My Life As A Souvenir Photographer /  by John Wineberg

You know what i'm talking about.  You head out on a cruise on a lake or are getting off the lift at your favorite ski resort or checking out any one of the must see tourist destinations throughout the U.S.A. and there they are, poised with their camera in hand ready to position you in front of that beautiful backdrop...

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Self Portrait /  by John Wineberg

As a photographer your work isn't complete without a self portrait.  I haven't mastered off camera flash but I have to work it out and what better way than on myself.  I have never liked photos of me.  This is one of the big reasons I've ended up behind the camera.  When you sit in that chair in front of the lens and the big flash, it feels unnatural.  It is hard to relax.  A major part of being a photographer is to make people feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations.  When you relax your images show it.  Real emotions show in a photograph and I believe it is what makes an image great.  Anyone can take snapshots of people sitting in a chair but a true artist can put someone at ease and then click the shutter at just the moment when the magic appears, when the real person shows through.  I showed my wife a few of these images and she had some great feedback.  She said that when I smile it shows in my eyes.  She said in the image below I looked sad.  While that is not what I was feeling or trying to express, it is what comes across.  

She also wasn't sure about my hand on my face.  

To tell you the truth I'm not sure either.  I used two types of lighting for this shoot.  It all was shot with an off camera flash in a soft box.  The first two were shot pseudo Rembrandt style or with the flash off to my left or camera right. I don't have a reflector or a second light, so wasn't able to create the triangle in the shaded portion of my face.  More information here  The last two were taken with the flash directly in front of me.  

While this makes a nice portrait, I prefer the other type of lighting.  It leaves more to the imagination and gives more emotion to the image.  Once again this is my opinion.  Everyone has a preference and that is mine.  These shots represent a big step for me.  Putting images of myself online for the world to see wasn't easy.  Working with off camera flash is easier than I thought and I have nowhere to go but up from here.  I know that I haven't mastered it but I feel it is a great beginning.  

If It Keeps On Raining...... /  by John Wineberg

Guerneville California on December 11th, 2014.  Armstrong Woods Rd.

Here in Northern California we experienced a pretty intense storm last week.  Some areas of Sonoma County received over five inches of rain in less than 24 hours.  My commute takes me down River Rd. from Hwy 101 to the small town of Monte Rio.  When I left for work on Thursday and Friday I made sure to take my camera with me so that I could capture what some were calling Stormageddon.  

Normally I tend to photograph landscapes and candid portraits as well as some travel photography.  I have never delved into photojournalism and never considered it a possible career choice. I do, however, believe that it has influenced my photography style.  I have always been drawn to the spur of the moment image as opposed to the posed image.  True emotion is captured when your subject isn't aware that it is being photographed or there is a strong personal or emotional connection with the photographer.  The latter takes time and energy and can be achieved but the former is truly candid and raw.  During my drive  I was like a kid in a candy store.  My camera sat in the passenger seat, ready to go.  I knew of several spots that I wanted to photograph based on what has flooded historically.  I also kept an eye out for anything out of the ordinary or something that would help tell the story of this storm.  I haven't had this much fun in years.  There is an excitement to photographing an event such as this, It's not like you can go back later and retake the image.  I know that I am not a professional photojournalist and that some of my images would be considered cliche but hey, I have to start somewhere.  So I hope you enjoy these images and if you want, share your personal storm story below!

December 11th, 2014 Monte Rio, California, Russian River

December 12th, 2014 Monte Rio, California, Russian River

December 11th, 2014.  Guerneville, California Armstrong Woods Rd.

December 11th, 2014.  River Rd. Forestville, California

December 11th, 2014.  Slusser Rd. Santa Rosa, California

December 12th, 2014.  Forestville Fire Department practicing their swift water rescue skills below Hacienda Bridge on the Russian River.


