Giving Back Chase Jarvis Style
Chase Jarvis is one of my favorite photographers because he is not only a great photographer but a great teacher. He shares so much great information about what it takes to be a photographer and awesome behind the scenes footage from his shots. He also has started engaging the community to pick his portfolios recently. Chase can do this because he is such a great photographer and so well known that people will flock to help him. Me? I have to resort to cheap giveaways 
So here we go:
Presenting the Franken Flash!!!
It Lives!!!!!
What is Franken Flash? Just a fairly new Vivitar 285HV that has had it’s zoom head removed. I originally removed it to fit into a DIY beauty but then decided I was going to switch over to all Nikon flashes. This left the old Franken Flash out in the cold. Now it is your chance to to give him a nice home where he can pump out his unfiltered lighting goodness.
What do you need to do to win this great flash? Visit my Flickr Portfolio Set and tell me what your 5 favorite images are in the comments below. That’s it! I will get all the comments together that picked 5 images and pick one at random to win the flash. I will also include the cable to mate it to a Skyport/Cybersync/Pocket Wizard. The winner will be chosen Thursday May 7th.
Thanks for taking the time.
Update: Based on some comments I have added a few more pictures to the portfolio set on Flickr. If you think I have not included an image that you think should be there please put it in your list and I will add it to the set. Thanks again to all that have taken time to to provide critiques as well, I really appreciate it.
Update #2: I am getting a lot of questions about what the portfolio is for. It is a learning experience for me more than anything. What I think is a good picture is not always what others think is a good picture and the further feedback on ways to improve the images is invaluable. Plus a fun way to give away something I am not using anymore to someone who will hopefully use it and get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Alex and the burka
Night Rider
Dave Chilling
ET phone home
Trapped in cars
Cheers!
In order of preference…
Dave Chilling
Strength
ET phone home
Jack and the skateboard
Al – Sponsored by Nikon
Take care!
1. First choice would be http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2373343090/in/set-72157604431065965/ A standard shot with even lighting that displays an ability to take a good head shot.
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3239858532/in/set-72157604431065965/ A different take on a head shot that allies you more with the possibilities of the business sector.
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3490771928/in/set-72157604431065965/ Everybody loves kids right? Even with all the negative space on the right it makes for a good shot proud parents could hang on their wall.
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2372524609/in/set-72157604431065965/ Displays a knowledge of how to use the right background in conjunction with colour schemes to make the subject “pop”.
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3397251839/in/set-72157604431065965/ Non conventional imagery such as this highlights the fact that your portfolio is diverse. Providing a diverse range of shots opens up the market for you.
X posted from Flickr for dwang2010 Remember leave a comment here not on Flickr – Thanks again for the great feedback!
Trapped in cars – #5, a little bit of a cliche shot but the chain link and 2 different colored lights make this a great photo. Good job! That’s my 5.
Alex and the burka – #4, like this one, maybe bring down the luminance of the green and pump the saturation of the purple to make this pop.
The Result – #3, a little under exposed and needs a little contrast, but great high key and directional lighting.
Dave Chilling – #2, great controlled lighting, maybe some more burn on the surrounding to make the subject stand out (dark corners make a good photo sometimes). Love the pocket of warmth!
ET phone home – #1, maybe make the yellow a little more golden and less green, crop at the waist (shirt), but great rim light, great subject.
my top 5
– Alan -High Key Hoodie
– Michelle breezy
– Night Rider
– Jack in the light – I LOVE the photos of jack…well balanced light and amazing model
– Jack and the skateboard
cheers man
1 Alex and the burka
2 Dave Chilling
3 Spring Lily
4 Trapped in cars
5 Jack and the skateboard
i always prefer outdoor shots.
Al – Sponsored by Nikon
Night Rider
Dave Chilling
ET phone home
Tada!!!
except for the AI. ;p
Jack and the skateboard
Dave Chilling
ET phone home
Alex and the burka
Jack in the light
I’m partial to cute kid photos!
1 – Alex and the Burka
2 – Strength (is he flipping someone off?)
3 – Dave Chilling
4 – Jack in the Light
5 – ET Phone Home
If I may critique, I think your portraitures are a bit lifeless. Dunno why but it feels.. floppy
1) ET phone home (love the lighting man)
2) Dave chilling
3) Al – Sponsored by nikon
4) Night rider
5) Tada!!
nice shots dude
Spring Lily
ET Phone Home
Jack and the Skateboard
Night Rider
Jack in the Light
What kind of portfolio? 5 from 16 isn’t many to choose from. I’d choose some of your other photos.
ET Phone Home
The Result (or Standard Headshot)
Montserrat (with a bit of warming and vibrance)
A Little B&W
Top 5:
1. ET Phone home
2. Montserrat
3. Alan
4. Alex
5. Dave
Alan -High Key Hoodie
A little B&W
Alex and the burka
Jack and the skateboard
Dave Chilling
Your lighting tends to be a little to flat on some images. On others the local contrast is ok but the brightness is off. For example The Result should be lightened up. While you have a white white background you subject is lost in it. Alex Spinning would have looked much better if the hair was not in front of her face.
From that relatively small set, in no particular order:
THE RESULT: I like this one better than “Michelle breezy” because the lighting is softer and there is more light on his eyes.
