Scott Kelby Can Poster!

I huge thanks goes to Ross Bushong for designing the Top Ten Scott Kelby Can poster! As always Ross, great job. Many thanks to everyone that contribute their ideas and jokes. I know it meant a lot to Scott and it was a fun project for me. Also want to thank SGA for graciously supplying the prints.

Top 10 Scott Kelby Can

10 Rob H Scott Kelby doesn’t use strobes; the brilliance coming from his mind can illuminate any scenario you may encounter.

9 Rob Sylvan Scott Kelby can save JPGs with lossless compression. None of the data wants to leave the photo.

8 William Beem Scott Kelby doesn’t use VR because he shakes. Everything else around him shakes.

7  chris Scott Kelby naturally sees the world in HDR

6  Alan Hess Scott Kelby doesn’t need to set the White Balance, the light will change to whatever he needs.

5  Michael White Scott Kelby doesn’t use a memory card, the photos store directly in his brain and then are transferred to his compute through thought when he feels like it.

4  Charles Dee Rice Scott Kelby never adjusts his camera’s shutter speed. Time stands still for as long as he leaves the shutter open.

3  Jeff Tamagini Scott Kelby can wirelessly trigger the sun

2  Rebecca Fryer When Scott Kelby does a 360 Panorama he doesn’t use a tripod the world rotates around him.

1  Charles Dee Rice Scott Kelby is the only photographer capable of photographing Chuck Norris delivering a round-house kick… to the camera.

One Project Four Great Resources

First let me explain my inspiration for this post. I will be attending a special NAPP Safari with two great Photoshop World instructors, Moose Peterson and Joe McNally. I can’t tell you where we will be shooting, but I can say it falls in the line with street photography. So the project is STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

With that being said, here was my thought process. Street photography made me think of Sandy Foster, who’s street photography images are stunning. Which made me think she needs to get signed model release forms which reminded me of a class Jack Reznicki and Ed Greenberg taught on model release forms. That made me download Jack and Ed’s simple model release form which made me think of a post Larry Becker did on “Invite Models to Your Pad”. The pad being your model release forms made into a pad from an office supply company. While editing the form in Adobe Indesign, I thought of a class Terry White did at Photoshop World that taught us how to use conditional text so the forms can be changed on the fly. Now you have a glimpse of what’s inside Vanelli’s  head when he prepares for a project!

So to recap before I explain what I did… Street photographers (Sandy Foster) need model release forms (Jack Reznicki and Ed Greenberg), and it would be convenient to have the forms on a pad (Larry Becker) that can be designed (Terry White) so other photographers could use them too! Whew that was a lot of thought to prepare for one photography class (Joe McNally and Moose Peterson).

The Model Release form

Jack and Ed drilled into our heads the importance of  having a signed release form. Even if you don’t think you are going to use the images in the future, it’s a great safety net that can protect you if you change your mind. I am not a lawyer, so the best advice I can give you is to take their class or watch it on Kelby Training.com. This way you are getting first hand information. I asked Jack if I could share the Limited Model Release form and he was more than happy to let me share it with you.  Keep in mind, this is a generic form. Each state has their own laws.

Limited Model Release

I give Robert Louis Vanelli (“Photographer”) and designees and those acting with Photographer’s authority permission to use the photographs created or made on _____________ for the sole purpose of fine art gallery shows and exhibits, photography books and video tutorials, and for use in photographer’s portfolio, self-promotion, lectures, and books.

I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished images, or other printed matter that may be used in connection therewith. Except as stated above, I do not give permission for the use of my name or said photographs for the purpose of advertising or endorsing any goods or services.

Model acknowledges that he/she has read this release and has received a copy of this release.

_______________________________________         _______________________________________
Model’s Name                                                                                    Model’s Signature

_______________________________________         _______________________________________
Address                                                                                                Date

_______________________________________         _______________________________________
Witness Signature                                                                            Witness Address

If you plan to use this form, please send Jack and Ed a simple thank you email.

Designing the form

I wanted to keep the form small enough to carry in my bag yet big enough for the model to fill out. I chose to use legal size; 8.5 x 14, paper and print 4 to a sheet. The final form size is 6.5 x 3.75. Using concepts from Terry White’s conditional text tutorial, I made the Photographer’s name, address and phone number conditional text. Now I can print the form for other photographers without changing my design.

Creating the Pad

Larry Becker’s post, “Invite Models to your Pad” gives great advice about creating a pad for your model release forms. After reading it, I went to Staples to have them make a pad for me. The only problem, Staples has a 3 day turn around. I called Office Depot and they have a one day turn around. My last call was to Kinkos. They have a 4hr turnaround! I went there and the staff was great. I explained what I needed and they suggested an alternative option. For 30 cents a sheet they can print the form on a carbon paper. At first this sounded expensive but then I realized I’m printing 4 forms to a sheet. The cost would be $5.00 for a total of 80 forms or 6 cents a form. The downside, the forms would be individual not a pad. I decided to stick with my original plan  and have them make a pad for me. The cost is about $9.00.

