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John Batdorff Photography

Reflecting in Yellowstone

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I have great affection for the West which is renewed with every trip I make to Montana. Even after 20 years of visiting Montana, I’m still caught off guard by it’s vastness and endless beauty. I never truly understood why people referred to Montana as Big Sky country until I saw it with my own eyes for the first time.

The large, open, mountain fields…

Big Sky Country

The sweeping vistas…

Montana Mountain Vistas

Montana Mountain Vistas

There are places, while in disrepair, feel as authentic and isolated as they probably did 100 years ago.

Old Ranches left vacant

Old Ranches left vacant

There’s a ruggedness to the land and the way people lived. Before “tiny home” became a buzzword,  a smaller homestead was a reality born of necessity.

Three Dollar Ranch Cabin

Three Dollar Ranch Cabin

Then there’s the  famous 3 Dollar Bridge in Madison County where I first learned to fly fish on the Madison River some 20 years ago with my best friend Monte.

Three Dollar Bridge, MT

Three Dollar Bridge, MT

But in the end what draws me back to Montana is Yellowstone National Park. It has an illusion of simplicity, but in reality nothing is simple in Yellowstone. It’s a complex ecosystem that pushes and pulls to find its balance.

Reflecting in Yellowstone

Reflecting in Yellowstone

It’s this balance that I envy as it serves as a reminder that my own creativity can only thrive when family, friends, and work are in balance.

A Town, a Man, and a Dog: Cairo, IL

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Abandoned building in Cairo, IL

Abandoned building in Cairo, IL

Staci and I have made it our routine to spin through Cairo, IL for just a few clicks of the shutter on our way back from our New Orleans workshop. Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and at the very southern tip of Illinois, Cairo was once a booming town rich from river trade and rail transportation. It began as a Civil War fort commanded by General Grant that post-war became known for it’s enormous Victorian Mansions and for the wealthy people who vacationed there. Cairo was the place to be in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But as the railroads began to build bridges that bypassed the city and and highways were laid down, Cairo’s river dependent economy began to shrink.

Oneof Cairo's historic Victorian mansions

Magnolia Manor: An Historic Victorian Mansion

In the 60’s Cairo gained national attention as riots broke out and a young black man was hanged in the middle of the town square by an angry mob. From the Civil War to it’s boom in 1920 through it’s downfall mid-century, Cairo’s history is defined by racial and economic tensions.

Downtown Cairo

Downtown Cairo

I didn’t know much about Cairo until a client and good friend recommended that we visit the area for its photographic opportunities. Being from a small town in northern Michigan, I’ve seen my fair share of boom and bust towns, but there is something unique about Cairo and it’s history that truly does draw you in. After doing some research on the area, I was hooked. I brought my Pentax 6×7 medium format film camera and put in some expired 120 Kodak Plus-X Pan ISO 125 Panchromatic Black & White Film 06/1984 to try and capture the feel of the town.

Donny and Shaky

Donny and Shaky

This year as we were strolling around, we had the pleasure of meeting Donny, a lifelong resident of Cairo. He’s a colorful character with a slight southern drawl and a real knack for telling stories. He was with his dog Shaky, a Jack Russell mix that he rescued from a yard in town. He named him for his constant tremors that are a result of being abused as a puppy. Of course I’m a sucker for a Jack Russell mix, and Shaky was every bit as witty and smart as you’d expect of a Jack.

Donny

Donny

We got to chatting and Donny shared memories with us of working the river boats that floated the Mississippi to New Orleans. “Every night I would get off that boat in New Orleans with $200 in my hand and return the next day broke. Drinking and women….those were good times!” Later in life Donny survived a gunshot wound to the head and as he tells it, “It was all about a girl.” Then a decade later he suffered a near fatal heart attack after hearing his previous dog was hit by a car.

Donny and Shaky

Donny and Shaky

I’ll admit, I can be a cynic at times which is probably due to the journalist-blood in me, but there was something that rang very true in Donny’s voice as he told us about his life. In the end, his story has been every bit as turbulent as that of the town he’s called home for 58 years. A town, a man, and his dog all getting by, each with stories of hardship and survival.

As I took my last photograph of Donny and Shaky with my Pentax, I said, “So is the wheelchair a result of the head shot or the heart attack?”  He looked back with a smile and said, “Oh, I can walk. I can even run — just not for long!”

I chuckled and he smiled. I told him I’d see him next spring. He said, “I’ll be here!”