ET PHONE HOME: The boys actions and the lighting make for a great capture.
DAVE CHILLING: Interesting composition, good light, and I like how the rock gradient pulls your eyes toward Dave.
NIGHT RIDER: Shows your diverse style and creativity
TADA!!: Great candid–well lit and nice bokeh
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3397251839/in/set-72157604431065965/
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2290669480/in/set-72157604431065965/
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3490772018/in/set-72157604431065965/
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3417348658/in/set-72157604431065965/
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2373353568/in/set-72157604431065965/
1) jack and the skateboard- looks like he is floating on air
2) Dave Chilling
3) trapped in cars
4) Lily swinging
5) The look
Here are my 5 choices, and not in any order:
ET Phone Home
Jack & The Skateboard
Night Rider
Dave Chilling
A Little B&W
Dear Bill,
great way to get comments on your photos, and generate lots of good will + do a bit of good for all……
1] Dave chilling. Great thought into concept. Like the frame / cropping, lets viewer into the scene & adds interest by not being centered. lighting is great…..
2] Little Girls look Cuter in B&W. One of the “ones” you hope you get while doing a shoot. Focus is spot on as well as composition.
3] ET Phone Home. Back – rim lighting is terrific. Makes the photo. Makes you wonder what he’s looking / pointing at….
4] Alex & Burka. Toss up between this & Al – Nikon photo. Great colour & the eyes really pop & are the centre as intended.
5] Al – Nikon. Interesting portrait of interesting fellow. Great treatment of back ground lighting. See this type of set up alot now, but this really well done / engineered. The kicker lite onto subjects left rear makes the shot.
Really well done & interesting sets.
Curt H. Townsville, Queensland – Australia
1. ET phone home. My first choice for sure, the balance between the ambient and the flash is nice. Can’t wait until my son is walking;)
2. Trapped in cars- I’m a sucker for a long exposure.
3. Alex and the burka is nice, I would like to see the skin toned down, It’s a little bright.
4. Dave chilling nice pic, like the negative space, but did you consider another flash in that cranny behind dave? That would be awesome.
5. Probably a tie between Al and Allen. Both are solid studio examples, the split lighting on Al is awesome.
I don’t know if you were looking for further critique, but there you have it.
Alex and the Burka
Jack and the skateboard
E.T. Phone Home
Alan-High Key Hoodie
Strength
As already stated by others, I think some small tweaks in Alex to bring her out more and I’d like to see the background in Strength without the color cast. (could be my monitor though) Oh, and what the hell do I know anyway! They appealed to me most. Good luck! Oh, I really need that flash! LOL!
Alex and the burka
The Result
Jack and the skateboard
Tada!!
The Look
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3490772018/?addedcomment=1#comment72157617692109953
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3490772018/?addedcomment=1#comment72157617692109953
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2544340384/in/set-72157604431065965/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2290654204/in/set-72157604431065965/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2372524609/in/set-72157604431065965/
ET phone home
Lily on the Green
Dave Climbs out of Hell
Alex in the field
Al – Low Key
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3417348658/ – mostly for the surrealism of the photo. It’s showing some style too, not just ‘nuke everything to ambient level’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3458428166/ – the right light is a little hot, but I like this shot. It’s showing the band doing their thing as if you, or no other audience, was there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3397251839/ – I just like the colours and tones. It’s a nice shot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/3205815630/ – Just for the technicalities that must have made this shot hard!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockphotojourney/2908220723/ – Standard executive headshot, this is what’ll pay the bills. It’s a must in a portfolio, if that’s what you want to do.
1. Dave Chilling
2. Al
3. Night Rider
4. The Result
5. Lily on the Green
Trapped in Cars
Im obsessed with light painting so i naturally love this one
ET Phone Home
Wow the kid is cute and the photo is quite emotional
A Little B&W
Nice lighting, I like the somewhat textured background
Lily Swinging
The angle is great and the overall composition is perfect
Night Rider
Hahaha this picture is great!!! Good job lighting too!
#1 A little black & white – love the composition, love black & white for kids. looks like something i would take of my little girl. also love the background being white, setting her off
#2 The Look – great composition and great crop/framing. i love the ultra-closeups of kids. you really captured here essence. plus, i love the little bit of braces showing thru on the teeth. gives the thought of slight imperfection being fixed.
#3 Alex and the burka – love, love the eyes. also the color of the scarf. i also love the fact that when you think burka, she is not the kind of woman you would normally see in a burka. great composition and color play.
#4 ET phone home – beautiful kid, wonderful light. i would crop, just a little to get to the bottom of the shirt, but other than that, i wouldn’t change a thing.
#5 little lady bug – love the positioning and the look on her face. she is totally uninvolved in the fact that she is dressed like a ladybug. it is like she was born in the costume, so it is no big deal to her. only constructive criticism would be to either take the pots out in post or blur them to get a more narrow d.o.f. distracts a little bit from the main part of the image.
1) ET phone home
2) Jack in the light
3) Lily swinging
4) The result
5) Lily on the Green.
All of your pictures are amazing, you will go far in your photography. Good Luck on your portfolio and the photography journey ahead. :]