Selecting and developing a photography project can be a daunting task, requiring patience, creativity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. This process is crucial for photographers, as it shapes their artistic vision and guides the evolution of their work.

Coming to you from Kyle McDougall, this reflective video delves into the journey of developing long-term photography projects. McDougall shares his experiences with two major projects, emphasizing the importance of what he calls the “development phase.” This initial stage, characterized by exploring and photographing without set expectations, is pivotal in allowing a project to evolve organically. His approach demonstrates the value of letting curiosity and interest guide the creative process. This insight is particularly valuable for photographers embarking on long-term projects, as it encourages an open-minded exploration that can lead to unexpected and enriching artistic directions.

McDougall’s discussion on the significance of research and understanding the subject matter further enriches the development of a photography project. He illustrates this with his project “Slate City,” which evolved from a fascination with Welsh landscapes to a deeper exploration of local history and community. This progression highlights the importance of immersing oneself in the subject, leading to a richer, more nuanced body of work. Additionally, McDougall touches on the necessity of acknowledging that project work extends beyond just taking photographs. He emphasizes the role of scouting, planning, and engaging with the community as integral parts of the creative process. This holistic view of project development is essential for photographers, as it underscores the multifaceted nature of creating a meaningful and impactful series of work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from McDougall.

FARGO — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop megastar Taylor Swift walked side-by-side holding hands after the team’s Christmas Day home loss against the Las Vegas Raiders, an image that Kansas City Star photojournalist Nick Wagner captured.

For Wagner, it’s the favorite Swift photo he’s snapped since Swift started dating Kelce and has become a regular at Kansas City football games.

“It’s like what a high school sweetheart relationship would be after a big high school game, going home together hand-in-hand,” said Wagner, who graduated from Ada-Borup (Minn.) High School in 2013.

Wagner has been full-time on the Chiefs beat since training camp and also covered the team last season. He is set to cover his second consecutive Super Bowl at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, when the Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kansas City is the defending Super Bowl champion.

“I do have to remind myself, slow down a little bit and realize how far you’ve come and appreciate that fact and appreciate everyone who helped me get to where I am,” said the 29-year-old Wagner, who interned at The Forum in 2014-2015.

Since he joined the Kansas City Star staff in November of 2022, Wagner only covered a few regular-games last season, but he was on the sidelines for the entire playoff run to the Super Bowl championship. This season the team’s journey to the Super Bowl has the added Taylor Swift effect.

The first game she attended was in Week 3 of the regular season against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

“It’s something else that you have to keep in mind because there is value to the paper as far as getting visuals of her arriving, being there and cheering and leaving the stadium with Travis,” Wagner said. “It’s just another wrinkle.”

Wagner added there are challenges in having to devote some attention to Swift on game days.

“It’s your perspective on it,” Wagner said. “It can get exhausting when you are there on the Chiefs beat and want to cover the team and have to shift focus away from the team and focus on a pop star, but she’s also the most popular celebrity in the world. It is exciting and cool to see her, the first couple times I saw her in person, there was some kind of (being) starstruck.”

Wagner said he’s usually assigned with getting photos of Swift entering and leaving the stadium on games in which she attends. During the game, she’s usually in a private suite so there are limitations for getting photos of Swift during the games.

Wagner captured images of an animated Swift reacting to a Kelce touchdown catch during Kansas City’s division round road victory against the Buffalo Bills.

“That was shot from the entire opposite end of the stadium basically,” Wagner said.

While Wagner has to be mindful of Swift, the game is most important for him, especially on Super Bowl Sunday.

“Game action is paramount to me,” Wagner said. “I don’t care about anything else. I want to shoot game action, I want to shoot the players. If there is a lull in the game or something and I point my camera towards her suite and she’s doing something interesting, then I’ll shoot it. I’m focused on the game, it’s the Super Bowl.”

After Kansas City’s road victory against Baltimore in the AFC Championship game, Swift came down to the field in the postgame and kissed Kelce. That was an image that Wagner was unable to capture since he was focused on the awards podium.

