PixelChatter Issue 42

Issue #42

WINTER 2013

PIXELCHATTER Kevin Brown, Photographer

TM

2013.

Drink it Up Musings on what lies ahead.

Fun & Games Some shoots are just a

What?

No headshot?

Is the corporate headshot dead?

Thunderbolt Mac upgrade is, uh, fast.

walk in the park.

WINTER 2013

Kevin Brown, Photographer

2013. Drink it up. “

H

ello Two thousand Thirteen. I’m Kevin.

I’ll just call you Thirteen. Nice to meet you. Come on in and sit a spell and tell me about yourself. Let’s take some time

Scott Anderson

and get acquainted.”

Yep, our 2012 calendars have gone the way of the Mayans.

Perhaps we dodged asteroids we didn’t know existed or a plague that didn’t come to pass. Most of us even survived the death of the Twinkie.

I still wonder if the Mayans might have been predicting the end of the world based on the U.S. economy doing a not-sopretty swan dive off a fiscal cliff. Where are the Fiscal Cliffs anyway? Near Acapulco I presume; they have cliff divers there.

But with all the clarity that we have looking back on the year that was, there are many questions about the year that is yet to be. It’s the same sort of feeling you get before your favorite football team’s first game of the season. Are we going 16-0 or are we gonna stink it up?

For some, a new year is a welcome turning of the page. For others it may be looked upon with dread.

Each new year seems to take on its own personality and brand itself on each of us in different ways. We may look back on previous years as good or bad like some may remember the vintage of a bottle of wine.

“Ah, ’83 was a good year.”

I’m prepared for unknown challenges, optimistic about new opportunities, and ready to taste whatever it is that good ol’ Thirteen has bottled up for me. I hope it tastes like ’12.

I have many questions about what lies ahead, but the answers will come in Thirteen’s time. Month by month. Day by day. Drop by drop.

Here’s hoping that Thirteen treats you well and pours your glass very full. Cheers.

Kevin Brown

KB Kevin Brown, Photographer and Chief Chatterer ON THE COVER A recent bio photo for a corporate client that wanted to depart from the traditional.

kevinbrownphoto.com

For the best viewing experience, click on the two arrows at the top of the screen that look like this:

HNY 2013 is already upon us and no doubt you’ve already rang in the new year, but Happy New Year just the same.

This image is just one of about 400 I shot for an e-book project that my father put together in 2012.

I created a table-top studio in my dining room for the shoot. My kitchen was wall to wall with wine bottles and spirits of all types. (I even managed to swipe a couple of bottles when dad wasn’t looking.

Okay, so he gave them to me.)

Check out the shots and the book “Wine Toasts for Lovers” in the iTunes Book Store.

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

FOCUS:PEOPLE

Opposite: Bennet Benner Pettit Architects + Planners Clockwise from top left: SKSW and Beta Land Services, Pegasus Ablon, The Big E Sports Show, Oncor

For techno-geeks only. You know who you are...

Thunderbolt connector

Thunderbolt. Is. Fast...

I

...so is 50MB/sec internet download.

n early 2012 I made some new camera and lens purchases. (See PixelChatter #41). But I wasn’t finished. Next on my radar was to upgrade my Mac and external drives.

When I’m not shooting photos, I’m processing files. And the faster the equipment, the quicker I can accomplish tasks.

Importing. Uploading.

Downloading. These are things I’m doing every single day. And the files can be big. A RAW file from my Nikon D800 is 78 MB. The hard drive on my first Mac was 40 MB. Astonishing to think my entire hard drive back in the late 80s wouldn’t hold one single photograph shot today.

The centerpiece of my workstation is a new 27” iMac. The specs are pretty amazing.

In addition to being just 5mm thin at its edge, the new Mac boasts a 3.4 GHz Quadcore Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost for speeds up to 3.9 GHz, 32 GB of RAM, and a 3 TB Fusion Drive (Hard Drive + Flash Storage.)

I use two displays, so sitting just to the right of my iMac is a 27” Thunderbolt display.

Just what is Thunderbolt?

Well, according to Apple, “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary I/O technology that supports high-resolution displays and highperformance data devices through a single, compact port.”

Okay, fine. But how fast is it...really?

It’s 10 gigabytes per second. Really. kevinbrownphoto.com

Sold.

But to put Thunderbolt to work you need Thunderbolt drives. I’ve employed the Promise Pegasus 12TB R6 Raid System.

