Click here to view the video on YouTube.

click the play button above or click here to watch it on youtube.

i’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you enjoy it!

rodney smith is one of the most profound photographers of our time. his work is thoughtful, thought provoking, elegant, intriguing, timeless and true. its impossible to clearly express how much i admire and appreciate rodney’s approach. if there was one photographic workshop that i would take, it would be his. if you aren’t familiar with his work, click here to view his portfolio or click here to view his blog.

i had the incredible privilege of visiting rodney at his home and studio in new york. it was an inspiring experience that has made a huge impact on who i am, how i see and the pictures that i strive to make. our conversation, a tour of his studio and the making of some portaits (like the one above) are all part of one of my new courses at lynda.com called, “narrative oortraiture: on location in new york with rodney smith”

whether you are a photographer of just want to be more creative,  my hope is that this course will change who you are, and how you see the world. this course is a unique chance to learn from one of the world’s best, that might just revitalize, deepen and change the photographs you make. if you have already seen it, i’d love to hear your thoughts. otherwise, don’t wait any longer and click here to view the course today!

in collaboration with adobe, i’m giving a free presentation in san francisco at adobe’s two week
“photoshop and you” event on thursday august 4th at 4pm!

if you’re interested, here are some links:

• main event link: photoshop.com/events/550sutter
• photos from the event – click here.
• post on scott kelby’s blog – overview and video

using my two most recent books as a springboard, i’ve put together a brand new presentation on photography and how to create more compelling photographs! i’m really excited about the event! if you live near sf and can swing by – it would be great to see you!

on another note, it has been a few years since i have had the chance to make pictures in san francisco. i’m looking forward to wandering around the city with camera in hand –  anyone have any tips or ideas on where i should go? thanks!

this photo was captured of douglas in his home (in the garage) in the hollywood hills (click on the photo for a larger view). douglas is someone who inspires me with his down-to-earth and enthusiastic approach to photography. for this portait, i was using the 5dmii and 85mm lens with natural light. that’s a combo i have been enjoying and using a lot these days. the lenses i’m using most these days are:  85, 50, 35. i’m always curious to hear what others are using for their people photography work. what’s your “go to” set up?

in case you didn’t catch it, last week i had the privilege of writing a guest post on scott kelby’s blog.
i wrote about photography, creativity and being fully alive!

click here to check it out!

a few weeks ago i gave an online presentation on photography and creativity. the main focus of the talk was to share 25 tips/exercises that will help you become a more creative person and make better photographs.  this morning i just got word that the recorded presentation has been posted online and is available to watch for free! if you’re in need of a bit of creative inspiration – click here to check it out!

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as a side note, i’ll be traveling and enjoying the holidays for the next few weeks and will be taking some time off from posting on the blog. i’ll be back in january and will look forward to kicking off the new year. until then – happy holidays!!

in need of a little photographic inspiration? be sure to sign up and catch my peachpit photoclub presentation on tuesday november 16th from 5-6. the presentation will include 30min of ideas/tips/concepts/assignments to help you take more compelling photographs and 30min of q&a. i’m really looking forward to the event and hope to get a chance to dialogue with you on tue! thanks!!

click here to sign up!

the tedx conference was amazing! there were so many highlights …more on that later.
for now, i wanted to let you know that my presentation “the poetics of pictures” it is live on youtube!
i hope you enjoy it and be sure to spread the word! :)

>> click here to check it out!

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on another note: click here to view some photos of the event that were taken by my good friend erin feinblatt.

i captured the image above at ralph’s home in santa barbara.
if you’re not familiar with ralph, he is an inspiring person and amazing photographer.
be sure to check out his work - click here!

i’m honored to be a part of david duchemin’s latest ebook, it’s titled inspired eye 2. if you’re looking for a quick and engaging read about creativity and photography i think you’ll enjoy this 35 page ebook. david has a great way of communicating in both written word and visual form… and here’s the best part the book only costs $5!

click here to learn more!

if you’re in need of a photographic creative boost, check out my most recent article in the latest issue of layers magazine. it’s all about how to create more compelling photographs.
click here to view the article online – enjoy!

jay maisel is an amazing photographer. in fact he’s one of the best.  his photographs are vibrant and alive. he is a living legend. over the last few years i’ve had a handful of opportunities to hang out with jay and i’ve consistently been impressed and inspired. a few weeks back when we crossed paths i asked jay a handful of questions and recorded his response. as always, jay’s words were honest, insightful, entertaining and thought-provoking.

click on the play button below to listen to 10 min of our conversation. before you begin, grab a pencil and a scratch sheet of paper as you may want to jot down some notes. enjoy!