“You can imagine how crazy the scrum was,” Wagner said. “I was shooting the podium. You kind of have to be on the Taylor beat if you’re going to get an image of her because otherwise you’re going to be blocked out. … If you’re going to shoot her, you’re going to have to abandon whatever you are doing, you are going to have to commit to her 100%.”

Wagner said by the time he got over to Kelce and Swift, he ended up not filing the any of the frames he snapped.

“It wasn’t the picture,” Wagner said. “The picture was them kissing.”

Wagner’s favorite images from the AFC championship game was when Kansas City cornerback L’Jarius Snead forced Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers to fumble inches before he crossed the goal line. Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie recovered the fumble in the end zone with Kansas City holding a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs earned a 17-10 victory.

“The Chiefs defense this year has been incredible,” Wagner said. “It was kind of poetic with how it happened.”

Wagner said other than hearing a few murmurs in the crowd of fans talking about Swift being in the stadium, the atmosphere hasn’t been too different for the games she attended. Games at Arrowhead Stadium were already a big-time event.

“I think anyone who goes to the game is kind of there football first, Taylor second,” Wagner said. “I think it’s still game first.”

Wagner arrived in Las Vegas on Monday to cover multiple events leading up to the big game. Having covered the Super Bowl last year gives him some familiarity with what’s in store for the week. He will be again photographing the game from the field.

“This is still awesome and still amazing to be able to have this privilege, but I’m a little bit more prepared and know what to expect,” Wagner said.

Wagner credits John Millea, the senior content creator at the Minnesota State High School League, as one of his key influences early in his journalism career. Wagner was part of the high school league’s student media program, which started in 2011 and lasted around a decade, according to Millea.

“He could write, he could certainly take photos,” Millea said. “I don’t know that I’m surprised, but it’s amazing to see, ‘Hey, look at these Taylor Swift photos going viral,’ Nick took them. … His sports photos in general are phenomenal.”

Wagner said Millea is the reason he attended a sports journalism camp at St. Thomas. That led Wagner to Western Kentucky where he graduated from in 2017. Millea said one of the first meetings he had for the MSHSL’s student media program was at Ada-Borup High School, and Wagner was at that presentation with a handful of other kids.

“It’s really cool to think about that moment back then in Ada and then what he’s doing now and what he’s done,” said Millea, who worked at the Star Tribune for 20 years prior to moving to the high school league in 2010. “He’s just so talented. … It’s an art and he’s an artist for sure.”

POWELL — Rob Koelling’s love for wildlife photography is well known in the Cowboy State. Numerous publications and exhibits feature his awe-inspiring artwork, largely of Wyoming’s avian species.

He doesn’t take it personally when called a bird nerd — it’s a badge of honor for those who are helplessly captivated by feathered species. However, few know of his other talent — one which takes a great deal of discipline, dedication and self-control: Keeping secrets.

Early in December Koelling received a call from a representative at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department letting him know a photograph he entered in the Wyoming Wildlife Magazine annual contest had won the coveted grand prize.

More than 3,000 photos were entered this year; his photo of a hummingbird with a blossom stuck on her beak was judged the best of the best.

But the caller also requested he keep it to himself until the February edition was distributed.

“Essentially they said, don’t tell anybody. God, that was hard to sit on,” he said in his first interview after receiving clearance to share his news.

Not a bad result for a guy who had second thoughts about entering this year’s competition. He has entered every year for the past seven and was starting to wonder if he’d ever have a chance for a major award.

“I’ll send something in that I think is maybe some of the best work that I’ve ever done, and nothing. I’ve had a couple of honorable mentions over the years. But this was a huge surprise,” he said while working on his upcoming book featuring birds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Big Horn Basin.

Koelling has long been interested in bird photography, but really ratcheted up his efforts a decade ago after retiring from a long career as an English professor, including decades at Northwest College.

He purchased a stout truck shortly after teaching his final class to increase opportunities to go wherever the birds lead him. He has tested that limit, ending with the truck in a repair shop more than once.

But he persists daily, often traveling with Tesla, his sweet 12-year-old golden retriever.