These are robust, quiet, and fast.

I’m now able to transfer data 12 times faster than with my previous FireWire 800 drives.

Another big increase in efficiency was introduced when I said goodbye to AT&T DSL and switched over to Time Warner’s high-speed internet. My old DSL download speeds poked along at about 5 MB/ sec. A big download might take hours.

The new service has blazing speeds of up to 50 MB/sec.

I can’t imagine going back to the (slow) speeds I used before.

And streaming HD video to Apple TV via Wi-Fi is instantaneous. Zero wait time to begin watching an HD movie. Zero.

So I’m geared up for 2013 and loving it.

If you’re on the fence about a new Mac and Thunderbolt...or upgrading to faster internet, I say go for it. You’ll love the speed.

High-Speed I/O Performance

Ultra thin 27” iMac

Promise Pegasus R6 12 terabyte drive

Kevin Brown, Photographer

WINTER 2013

“Like,

 Follow

 me

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 Connect...�

Click

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FOCUS:INDUSTRY

Opposite: Creative Magma and Lamb-Star Engineering Clockwise from left: BearCom, Creative Magma / Lamb-Star Engineering Bottom: Balfour Beatty Construction

Shooting outside the b x

Is the (boring) corporate headshot dead?

I

photograph hundreds of people each year. (I’ve vowed to keep count of just how many in 2013). If I’m not shooting an environmental or editorial portrait of some kind, then most companies have historically wanted a basic and very traditional headshot against a gray or blue background.

Insert yawn here.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that in many instances there is a need for a traditional headshot....and I’m happy to accommodate in creating that for dozens of clients each year.

But there’s an increasing trend that has companies moving away from the ho-hum and steering towards the daring. In circus terms I suppose you could say we’re shooting without a net. We’re stripping away the stuffy-saycheese-and-bore-us pose for something more organic.

The shots are REAL. And they’re fun. And there’s no such thing as a bad shot or a bad idea.

I like to crank up some dance music during a session like this and do everything I can to get that subject to shed the traditional facade and coax that little kid that resides in all of us to come out to play.

Whether a subject strikes a Mick Jagger inspired pose (right) or struggles to imitate Madonna’s Vogue dance moves (opposite bottom middle), the results are fun shots that, in the right context, can really make for a strong image to accompany that person’s corporate bio.

The folks at Property Solutions channel their fun side at a recent shoot at their new Frisco, TX oďŹƒces in a studio created on-site.

More

Shooting outside the b x

This client wanted to create shots that had the same feel as the Saturday Night Live bumper shots that feature an offbeat photo of the show’s host and the SNL logo, and are aired when going to commercial.

An assortment of simple props and creative poses made for some great results.

These are finished samples with blank space left intentionally to one side to accommodate the person’s name or the company logo for use on the company’s website.

1

2

3

4 1) For this particular shoot, all shots were made against gray seamless paper.

2) Then, select images were retouched and the background was knocked out, leaving only the subject.

3) A color gradient was added to the background and a shadow is added behind the subject.

4) A textured background is selected from a library of textures.

5) The texture is blended with the color background layer to complete the process.

5 Next page: Another subject shoots outside the box.

FOCUS:ACTORS MODELS MUSICIANS

FOCUS:ARCHITECTURAL

Opposite: SKSW and Beta Land Services Right: First Choice Emergency Rooms Bottom: Corbet Group Construction

Fun& Games

Some assignments are nothing more than a walk in the park.

N

ot every assignment finds me walking among happy fairgoers, rubbing elbows with Bugs Bunny, or shooting photos of families enjoying the thrills of an amusement ride. But with clients like The State Fair of Texas and Six Flags Theme Parks, those opportunities come along several times a year.

2012 saw numerous shoots for Six Flags and marked the tenth consecutive year that I’ve done work for The State Fair of Texas.

Big Tex The State Fair of Texas

A couple cools off on a hot summer day at Six Flags Over Texas (opposite), and friends of Bugs Bunny enjoy a hot chocolate during Holiday in the Park, also at Six Flags Over Texas (above.)

Top: A Texas Longhorn steer readies for show at The State Fair of Texas.

Right: Art deco sculpture...and the 212 foot Texas Star ferris wheel, both at The State Fair of Texas.

Clockwise: Enjoying a nut-covered candied apple, coming down the slide, and Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler, all at The State Fair of Texas.

