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Author Topic: LuLa forum, hope you'll check out my new site  (Read 6474 times)

Michael LS

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« on: June 22, 2010, 11:04:02 am »

It's rented space, but works well to (finally) get some of my work online for view.
I've been on this project, as time has allowed, for a quite awhile. Much of the time
has been spent on scanning and cleaning up the early film stuff.

The digital work has been so much easier...if I don't count the time and effort in
getting the shots to begin with, of course.

Been awhile since I've posted, but I'm here nearly every day reading posts, visiting
members' websites, and seeing what great photos and articles M.R. has posted.

Hope some of you will enjoy my admittedly eclectic work.

Sincerely,
Michael LS
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popnfresh

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« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2010, 01:17:52 pm »

Both the new site and your work are quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
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Michael LS

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« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2010, 01:39:01 pm »

Quote from: popnfresh
Both the new site and your work are quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

I appreciate that, and thanks for visiting.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2010, 05:25:37 pm »

Quote from: popnfresh
Both the new site and your work are quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Ditto to what Popnfresh said. Very nice work, clean and easy-to-use website.


Eric

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Michael LS

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« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2010, 06:30:11 pm »

Quote from: Eric Myrvaagnes
Ditto to what Popnfresh said. Very nice work, clean and easy-to-use website.


Eric

Thanks, Eric. I've been to your website a number of times, and in particular,
have always been fascinated by your Sand Abstractions!
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John R

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« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2010, 08:22:18 pm »

I like the work very much. Eclectic is a good description for your work. I like the urban work. It shows a good eye for light and composition. One day I shall clean up all my slide files too... one fine year!

JMR
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tom b

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« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2010, 10:34:57 pm »

Looked up you new site as my site is called Eclectic Exhibitions.

Just a few small things.

The digital icon link on this page:

http://michaelshafitz.zenfolio.com/f635336786

has lost the image link, it's just a grey rectangle.

Is there an image missing on the about page here:

http://michaelshafitz.zenfolio.com/about.html

All I can see s a black rectangle.

On a 1024x768 screen Featured Galleries & Collections is just visible on the screen and could be missed. Perhaps you could add a galleries link on the top navigation to this page:

http://michaelshafitz.zenfolio.com/f635336786

Obviously you're not a web designer so this is a good first effort. My web site has had 3 structural changes (tables, css and css + spry) as well as several cosmetic overhauls. So think of this as the beginning of your site's design.

Oh, and I like your Tracks images.

Cheers,


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Michael LS

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« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2010, 09:11:45 am »

Quote from: John R
I like the work very much. Eclectic is a good description for your work. I like the urban work. It shows a good eye for light and composition. One day I shall clean up all my slide files too... one fine year!

JMR

Thanks for your comments, John, and glad you liked the work.

Your slides are calling you, btw...they will not stop until you give them the attention they deserve!  
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Michael LS

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« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2010, 09:49:09 am »

Quote from: tom  b
Looked up you new site as my site is called Eclectic Exhibitions.

Just a few small things.

The digital icon link on this page:

http://michaelshafitz.zenfolio.com/f635336786

has lost the image link, it's just a grey rectangle.

Is there an image missing on the about page here:

http://michaelshafitz.zenfolio.com/about.html

All I can see s a black rectangle.

On a 1024x768 screen Featured Galleries & Collections is just visible on the screen and could be missed. Perhaps you could add a galleries link on the top navigation to this page:

http://michaelshafitz.zenfolio.com/f635336786

Obviously you're not a web designer so this is a good first effort. My web site has had 3 structural changes (tables, css and css + spry) as well as several cosmetic overhauls. So think of this as the beginning of your site's design.

Oh, and I like your Tracks images.

Cheers,

   I'm definitely not a web designer, that's why it's rented space! I've put "learn Dreamweaver" on the same list as "learn French and Spanish",
"visit Baja Mexico and do some surfing", etc, etc...that is, maybe I will, or maybe I'll never find the time.

As for the missing links, the first one I'm looking into- thanks for the heads-up. The second one is supposed to have my personal photo,
(according to zenfolio)...I don't consider it important (even tho I am terribly handsome).

