It has been a little over two years since photographer Clark Schiring set up shop on Main Street in Frisco, and the community has embraced and supported his vision by naming him Best Artist in Summit County and a finalist for Best Professional Photographer. Prior to becoming a photographer roughly 12 years ago, the Nebraska native worked in the construction industry.

Schiring has enjoyed the medium of photography since he was young. However, the hobby initially frustrated him when he couldn’t get his vision to match what the lens captured. He started with a beginner’s guide to photography from a Barnes & Noble bookstore to teach himself how to take better photos. 

He wanted his hobby to become a career, so he studied under Jeffrey Rupp at the Denver School of Photography and took workshops from National Geographic’s Ira Block. Schiring enjoys taking dramatic, stimulating images that highlight the world, though he has a particular affinity for Summit County. To him, the photos aren’t fully finished until they’re mounted and framed on a wall.

Schiring previously split his time between Denver and Frisco, but he and his wife have lived in Frisco full-time since 2021.

“Seeing how much this community supports its local businesses is a really encouraging breath of fresh air,” Schiring said. “It is definitely different from living in a big city such as Denver. … It is very warm and welcoming.”

His gallery has expanded beyond showcasing his own work and now includes other artists. He also hosts workshops designed to help beginners on their journey or assist seasoned photographers in finding new vantage points.

“It’s tailored to whatever the guest wants to do,” Schiring said.

People can see Schiring’s work in person at his gallery, Wilderness Exclusives at 720 E. Main St., Suite 102A in Frisco. He enjoys spending time with customers and chatting, as well as helping them select a memento that represents their home or vacation.

Wilderness Exclusives is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. His work can also be viewed at WildernessExclusives.com.

This story previously published in the Best of Summit guide. See complete results at SummitDaily.com/bestofsummit.

The Danish photographer Bent Rej made a name for himself as an artist comfortable on the liberated side of life as a 25-year-old when a newspaper editor sent him to cover The Rolling Stones on the Scandinavian and German legs of their 1965 tour. This was the proverbial deep-end of counterculture photography, but with his quirky moustache and undeniable ability to cling to his talent amid the tumult of hedonist upheaval, he not or swam, he shouldered out a space for himself as one of the foremost culture photographers in the game.

One of the core tenets of his success was simple coolness. Cool is a much-maligned word by the cynics of this world, who think that it implies a level of vapidity. However, the timeless swagger that seeps out of Rej’s snaps is a profound middle finger in their direction. His empowering pictures display a perfect eye for showcasing the zeitgeist at its most crystalline. They make sure that the personality of the individual shines through, imbuing them with an aura of endowing bluster.

So, thanks to his experience photographing the likes of Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, The Faces and Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s, when FIAT reached out to him for their erotic calendar in the 1970s, he knew how to ensure the models had their say in how they came across. There is no voyeurism or objectification in these snaps, just a liberated sense of sexiness being celebrated from both ends of the lens. 

Above that, there is also a palpable sense of fun on display. This stretches over the wry portfolio description that the daughters of the late photographer have applied to his Pin-ups collection: “Some of the biggest Danish models of that time, and a lot of beautiful faces. Commercial assignment for FIAT car calendar back in the 1970s. Not the worst we imagine.”

In an era when the likes of Helmut Newton were quipping: “There must be a certain look of availability in the women I photograph. I think the woman who gives the appearance of being available is sexually much more exciting than a woman who’s completely distant. This sense of availability I find erotic.” There is something refreshingly reversed about that in Rej’s empowering and liberated snaps.

In the rock ‘n’ roll world, he was there to observe the skill of the performers and capture the intimate moments. It is a great credit to his work that he continued the same ethos over to a field where those norms are sometimes problematically reversed. In some ways, while music might have been his mainstay, this makes this rare commercial effort among his most definitive. 

Shutterfest stands out as my favorite photography conference to attend each year! As I write this, I am wrapping up day three of the affair. I always look forward to the various workshops, lectures, and unique experiences available throughout this fun-filled event like no other.

I’d like to take a moment to recap some of the main highlights of the event. The event included many wonderful learning opportunities led by some of the biggest names in the industry. The workshops covered a diverse range of topics, including wedding portraits, posing, color gels, lighting, boudoir photography, and much more. 

Shutterfest 2023 really put the fun back into conferences! It was designed to provide a focused, unique, networking (F.U.N.) event for photographers and other industry professionals. Here’s a closer look at each element.