He didn’t have to go far for the winning photo. The brief moment a rufous hummingbird with a Mexican cigar plant blossom stuck on her beak was taken in his own backyard.

Koelling is locally famous for his photographs of hummingbirds, many of which he posts on social media in the dead of winter to give his friends a happy visual break from the reality of the region’s typical gray skies, snow and cold.

The winning moment he captured in 1/2500th of a second wasn’t the first time he had seen a blossom stuck to a hummingbird beak, but it was the first time he managed to put all the pieces together, complete with the pleasing aperture-softened background of daisies on the berm.

The garden was designed and planted to attract birds.

After his wife Deborah, also a former NWC professor, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), she knew it would soon be hard for Rob to get away for frequent wildlife photography trips due to the amount of care she would need. So, in a loving gesture, she designed the backyard garden to attract birds throughout the year specifically for her loving husband.

She died on Nov. 4, 2018, at the age of 66.

Yet the garden still draws in many species of birds.

“I feel like Deb is a part of everything that I do,” he said. “I think she would be pleased.”

Uncommon photographs of common birds

Koelling is working on a book of what he calls uncommon photographs of common birds, drawing from more than 30,000 images taken over the past decade.

“It’s not a handbook. It’s not comprehensive. As a matter of fact, it’s easier for me to talk about what it’s not than what it is. But, what it is, is a variety of photos of ordinary birds to give us an opportunity to maybe see them in ways that we haven’t seen them before,” he said.

The book won’t read like most birding publications. The majority of books on the market are written for identification purposes. Koelling’s desk is littered with the best of them.

Instead, he is concentrating on things he finds interesting, including humorous interpretations of the subject matter. His passion for all things feathered comes from a deep respect for his subjects and his love for their beauty and character.

His level of photography skill isn’t easy to achieve. Despite the advances since the days of film and darkrooms, photography hasn’t become much easier or cheaper. Wildlife photography often requires long (pricey) lenses and complicated (pricey) cameras. It also requires hours in the field and a fast computer equipped with sophisticated (pricey) software.

It also takes lots of time.

Wildlife rarely presents itself for a portrait session. Birds are especially hard to photograph. Even if you see a bird in the distance, by the time you can get close enough, sneaking to a good vantage point, they easily and often simply fly away. Capturing a bird in flight is also difficult and rarely works out when the bird is flying, fleeing the presence of humans in their broad personal space.

Koelling is on the road most days scouting for new species and improved images of species he has already photographed.

He doesn’t discriminate. Even common birds like American robins, or hated species like invasive European starlings, can make him stop to lift his hefty gear toward the sky. They might look plain to the eye, but the details and subtle colors seen in his photographs highlight their glorious nature.

“When I started looking at [birds], I was surprised by what I saw,” he said. “I wasn’t seeing with my eye what the camera was capturing. I remember the first time I looked at a photo of a kestrel. I mean, I’ve seen this little brown bird sitting on a wire and when I zoomed in and looked at it, I thought, holy cow, this thing looks like something that ought to live in the tropics. It has orange and blue and a striped face.”

He is constantly encouraging others to pick up a camera. Even if you don’t have the budget for top-end equipment, almost everybody carries a camera.

“There’s an old saying that the best camera is the one you have with you. Cellphones have wonderful cameras now. So if you want to get into this, it’s not a bad place to start,” he said.

But be warned, capturing a wonderful image — whether it’s of wildlife, landscapes or friends and family — can be addictive.

“The pleasure you get with seeing an image come out that you’re really happy with is worth it all,” Koelling mused.

A popular contest

While contestants came from far away places — often vacationers in the Cowboy State — six of the award recipients were from Powell. Another seven winners were from nearby communities in the Big Horn Basin.

It could be that having two national parks and countless outdoor opportunities makes finding awesome photographs fairly convenient. It is also a possibility that many local photographers have moved to Park County to be near charismatic critters and bucket-list landscapes.

Either way, becoming inspired by Northwest Wyoming’s natural wonders and western themes is pretty common.

With 3,023 entries vying for one of 99 places, from major awards to honorable mention (HM), regional photographers have made a large impact on the contest, winning about 15% of the available awards.