I did a quick look at your great site, and will re-visit later today when time allows, but you've obviously put a ton of work into it. Also, your
the first guy I've run across who is combining photography with painting, which I like. And I really liked the images I saw. Look forward to
re-visiting them. I can see why you liked my "Tracks" images...your homepage image is in the same spirit, eh?
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Rob C

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« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2010, 10:15:13 am »

I find you site and work very pleasing and I particularly like the fact that you have not followed the herd and done the 'separate pigeonhole' thing with the pictures.

I believe that you can get a better idea of how a photographer thinks if you see his work in no particular sequence; I appreciate that anyone selling commerically to art buyers etc. might feel he is running into impatience territory by not baby spoon-feeding the viewers, but the hell with that; a two- second mind isn't going to stick with anyone for long at the best of times.

I don't really think I'd be expecting to change much of anything at all, were I you. Why?

Rob C

fredjeang

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« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2010, 10:27:25 am »

Irony! When I saw the vintage film colors, I liked the wide angle shots, those are exactly the tones I'm currently working in Capture One to obtain...I can't help thinking that is an absurd situation in some way.
Also, we have too much DR for B&W now and I'm back on burning my highlights again.
I find digital imagery at the end like this very good looking woman, everything is perfect and siliconed but boring in the end. I prefer too Ava Garner.
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Michael LS

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« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2010, 02:00:20 pm »

Quote from: Rob C
I find you site and work very pleasing and I particularly like the fact that you have not followed the herd and done the 'separate pigeonhole' thing with the pictures.

I believe that you can get a better idea of how a photographer thinks if you see his work in no particular sequence; I appreciate that anyone selling commerically to art buyers etc. might feel he is running into impatience territory by not baby spoon-feeding the viewers, but the hell with that; a two- second mind isn't going to stick with anyone for long at the best of times.

I don't really think I'd be expecting to change much of anything at all, were I you. Why?

Rob C

Hi Rob, thanks for your visit, and I find your comments to provide some great insight. I probably won't change anything, mostly because I don't know how. Anyway, if it isn't fun, why do it? I'd like to more closely explore some subjects, in the future, if I can ever work out the daunting logistics -and keep it fun   Until then, I'll keep going to local locations at certain times, and seeing if the Universe will throw me a bone, and if I'm sharp enough (that day) to catch it!

I suppose if I knew how to make mega-bucks by catering to a certain audience via certain images, AND please myself at the same time, I'd do it. But like I said, I don't know how. I wear two other hats to make a living. One is graphics-related, but not photography.

I visited your site not long ago, when you first announced it here at LuLa. I went again today. Your model shots are gorgeous. Beautiful light, and lush color, and great design in those exotic places...fantastic! Also enjoyed the wall abstracts.
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Michael LS

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« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2010, 02:27:27 pm »

Quote from: fredjeang
Irony! When I saw the vintage film colors, I liked the wide angle shots, those are exactly the tones I'm currently working in Capture One to obtain...I can't help thinking that is an absurd situation in some way.
Also, we have too much DR for B&W now and I'm back on burning my highlights again.
I find digital imagery at the end like this very good looking woman, everything is perfect and siliconed but boring in the end. I prefer too Ava Garner.

Yes, I feel the same way about film. I shot a lot of early film stuff on some type of color neg that I can't remember the name of now.
All I recall is, I bought it in 25' (or was it 50' ?) rolls, bulk-loaded it, and kept it in the fridge. It was called "Professional something-or-other.
I used slides for awhile, until I got sick of the lack of latitude...or sick of my crappy exposures   , and also liked the "look" of the neg film.
It would be pretty hard to mimic that stuff in digital, no matter how much time and software I had.

Please don't tell me about Ava Gardner and silicone (no pun intended). I know what you mean, but we gotta stay with the modern world.
Unless, of course, we decided not too...
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Rob C

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« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2010, 03:58:22 pm »

Quote from: Michael LS
Hi Rob, thanks for your visit, and I find your comments to provide some great insight. I probably won't change anything, mostly because I don't know how. Anyway, if it isn't fun, why do it? I'd like to more closely explore some subjects, in the future, if I can ever work out the daunting logistics -and keep it fun   Until then, I'll keep going to local locations at certain times, and seeing if the Universe will throw me a bone, and if I'm sharp enough (that day) to catch it!

