etc... these could mean the difference between a sponsor continuing to support an event or not. It could also provide documentation required internally. I try to get creative with these images, showing the signs in relation to the people around them.

And finally, what I call the scene-setting shots. Shots like these often run with a story about the event in a newspaper or magazine, so they are a priority. Usually, you are being hired to shoot an event like this so the marketing department can send out a press release and images to the local publications (or at the very least, run a story internally, in a company eblast or newsletter). You NEED a good shot that shows a full house, with a lot of people listening to the speaker or networking.

And remember, this is just a sample of what you'll want to cover. Realistically, you'll wind up with a hundred or two hundred solid images to provide your client after shooting an event for a couple hours. So, don't just stop at these few shots... document everything you see, from as many different viewpoints as you can find. The more you provide for your client, the more often they will use you again - and the more you can charge for your services.

Of course, charging your client will have to wait for another blog post. That is quite a complex subject, it could easily take up a week of posts! For now, practice becoming the best corporate event photographer that you can be!

Soon...

2010-02-22T22:27:00.001-08:00

I'll post some great pictures or a helpful photo tip very soon. I just had a very busy weekend here in Dallas, jam-packed full of shoots. Once I get caught back up, I'll post something good... promise!

Midlake in Rolling Stone

2010-02-19T23:31:00.000-08:00

Denton band Midlake may be featured in the current issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, but we had them in Quick first! Here are a couple pics I took for the feature cover story in Quick:

I shot Frank...

2010-02-18T14:03:00.000-08:00

Frank Campagna is a Deep Ellum fixture. If you think of the term "American as apple pie", you would probably also want to start using the term "as Deep Ellum as Frank." He's the artist that does many of the huge murals in Dallas, and he also runs Kettle Art Gallery. Anyway, here is one of my favorite images from the shoot.

An interesting conference...

2010-02-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

I'll be the event photographer at this Dallas conference next week, about maximizing your company's media coverage:

How Your Company Can Secure Coverage in Healthcare Media
A Healthcare SIG panel discussion, February 23, 2010

Westin Park Central Hotel
12720 Merit Drive
Dallas TX 75251
Time: 5:30PM - 7:30PM

Don’t miss your chance to hear from and ask questions of local healthcare reporters. At this interactive event, you’ll get the scoop on what matters most when pitching to healthcare media and what it takes to get your story in the news.

Our panel of healthcare media experts will discuss strategies and tactics for getting your company, products and/or services covered in the news as well as in social media outlets.

You’ll learn what story lines catch the media’s attention, the do’s and don’t’s when it comes to approaching the media, how to leverage social media to get press coverage and what’s hot when it comes to healthcare media and reporting.

James O’Gara, president of OnMessage, will be the moderator and our panel of media professionals will include:

Jason Roberson
Healthcare Business Reporter, Dallas Morning News

Dianna Hunt
Reporter/Editor, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Kevin Bumgarner
Editor, Dallas Business Journal

Elizabeth Bassett
Healthcare, Science and Technology Reporter, Fort Worth Business Press

This is a must attend event for anyone in healthcare marketing or public relations.

Thanks to our audio/visual sponsor AMS Pictures and our venue sponsor Westin Park Central Dallas.

To register for this event, go to: http://www.dfwama.com/en/cev/293
Registration deadline is Monday, February 22, 2010, 10:30PM.

Pricing before Feb. 22, 2010
Member: $20.00
Non-Member: $30.00

Pricing after Feb. 22, 2010
Member: $30.00
Non-Member: $40.00

Event Contact
Jim O'Gara
(214) 438-1106
jogara@itsonmessage.com

MAC Group for the win!!!

2010-02-16T22:25:00.000-08:00

Seriously, everything on their learning center website is worth checking out at the moment. If you feel like learning more about photography, go here now:

www.mac-on-campus.com/LearningCenter.aspx

HDSLR video recording...

2010-02-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

This info is really old news to most of us, but some of you may find it helpful:

www.calumetphoto.com/p/hdslr-rig?t=CM01&a=CM01

It basically shows and describes many of the options you can add to your SLR camera to make it shoot better video and audio.

All-Star 2010 celebrity pics...

