Amelie's Influence

When was the last time a movie made an impact on you?  The movie Amelie is one of my all time favorites, and if you are a photographer or artist you owe it to yourself to see this film.  I have just completed watching it for the zillionth time, and even though this film is in French I muted the sound and focused only on the images.

Notice how the color's red and green play a strong roll in this movie.  There are several times when the color blue is introduced but rarely.  If you want to enhance your photography in any way, do yourself a favor and watch this film, then share how it's influence your work.  Here is a sample of how it's influenced mine. 

You can share your views on Twitter with us this week.  My twitter name is Matthew_JordanS

Always Dream Big

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Color and Storytelling

Last week I shared a movie, The Sound of Music, to help photographers learn about light and composition. This week I want to share another film to help in telling your story through photography.  I believe every photograph tells a story, but to be a great storyteller you must first learn to recognize the story.  This week I would like for you to watch another great movie without the soundtrack.  The reason for watching these movies without the accompanying soundtrack is to help you focus on the image.  You'll be surprised at what you will learn by doing this.

This weeks movie for photographers to watch is "Amelie"!  This week  I'd like you to focus on the use of color and how the color plays a role in telling this amazing story.  Its funny how watching a film without the soundtrack brings the focus on the power of the image.  Amelie has been among my favorite movies for a while but after watching it without the sound I felt it was powerful for this week more than others I had in mind.

This week I will again use Twitter to send messages related to this film with the tag "#Amelie" and discuss how aspects of this movie can help in developing your eye as a photographer.

Always Dream Big


Twitter name:  Matthew_JordanS

The Source of Inspiration

A year ago I went to see an exhibit at the Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills.  It was a week after the Japanese tsunami and Japan was heavy on my heart.  The exhibit had nothing to do with Japan but all around me I saw little signs of people showing their support in different ways.

I took my interns to the gallery to look at an exhibit that was up at the time.  As we left the gallery and walked toward my car we talked about the show and what it meant to us.  One of my interns was describing how it moved her when a guy walked past us at a faster pace.  In  that moment I saw an image that caught me by surprise.  The guy who walked past us wore a simple white t-shirt, but in the middle of his back was a red circle.  To my interns it didn't register, but to me I knew it was his way of saying I support Japan.  I quickly caught up with the guy and asked him where he got his t-shirt and he said he'd gone to an event to raise money for Japan and purchased it there.  The t-shirt was so simple but also so powerful and for the rest of the day the image of his t-shirt stayed with me and I decided to do an image inspired by that moment.

We never know when something will come along and inspire us, so we must always be aware of life around us.  Regardless of the type of photography you shoot take the time to put your life, and how you feel about life, in your images.

Always Dream Big!

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Inspiration_Sound of Music

This week I've been talking about the movie, The Sound of Music, and how this classic film has helped me as a photographer.  I've asked photographers to watch the first hour of the film (without sound) to help them focus on the visuals, lighting and composition.  

As I've watched the film I noticed things I've never seen before.  For example, there is a scene when the oldest daughter sneaks out to be with a young man and they have their first kiss in the gazebo.  As the scene takes place you can see one of the lights and the barn door housing in the shot.  The light that is shown is giving the backlight effect in the shot and I actually don't mind seeing the light.  The lighting in this film is incredible, and what stands out to me about the light is how they use shadows along with light to tell the story.  Today you never see movies shot in this manner, but I love this method of lighting.

Yesterday I had a shoot and the movie was deep on my mind as I decided on the lighting.  Here is an image from yesterday's shoot inspired by The Sound of Music.

Feel free to share your images and tell us what moved you about this film on Twitter.  You can add the hashtap, #soundofmusic to your post.  Next week we will take a look at one of my all time favorite movies and continue with lessons taken from the silver screen.

For more information on becoming a better photographer check out the downloadable video's available for purchase in Photography Help Store.

Always Dream Big

Composition_The Sound of Music

This week we are discussing how watching a movie can help improve your photography.  The movie we are watching this week is "The Sound of Music", and the aim of this exercise is to focus on composition and lighting so watch the movie with the sound turned off.  

