sully = ra.sullivan

NEW BLOG

2010-03-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

I am closing this blog to start a new one on a different site. I have transferred all of these posts to my new blog @ http://rasphoto.wordpress.com
see you there!

Help me choose a new logo

2010-02-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!!! 3rd and final round of voting. There has been lots of great input so far and down to the final 5. Only 2 original logos have made it to this point a few new additions. My newest website is imminent, with any luck (and enough snow to keep me inside) it will be done this week!!! Lets see which one wins.
This is my first attempt at crowd sourcing, lets have it pay off.
Please let me know which is your favorite.
And again thanks for all of the input.
-Sully

Camera iPhone Apps and unexpected down time.

2009-09-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

What to do with a last minute reschedule for a job out of town?
I am ripping down part of my front porch, need a new head shot of myself, do some marketing and maybe do my taxes finally. Basically do my back burner to do list.
I counted the other day and I have some where between 15 and 20 camera applications for my iPhone. Some are ok, some I have uninstalled right after I install them for whatever reason. Most do nothing special or take too long to work, or my favorite of all is crash my phone!
I have found one that is worth to money hands down and of course it comes from another photographer.
So I have been following Chase Jarvis's blog for a while and a few days ago he released (or rather Apple approved) an iPhone app that is really the only application that I think that most people need (including myself). Very comprehensive, well designed, solid and damn quick. Here is a link to his posting about the application: Chase Jarvis Blog
I have been playing with the app this morning and can say that not only is it one of the best I have ever used it deserves placement as one of the very few that is on my "home page" of my iPhone.
I promise to post my new head shot as soon as I do one that I like.
talk soon.
-S

Dog days of Summer, and I'm the old dog on the porch.

2009-09-08T07:36:00.000-07:00

I have taken too long to get to posting. The weather is too nice to want to work. Must make the cash now that it is coming to an end.
I sent out 1/3 of the post cards so far (no response as of yet)and have finally gotten some input from a few Art Directors that I know. Need to do 2 to 4 new shots to round out the project and make the spy thing a little less about guns.
It sounds weird but I am having trouble figuring out which backgrounds to use in the big explosion photo that I am working on. I think I am settling on a random garden in St. Petersburg. Even though it is just in the computer the the explosion will happen I don't want to pick too much of a specific background. The down side is that the back ground is then just random and not notable.
Sorry for the ramblings sun must have fried my brain.

Almost there!!!

2009-06-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have just sent off for the final piece of my first big mailing. I hope to ship out my first wave in about a week to two at the most. Project RASP is so close to done!!!!
As soon as I have everything ready I will add a picture of it to this post.
Talk soon
-S

What to do in the down time

2009-05-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sitting in front of my computer yesterday talking to my girlfriend Alexis I decided to start a food photography portfolio. OK first off I have often thought about combining two of my favorite things photography and food. Here are a few of my shots from last night. I must extend a big thank you to both of my helpers from last night Holly Wells and Holland Harper. They both helped me with styling and eating of the props. I thank you and my waist line thanks you very much. I hope to add this new book to my website by the end of next month. The goodies were purchased at a local sweets shop down the road called "Pastries by Randolph".

Preakness

2009-05-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended my first horse race.
My Aunt and I really lucked out with with getting as close to the finish line as we did. Perfect for pictures. I am including two shots from the day starting with my favorite shot of the day. It is right after Calvin Borel riding Rachel Alexandra to victory in the 134th Preakness.

The other shot is of Rachel Alexandra about to cross the finish line with no other horse in frame.

My new goal for next year is to be at the 135th Preakness with press passes and at least 2 remote cameras set up. I really like shooting sports, it is completely different than my usual day. Talk to you soon.
-sully

Almost done with new portfolio

2009-03-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

Well it has been 3 time the projected time line but I know that the finished product is much better. My new style has defiantly come through. Below is a new shots to add to my book, and personally it is my favorite.

Portfolio in progress

2009-02-02T15:12:00.001-08:00

To continue the progress of my portfolio here is a small update.
All of the Spy vs. Spy series will be just like the first shot. Turning day into night had defiantly proved to be a bit of a challenge. At the moment I think that the final series will be a total of 9 full spreads in graphic novel style and yes complete with thought bubbles to help the story along. I am still working on the final story line, but all of the shots have been shot and in progress. I would love to hear any comments. Talk to you soon.

Spaso House and the US Ambassador

2009-01-14T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hi all from cold cold Moscow.

A few days ago I was given the opportunity to meet the US Ambassador to Russia as well as visit and photograph the Ambassador's residence.

This is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been in let alone getting to photograph. I hope to return and photograph Spaso House again when the weather is better (it was 10F on the day I did these shots). Above is one of my favorite photos I took on this trip. I return to DC in just a few days and I know that I will be booking my next tickets abroad very soon.
Talk to you all soon
-sully

From Russia with Love

2009-01-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

Hi all, I have been slow to post anything from my winter getaway to Moscow. I have been here almost 2 weeks and I still don't think that it is cold enough. Do you hear that I DON'T THINK IT IS COLD ENOUGH. Granted Alexis and I are here in Red Square in front of St. Basil's Cathedral in about 4 layers of clothing just so our toes don't freeze. Everyone needs to come here during the winter, it is just beautiful and fireworks for no real reason. I do suggest that you spend new years eve here great parties. O.K. now I am rambling, to sum it up this place is beautiful and fun and the love of my life is currently living here for the next year and a half. I know that my trip is more than half over but I know that I will be booking my return tickets soon!!!!