Big Horn Basin winners include Don Getty of Wapiti (Wildlife HM), Troy Powell of Powell (Wildlife HM), Randy White of Cody (Wildlife HM), Steve Propp of Worland (Wildlife HM), Tony Douzenis of Powell (Wildlife HM), Kathy Lichtendahl of Clark (two Wildlife HMs, Flora HM), Jay Mayes of Lovell (Wildlife HM), Kinley Bollinger of Powell (third place Recreation and two Scenic HMs), Christine Garceau of Powell (Scenic HM), Mark Davis of Powell (Scenic HM), Jim Gate of Worland (two Recreation HMs), Eric Janzer of Powell (Flora HM) and Anita Holdren of Cody (Flora HM).

“Photographers shared their lives and experiences the best way they can — through the camera lens,” said Wyoming Wildlife Editor Tracie Brinkerd in introducing the publication’s most popular edition of the year. “Some photographers spotted interesting animal behavior like a cow moose swimming with her calf as a grizzly approached, a hummingbird with a flower on its beak or lekking sharp-tailed grouse battling in the spring. Others adventured to beautiful locales to show Wyoming’s amazing scenery or stayed out late hoping to capture the northern lights on the few occasions they were visible in the Cowboy State this year.”

The contest was judged by three Game and Fish employees and two artists from Wyoming who brought their expertise to the table.

The publication also published a calendar from entries in a separate competition.

Don Getty is featured in March with a photo of a nanny mountain goat in the Beartooth Range and Amy Gerber is featured in September with a silhouette of a bull elk and December with a photograph of playful American river otters in snow on the banks of the Shoshone River.

Residents and nonresidents alike can enter the contests, but all photos must be taken in Wyoming.

To find information on how to enter the contest or subscribe to the magazine: wgfd.wyo.gov/ about-us/wyoming-wildlife.

To learn about Koelling’s garden, see powelltribune.com/stories/more-than-a-gardenformer-nwc-professor-turns-hisattention-to-the-birds,749.

Las Vegas Photographer

Las Vegas Photographers

Photographer in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Photographer Christian Purdie upgrades on-location photography with wireless lighting, offering studio-quality illumination and enhanced flexibility.

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, February 5, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Christian Purdie Photography is delighted to announce a groundbreaking advancement in their photography services, introducing state-of-the-art wireless lighting technology. This innovative approach allows Christian Purdie Photography, to bring studio-quality lighting directly to clients’ locations, wireless high-speed strobes with soft modifiers have changed the way photography is executed.

In the ever-evolving world of photography, recent advancements in the technology of high-speed strobes and modifiers have redefined the possibilities for capturing dynamic and compelling images. High-speed strobes, equipped with cutting-edge features and precise control mechanisms, now offer a Las Vegas photographer the ability to freeze fast-moving subjects with unparalleled clarity. These strobes boast faster flash durations, allowing photographers to capture split-second moments with exceptional detail. Additionally, the integration of advanced modifiers enhances light control, enabling the shaping of light in once unimaginable ways. From softboxes to grids and diffusers, these modifiers provide photographers with a diverse toolkit to sculpt and manipulate light, allowing for the creation of visually striking and professional-grade photographs. As technology continues to advance, high-speed strobes and modifiers stand as essential tools in the photographer’s arsenal, pushing the boundaries of creativity and ensuring that each image tells a compelling story.

Christian Purdie Photography has always been at the forefront of the industry, known for delivering exceptional images that capture the essence of the moment. With the integration of wireless lighting, the studio is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in on-location photography.

A photographer in Las Vegas is experiencing a paradigm shift in their craft with the adoption of wireless lighting technology for on-location shoots. The advantages are manifold, offering unprecedented flexibility and convenience. By eliminating the constraints of traditional wired setups, Las Vegas photographers can effortlessly move and position lights, adapting to diverse environments and client preferences seamlessly. This technology not only streamlines the setup process, reducing valuable time spent on logistics but also provides an enhanced level of creative control. Photographers can now manipulate lighting conditions on the fly, ensuring optimal results regardless of the location’s challenges. This innovation enables photographers in Las Vegas to capture the essence of the city’s vibrant energy in a variety of settings, delivering stunning and professional imagery that reflects the adaptability and innovation inherent in the dynamic world of photography.