Focused: Workshops and Lectures for Mastering Your Craft

One of the main reasons I anticipate Shutterfest each year is the wide variety of workshops and lectures available. I can really concentrate on the skills I need now. The focused approach to learning guarantees that I always leave Shutterfest learning something new.

The lineup of learning opportunities covered every photography genre and included advice from top industry speakers. Some of the biggest names to attend include, but were not limited to, Gary Box, Ray Alvarez, Miguel Quiles, Ralph Nogal, Michael Anthony, Ning Wong, Peter Hurley, Tanya Smith, Scott Detweiler, and the host of the festival, Sal Cincotta. 

Shutterfest attracted dozens of respected photographers and professionals who shared knowledge and experience. It’s a perfect chance for photographers of all levels to learn from some of the top people in the photography industry. 

The event was full of hands-on learning opportunities. Workshops included the chance to experiment with new equipment. Some lectures and workshops even included live demonstrations. 

The carefully curated selection of classes and lectures provided the opportunity to hone our craft. Over three days, photographers of all experience levels got to pick up new skills and techniques.

Unique: How Shutterfest Breaks the Mold

Shutterfest always leaves a lasting impression thanks to its unique approach to photography events. Unlike other events, there is more of a focus on hands-on and live demonstration. It’s a conference that has moved past just focusing on just PowerPoint presentations.

Along with demonstrations and hands-on classes, Shutterfest included two programs with on-site models. This is what really sets the event apart! The Rent-a-Human (RAH) program and the unofficial After-Hours programs both offered the chance to photograph live models and put what we just learned into practice. The models come with wardrobe, hair, and makeup! If you are up for it, after-hours shoots can go on until 3 o’clock in the morning!

The combination of live photo shoots, expert speakers, and various creative experiences set it apart from other photography conferences that I’ve attended. 

The RAH program allows photographers to shoot professional models and build their portfolios. It was completely free to use and involved working in groups of two to five photographers. Shutterfest also had over 250 models on site. It was a massive portfolio-building opportunity.

The After-Hours shoots were provided to let photographers think outside the box and experiment with shooting at different times of the day, evening, and late hours of the night. Many of the models were available for these after-hours shoots. 

These programs were another example of how Shutterfest aims to inspire photographers. The organizers of the event want us to get outside of our comfort zone and start creating original work that stands apart from everything else out there.

Networking: Connect and Collaborate With Other Professionals

Throughout the event, I got the chance to work closely with others in my chosen profession. It’s a rare chance to connect with professionals and build more relationships in the industry. Along with photographers, we interacted with a wide range of models, vendors, and other professionals.

Shutterfest includes a strong emphasis on networking. The event included numerous networking opportunities, including parties. However, one of the best parts was the chance to team up with other photographers to shoot models. We also got to meet vendors to learn about new equipment and techniques.

Photography is often a relatively solitary profession, even when shooting models and other subjects. It’s fun to connect with other photographers and talk shop. Discussing our tools of the trade and sharing our approaches to photography was inspiring.

The entire three-day event had a collaborative feel. Everyone freely shared advice and their work, providing the chance to expose ourselves to new ideas and photography concepts. I believe I made quite a few professional connections and, hopefully, several lifelong relationships. 

Conclusion

Shutterfest 2023 was another fantastic experience and more than just another photography event. It was the chance for a community to come together and celebrate the fun-damentals of photography. I loved every minute, from the focused lectures and workshops to unique experiences and networking opportunities.

Attending Shutterfest is a great way for photographers to take their careers to the next level. You can connect with others and learn from experts. 

Whether you’ve visited Shutterfest before, I highly recommend adding Shutterfest 2024 to your calendar next year. It’s sure to be another outstanding opportunity for photographers to share their work and meet like-minded individuals. As a maternity photographer, I have certainly learned a lot that I will take back to my business.

So, what are your thoughts on Shutterfest? Did you make it to Shutterfest 2023 or any of the past festivals? What is your favorite conference and why? Don’t forget to plan for Shutterfest 2024 as well, as they have an early bird special.

I’d love to hear what you think about Shutterfest. Feel free to share your thoughts or experiences in the comment section below. 

Universal Beijing Resort is banning and denying the access of unauthorized professional photographers who offer tourists at the resort photo-shoot service.

Recently, several freelance photographers who offer services to tourists inside Beijing Universal park posted on Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like app, that the park is removing the private photo-shoot service offered by professional photographers inside park.

