Getty Images releases 35 millions images for free use

One of the world's largest purveyors of stock photographs just put 35 million of its images out there for free public use through embeds (albeit for non-commercial purposes).

This is a fascinating development, and I find this to be an extremely pragmatic move on the part of Getty. Perhaps they have learned from the trauma-filled experience of the music companies. Let's be real- people have been ripping off images for years. This at least directs some web traffic back to Getty.

I rather like it.

Bloggers and other re-users of digital images are surely similarly thrilled.

But how do photographers and artists feel about this? Likely a mixed bag...

Perhaps because I am not in a position to make millions off of my creative work, I tend to be on the side of exposure. It's all about getting your stuff out there so someone can interact with it. Otherwise, what is the point?  

The Web of the World

So I notice people visit this site from all over the world, and I have to wonder what brings people here?

Is even this brief intersection of our lives worth exploring?

What does all of this mean?

And if it doesn't mean a thing, why not?

As I grow older, I find that I have less time to devote to less meaningful or fleeting experiences or relationships. Time is at a premium, so thus I must maximize what little I have. It may ultimately be a flawed approach, but a practical one.

I reconnected with an old friend recently, someone I genuinely care about despite the gap since our last interaction. So much has happened, but it was great to see someone I hold dearly in my heart grow into their own and display remarkable poise, confidence, and competence. It really warmed my soul.

It is fun to think back to the way things were- to recap fun moments, shed light on why things they were they were, and to perhaps subtly lament why we didn't take advantage of the opportunities available to us- to explore ourselves and life a bit more fully. Could things have been even better? Yes. But perhaps that is where the usefulness of such thought ends.

This friend mentioned that I always seemed to be in touch with my feelings and sensitive. I know this about myself and agreed. I like to think of it as living in the moment and reading the moment. Emotions, they are inside each of us. Some of us are in better tune with them than others. I once heard someone say they held back their tears in sad moments by pretending what is unfolding before them is just a movie. This person proudly spoke of this method as a positive process with proven results. I felt a bit sad for this person. I believe life is to be experienced fully- and that requires emotion. If we don't feel anything, we are dead. A strong onset of emotions is proof that we are living. To forcibly stamp out and numb our hearts to what is real is cheating life.

So, in the limited time we have for our lives to touch, it is with deep respect and a longing for meaning that I wish godspeed on the journey back to our next intersection.

Linsanity

The thing I really appreciate about the whole Jeremy Lin show, is that it captures an amazing display of what sports should be. That, and I have every reason to root for an Asian-American kid from Harvard. The only way this story could be any more exciting for me, is if Jeremy had attended Rutgers as an undergrad and went on to Harvard for grad school.

I don't mean to turn this into a rant by any stretch against the woes of our modern society as reflected in the arena of sports, but how refreshing is it to see a guy with unbridled energy and passion. He's really throwing it all out there, and that is genuine.

People can relate to the underdog. We still want to believe we live in a world where hard work can fight off pedigree and the way ordained by the establishment. He is fighting for a professional future, which you can see and feel in every single step he takes on the court. Linsanity.



Admittedly, the kid has much more to prove. But boy, have the last 4 games been an adventure. Even if he turns out to be a total bust (which I would not advise betting on), no one will ever be able to take away the night he lit up Kobe and the Lakers and electrified the crowd at Madison Square Garden. The Black Mamba met the Yellow Mamba. Hope Kobe knows who Jeremy is from here on out.

Lebron also offered this nugget when asked about Jeremy: "Harvard grad eh? Well, I'm a St. Mary's High grad myself. I know books." Oh, Lebron. While it doesn't matter where one goes to school, there is certainly nothing to be proud about not having placed a priority on education. No head. No heart. The Lebron James story.

One of the announcers calling the Lakers-Knicks game offered the following commentary, "Jeremy Lin is an Asian kid from Harvard playing in the NBA. Talk about the ultimate long-shot." He's right. We judge that book by its cover, and it's a long shot. But no one ever measured the size of the kid's heart, and from all indications it is huge. And it's not fair to criticize the NBA teams that waived or passed on him. Jeremy was at Harvard the same time I was, and while he was killing it then, it was definitely a stretch to say he'd be starting for an NBA team and lighting up the Lakers. Glad the kid is getting his shot and a good shake. Looks like it won't be wasted.