Gone are the days of being constrained by the limitations of traditional lighting setups. With wireless lighting technology, Christian Purdie Photography can now create stunning visuals in any environment, adapting to various settings and client preferences. This breakthrough not only enhances the overall quality of the images but also provides clients with a more convenient and flexible photography experience.

“We are always striving to elevate our craft and provide our clients with the best possible experience. The introduction of wireless lighting allows us to be more versatile in our approach, ensuring that we can capture the perfect shot, regardless of the location or conditions.” – Christian Purdie

CPP has seamlessly integrated the advantages of wireless lighting technology into their on-location photography sessions. This innovative approach allows Christian Purdie Photography and his team to advance the limitations of traditional lighting setups, bringing studio-quality illumination directly to clients’ chosen locations across Las Vegas. The flexibility offered by wireless lighting enhances the overall efficiency of their photo sessions, providing a more dynamic and adaptable environment for capturing moments with precision. This technological upgrade not only reduces setup time but also enables Christian Purdie Photography to create captivating images in diverse settings, showcasing the vibrant and unique backdrop of Las Vegas. With this cutting-edge technology, Christian Purdie Photography continues to elevate the standard of on-location photography, offering clients an unparalleled experience that combines convenience, versatility, and the unmistakable artistic touch for which they are renowned.

Wireless lighting technology offers numerous advantages, including improved efficiency, reduced setup time, and the ability to create dynamic and creative lighting setups on the fly. Clients can now enjoy the same level of professionalism and quality they would expect from a studio session but in the comfort of their chosen location.

In addition to the technological upgrade, Christian Purdie Photography remains committed to delivering personalized and tailored photography services, ensuring that each client’s unique vision is brought to life through the artistry of their work.

For more information about Christian Purdie Photography and the use of wireless lighting technology, please visit www.christianpurdie.com or contact info@christianpurdie.com.

About Christian Purdie Photography:
Christian Purdie Photography is a leading photography studio based in Las Vegas, specializing in a wide range of photography services, including portraits, headshots, events, and commercial photography. With a passion for storytelling through imagery, Christian Purdie and his team consistently deliver exceptional and memorable photographs that capture the essence of each moment.

Christian Purdie
Christian Purdie Photography
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Las Vegas Photographer

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“We always have to be aware of the enemy within, which is much more difficult to fight and more dangerous to liberty.” These are the words of Margaret Thatcher – words that leave a particularly sour taste when learning they’re in reference to the miners’ strike of 1984-85, used to describe communities coming together in resistance to their decimation, the removal of their primary source of income with nothing to replace it. It is quotes like these that make you realise how important grassroots documentation is, how important photography, as a medium, can be in highlighting the truth; police violence, batch cooking for hungry families and protestors huddled outside in winter, with little more than a jacket.

A new exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol has compiled photography from the year-long industrial action, as well as ephemera that played a role in widening awareness and showing solidarity, like badges, posters and banners. “Together, the works tell a story of the battle against Margaret Thatcher and the National Coal Board’s pit closures, but also display the imaginative ways people came together in defence of their communities and the powerful images of resistance and solidarity that live on today,” says the exhibition’s curator Isaac Blease. After collaborating with various museums, collections and individuals to source materials, the exhibition features work from a vast range of geographies and demographics, including the work of John Harris, Chris Killip, Jenny Matthews, Imogen Young and more.

For Isaac, one of the main strengths of the exhibition is how it demonstrates solidarity across communities. He highlights Brenda Price, who shot images of women in Nottinghamshire picketing, fundraising and organising food packages. Not only do they demonstrate community spirit, but the ways in which such images also countered stereotypical and reductive portrayals of women at the time. “As things get progressively more polarised today, I like to think these images remind of the importance of sticking together,” says Isaac.

After a resounding victory against English Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard celebrated by indulging in some post-game photography.