New York City Redux

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Staci earns her wings

Staci earns her wings

Recently I’ve had a lot of new blog sign-ups, so I want to start of this blog by saying thank you for following! I hope you enjoy!

Last week I had the pleasure of sharing my Travel and Street Photography presentation with a great audience at B&H Photo in New York City. The group had a ton of excellent questions, so I thought I would share some of them here along with the video for those of you who couldn’t attend. The link to the video is below, so when you find time check it out, and YouTube Thumbs UP are always appreciated.

Q. How do I get faster with my camera?  

You should you know your camera intimately, which means knowing where the ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, and exposure compensation menus/buttons are located. To learn these things, you need to practice. Also, many “pro” photographers emphasize the need to shoot in manual, but I think this is greatly exaggerated. I shoot nearly all of my images using Aperture Priority or Shutter Speed priority. I find that many of my workshop attendees benefit from this advice and find themselves doing a better job of creating a solid composition when they’re not worried about the Exposure Triangle. When you’re out walking around, pre-set your camera with a proper exposure, so that when you see a shot you can just compose, focus, and shoot without having to adjust your exposure.

New York City Bus Depot

New York City Bus Depot

Q. Why do you use 35mm?

I think there are two schools of thought when it comes to prime lens selection: Those who love their 50mm and those who swear by a 35mm. I think of the 35mm as more of a journalistic lens; it allows me to capture more of the story. If I need to get tighter then I can always zoom in with my feet. Also, I find a 35mm is a slightly more versatile lens for landscapes, streetscapes, architecture, and especially environmental portraits. However, Staci loves her 50mm because of it’s beautiful bokeh and ability to get close the subject and focus on the details. There’s no right or wrong. What matters most is which lens helps you create your compositions. If you want a wider range then a great focal length for travel and street is photography is a 24-70mm.

 

Fancy fence

Fancy fence

Q. Do you need a model release to show us these photos? (Assumption being we’re talking about photos taken in public space in the United States.)

You NEED a model release when you plan on using images for commercial purposes (e.g. to sell products or services). If the person or property is clearly identifiable and the photo will be used to endorse a product or service then a model or property release is required.

You Do NOT need a model release if you plan on using your images on a blog, website, to sell prints, or for editorial purposes. Once again, model releases are only required for commercial purposes.

I cover these details, how a public space is defined, as well as more on libel in my Travel and Street book along with suggestions for easy and comprehensive model releases.

Forgotten

Forgotten

Q.  What types of filters do you use?

My absolute favorite filter is a Graduated Neutral Density filter, and next I’d have to say a polarizer filter. Screw on filters are wonderful because they’re small and portable (and my only option when using my rangefinder), but when I’m shooting with my DSLR then I prefer using a Lee or Hitech filter kit with ring adapters.

 

Looking UP!

Looking UP!

Q. Do you use auto ISO?

I don’t use auto ISO because I prefer to set my ISO manually to maintain more control over the quality of the file. I’ve trained myself to set my ISO and change it as needed, but if you find that remembering to change your ISO is problematic then consider using Auto ISO with a quality threshold range with which you’re comfortable. You can set a range in your camera of ISO 100-1600 to make sure your camera isn’t automatically setting you to 3200 where you’ll definitely start to see the quality suffering.

 

Exploring Travel and Street
I hope you enjoy the video and if you have any questions feel free to leave them on YouTube or back here on the blog and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Very best,

John

B&H Photovideo Event Space Presentation

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John 45 b-day

My 45th Birthday Celebration

I’ve been a little derelict in my duties here on the blog. After putting so much energy into my books and eBook (5 in 3 years!) I was feeling like I needed a re-boot.  Last month I turned 45 and took a little time off to recharge. Not that I’m sweating getting older or anything, I just needed to take time to eat cake. Especially that peanut butter chocolate beauty Staci made me. But, now Spring is in the air, Chicago is starting to defrost, and my passion for photography and writing are coming out of hibernation! I’ve got a few blogs planned, the newsletter will be coming out in a couple of shakes (with great news for our Chicago Workshop participants)…And we’re back on track!

Upcoming B&H Speaking Events:

Coming soon to B&H!

Coming soon to B&H!