Hard not to be swept up by Linsanity. This kid embodies one reason why I love sports. Rags to riches in a single flick of the wrist, albeit many years of prep and training support the overnight "success" story. And never mind that the kid is doing this with a heavy dose of humility. But really, humility is in order. Last week Jeremy was sleeping on his brother's couch pondering his future after basketball. Last night, Jeremy dropped 38 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds Jeremy on Kobe and the Lakers. To call this an immense reversal of fortune would be an understatement.

Charlie Sheen can have "Winning." I'll take "Linning."

the pain of college football

There can only be one champion, which leaves a whole mess of heartbreak. There aren't enough BCS bowls to fill the void either.

Every season starts with promise, but more often than not, the "ball" gets pulled by season's end.

Keep choppin' Charlie Brown

Until the national title returns to the birthplace of the sport, I will continue to look forward to each and every precious moment of college football - the 12 best "Saturdays" of the year.

If not for our individual obsessions and passions, life would be far less sweet. I don't know how to casually dabble in hobbies- they usually become much more than that. Photography is no different. It will always remain a part of me, like riding a bike or the urge to blow off dandelion seeds.

Beauty is everywhere, though most of it fragile and fleeting.

Ever changing strands of the universe. 

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Lex in a Box

I am blessed to be able to photograph this little guy as often as I do. His versatility and expressiveness never fail to amaze me.

e.e. cummings was a cool dude.

but generally his pants were hitched a bit too high.

to the point where they might even be called rib huggers.

still i respect his audacity and the courage it takes to be different or to just not give a damn.

there is something i have always loved about lowercase letters- unassuming, to the point, and efficient.

and the earth shook

as i sat in my office with my manager discussing my next project, the building shook.

we continued talking after the first set of rumblings, but quickly realized the second round of quaking was a bit more serious.

i didn't realize it at the time as i filed out of a building that passes as a high-rise in DC, but i am now filled with thoughts of mortality and just how brittle life is.

amazing that the earth can shake the way it did.

Super stoked for my new website and online portfolio.

Stay tuned!

Question

Is it art? Is it kitsch?

Does it matter?

Check out my: Facebook Photography Page

Gotta be the Shoes

Tools are nice, but without fundamental skills and abilities, the usefulness of a tool is seriously hampered.

I think that principle can be applied to any industry, profession, or line of work. Blue or white collar, game is universally respected.

And if you respect the game as much as you love your game, it is a beautiful thing indeed.

So it's not about the shoes, and it never has been.

But of course, there is nothing wrong with a nice pair of shoes.

Just beyond the horizon...

I've been thinking of new ways to tie my passion for development and photography together. I figure the more of my interests I can connect, the more I can actually enjoy them.

Stay tuned.

Impact is a beautiful thing.

My interests and dreams have an interesting way of breaking into reality.

In the meantime, here are some photos from a recent portrait session:

Accidents Happen



Stay tuned. Because life is one reality show that isn't staged.

Italia Mia

Pigeon Lady of Venezia

There was something about this old Italian lady feeding pigeons in Venice that really caught my eye. I composed this image long before I framed the scene through my camera's viewfinder. I knew immediately that I had an intriguing image, and I wanted to put the finishing touches on the photograph right away. On that day, gelato and the rest of my leisurely stroll through the confusing myriad of streets in Venice kept me from doing it, but the whole time I was eager to finally get to work on my shots. In the moments leading up to the click of the shutter, I felt something, and I hoped to convey those same emotions through my photograph. Until the creative process runs its course to semi-completion, I find that I am always a little bit restless.

Solo

I didn't enjoy Venice very much, but definitely appreciated the opportunity to flex my creative muscles. With most photography sessions, you don't have the freedom to shoot for yourself. Limitations abound. There are shots that need to be taken and those that cannot be missed. Of course it is possible to be creative within those confines, but let's face it, a client doesn't want a group portrait in tilt. Artsy (or its pseudo wannabe cousin) doesn't really work on a real gig, unless you are fortunate enough to be hired solely for that reason. Which leads to the question, can creative truly be a job? Once you submit your creativity to the "man," is it truly creativity? Or is it just an institutionalized and sanitized process?