How Do Photo's Make You Feel? /  by John Wineberg

How a photo makes you feel is subjective.  We all take photos throughout our lives of special events, where we've travelled, our children, beautiful views and so on and when we look at them they bring back memories and the emotion of that time and place.  These images most probably won't be winning prizes for composition or be showcased on the cover of magazines but they are beautiful to us because they are our memories, our experiences.  But what is it that makes a photo universally amazing?  A photo that when you look at it you can't look away or you have to share it with a friend.  A photo has to make you feel something, happy, sad, angry, aroused.  For it to be great it has to elicit some kind of profound visceral reaction from a broad audience.  This is what I strive for in my photography.  I hope that when I show my images to someone, or they come across them online, that they stop and say this is beautiful or this makes me think or they just want to soak it up.  I know that my photography is  a work in progress and that it will always be.  What I also know is that with each photo I take I get closer to that place, to that emotion.  Every time I take the time to think about what it is that I am seeing through the lens my images get better.  I read a post by Brett Birdsong called "Shoot What Matters" on dedpxl.com and it resonated with me.  He talks about shooting from the heart and not worrying about what shots people say you should get or "what some intoxicated intern behind a desk at a wedding blog tells you that you should see".  I could spend the rest of my life shooting the things that I know will rack up likes or comments in my feeds or I could do something different.  I could shoot what I love and put my heart into each and every image, leaving a little bit of me in each pixel.
 

Taking A Chance /  by John Wineberg

So today is the first day of something new.  I started a YouTube channel and posted my first video.  The day I stop learning is the day I take my last breath.  Over the last week and a half I have learned so much.  Sure I learned to make a video and the in's and out's of YouTube, but the most important takeaway for me was the knowledge I have gained on how I present myself to the world.  I have tried so hard to not be plastic and to represent who I truly am in both my every day life and in my videos.  Staying true to myself has been a battle as you give up little things for big things.  Life is a trade off.  What I don't want to trade away is the core of me!  I hope over time, with more time in-front of the lens, that I will shine through more and more.  Photography is like a mistress for me.  When I do it I feel like I am cheating on the more important parts of my life.  I take great pleasure in being behind the lens.  I love downloading images off of a card and playing with each one until it is as close to what I saw that made me pull that trigger.  So today is the first day of being true to that part of me and sharing it with the world for better or worse.  I hope you enjoy what is to come, I know I will.  

Rim Fire /  by John Wineberg

On Wednesday I took off for Yosemite, taking my normal route which includes State Route 120.  By the time I reached the foothills it was pitch black out and raining cats and dogs.  As I drove I did notice several patches of orange/yellow trees.  I did not make the connection to the Rim Fire that occurred last Summer that devastated the area.  On my return trip the damage was plain to see.  While I knew that this was a huge fire, I had no clue just how big it was.  

As I headed toward the exit today I noticed large stands of burned and dead trees.  The scope of this fire was just beginning to hit me.  I traveled for more than 15 miles and both sides of the road were either completely barren or full of scorched land and burned trees.  

I arrived at the "Rim Of The World" Vista in the Stanislaus National Forest and couldn't believe my eyes.  

The official word is that this fire was caused by a campfire that was started by a hunter, that got out of control.  It serves as a reminder to all of us as to how fragile our surroundings are and how our actions can have a major impact on the world around us.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rim_Fire

What's Old Is New Again /  by John Wineberg

1984 Nikon FE2

Tonight Nikon is going to introduce a new camera with an old look.  Like everyone my age, I grew up with film cameras.  No menus to navigate, or LCD screen.  No instant feedback or gratification.  There was no sharing to social media, just showing off your slides or prints with whoever happened to be around.  Don't get me wrong, I love digital and all of the money it saves me.With this new camera Nikon is trying to blend the two.  From what has leaked out, it looks like all the dials and overall look will be pretty close to the old school FM and FE Nikons.  I have to admit I love the look.  It does take me back.  My FE2 lives on a shelf and every once in a while I think of taking it out for a spin instead of my DSLR.  Better yet I'll take both out and see if I can meld the two in my own way.  With the cost of the new Nikon Df at close to $3000, it will be quite a while before I can give it a shot.  See a preview and the new camera on the 5th here!

What I'm Watching and Listening To Lately /  by John Wineberg

I am amazed by how much free content there is online for photographers of all levels.  Topics ranging from basic operation of your camera to advanced techniques for professional photographers.  I thought i'd take some time to share what i've been checking out lately.   

 Podcasts

My favorite podcast lately has been "This Week In Photo" or "TWIP".  Frederick Van Johnson hosts a weekly show that discusses what's new in the photography world and how it might effect photographers and their businesses.  Topics have included everything from gear options, changes to copyright laws and best business practices for photographers.  