“Starting from April 2, Universal park is taking action to prevent photographers from offering photo-shoot services inside the park, especially in the area of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And the specific action to prevent photo-shoot services is still unknown,” a photographer nicknamed She Ying Shi Xiao Yue posted on Xiaohongshu.

Many expressed their support over the park’s decision. “It is an amusement park, not a photo-shoot studio,” commented a Xiaohongshu user nicknamed Mu Zi De Li.

Some shared their visiting experience in the park saying that it seemed some visitors and their photographers were growing roots in some scenic spots inside the park, which affected their visiting experience and caused chaos, especially during peak hours.

“To be honest, it was very disturbing to see visitors posing in front of their photographers in the park, especially in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, whose passage is rather narrow and their posing activities just blocked other visitors,” a netizen Xiao Tai commented.

Some were against such ban, claiming that photo-shoot services were convenient to some tourists, especially when they were not good at taking photos.

“It was convenient to hire a photographer inside the park,” said a netizen Yi Zhi Chong Tian Tu Zi.

“I usually started at 10 am and worked for 6 or 7 hours at most a day. The price varies and the standard package is 200 yuan ($29) per hour, which is about over 30,000 yuan a month,” a freelance photographer told the China News Service, adding that reservations for the next week were full. Photographers like him usually have bought the park’s annual pass to enter the park everyday.

However, the ban caught freelance photographers like him unprepared. Several photographers posted online that they were barred from taking photos as they were familiar faces to workers of the park.

The ban was for the copyright and, most importantly, to protect the interests of visitors, especially with the peak season soon arriving and many visitors having already complained online about the photo-shoot services disturbing regular visiting and the photography of regular visitors, a worker from the park told Beijing Youth Daily.

When asked why freelance photo-shoot services were banned, a customer service representative with Universal Beijing Resort told the China News Service that photo-shoot services offered by freelancers have always been forbidden inside the park.

According to the park rules: photography, videotaping, audio recording or live streaming of any kind are strictly prohibited, except for personal and non-commercial purposes.

Visitors can take photos either with their cameras or phones, the customer service representative added.

As for the photography needs of some visitors, the park offers authorized photography services that cost 388 yuan, which takes photos for customers in various hot spots throughout the park.

However, when asked how to distinguish a freelance photographer from a tourist, the customer service representative was not clear about the criteria.

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It’s five years since the Asheville Citizen-Times ran the memorable headline: “Bear trapped in car busts out window, enters kitchen, eats muffin mix, skedaddles”. Since then, residents of the North Carolina city – population 94,500 – have become ever more used to living with black bears in their midst. There are up to 6,000 bears in the western part of North Carolina and as their natural woodland habitat is encroached upon by housing, some have adopted more urban ways of life.

The photographer Corey Arnold took this picture with a fixed camera at the back of a house where the family are used to seeing young bears share their kids’ rope swing. The picture is part of Arnold’s series Cities Gone Wild, shortlisted for a Sony world photography award. The series focuses on the obverse of the usual narrative of animal habitats destroyed by human activity, looking at those species that have adapted well to city living. A recent study of Asheville’s younger bears found that they were twice as heavy and produced their first cubs two years before their rural cousins, a result of the high-calorie diet they had learned to forage from rubbish bins.

Attacks on humans are rare and Asheville citizens are mostly “bearwise”: not putting bird feeders out – bears love nuts – and cleaning up after barbecues and picnics. The notable instances of bears entering cars or kitchens in Asheville can usually be traced to a resident habitually feeding the animals, which makes them more defensive and territorial in a particular area. The headline-making Citizen-Times bear was inadvertently trapped in a van after a woman left its doors unlocked. Once released it wandered into a neighbour’s kitchen and found the muffin mix in a drawer. Some of Asheville’s bears, a conservationist inevitably noted at the time, “are smarter than the average bear”.

• Corey Arnold’s Cities Gone Wild series is shortlisted in the Sony world photography awards 2023. An exhibition of the photographs is at Somerset House, London, 14 April-1 May

Jos Avery was given a camera almost four decades ago, sparking a lifelong fascination with photography.

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But last September he found a new creative outlet, one that led him to deceive thousands of people: the artificial intelligence program Midjourney, which generates wild and wonderful images from brief text instructions.

“Soon after starting with Midjourney, I became obsessed with the creative possibilities,” Mr. Avery told AFP.

Midjourney and rivals like DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion generate unique pictures by mashing up a vast back catalogue of images they have been “trained” on.