Can you tell me how to get to Vicenza Street?

Thus far, my favorite city in Italy is a little town called Vicenza in the North. It is a quaint place with a lot of interesting architecture as well as friendly locals. Italians have a reputation for being rude to foreigners, but I never encountered such attitudes or people in Vicenza. Perhaps they would have been less nice if I told them I was from New Jersey. Nevertheless, I tried to absorb the history, culture, art, food, and wine of a wonderful city during my week in Italy. This trip could have been infinitely better had it been a personal vacation instead of a business trip, but sometimes you just have to take what you get. 

I sometimes lament the fact that I am never in the pictures I take when I travel. Upon my return from this trip, those sentiments returned. However, I remember listening to Joe Buissink talk about analyzing and taking a real deep look at your photographs. Joe passionately and convincingly argues that there is always a piece of you and elements of your self in each and every photograph you have taken. And I take solace in that. 2011- Sam was here.

Tina Fey on Posing & Photographer Speak

Tina Fey is definitely one of the funniest people alive. There aren't many men or women who rival her wit and ability to poke fun at herself. Tina Fey and Conan are probably the closest thing we have to a modern day Mark Twain.

In her recently published book "Bossypants," Tina had the following to say about posing for photographs (which I find pretty darn accurate and hilarious) while simultaneously poking fun at the process:

"Posing for a successful glamour portrait is very simple. Start with the basics. Turn sideways. Lean back against a wall. Move your chin forward to elongate your neck. Relax your shoulders. Make angles wherever possible. If you're over twenty-four, smile at all times. Keep your arms slightly away from your sides so as not to smush them and make them look larger. Suck your stomach up and in, and wrap your buttocks toward the back, Pilates-style. Be yourself. When you look into the lens, imagine you are looking at a dear friend, but not a friend who would laugh at you for jutting out your chin while arching your back against a fake wall."


As for dealing with what photographers say during a session, Tina has the following commentary:

"Most photographers have some kind of verbal patter going on when they shoot: 'Great. Turn to me. Big smile. Less shark eyes. Have fun with it. Not like that.'


Some photographers are compulsively effusive. 'Beautiful. Amazing. Gorgeous! Ugh, so gorgeous!' they yell at shutter speed. If you are anything less than insane, you will realize this is not sincere. It's hard to take because it's more positive feedback than you've received in your entire life thrown at you in fifteen seconds. It would be like going jogging while someone rode next to you in a slow-moving car, yelling, 'Yes! You are Carl Lewis! You're breaking a world record right now. Amazing! You are fast. You're going very fast, yes!'"


As a photographer, it is easy to forget how unnatural and uncomfortable it is for some people to be in front of the lens. And guidelines offered for how to pose are probably kind of odd for the average subject who is not a model by trade. It's not a bad exercise for photographers to step in front of a camera to feel some self-conscious beads of sweat forming once in a while. It'll keep you honest.

As for the goofy things photographers say to their subjects, like doctors, every photographer has their own kind of "bedside manner" and tried and true ways of engaging their subjects. Some tricks work better than others. Some tricks are weirder than others. Not sure that there is any positive or negative correlation between the two. In any case, I have come to realize and accept that most photographers are a different kind of animal. No two are alike, but all are equally off and strange in some unique way.

Need some proof?

I love my camera, but I would stop short of this. I have however, slept with my baseball glove as a kid.

I have often asked myself what lengths I would go for a shot...

Risk v. Reward

Objects in viewfinder may be closer than they appear.

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but...

The Presidential camera grip could use some work.

An odd bunch for sure with wildly varying skill levels, approaches, and personalities- whose only connection is a love for photography. As eclectic a group as any, but I suppose that's what makes the industry interesting.

Milano

At one point in time it was said that, 'all roads lead to Rome.'

As such, Rome continues to represent the "old" Italy, but Milan is hailed as a representative of the "new" Italy. While Milan may serve as the face of modern Italy, the city was carefully expanded- while retaining and honoring culture through preserving elements of the past. What makes this more impressive is that Milan was able to responsibly respect its tradition without compromising its fresh, elegant, and innovative vision of the future. Style just oozes from the Milanese.