Next on the list is "RAW Talk"  hosted by Jared Polin of "Fro Knows Photo".  Jared is a little edgy for some but has a ton of information for photographers.  Once you get past the giant fro and all of the sales pitches ( he has to pay the bills!) you find a ton of amazing content from video "Rapid Fire Critiques" to a ton of other great content.  What's interesting to me is watching Jared grow his brand and abilities right before your eyes.  He shares the challenges of what he is doing so that you can learn from it.  

Matt Granger, formerly known as "That Nikon Guy" is another great resource for photographers.  He and his lovely sidekick Tina have a ton of fun doing actual shoots to explain some pro photography basics.  They also have a series of You Tube videos called "Educating Tina" that go through everything from choosing gear to shooting portraits.  

 

Photographers

Chase Jarvis
Chase is everywhere and does it all.  From HDR to video to his amazing photography he continues to inspire and amaze me.  He also looks like he is having a blast doing it.  You just have to see his site and you will hopefully see what I see.

Zack Arias 
I stumbled upon Zack in a video on You Tube called "Cheap Camera Challenge".  You just have to see it to believe it, what he is able to do with a really bad camera and a handheld flash unit.  

Well that is just a little taste of what i've been watching, reading, looking at.  Hope you enjoy.

Lake Tahoe 2013 /  by John Wineberg

I have always been drawn to the mountains.  I was lucky enough to have lived in Mammoth Lakes for two years and Tahoe for four.  While I call the flatland my home now, I will always return to the Sierras again and again.  This last time I was able to steal some of it to bring home with me.  I hope you enjoy!

f9, 1/400, ISO 200 Shot with a Nikon D7000, 35mm on Shutter Priority. 

These photos were taken on the trail leading from Emerald Bay to Eagle Lake.  It also continues into Desolation Wilderness to Velma Lakes, Dicks Lake and many others.  It is one of the most spectacular places on this planet and very few people venture beyond Eagle Lake.  

f13, 1/200, ISO 200 , Shutter Priority, Nikon D7000, 35mm.  

My friend Chris was kind enough to let me practice my outdoor portrait skills.   

f13, 1/250, ISO 200, Nikon D7000, 35mm. 

On the second day of my trip I headed out to Angora Lakes.  These lakes are tucked in between Echo Lakes and Fallen Leaf Lake and has a small resort and beautiful little beach.  In 2007 this area was spared from a massive fire that hit South Lake Tahoe.  You can see the fire line as you drive to the parking area.   

f11, 1/100, ISO 200, Shutter Priority.  Nikon D7000, 35mm. 

Cabins at the lake are available for rent.  

f14, 1/100, ISO 200.  Nikon D7000, 35mm. 

Most summer days there is a line of people waiting to jump from this rock.   

f14, 1/200, ISO 200, Nikon D7000, 35mm. 

f14, 1/200, ISO 200, Nikon D7000, 35mm. 

This whole blog thing is new to me and i'm curious as to your thoughts, etc.  Any and all input, constructive criticism etc. is appreciated.  Until next time!   

The First Step Is To Do Something /  by John Wineberg

Welcome to the first blog post of winebergimages.com.  My name is John Wineberg and i'm addicted to photography!  Response:  Hi John!  The first step in my, many step, program to recovery is to finally share my photos with the world.  

My wife gave me this rose along with 11 others years before we were married.  I knew it would wither and have to be thrown away.  By taking a picture of it I was able to keep that memory alive.  This is the perspective of my photography.  For me, the goal with each photo is to capture the essence of what I was feeling at that moment in time and to also share that moment with others, hoping that it will resonate with them in some way.  To me photography is a thief of time.  A camera can steal a moment and keep it and that moment can be enjoyed again and again.  I know, sounds like a cliche but I love it.  

In this blog I will be sharing my most current shoots, information on photography websites, my gear choices and whatever strikes my fancy that is photography related.  In other words, it's all about photography.  I hope, that besides sharing what i'm shooting, this space becomes a place where I can teach and learn as well.  Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, critique or anything else that you think might be interesting or spur a conversation.  

So you actually read to the end....now send me a message and let me know what you think, I look forward to it!

 

John