To take part in this exercise all you need to do is watch the first hour by Friday, March 16th, and post your comments on Twitter using the hash tag #Soundofmusic.   Pay special attention to the images that are used as the opening credits begin to show on the screen.  Notice the composition of each image.  If you're a portrait or wedding photographer pay special attention after the opening credits end and the camera enters the monastery for the first time.  This section is very powerful with striking images.  As you watch, ask yourself where the camera is and notice the use of light and shadow, angles and composition.

You can watch this movie 15 min. at a time each day or the entire hour at once.  It is totally up to you but make sure to take notes of images that stand out to you and post your comments on Twitter.

Always Dream Big!

Remembering Japan

OnlineSchools.org presents Japan One Year Later

Sound of Music

When was the last time a movie had a strong impact on you?  Today I want to use a movie to help every photographer become stronger in taking better pictures.

I just returned from speaking to 200 photographers in Connecticut regarding how they can create stronger images.  The presentation was sponsored by Sony and  they allowed me to give away a Sony Nex-C3 camera during the program.  Also during the program I announced the start of an online exercise to help photographers learn to create stronger images.  The exercise is not just for those who were in attendance but for  every photographer around the world who wants to become better at creating great photographs.  You too can be a part of this exercise, and all you need to do is have a twitter account and watch the first hour of "The Sound of Music"with the volume turned off.    That's right, I want you to rent, buy or find someway to watch this classic movie, but without the sound.  You don't have to watch the entire movie unless you want to, but I'd like you to watch the first hour without sound.  The purpose of this exercise is to help you focus on the power of composition and lighting.  

Photographer's Exercise:  

1)  Watch the 1965 classic film, The Sound of Music without sound by Friday, March 16th.  

2)  Join in the discussion on Twitter by using #Sound of Music and Matthew_JordanS.

I have selected this movie because it shows the power of great composition and use of light to tell a story.  Even without the soundtrack this movie is incredibly powerful and shows the power of images.  Every photograph tells a story but sometimes we all need help in learning how to tell our story.  Even when we are hired by others to shoot their products, portraits, wedding, landscapes, etc, we are all telling a version of our story because your photographs are your vision of how you see the world.  I believe this exercise will help all of us in making stronger images.  Enjoy the film and I look forward to speaking with you and others on Twitter.

Always Dream Big

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Photography Help

Today I'm in Connecticut to speak to a group of photographers at the CT PPA photo convention.  My topic for tonight is "how to take great pictures" and I believe it will be a great crowd.   When I landed last night I had 77 twitter mentions regarding speaking in Conn, so if that's any indication it will be a good crowd.  Maybe it is because I'm giving away a Sony Nex camera tonight or maybe it's because people want to really learn more about photography.  Whatever the case, I am excited to be here and looking forward to speaking tonight and sharing more knowledge to help photographer make a better living and have more fun doing so.

Whenever I travel to give a presentation it seems I'm always making last minuet changes to my presentation on the plane.  As I pulling out my computer to make a few tweaks the gentleman beside me asked if the photographs were mine.  Turns out he's a producer and was traveling to Hartford, Connecticut as well.  We talked the entire flight and I learned we had a lot in common.  He produces TV and web commercials for Nike, Samsung and other high end clients.  We talked about the future of both our industries and he said, "clients will always need content and as our society uses more and more screens, from TV's to laptops, ipads, etc, clients will need content to put on those devices".  The future looks great when you think about all the advantages photographers have to provide content.  

Flying from Los Angeles required that I change planes in Dallas, and my connection was supposed to be a short one but  I ended up waiting six hours with weather delays.  The time was well spent as my new friend, the producer I met on my first flight, was on the same connection flight and we talked about our businesses and the future.  I shared some aspects of my personal project and he gave me excellent advise in moving my project forward and a few tips along the way.  It was time well spent in the airport.

Tonight I plan to share something I've never shared with an audience before.  The wonderful thing is, no matter where you are, you too can enjoy the benefit from the information I am about to share tonight.  I will announce this new information on Twitter after tonight's event.  You won't want to miss this because this information may be just the thing that turns your photography career around.  Follow me on Twitter at Matthew_JordanS to take part and learn how to become a better photographer. 

 Always Dream Big

For more information on photography check out Photography Help for downloadable videos to help improve how you view and take pictures.