London-based team Arsenal has one of the better-known photographers in Stuart MacFarlane who has previously appeared on PetaPixel after he was given the unusual task of giving the pre-game talk instead of the coach, which he delivered in an emphatic fashion.

And yesterday MacFarlane found himself on the other side of the lens after Norweigan player Ødegaard grabbed his camera while still celebrating on the field and began taking pictures of the photographer.

Ødegaard appeared to know what he was doing with the Nikon Z camera: after he pressed the shutter and showed MacFarlane the photo he had taken, he then expressed his displeasure at the shot and insisted they take it again.

Ødegaard ordered MacFarlane where to stand and how to pose much to the delight of the cheering home supporters who were lapping it up.

PetaPixel got in contact with Arsenal to see if Ødegaard has a photography interest but they did not respond as of publication.

Not Everyone Found it Amusing

Despite the seemingly celebratory moment after a hard-fought victory against league leaders Liverpool, not everyone was impressed with Ødegaard’s camera antics.

British pundit Jamie Carragher poured cold water on the happy moment, saying on Sky Sports, “Just get down the tunnel! You’ve won a big game, you’ve got the three points, you’re back in the title race, just get down the tunnel. I’m being serious, honestly.”

But Carragher’s bitterness may have something to do with him having played for Liverpool his entire career before he retired and was smarting from the defeat.

MacFarlane appeared to acknowledge Carragher’s comments in a post to his Instagram account on which the most liked comment was someone’s request for him to post the photo Ødegaard took of the photographer.

“That was such a wholesome exchange,” wrote one fan. “Always a pleasure watching you and your great relationship with the team Stu!”

Image credits: Sky Sports

February 05, 2024

Lead ImageEileen Perrier, ‘Untitled’ from the series Afro Hair and Beauty Show, 1998, from Shining Lights by Joy Gregory (ed.) (MACK, 2024)Courtesy of the artist and MACK

Shining Lights: Black Women Photographers in 1980s-90s Britain brings together work by an “important and long-overlooked generation of artists”, says editor Joy Gregory. By highlighting the practices of these 57 photographers, many of whom are now in their 60s and 70s, Gregory hopes to give due recognition to an important chapter in the history of photography while helping others today to feel “empowered to pursue their dreams”.

The book is split into themed chapters filled with portfolios on individual photographers, testimonies, essays, and ‘roundtable discussions’. Its pluralistic approach was purposefully devised, with Gregory and associate editor Taous Dahmani striving to make the book a work of collaboration that truthfully reflected the photographers’ perspectives.

“As Black women we have constantly endured other people telling our stories or explaining to us what we mean. Voice is an essential aspect of this book, because for decades we have not been heard,” Gregory writes.

Among the book’s 57 featured photographers is Gregory herself, whose contribution to this period is relayed in the foreword written by fellow artist Sonia Boyce. The two met at the opening of the very first exhibition held by Autograph – also co-publisher of the book – in 1990. “Her relation to the camera – the mechanical eye –seemed to reflect surveillance, self-fashioning, and poetry,” Boyce writes.

Explaining the backdrop to the chosen period, Boyce says that the “groundswell of creative expression” during the 1970s, combined with the critical analysis of photography as a medium, laid some of the foundations for the following decades. But it appears that, more than anything else, this generation of artists was prolific thanks to the formal and informal networks established by the photographers themselves, from cooperatives to magazine publishing.

The book itself is the product of a journey dating back some 35 years, when Gregory and the late publisher Araba Mercer set about creating an anthology of Black women photographers, before their progress was curtailed by costs.

“The main inspiration for Araba and myself back in 1987 was the absence of books that showed our pictures and told our stories. Making this book has been a continuation of that DIY culture because today there is still nothing on the shelves and little included in the tomes compiled by experts beyond the same four or five repeated names,” Gregory writes.

“It has truly been a labour of love to address this unwritten story that should have always been a major chapter of late-20th-century British photographic history.”

Shining Lights: Black Women Photographers in 1980s–90s Britain by Joy Gregory is published by Mack and Autograph; mackbooks.co.uk