Old and new have a home in Milan, and neither appear out of place. I have always found the harmony or precarious balance between two conflicting notions fascinating. Milan embodies that dynamic, and she is clad in fashionable garb.

I didn't get to spend more than the short part of an afternoon walking around Milan. In fact, it was more of a transit point en route to a client meeting than anything else. Did I see a few sites? Yes. Did I enjoy a nice meal and some good wine and amazing espresso? Yes. Would I have liked to have more time to explore? Absolutely. But much like the models on the runway, I had to keep on walking.

Duomo

Piazza del Duomo is a fine example of the meshing of old and new. Not more than 100 yards from one of the largest cathedrals in the world is what is said to be the world's oldest shopping mall. I also found the placement of large advertisements on historical buildings to be a bit appalling at first, but somehow I guess it all just works.

Old likes to stare at New, especially if it is in tight stylish jeans.

Perhaps without a home, but not void of some style and a sympathetic companion.

Walking around Italy really personally drove home the point that American history even at its earliest stages is considered quite modern by most of the world's standards. In the US, something 200 years old is thought to be ancient. Most people in Europe and Asia wouldn't bat an eye for something that isn't at least a few thousand years old.

I should have realized this earlier, but I finally get it. 

And now onward on my journey to discover the more "traditional" aspects of Italy...

Swing of the Pendulum

In all things there exists a unique innate balance. Whether you strive to find it or not, sooner or later you will irresistibly be moved back closer to the natural order that things are meant to be in. The universe can only tip so much before crashing down violently back into place. This principle would appear to apply to most things in life. At the center of that dynamic is the delicate balancing act between form and function.

Lately, I am discovering that my creative spark is a little dull. Like many others, I was first drawn to photography by the creative possibilities. I loved to tilt. I enjoyed color manipulation. I was constantly on the lookout for fresh composition opportunities. I look back at my earlier photography, and I can't help but feel that I was much more wild and loose (known as creative by lazy wannabe artists everywhere) in my approach. This is evident in the resulting images.

Over the past two years, I have honed my technique. I spent many hours learning the ins and outs of my equipment and the fundamental principles of not just photography but also art. Time and money have been invested in this endearing and rewarding craft. While there is always more to learn, I am comfortable with my technical abilities and approach. Despite this, one day I woke up and realized that my creative spark was stalling. How could this have happened?

I want to rediscover elements of the photographer I used to be. At least for my personal projects, I want to recklessly follow creativity for its own sake.

It is now time for the pendulum to swing back.

Green Energy

---

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Italy, and I found it to be a very fascinating place. As far as design and fashion goes, Italy definitely takes things way off to the "form" side of things. On the opposite end of that spectrum would probably be Germany, where efficiency and "function" dominate the landscape. Milan was a fascinating little city which perhaps is the greatest showcase of Italian style and attitude, but I was more drawn to the smaller cities which fall away from large metropolitan areas. There is a certain warmth and kindness that I find in most countries that is prevalent only away from big cities.

There was something very inspiring about the Italian way of doing things, which can be frustrating from a pure business standpoint but aesthetically provides endless amusement and awe. And as for the food, wine, and espresso.... there is nothing that I could say that would do justice to their quality and goodness.

I didn't have much time for my photographic pursuits in Italy, but I will be processing those images shortly.

Stay tuned.

Baby Portraiture & More Thoughts on Fatherhood

My son has been the perfect guinea pig for honing my baby/child photography technique. Overall, photography-wise there is very little that is different from a standard shoot. You still look for light. You use it or manipulate it to your liking. Composition is composition. I've been trained to have my subjects wear solid colors, but this time, I just felt like breaking the rules a little bit.

The one main obvious and significant difference is that a baby doesn't take direction very well. Posing is not an option. However, you can set a kid up to eventually find his/her own pose. I like to call my approach DCP, which stands for "documentary child portraiture." I kid. I kid. However, for all the photos in this set, I did not pose my son, nor was he able to follow my instructions very well. I am sure any child photographer reading this would have known from the start that it is pretty much impossible to pose a child so young. Unless you are one of those people who can communicate with dolphins, I think this is pretty much a normal phenomenon.