Street Photography

I can’t wait to go on the NAPP Photo Safari with Moose and Joe. I really can’t post anything on the actual shoot until we go. Look for my review later in the week.

Moral of the Post

Integrate lessons you are taught by different instructors!

Outer Banks North Carolina

The trip is going great! We’ll post class notes and a record of the days events. Our internet connection isn’t the greatest here.

Photo Gallery

Eyes still twinkle after 53 years

Kevin, a buddy of mine asked if I could help him photograph a Civil Air Patrol Wing command banquet. I figured sure, why not he’s a great guy. You’ll meet him at Photoshop World in Orlando in a few weeks and I’m sure you’ll agree. The only problem, I didn’t realize the event was the night before Vacation with Vanelli in North Carolina!

I rushed to get most of my projects done throughout the week. After packing for both events, I high tailed it to Orlando for the banquet that started at 6pm.. My mind was going a mile a minute thinking of the unfinished projects I had. I also dreaded t he 13.5 hour drive ahead of me that was going to start at 2am. I forced my mind to be still and focused on the event and how I wanted to compose the shots.

I set my lighting, dealt with on location dilemmas and made a few last minute flexible changes. I was feeling a bit like Joe McNally! The point I’m making; lots of chaos!
In the mist of all this turmoil, I spotted this couple looking at each other as if they were on their first date. When he spoke, she just smiled and held his arm tight. He was so proud to introduce her to anyone passing by. The banquet was about to start in 30 minutes so the staff didn’t have time to stop and chat. I was rushing myself. Then I thought of a favorite saying I have hanging on my wall.

“There is always music in the forest, but your heart must be quiet to hear it.”

I smiled at the adoring couple and asked his permission to lead his lovely bride of 52 years to my camera. His face gleamed like a little schoolboy. They stayed with me and posed for several shots as I tweaked my lighting. This was my favorite shot of the night.

When I finished the shoot, I torn down my lighting equipment and took the 1 hour drive back to Melbourne to get ready for my trip to North Carolina. Smiling all the way home, I thanked the big guy for giving me the opportunity to capture a moment in time that will live in my memory and now on my wall.

A good deed and a mystery woman

This is an interesting story I just had to share. It’s all about a good deed and a mystery woman. Why am I including this in a blog post? I’m from the school of thought, everything happens for a reason and the reason results in teachable moments.

On my way home from work, I picked Alec up from youth group where he attends with his girlfriend Cindy. He asked what we were gonna eat. Told him it was up to him to pick and off we drove.

The conversation went back and forth on where we should go and then Mike Kubeisy called. I took the call and without realizing it, ended up at a Chinese restaurant.  Finishing up the conversation in a the parking lot with Mike, Alec said dad you can’t eat here your still sick. I gave him the “just one more minute” look and told Kubeisy I’d call him later tonight. I apologized to Alec for taking the call and interrupting our conversation. Alec said no problem besides he wasn’t really that hungry he was just trying to figure out what I should eat. He took care of me all weekend when I was sick. He said he can make something at home for us. We drove to Publix, our local grocery store.

Heading into the store I noticed a sushi place. I said hey Alec do you see what I see. The smile on his face told me, “Hey I’m not that hungry but I always have room for sushi!“. He’s been eating it since he was 3 years old. Now here’s where the repayment of the good deed comes in. I said lets go!

I figured this would be a good place we can sit and talk; father son bonding time. Plus I’d be gone for a week teaching a workshop. Now the mystery woman enters the story. We see a woman rushing to the sushi door, we jokingly speed up trying to beat her to the door. She’s there way before us. Standing in line we could see she was stressed out. We both joked with her on how fast she sprinted to the door and she deserves to be seated ahead of us. She looked at us, but no comment. She said to the hostess she has been driving back and forth looking for this place and she was a little flustered.  The hostess turns to us and goes to seat us. Walking  to our table, I said to the hostess she was here before us and she needs to be attended to first. Not really understanding, she motioned the woman and she headed back with us. Alec joked and said sure you can eat with us. The woman said I’m sorry I’ve been driving all night and headed back to the front. It was then we realized she was there for take out.

Alec and I had our usual comedy chat about the events of the day. How he thinks it’s funny the waitress hands us a warm wash cloth with tongs. About 10 minutes later the mystery woman walks back in the door. She walks over to us and apoligied for being rude. She explained she just drove in from Texas and was rushing back to bring her son food. Driving away she said she felt bad so she came back. We assured her she wasn’t rude at all and we understood. She gave me a hug and left.

A man sitting alone in the restaurant (yes we offered him to eat with us too) looked over and said unbelievable, how did you do that! Alec chimed back and said yeah he makes it look easy. Then another woman comes in and sits with the guy. He looks and me and said stay away and laughs. As he’s telling his date the story, Alec said what the heck every has girls coming in for them. I know he was wishing Cindy was coming in the door next!

This was a perfect teachable moment! I was able to share with Alec my favorite quote from Stephen Grellet. I read this when I was his age when my mother was sick with cancer. These are the words I wake up to everyday.

I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Alec witness me apologize to him for what I felt was rude taking a phone during our conversation and now he witness a mystery woman doing the same. Teachable moments are always around us!