It is not often that I write a review about another photographer or website these days. In fact, I have not written a review in about three or four years; not since I was the General Manager and Editor for 1st Responder Newspaper – California Edition. However, when a website catches my eye and forces me to return time after time to view it again and again, I find I am compelled to write about what I have discovered and share with the masses. Such is the case of Jackie Pinto Photography.
Upon your first encounter at Jackie’s website you know that your eyes and your brain are in for a treat. It was the second photo in the slide show (photo above/left) that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Jackie’s great eye for composition and editing caught the essence of this mom and her daughter.
Robert Benson, a San Diego based photographer has done it again. He has taken a simple idea and made it affordable for photographers that have to pay the rent, but like to buy useful gadgets.
Rob has taken some basic components and very cleverly melded them into a DSLR Wireless Monitor. This DSLR wireless monitor takes the video or still photo feed from any DSLR camera or video camera and sends it wirelessly to a seven inch or 10″ portable, battery powered monitor. Read about it at www.RobertBenson.com/blog.
While you are at Rob’s website, you have to view his portfolio at www.RobertBenson.com. I find myself returning there often to see who he has photographed lately. Check out his images, business images and tear sheets. You’ll see photos of Gary Sinisi, Tiger Woods and even former Police Chief and now Mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders; all great photographs.
When you check out Rob’s Blog, the Radio-Camera Trigger entry is also a must read. You can find it at www.RobertBenson.com/blog/category/radio-camera-trigger.
I was based in San Diego for many years and unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to meet Rob Benson in person. I hope to correct that in the future when I get back to San Diego.
I was recently perusing Nikon’s website in the Learn & Explore section. I found this great photography glossary. I thought that I would pass it on to the masses. Nikon Photography Glossary
I was reading the NY Times on-line this morning, and came across this interesting but disturbing article about a photographer who was accused of slander in her country of Uzbekistan, by simply making photographs. The lead-in follows with a permalink to the story.
Officials See Slander in Uzbek Photos, but Artists See Censorship
By ELLEN BARRY
Published: February 11, 2010
Umida Akhmedova was found guilty Wednesday of slandering Uzbekistan with her photography, only to be saved from a prison sentence by the anniversary of the country’s independence.
If you are serious about photography like I am, you will never leave your house without a camera.
For the past thirty-five years or so, I have never left home without a camera of some type. When I leave the house it is always the same routine; wallet, keys, money, handkerchief (yes.. I do carry one), and camera.
Your camera can be as complicated as one of my Nikon’s, my Canon advanced pocket camera, or as simple as my cell phone camera. No matter what the tool, it is always ready to fire and grab that once-in-a-lifetime photo. An old time photojournalist from the New York Journal-American, now defunct, both of them, once told me, “…. listen kid, if the camera’s in the bag, or the lens cap is on, you missed the shot. You will never make money if your equipment is not primed and ready to shoot.”
One of the prime examples of ‘getting the shot’ is the one I made of Charles Bronson while he was
Charles Bronson (skinny guy center) filming the Valachi Papers just off Hicks Street in Brooklyn, circa 1970.
filming the Valachi Papers about 1971 in downtown Brooklyn. My friend Kenny and I were out goofing off from our jobs at the phone company and came across the film company on Hicks Street. The photo you see here is one of many taken that day and resulted in a long friendship with Mr. Bronson.
You will notice that it was made in black and white (Kodak Tri-X Pan), color film was still too expensive. B&W was also easy to cook in the bathroom and then take it for printing, thus saving about forty cents. The theory behind this was, the more money you saved, the more film you could buy. Forty cents was still a lot money if you were making $125.00/week and had a camera/film habit.
Back to the photo; … The tall skinny guy in the middle is Charles Bronson. After shooting this scene he bought hot dogs and Yoo-Hoo’s for my friend Kenny, (long hair, end of the street) and I in exchange for a promise of copies of the prints. I sent them as promised. In a personal verbal agreement with Charles Bronson, this photo is not for sale or reprint. It remains in my personal collection.
This collage of photos was taken over several years at Arlington National Cemetery, The Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Making this collage was a special project for me. The center photo of the group of soldiers outside of the barracks is from WWII. Fourth man from the right, bottom row is my dad. These men were all specialists training at Ft. Belvoir, VA to become combat engineers. They deployed to the Philippines and then to Japan shortly after this photo was taken.
I was recently perusing Nikon’s website in the Learn & Explore section. I found this great photography glossary. I thought that I would pass it on to the masses. 
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