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For Mr. Avery, a 48-year-old software engineer and lawyer by training from Virginia in the United States, Midjourney was liberating.

He said it allowed him to create beautiful art without needing to tackle his own social anxieties.

“Then I started to wonder if I could make AI images that could pass for photographs,” he said.

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This led to his fateful experiment: He started an Instagram account to house his Midjourney output, without being entirely upfront about the origins of the images.

“At the beginning, I don’t think many people thought the images were photographs,” he said. “The eyes and skin were unrealistic.”

He fixed these glitches with a dose of Adobe Photoshop, eventually populating his Instagram feed with stunning and stark portraits of beautiful — but unreal — people.

More users flocked to his feed, and more of them began to think the images were genuine.

“People would ask in the comments about my camera and lens equipment,” he said.

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“I’d respond with the equipment I actually use for real photos or equipment I had included as part of the prompt.”

He admits his answers were “misleading” since they suggested he had used his gear to create those specific images.

Yet he just got deeper into the deception, spending hours choosing and editing images to boost the realism and deleting earlier efforts that were more obviously AI-generated.

His follower count was rising rapidly, so the experiment was a success.

But he was struggling to maintain the facade.

‘Misleading’

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“It grew far beyond my expectations,” Avery said.

“The followers and my misleading answers made me feel uneasy, and I had trouble sleeping at night.”

He eventually told the specialist website Ars Technica what he had done, added a mention of AI to his Instagram biography and started to give honest answers to his followers.

“I’ve slept a lot better since then,” he said.

Although he did get some abuse – “I had to block about 30 people” – he said the reaction overall was positive, and his Instagram account, now with almost 40,000 followers, is still growing.

These days he populates it with both real photography and clearly labelled images generated from Midjourney.

He said the AI tool has been hugely beneficial, helping him discover a love for portrait photography.

But the downside is that once again he isn’t sleeping so well – he stays up all night creating images on Midjourney.

Jos Avery said the AI tool has been hugely beneficial

Paris:

Jos Avery was given a camera almost four decades ago, sparking a lifelong fascination with photography.

But last September he found a new creative outlet, one that led him to deceive thousands of people: the artificial intelligence program Midjourney, which generates wild and wonderful images from brief text instructions.

“Soon after starting with Midjourney, I became obsessed with the creative possibilities,” Avery told AFP.

Midjourney and rivals like DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion generate unique pictures by mashing up a vast back catalogue of images they have been “trained” on.

For Avery, a 48-year-old software engineer and lawyer by training from Virginia in the United States, Midjourney was liberating.

He said it allowed him to create beautiful art without needing to tackle his own social anxieties.

“Then I started to wonder if I could make AI images that could pass for photographs,” he said.

This led to his fateful experiment: He started an Instagram account to house his Midjourney output, without being entirely upfront about the origins of the images.

– ‘Misleading’ –

“At the beginning, I don’t think many people thought the images were photographs,” he said. “The eyes and skin were unrealistic.”

He fixed these glitches with a dose of Adobe Photoshop, eventually populating his Instagram feed with stunning and stark portraits of beautiful — but unreal — people.

More users flocked to his feed, and more of them began to think the images were genuine.

“People would ask in the comments about my camera and lens equipment,” he said.

“I’d respond with the equipment I actually use for real photos or equipment I had included as part of the prompt.”

He admits his answers were “misleading” since they suggested he had used his gear to create those specific images.

Yet he just got deeper into the deception, spending hours choosing and editing images to boost the realism and deleting earlier efforts that were more obviously AI-generated.

His follower count was rising rapidly, so the experiment was a success.

But he was struggling to maintain the facade.

– Losing sleep –

“It grew far beyond my expectations,” Avery said.

“The followers and my misleading answers made me feel uneasy, and I had trouble sleeping at night.”

He eventually told the specialist website Ars Technica what he had done, added a mention of AI to his Instagram biography and started to give honest answers to his followers.

“I’ve slept a lot better since then,” he said.

Although he did get some abuse — “I had to block about 30 people” — he said the reaction overall was positive, and his Instagram account, now with almost 40,000 followers, is still growing.

These days he populates it with both real photography and clearly labelled images generated from Midjourney.

He said the AI tool has been hugely beneficial, helping him discover a love for portrait photography.

But the downside is that once again he isn’t sleeping so well — he stays up all night creating images on Midjourney.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)