Left: A young bald eagle at the Birds of the World Show at The State Fair of Texas.

Below: A fisheye view from atop the Texas Star.

Various livestock and more at The State Fair of Texas.

Left: A young boy at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor.....riders zip backwards as Mr. Freeze launches at top speed.

Below: A group of guests at Six Flags Over Texas.

Top: The Texas Chute Out is demolished to make room for a new ride at Six Flags Over Texas.

Right: A group of guests on Titan at Six Flags Over Texas.

OFFSHOOTS

RAMBLINGS, RANTS, AND RAVES ABOUT STUFF, AND OTHER STUFF...

M

y kids crack me up. would argue Romo is indeed a great player, Kids really do say the destined to go on to break many of the Dallas darnedest things, don’t Cowboys QB records. Others disagree. I’m they. Something was said the other day - I one of them; I’d love to see Romo gone. don’t remember what exactly - but it got us Playing ability aside, I think Tony Romo laughing about some of the funny stuff our doesn’t need as much coaching on the field kids said when they as he needs coaching off the were little. My kids are field. Please, Mr. Jones, 12 and 10 now, but here hire a PR firm to teach are a few funny things Romo how to be they said when they interviewed and how to be were much younger: likable, because he’s not.

At a baseball game, ••••• Matthew - about age 4 I finished second in the or 5 - was hungry and Fantasy Football League I said, “Dad, can we go play in. I drafted well and to the confession was in 1st or 2nd place all stand?” season long. I’m already My daughter longing for the beginning Lauren’s favorite movie of the 2013 NFL season, as a little kid was The and the current season is Lizard of Oz. just entering the playoffs.

It wasn’t until we got Django should’ve stayed chained.

••••• our kids the video game One of the most anticipated Guitar Hero that my son finally realized the movies of 2012, for me at least, was released name of the Foreigner song was Juke Box on Christmas Day. Django Unchained is the Hero and not Juice Box Hero. latest from Quentin Tarantino and stars Jamie ••••• Foxx and the brilliant Christoph Walz. Walz Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo is 1 for 6 was simply amazing in Tarantino’s on make-or-break games to advance to or Inglourious Basterds. (Yep, that’s how you thru the playoffs since he started playing. spell it.) So, the day after Christmas we went He’s a polarizing figure in Dallas and I think to see the movie. it has little to do with his skills as a QB. He’s Extremely disappointing. the quarterback of one of the biggest sports It had the Tarantino B-movie flavor franchises in the world and is consistently including an old “Columbia Pictures” logo named an ‘elite’ player by his peers. Some opening straight out of the 1960s.

kevinbrownphoto.com

Kevin Brown

And the soundtrack was completely all over the map. One minute you hear Jim Croce’s I Got a Name in its entirety as Foxx and Walz ride across the plains, and five minutes later you’re hearing a rap song called 100 Black Coffins.

Those are intermixed with previouslyreleased music by famed film composers Jerry Goldsmith and Ennio Morricone (of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly fame.)

And don’t forget James Brown and John Legend.

Did I mention this is a western?

Tarantino calls it a southern.

Like it’s soundtrack, Django couldn’t decide what kind of movie it wanted to be. It had an identity crisis. At times it was funny, always brutal and violent (never seen so much blood from a gunshot, but hey, it’s Tarantino), and sometimes it was totally cheesy and almost campy.

But for everything it did have, what it didn’t have was a nice tight story. The story wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great. And if you don’t have a good story, you don’t have a good movie.

The tension wasn’t there either as it was in so many great scenes in Basterds.

The most fitting part of the movie [spoiler alert] is when Tarantino himself, playing a bit part at the end of the film, gets blown to smithereens by dynamite.

He got just what he deserved for making me want something so bad and then failing so miserably to deliver.

What’s On My Feed?

It’s surprising to me that Django has made so many (any) ‘Best Movies of 2012’ lists.

••••• Another movie I’m looking forward to is Zero Dark Thirty. Can’t wait for that and was really disappointed when the broad release opening date was moved from December 19 to January 11. I’ll be there.

Did you see Rock Center with Brian Williams on Dec. 27? It was about the mission to get Bin Laden and took viewers inside the Situation Room at the White House. Pretty cool. It originally aired back in May, but I missed it. It’s currently available on-line.