2008-10-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is first of the series, more to come.
All of the shots in my up and coming portfolio will be like this shot. This shot started in two major parts which I am showing below.

A Brand New Portfolio!!!

2008-10-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to overhaul my portfolios for the longest time and decided it was high time to do so.
This is the beginning of my new fashion book.
I utilized my time during my recent trip to Russia to inspire what direction to take my new portfolio in. While in the past I have chosen to shoot for my portfolio to have stand alone images, I have decided to move on to more of an "editorial story" style. I really want to move to telling a cohesive story.
All of these shots (click here) were shot either in Moscow or St. Petersburg while on vacation. While looking at these shots please keep in mind that I am almost half way through retouching and re-lighting these backgrounds. In some of the shots you might notice that there are red blocks, this is where I am planning on "stripping" models into the shots. Right now I am in the casting process for the models. Also I am splitting my book into two separate "stories". First (the first 8 shots) is currently titled "Tryst" a story about a romantic meeting. The second (the remainder of the shots and 2 more to come) is currently titled "Rendezvous" more of a 1950's style narrative of a spy story with updated clothing styles, very dark but full of small details in the shadows. I really want to explore both of these stories to their fullest potential. Please check back later to see this portfolio's growth.

HDR - try it you might like & a small rant on RAW

2008-10-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

First off Russia rocks! It is my first trip abroad and I loved it, can't wait to go back for many reasons most of which is my girlfriend Alexis just moved there. I miss her so much I have already bought tickets to go back. Creatively, the country did provide me a breath of fresh air (and motivation) that I was missing here.

More pictures to follow as soon as I have time to work on them (and will be viewable at the link above, just not yet).

When most people go on vacation and look at the nasty local weather report (thick cloud cover and 40 degrees F) they generally get a bit bummed. No bright sunny days walking around enjoying the sights and getting to experience the absolutely best that the place has to offer. Well that cloud cover provides that best soft-box any photographer could hope for not to mention adding quite a bit of drama to any shot as above. So when out and about remember what you see with your eye on a bad day could be made better with a camera and some playing around with exposure

As far as HDR goes I see it as another possible tool in the digital darkroom tool box. As the small movement in advertising explored high dynamic range photography I have a need to learn the how and why of the process. Using Photomatrix and some burning and dodging in Photoshop is all I did with the shot above. being able to blend the high lights and the shadows a lot easier and with out having to do too much extra work. I do have to suggest that anyone who wants to work with HDR, do not bother to use it unless you are willing to shoot in RAW. Shooting in RAW makes a huge difference when it comes to this process.
In fact, it is my opinion that shooting in anything else but RAW, unless they are just party pictures just for fun and you are an amateur and want to stay that way, it is just not a good idea. I know a few Professional Photographers that just don't get why to shoot RAW. Come on!!! Let me make it simple...
In the realm of covering all of the zones of exposure in a single shot JPG = slide film as is RAW = negative film + 4 stops (for those of you at home that would be 11 stops between the high lights and the shadows). Color... JPG = 256 box of crayons as does RAW = 16 million color box of crayons, OK that one was an exaggeration, but it still is a huge difference. Soapbox done!

Last tip before leaving

2008-09-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

My last tip before leaving for Moscow to visit Alexis.
While shooting a job at the Washington DC convention center, I just looked up.
I know how profound!
However, looking up can get rid of your own horizon line cause a bit of disorientation and above all else it allows you to edit out. Gotta run and get more stuff done for my trip, lots of last minute things to tie up. try to post something while I am gone.

Artist vs. Technician

2008-07-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

I recently asked another photographer to critique my portfolio (something I do at least once a year). I always choose to ask a colleague, who I work with or have a great deal of respect for, usually a fellow commercial photographer. This time I asked Peter Garfield a local commercial photographer and art photographer who I assist from time to time. His take on my current portfolio is that yes I know the rules of exposure proportion and composition... now i need to break all of them (as well as other great suggestions). I have taken a couple of weeks to meditate on what he said.

What I have come understand is that I have, for the past few years now, been a technician more than an artist.

The difference between an Artist and a Technician is vision... The choice that must be made is whether or not you dedicate yourself to your personal vision or just shoot what is in front of you obeying all of the rules that classes, books and lectures beat into you.

Yazi Vodka 1 light test

2008-07-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Trying to light like a college student (on the cheap) becomes a zen how to project for me. I love taking the most basic materials to make striking images. For instance, this shot is lit with 1 light and duct tape(the type you would use to repair AC duct work)and a makeup mirror . I thought that foam board made cheap reflectors, this duct tape I just don't feel bad about throwing out after I'm done with it. 3 or 4 pieces of tape bent and crinkled to order for just this shot. for what less than .50. It really is shots like this that remind me that my motto for photography (much like the rest of life)"think like a poor college student" still holds true even after being out of class for nearly 10 years now.

A quick intro

2008-06-11T17:55:00.001-07:00

Please concider this a humble intro to me, my life, and my work. I am a photographer but not much of a author, so please bare with me.

As a photographer in a place (Washington DC) with such history happening all the time, I am fortunate to have access to a wide varity of experiences. My career alows me access to some of the most humble and gracious people to the most powerful people in the world. The goal of this blog is to share with my friends (and anyone who wishes to read) some of the experiences (and photographs) that I had working in this very interesting part of the world. My plan is to update this page at least once a month. I hope to share with you some samples of my work more often than my web page gets updated. For the time being visit my website for a sampling of my work: www.sullyphoto.com

Talk to you soon.

-sully