2010-02-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

Want to see some of the celebrities I spotted this weekend during the NBA All-Star weekend? Click here for a sample:

blog.quickdfw.com/archives/2010/02/nba-celebrity-goodness.html

A taste of NBA All-Star action...

2010-02-14T22:50:00.000-08:00

I got a lot of great images at the NBA All-Star weekend events, but I can't share them all right now. However, I can give you a taste of the action, with this photo from the NBA slam dunk competition held at American Airlines Center on Saturday...

I'll post some more stuff from the weekend full of sports and celebrities after I figure out what my clients need, and where/when they post or print them.

I need to shave...

2010-02-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

I had to take photo for my NBA press credentials (I'm shooting for the American Airlines Center during the NBA All Star game weekend here in Dallas), and I noticed that I really need to shave. I'm not going to share a photo with you, because it might scare any women and children looking at your monitor. I look like a mountain man or a grizzly bear. Well, I guess I'm keeping the facial hair through the weekend and then I'll shave.

Phonebooks need photos, too...

2010-02-09T00:14:00.001-08:00

I'm not embarrassed to see my photos in the phonebook. It seems kind of silly, but hey... someone has to take photos for local companies, and they are going to use them in their ads - including the phonebook. It may not be as glamorous as a glossy advertisement in Vogue Magazine, but billboards, phonebooks and direct mailers pay bills.

I don't think I'd put these images in my portfolio, but they sure help fill in a slow week and keep you shooting in a bad economy! And, these companies are looking for safe, simple, quick shots. Not much thought, just shoot and get paid. It doesn't get much easier!

In deep thought...

2010-02-08T13:57:00.001-08:00

I always thought this gorilla looked to be in deep thought. As peaceful and introspective as he seems, I'm glad there was a giant protective wall between us when I took the picture. He could've been thinking, "I wonder what that photographer tastes like?"

Temple and Claire...

2010-02-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

I just watched Claire Danes as Temple Grandin tonight. The movie, titled Temple Grandin, is about a woman and her struggle with autism. I couldn't believe how Claire nailed that performance! It was so good and so convincing. I could've easily mistaken her for Temple, it was THAT good!

I actually had the chance to meet Ms. Grandin last year, as I spent part of a day shooting her at one of her speaking engagements. She is very nice and sincere, a little odd and very memorable. She is every bit like the movie (though Claire does smile quite a bit more in the film, whereas Temple is much more reserved. I guess Hollywood is allowed to take some artistic license).

Anyway, you should watch the movie. It is so touching and inspiring. And it's a true story about a very interesting woman.

I found some Midlake...

2010-02-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

I was thumbing through The Dallas Morning News the other day, looking for a photo assignment I did. It was supposed to run, but I couldn't find it. No big surprise, since some stories get moved around, held up, etc... An original run date isn't set in stone.

So, it hasn't run yet, but I did find one of my Midlake photos, instead:

There's something about the moon...

2010-02-04T01:10:00.001-08:00

I can't stop photographing the moon. I wish I had access to more lenses, telescopes and assorted gear, so I could take endless images of the orbiting object. I took this image a while back, when I noticed the beautiful colors in the sky. The moon came out right as the sun was setting, and it was mesmerizing.

War photography...

2010-02-03T22:22:00.001-08:00

This is a very moving slideshow and narrative. If you are interested in war and conflict photography, you should really check it out:

news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8492000/8492777.stm

Women in photography, this Thursday...

2010-02-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

You should really attend this event:

ASMP North Texas Women in Photography:

At The Women's Museum Dallas Fair Park

Featured Speakers:

JEAN ANN BYBEE, commercial
SUSAN KAE GRANT, fine art
CHERYL DIAZ MEYER, photojournalism
ALLISON V SMITH, editorial

When: Thursday February 4 (6pm social, 7pm presentation).
Where: The Women's Museum 3800 Parry Avenue Dallas, TX 75226 214.915.0860

Members and non-members are welcome.

Admission is free for ASMP members and $10 for non-members. $5 for students. Cash or check only.

Old 97's...

2010-02-03T11:17:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've been shooting a bunch of corporate PR and marketing photos. It pays well, but isn't quite as exciting as my music shoots. So, instead of showing you a bunch of CEO headshots and corporate events, I figured I would share some concert pics from December 2009.

The Old 97's played four nights in a row at Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, TX. This was night three...