••••• Normally this time of year I’d really be looking forward to American Idol, but have to admit that I have no plans on watching it this year. It’s become all about the judges more than ever and I have no desire to see a cat fight between Mariah Carey and Nicki no-talent Minaj.

••••• If you haven’t been to the downtown area of Arlington, Texas in a while, it’s worth a visit. The past year or so have seen some nice additions in restaurant and entertainment offerings. For you foodies, you can dive into a burger at The Twisted Root Burger Company and belly up to the Winnebago bar inside.

But if you want a better burger, go down the street to The Grease Monkey Burger Shop and Social Club.

For pizza there’s the Mellow Mushroom, and comfort food fans can walk down the sidewalk to Babe’s Chicken Dinner House.

Don’t forget The Flying Fish, and of course there are the old classics like J. Gilligan’s Bar and Grill and more recently Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

The Levitt Pavilion is a really nice outdoor amphitheater and just a block or two away is the Arlington Music Hall. Willie Nelson played there in November. Last night I drove by and saw Sara Evans name on the marquee.

••••• So that’s about it for this one. Thanks for reading and a sincere Happy New Year to you!

Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link Twitter link

- Kevin Brown

If this is the first PixelChatter you’ve received and you’re hungry for more, you can read the previous issue here: PixelChatter Issue No. 41

Thank you!

A very sincere thank you to all the clients that played a role in making 2012 a great year. With over 165 shoots, it was my busiest year ever and I appreciate each and every one of you. Hope to see you again this year!

Alerian

Emdeon

The Pivot Group

Argo

Evos Financial

Property Solutions

Arlington , TX CVB

Farah Padamsee

Public Strategies, Inc.

Arlington Trolley

Financial Advisor Magazine

RCG Global Services

Ashley Prewett

First Choice Emergency Rooms

Respario, LP

Balfour Beatty Construction

Fleet Advantage

Robotix

BearCom

Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Rosenberger CDS

The Beck Group

Good Sam Club

Six Flags Over Texas

Behan Group

Hammerhead Offroad

Six Flags Theme Parks

Bennche

Hannah Claire Music

SKDKnickerbocker

Billy Bob’s Texas

Harrison & Hull, LLP

SKSW

BNC Construction

Home Advisor

Sonal Desai, DDS

BNSF Railway Company

House of Shine

Stan Stamper

Boster Gourmet Catering

inTEST Corporation

The State Fair of Texas

Brightwing

Julie Sass

Surface Armor, LLC

Brockette Davis Drake, Inc.

Keller Williams Realty

TD Ameritrade

Camden Property Trust

Kemper Specialty

TM Solutions

Celanese

Ken Brown Studio

Tenet Healthcare

Central Park ENT

Kubota Tractor Corporation

Todd Whitthorne

Central Texas Title

Lamb-Star Engineering, LP

Texas Pacific Group Creative Capital

Corporate Finance Associates

LDG Development

Trader’s Village

CLA USA and CLA Estate Services

LifeScience Logistics

Transplace

Coleman-Rayner

Meeting Professionals International

Union Pacific Railroad

Copart

Michael Dallas Wealth Management

Wagon Yard Furniture

Corbet Group, Inc.

Monica Comeaux

Web-TPA

Core 24

NexCourt

Weir Oil and Gas

Creative Magma, Inc.

Nike

Weir SPM

Crescent Real Estate Equities

NTT America

Wendy Davis Campaign

Dallas Institute of Funeral Service

Oncor

Woodard Insurance

Dupree Dance

Pegasus Ablon

WWII Magazine

Ear Nose and Throat Centers of Texas

Peinado Construction

ZAK Products

Electronic Security Association

Phoenix Health Systems

kevinbrownphoto.com

It’s a new year. Time for a new headshot.

Put your best face forward.

Your headshot says a lot about you. Make sure it says the right thing.

It may be the first impression that people have of you and you know the old saying, “you only have one chance at a first impression.”

Don’t blow it.

My headshot business is geared towards bringing the studio to you.

I’ll set up a studio environment at your offices and can photograph you and your colleagues in a half-day or full-day session.

So, whether you want to go with a classic headshot style, or a natural light portrait, or if you want to be more daring and ‘shoot outside the box’, let me help.

We’ll get you some great shots.

Email or call to book a session. kevin@kevinbrownphoto.com 817-454-6252

FINALFRAME

A GTS 250 by Hammerhead Offroad. Shot for their new website, currently in development.

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Š2013 Kevin Brown, Photographer, LLC.