I suppose if I knew how to make mega-bucks by catering to a certain audience via certain images, AND please myself at the same time, I'd do it. But like I said, I don't know how. I wear two other hats to make a living. One is graphics-related, but not photography.

I visited your site not long ago, when you first announced it here at LuLa. I went again today. Your model shots are gorgeous. Beautiful light, and lush color, and great design in those exotic places...fantastic! Also enjoyed the wall abstracts.



Hi Michael

Thanks for the compliment re. the girls etc. and the truth is, as I mention in the site, all those shots were Kodachrome 64 or, sometimes but rarely, Ektachrome 64. There were never any art directors, makeup or hair people; my wife used to use a small spray to add sweat/sea effects to their skin, sometimes she wielded a reflector, and all those girls knew how to put on their own gloop.

I hardly ever used colour neg. after I went out on my own - never needed colour prints except once, a nightmare job where it took me a year to get the clients to pay. They used to make mini-kilts, worked out of their factory as a two-brother management trick, and each time I'd go to find where my money was, I'd get a small payment towards the total from alternating brothers. Sadly, the colour lab allowed a month's credit and I ended up footing the huge bill until that year was out. Not always the best class of people you run into in fashion...

I've never shot a model with digital - okay, family, but it doesn't count because the whole process is totally different with a pro shoot. I often wonder how it would work out with digi, doing what I used to do. Probably much the same, I suppose, but looking at the work of the big guys of today it looks something totally else, but that might just be because of all those retouchers adding their input; would you pay them if they didn't make a difference?

You don't seem to be short on motivation; that's my single biggest problem these days, that and boredom with the local scene. And time: I seem to do nothing, but it takes all morning to do it. Then I go eat and after that it's either too hot (now, at last!) or I get sidetracked by the computer.

I need a holiday from  myself.

Rob C

Michael LS

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« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2010, 08:41:13 pm »

Quote from: Rob C
Hi Michael

Thanks for the compliment re. the girls etc. and the truth is, as I mention in the site, all those shots were Kodachrome 64 or, sometimes but rarely, Ektachrome 64. There were never any art directors, makeup or hair people; my wife used to use a small spray to add sweat/sea effects to their skin, sometimes she wielded a reflector, and all those girls knew how to put on their own gloop.

I hardly ever used colour neg. after I went out on my own - never needed colour prints except once, a nightmare job where it took me a year to get the clients to pay. They used to make mini-kilts, worked out of their factory as a two-brother management trick, and each time I'd go to find where my money was, I'd get a small payment towards the total from alternating brothers. Sadly, the colour lab allowed a month's credit and I ended up footing the huge bill until that year was out. Not always the best class of people you run into in fashion...

I've never shot a model with digital - okay, family, but it doesn't count because the whole process is totally different with a pro shoot. I often wonder how it would work out with digi, doing what I used to do. Probably much the same, I suppose, but looking at the work of the big guys of today it looks something totally else, but that might just be because of all those retouchers adding their input; would you pay them if they didn't make a difference?

You don't seem to be short on motivation; that's my single biggest problem these days, that and boredom with the local scene. And time: I seem to do nothing, but it takes all morning to do it. Then I go eat and after that it's either too hot (now, at last!) or I get sidetracked by the computer.

I need a holiday from  myself.

Rob C

So, it would seem the Kilt-Brothers are responsible for your color negative negativity (would that be a double-negative?). But you must realize, Rob, color neg is innocent...innocent I say!! I do like your war stories, though.

Of course, your work then was a natural for KR64. I got into the color neg because of a surrealistic bent, and the film lent itself to that. It also had asa 200, which was like iso 1000 now! And the latitude covered not paying enough attention to a manual exposure slr. I could just run through L.A. and shoot (I think they use Glocks now) and not be hampered by technical issues. I was like a hunting dog let off his leash! Good thing I didn't have clients to please. They'd 'ave run me out of town on a rail!

Ok Rob, take a holiday from yourself. When you get back all refreshed, do some photography. Forget all the cool media stuff like pc's, HDTV, etc., for awhile. Understand that no matter where you live, there are pictures. Heck, your a photographer- you already know that. And don't eat at home in the morning- get up early and drink too much coffee, then go somewhere with your camera and watch the sun come up, or the urban pulse begin to come alive. If your in the woods or fields, you'll be fine, but if your in the city, watching the urban pulse come alive, try to be near an alley in case all that coffee becomes a problem.  