i am incredibly excited to announce that this thur nov 12 at 10am (pst) i will be giving a live 1 hour webcast presentation in regards to my latest book, “visual poetry”. the presentation will be a mixture of inspiration, anecdotes and photographs + some time at the end for questions.

if you’re looking for a creative boost, be sure to join in on the fun – click here for the more info!

above are some of the photos from the book (click on the image for larger view)

david duchemin is more than a typical photographer and the more i get to know him the more impressed i am.  as a person david is honest, humble, engaged and fully alive. the poet kay ryan once said, “i like to think of all good poetry as providing more oxygen into the atmosphere; it just makes it easier to breathe.” that’s exactly how i think about david’s work (whether photography, teaching, writing or speaking)… in other words, while viewing or experiencing david’s work i’m awestruck and my breath is taken away… yet after a few moments its as if there’s more oxygen in my lungs.  as result i breath and live more fully and wholly.  if you’re not familiar with his work/books/blog/etc. click here.

as a side note, david and i have been talking about putting together a photographic workshop/retreat sometime next year. it would be a chance to dig deep, to be renewed, revived and of course to have a ton of fun. collectively, we would explore how to create a solid vision and in turn discover how to create more compelling photographs. if you’re interested in offering some suggestions of workshops you’d like to see, or if you’d simply like to sign up to be notified of workshops click here.

the last time david and i met up i asked him a few questions and you can listen to our conversation by clicking the play button below – enjoy!

i just received my copy of ralph clevenger’s book, “photographing nature” and i am so excited to finally have the book in my hands (thanks to greg lawler for snapping the photo above and below). the book is phenomenal!!!

as many of you know, ralph is one of my colleagues/on the faculty at brooks, one of my photographic mentors and a great friend. as you can imagine i had high hopes and expectations for the book. i’m incredibly pleased to say the the book exceeds even my extremely high and outlandish expectations!

i’ll post a full review once i’ve read it completely, yet for now you can view
more info about his book by clicking here.

lynda weinman (above) is someone i greatly admire. in fact one of my life’s greatest privileges is creating training for her and her husband’s company lynda.com. today i was finishing up some new lightroom 3 beta training and  lynda stopped by to say hello. i seized the moment and snapped a few pics.

if you’re not familiar with lynda.com be sure to click here to check it out

on another note, last night at dinner lynda was showing deke (another author) and myself that the entire lynda.com training library can be accessed and viewed on the iphone – yeeehoo!

this last week i had the privilege of spending some time with acclaimed humanitarian photographer  david duchemin. above is a pic of david from when we went shooting in the neon graveyard.  if you aren’t familiar with him or his work – it’s inspiring! click here to check it out.

his most recent book is titled within the frame (shown below) and it is one of my all time favorites – great images, strong words and inspiring ideas. after hanging out with david this week i’ve decided that when i’m back home i’m going to read it again.

yesterday i had the privilege of stopping by shawn stussy’s creative headquarters. shawn is an amazing person who can’t be defined by conventional means. he is a creative thinker, artist, surfer, surf board maker, designer, visual savant and more. he is articulate, down-to-earth and alive. it was an unbelievably inspiring visit.

i have just finished and launched a companion website www.visual-poet.com for my book visual poetry!
on the site you’ll find overview information, bonus content – like a great interview of joyce tenneson,
audio clips of me reading excerpts of the books and more!

if you’d like to visit the site click here!

i just got my copy of my latest book visual poetry! the print and paper quality are stunning and the book looks unreal – i am so excited!! i was flipping through the pages down at the harbor and snapped the photo above. click on it for a larger view.  yeeeaaahooooo!

tim mantoani has been working on an amazing project titled, ”behind the photographs.” he is a brooks institute grad and was having a show at brooks institute (where i teach). the show is absolutely stunning. if you live anywhere near santa barbara you have to check it out! to the left is a photo that i snapped of tim while he was setting up the show.

click on the link below to listen to a conversation we had while walking through the brooks cota gallery. you will find his words intriguing, enlightening and inspiring – enjoy!

click here to view more of tim’s work

I am really excited about my upcoming book, “Visual Poetry”. The book is about becoming creative and making compelling photographs. It is based on the premise that what the novelist says in 20,000 words the poet says in 20. And it is not just reduce and simplify. Rather, it is reduce, simplify and deepen. After reading a poem we don’t only have more information, but more experience. I can’t wait until this project goes live! For now, I have to keep on writing!!

click here to learn more

to view more of her work (like the image below): click here