I’m super stoked to announce I’ll be speaking at the B&H Event center on March 23rd. I’ll be doing a double header with one discussion focused on Travel & Street Photography and the other focused on Black and White processing.  Now, the events are currently booked, but I’ve been told it’s typical to have a nearly 50% cancellation rate. So don’t fret, there’s still a great chance you’ll get to hear me speak. (Or probably more likely witness me put my foot in my mouth.) 🙂 This has been a professional goal of mine, so I’m really excited to be there and meet new photographers and talk shop. I hope to see you there!

Tech News

Lightroom 6 will be coming out shortly, and while I can’t say anything more than that, there is one factor you really need to be aware of: It will require a 64bit operating system. Those of you who have upgraded your computers in the last few years probably already have a 64 bit system, but if you’re uncertain then I would double check. Keep in mind, Lightroom 5 will continue to work on your current system and Lightroom 6 will ONLY install if your system is 64 bit compatible. To read more about Adobe Lightroom 6 compatibility check out Adobe’s Press release  HERE.

Italy 3

Venice, Italy

Newsletter

The blog has always been a place to come and get some tips, tutorials, travel stories, and workshop reports. But our newsletter is an entirely different entity. We announce all new workshops there first (the last couple of workshops have sold out before we could announce it publicly because our newsletter subscribers scooped up all the spots!). We also do some sort of contest or give-a-way or free presets, as well as additional video tutorials and news. It only comes out every 30-45 days, so if you’re not signed up yet, definitely get on the list. Like I said, it’s coming out in a couple of days, so sign up now to get the latest tutorials and find out about our new sponsorship for the Chicago workshops (meaning, free photography stuff!)

That’s all for now. Like I said, we’ve got more up our sleeves for posts in the next couple of weeks, so I’ll see you soon!

Spontaneity Breeds Creativity

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Sometimes spontaneity breeds creativity. We can all get stuck in the daily grind, finding ourselves uninspired, and needing a little kick to get our creative wheels turning again. I don’t know about you, but in the midwest this time of year, for me inspiration can prove especially difficult. The skies are low and gray, the streets are gray, and the ground is even gray as we haven’t had much snow. Plus we’ve been traveling a lot and speaking to libraries and camera clubs to promote my newest book, so we’ve been pretty busy.

Rural Indiana

(ISO 320, f/8 @ 1/750th)

This past week Staci and I had the pleasure of speaking to a wonderful group of photographers at the Fort Wayne Camera Club, and when it came time to leave the next morning, something wonderful happened. We were sitting at breakfast when we both realized that we had nowhere to be for the next 3 days. That never happens. The kid was taken care of, the dogs were with the in-laws…and we didn’t have any clients or workshops or meetings. We had a to-do list, but nothing that couldn’t wait!

Rural Indiana Tree

(ISO 320, f/11 @ 1/180th)

It was then that  I turned to Staci and said, “Let’s road trip!” So with only the clothes on our backs, and more importantly a camera bag in the car, we decided to head out for the weekend. We both immediately thought about touching our toes in the sand and watching a sunset in Florida. But that was a 17 hour drive, and we only had 3 days, so that was out. Then we looked at the map, checked the weather, and decided to head down to Indianapolis. The only rule was that we wouldn’t rush, we would take back roads, and would stop whenever we wanted for photos or anything else that looked fun. Since it was only a 2.5 hr drive, this was more reasonable.

Rural Indiana Farm

(ISO 320, f/9.5 @ 1/250th)

The last time I was in Indianapolis was to attend the Indy 500 nearly two decades ago, and while I figured it had changed, the race was my only memory of the area. We had heard really good things about the city, so we went for it. Anyway, as Staci reminded me, the destination didn’t matter nearly as much as grabbing some downtime with one another and taking our time. I think my daughter implied that we deliberately planned a “vacation without the kid,” but I reassured her when that day came it wouldn’t be a weekend dash to Indianapolis. 🙂

(ISO 320, f/8 @ 1/250th)

(ISO 320, f/8 @ 1/250th)

The drive down proved to be pretty inspiring. Lots of lone trees in huge fields, old farm houses, and the windmills I’ve always wanted to photograph but never had to the time to drive back to them.

Rural Indiana Windmill

(ISO 320, f/11 @ 1/125th)

We had a great time, enjoyed a wonderful drive to a fun city, slept in as late as we wanted, ate candy in bed, and I had a chance to reignite my creativity in on the back roads of Indiana. I would say the spontaneous road trip was a success!

Rural Indiana Silo

(ISO 320, f/13 @ 1/90th)

John Batdorff Photography

1902 W Foster Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 773-293-6548

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