Dwayne Tucker's Blog

Polaroid’s how-to documentary/ advertisement for the SX-70 video below brought a smile to my face. It was amazing to me to travel back in time to the 1970’s watching this video and feel the love for capturing the moment. Read more…

I attended Scott Kelby’s Lightroom 3 LIVE Tour in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Scott’s the author of the Lightroom 3 Book and The Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers.  Read more…

Creative Food Servings = Inspired? Share it and Inspire.
Read more…

Christopher Barr from ChristopherBarr.com posted an interesting question in the photography professional group. He asked the member’s of the group When is a “Photographer” A “Photographer” followed by this:

Christopher’s Post

“I recently followed a discussion in PIP launched by a “freelance photographer” who needed assistance with shooting a exterior evening portrait in our nation’s capital. The supportive and caring response to the question was thoughtful and complete in the extreme. It really was a tribute to the professionals that are part of this group that shared without reservation even though I sensed a unspoken consensus of incredulity that a “photographer” would be unfamiliar with basic shutter drag.

In the end, I suppose anyone who has ever taken a picture is a photographer and if you can get someone to pay you then you are a pro. Likewise, I know of no pro who didn’t launch their career doubtful of their readiness or worried that they would be revealed as a charlatan soon after taking their first shoot deposit.

I want to make it clear at the outset that my intention is not to demean anyone who considers themselves a photographer. I have 8 interns who humble me with their work on a regular basis.

That being said…

I would really like to know how it feels to the pros out there who see aspiring photographers present and market themselves as “photographers” not to mention “professionals” when by any reasonable measure such a claim is at best a benign stretch of their own imagination….(of course, I don’t mean to include Ashton Kutcher in this subset of “photographers”).

I can play a few songs on my daughter’s piano and look like I know what Im doing but I wouldn’t call myself a pianist. So why is the word “photographer” bandied about so easily by so many with little more than a Coolpix and a website?

Am I just having a bad day or is this ever a minor irritation to anyone else too? “

Dwayne’s Reply

” @Christopher Barr –

Interesting post Christopher — There’s not a test to take to say whether you are or are not a professional photographer. If there is and I’m missing out don’t bother to send me it because I’m pretty comfortable on my journey as a professional photographer.

I’ve been photographing for 8 years. Everyday I pick up the camera and try something new to push myself. I handle myself professionally as a photographer and a businessman. The things what have change..well transformed from 8 years ago to now is me having a bit more connections, some happy clients, skills I’ve a adapted over the years, a style that I could say I like along with composition-styles I can call my favorite.

(You guys stay on track with me on this..this topic excites me so much I feel like I’m going every where with my words)

Something brought up in these replies made me think of something I want to share with you guys..I shoot skateboarders…I’m a professional photographer but when it comes to skateboarding photography I can’t touch Sam Muller’s photography…as yet..but I feel as if my photographs give him a tough challenge if he ever try to touch me in portrait photography for skateboarders..or anyone.

Go Skate Day was not to long ago. At the skatepark I took my D300’s and 15 year old aspiring photographer had a Canon PowerShot 950 or 11 something I can’t remember but it was a point and shoot. He then tells me that he got $1,000.00 for one of his photographs to be in a restaurant down here in Miami.
WTF. I love his hustle but here again goes who is the professional photographer??

Well known photographer Chase Jarvis once said the best camera is the camera that you have…hmmm…I believe that is true to an extent.

The kid wanted to shoot my camera. But didn’t know anything about the basics..F-Stops, Shutter Speeds, ISO if I told him ASA shitttttttt let’s not ever go there because even I’m to young for that but I’m a freak about my profession so I know it was used for ISO in the grandpa days. (Shout out to Joe McNally =] )

That being said..One becomes a professional when he / she learns how to handle the profession professionally in the: pre-production, production and post production stages with enough knowledge of when they pick up the camera its camera is going to do this for me under these conditions and they sure of it because the professional developed skills with a camera to pay the bills.

P.S. — before I stop running on with this let’s use Chase Jarvis as another example for my point of this reply saying, “Developed skills and great amount of knowledge to handle your own I would consider a professional photographer.”

Chase Jarvis never went to school for photography but he’s a professional photographer.

Hustling Hard and Repetition is the Father Of Learning.

And NO your not having a bad day this is a minor irritation for myself as well. And I love your work Christopher.
–
DT.
Nassau,Bahamas | Miami, Florida”

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I first heard about Chase from my favorite photographer / businessman Scott Kelby.

“If you’re a pro, this vid won’t make you salivate, but if you’re an aspiring shooter, you just might pick up a thing or two that could unlock your next great picture or video.”

I handle myself professionally and I take professional photographs. I don’t have a ton of campaigns that I’ve done but as the count goes up I will always crave for more so I will never have my goal number. I say this because whatever level you are at I think you should always pass on the love for photography like Chase did here and like I’m doing for you with my blog.

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“Get an inside look at Evan Hecox’s creative process. This video was shot in his Denver studio, where he created the artwork for the Curated by Arkitip project.”

Evan Hecox is a great artist. He designs skateboard graphics for Chocolate. The video above takes you into his creative process. It makes me feel so creative even watching this video of another artist lay down what he loves.

P.S. – I did not post this video only because he took a camera out and uses photographs to inspire his work! Enjoy it.

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Song From The Video: “Yerba Buena Bump” by Tommy Guerrero

Scott’s still on a break from his blog but I still stop by because he has some other cool people helping him maintain it until he returns. Brad, Scott’s assistant posted the “One Photoshop Fan’s Quest For Photoshop CS5″ video to the blog this morning and I told him that I would share it on my site.” He gave some great links if you wanted to download the trial and a NAPP link for Photoshop CS5’s free learning center: Check out the post: Click Here

I admire Billabong’s lifestyle approach. A lifestyle of being alive, simple and fun.

I was on their website this morning to check up see what new photos etc., I came across this video and told them that I will share it here with you. Show it to your friends!

I stop to their website often because part of what I do as a photographer and businessman is, to see what’s keeping my clients and potential clients happy so I can serve them better. So the answer is – No I’m not shopping for female swimsuits; the females in my life can do that themselves! haha

I hope to be shooting for Billabong soon so I’m preparing myself for what they are looking for to give them more than they expect.

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Oh yeah the music is by Headlights – song titled, “Get Going” headlightsmusic.com pretty nice I live the vibe!

…is still great to me! If can remember clearly this campaign started last November or so.

Greg and I were just talking about it and I wanted to share it here on the blog because I haven’t before. I swear if I had a gf right now I would go out and by her some Reebok EasyTones.

I love the direction in this ad, to be honest I don’t know if it was the really hot girls in the ads or the amount of ideas for new lifestyle photo shoots I thought of in 31 seconds.

A couple of my design friends and I were watching these videos and it was a must to share with you. I am so happy to be a creative person and see others out there pushing creativity.

Isn’t this one of the coolest jobs, if not the coolest.

We think about a concept, do it, share it, and watch the beauty of the finish product. Why wouldn’t you want to get up to go to work. We LOVE what we do!

The video above was the making of the Nissan Sentra SE-R Drift video. Some pretty cool shit!

Below is a video of the final product. 

This commercial is a good example of the cliche, “think out side of the box”; cliche but yet still true.

I hope these videos inspire you to create something. It inspired me to keep on pushing.

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