FEELING THAT 100STATE OF MIND

100state is a community and a home for problem solvers, creatives, and entrepreneurs - inspiring collaboration and creating connections to unleash potential. 

This has been a long time coming, but I'm finally able to share an ongoing collaboration with a truly unique space here in Madison — 100state — an innovative, creative coworking community smack in the middle of the city.

It was such a blast to connect with these inspiring entrepreneurs, fellow freelancers, and...well... "doers". Not only in the course of interviewing Jason Tham, Olivia Barrow, and Robert Chappell, but in attending the public events, town hall meetings, and health-focused yoga nights — I felt such a part of this diverse community.

Now, I wouldn't call this "documentary" work, but the ongoing nature of the shoot necessitated some long-term thinking on the part of shooting video. It was way, way, way important to ensure that the shots (sometimes weeks or months apart) needed to look and feel consistent. That meant specific white balancing and toning all of the footage (using my favorite tool ColorFinale) to look consistent.

[And for all you tech-heads out there, here's a quick list of all the gear I used to shoot with] 

Anyways, thanks for taking a look at one of (in my opinion) my best video projects I've had the pleasure to work on to date. Time to get back in the edit suite to start some serious multi-cam editing on a forthcoming video series I shot earlier this month.

Any questions about visual storytelling? DSLR filmmaking? Color grading? Drop me a comment down below and I'll give my best!

A PEEK INSIDE

It’s probably the most common question I get asked when out on assignment. The one that most photographers dread.

“So…what gear are you using?”, generally followed up with an “Oh, I shoot with BRAND X too!”, and capped off with an “Now, I’ve got the [INSERT LENS HERE], how do you like your [LENS ON CAMERA]?”

Tools of the trade — all fitting into one small Domke bag.

I know. It sounds snobby and cynical the way that comes across. But I promise that it’s really not.

You wouldn’t ask a writer which brand of pen he prefers, a painter which brush he just purchased, or what kind of cordless drill your carpenter is using. In a strange way, taking photos are some strange amalgamation of all three — the pen, the brush, and the power tool.

Whenever I have the time, I put away the “big guns” and go back to basics and shoot a few rolls of B/W with this little beauty:

1960’s-Era Nikon S2 Rangefinder — Madison, WI

One 50mm lens. No meter. Hell, not even a battery (spring loaded shutter is always a winner). Take away the fluff of digital photography and focus on what matters — Composition, tone, balance, story, and emotion.

And that’s where the frustration I mentioned earlier really comes from. People are fascinated with technological “stuff” and forget what I’m really trying to do while I’m out there — tell stories through photographic art.

This isn’t meant to be a rant against photo-gearheads or hating on digital photography. (I’m just as guilty of “lens envy” from time to time myself) Just a thought to remember the next time you pick up your photo bag:

“Never let your camera get in the way of good photography.”