Anyway, lash yourself to a tree or lightpole, don't move for 3 hours, and watch what the Universe offers you. If you are lucky, and are not arrested or mugged, you will likely have at least one keeper shot- possibly two or three. And the beauty part of all this is, you only have to do it 2 days a week. Any 2 days you want. Then, you still have 5 other days for screwing around!!

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tom b

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« Reply #15 on: June 23, 2010, 08:55:08 pm »

Quote from: Michael LS
As for the missing links, the first one I'm looking into- thanks for the heads-up. The second one is supposed to have my personal photo,
(according to zenfolio)...I don't consider it important (even tho I am terribly handsome).

If that is the case, why not put one of your images in there that is representative of your photography. Anything would be better than a blank space.

Cheers,
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Michael LS

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« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2010, 10:15:05 pm »

Quote from: tom  b
If that is the case, why not put one of your images in there that is representative of your photography. Anything would be better than a blank space.

Cheers,

That's an excellent idea, Tom. I will search for the right image for that spot.
You obviously have business skills as well as artistic ones!
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tom b

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« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2010, 11:02:24 pm »

Quote from: Michael LS
I did a quick look at your great site, and will re-visit later today when time allows, but you've obviously put a ton of work into it. Also, your
the first guy I've run across who is combining photography with painting, which I like. And I really liked the images I saw. Look forward to
re-visiting them. I can see why you liked my "Tracks" images...your homepage image is in the same spirit, eh?

The tracks images remind me more of my Snail trails series which is a work in progress. Trying to find artistic snails is difficult. You can see the series here:

http://www.tombrown.id.au/monochrome/sea_s...lbum/index.html

And no I don't have a business bone in my body.

Cheers
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Rob C

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« Reply #18 on: June 24, 2010, 04:15:07 am »

Quote from: Michael LS
So, it would seem the Kilt-Brothers are responsible for your color negative negativity (would that be a double-negative?). But you must realize, Rob, color neg is innocent...innocent I say!! I do like your war stories, though.

Of course, your work then was a natural for KR64. I got into the color neg because of a surrealistic bent, and the film lent itself to that. It also had asa 200, which was like iso 1000 now! And the latitude covered not paying enough attention to a manual exposure slr. I could just run through L.A. and shoot (I think they use Glocks now) and not be hampered by technical issues. I was like a hunting dog let off his leash! Good thing I didn't have clients to please. They'd 'ave run me out of town on a rail!

Ok Rob, take a holiday from yourself. When you get back all refreshed, do some photography. Forget all the cool media stuff like pc's, HDTV, etc., for awhile. Understand that no matter where you live, there are pictures. Heck, your a photographer- you already know that. And don't eat at home in the morning- get up early and drink too much coffee, then go somewhere with your camera and watch the sun come up, or the urban pulse begin to come alive. If your in the woods or fields, you'll be fine, but if your in the city, watching the urban pulse come alive, try to be near an alley in case all that coffee becomes a problem.  

Anyway, lash yourself to a tree or lightpole, don't move for 3 hours, and watch what the Universe offers you. If you are lucky, and are not arrested or mugged, you will likely have at least one keeper shot- possibly two or three. And the beauty part of all this is, you only have to do it 2 days a week. Any 2 days you want. Then, you still have 5 other days for screwing around!!


Hi Michael

Like Fred, you are not only a photographer but a philosopher too!

I very much enjoyed your post and I have to confess to be sitting here with a stupid grin on my face; whether it does enough to put camera into hand I'm not sure, but I'm certainly going to make myself a coffee right now...

Which underlines the irony of life yet again: that's how the mornings get swallowed up doing all those important things that swallow them up.

Thanks for the moment of mirth!

Rob C

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« Reply #19 on: June 24, 2010, 04:38:48 am »





You don't seem to be short on motivation; that's my single biggest problem these days, that and boredom with the local scene. And time: I seem to do nothing, but it takes all morning to do it. Then I go eat and after that it's either too hot (now, at last!) or I get sidetracked by the computer.

I need a holiday from  myself.

Rob C
[/quote]

I couldn't have written it better myself. I have wandered far - I don't drive - in the nearly ten years that I have been in photography and seeing something different is difficult. Maybe a new pair of eyes?  
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