I knew the light in this location was exactly what I was looking for, and I was relatively happy with the background. That really opened things up so that I could focus on getting my son to do what I wanted, namely what he wanted to do. There are only a few ways you can really set up a baby who cannot sit up on their own, most of which involve lying on their stomachs or propped up on pillows. I would not recommend laying a baby on their back, because that usually will result in less than flattering images.

Working off those base positions, I created an optimal environment for my son to break out into his own poses. Later on, I introduced some props. I was ready to capture moments as they happened, with some occasional encouragement. I used to laugh when photographers would say they knew their equipment well enough that they didn't have to look through the viewfinder, but I found myself doing just that at a few points during this shoot.

Traditionally, I haven't enjoyed child photography, but seeing my son's personality come through during the shoot and in these photos has definitely changed my mind. I have come to enjoy the unique challenge that baby photography presents.

Poor little guy has been through his share of sessions already, including a particularly lengthy HD video project. But my shoots don't last more than 10-15 minutes. I get what I want quickly and that is that. Minimal stress on the child and optimal use of my time. Win-win.

I look at my son and wonder what kind of world he will grow up in. There is no question that he will be a little more soft, since he will not be growing up in New Jersey but Northern Virginia. Since my parents were immigrants to the US, there were many things they didn't quite understand about my childhood or American society at large. Technology and access to information also probably helps me make more educated and thoughtful choices than my parents were able to. By no fault of their own, I had to do quite a bit of figuring things out on my own. And I would have it no other way.

How will the world change in the next 20 years? How will America change? Every Asian kid on a playground in America has experienced some degree of teasing about their heritage. For the most part, I think it was just ignorance and a touch of maliciousness, and I write it off as a rite of passage for any immigrant. When I was in grade school, people asked me constantly if I was Chinese. I guess they got a little smarter (or a little less dumb, but still dumb), because by the time I was in high school the average American knew enough to ask me which Korea I was from. And today? I guess for the most part, it's pretty benign like the occasional manager at work who thinks I should be adept at IT because I am Asian. And sometimes you can only laugh, as I had to the time an older gentleman I worked with gave me a small sack of rice because he knew that I "would appreciate it." I just pray that none of these old troubled Vietnam vets loses it and goes on a killing spree, because I am pretty sure they won't be able to tell the difference between me and the Viet Cong, or any other Asian ethnicities for that matter.

I find myself going back and forth between wanting to give my son every edge in life that I wish I had and letting him figure things out all by himself. And I don't necessarily mean material comforts, though there is no question that he will also enjoy more of those things. And quite frankly, I don't know what the right answer is or if there is even such a thing as the right answer. It's a lonely world out there. It's a cold world. I really want my son to be able to navigate the unknown and do it well. Because realistically, there is no amount of preparation that will help you foresee every situation or handle every hurdle that is thrown your way. My son smiles his charming little smile, but flirting isn't going to open all the doors. Sure he will fail. I even hope my son fails from time to time- but that he gets right back up and gets going where he wants to go, where he is meant to go.

I feel privileged to see this little man grow up every single day. Hopes? Expectations? I wonder if there is room for my own hopes and dreams to be embodied in this little guy. Is he big enough to also carry the weight of my dreams? I only wish that my son will be able to do all that his little heart desires. Whatever his dreams may be, I hope that he will be able to pursue them and perhaps one day reach them. Perhaps it is selfish, but that is my dream.

STOP! Grammar Time.

I cannot stop laughing at this animation, so I thought I would share.

Go Hammer! Go Hammer!

On a serious note, bad grammar is everywhere. And not just on Asian stationary. Maybe it is my experience in PR and editing or my inherent perfectionist nature, but I see grammar and spelling mistakes all over the place- even in published material. As a gesture of grammar goodwill, I've even sent correspondence to Coca-Cola and American Express about errors in their promotional material. Of course we all fall victim to errors in writing from time to time, but some people are serial offenders, wantonly and mercilessly tearing through prose like Godzilla on a miniature replica of Japan.

I've always been kind of a stickler on this. Even gave an old girlfriend a grammar book, because she really needed some guidance. I tried to be funny about it, but at some point, the poor writing just got to me. Yes, I acknowledge that I am probably a bit extreme, but I like to think I am running my own personal public service announcement on the dangers of bad grammar.

Just say no to bad grammar.

Keep America Beautiful. [Indian sheds a tear]

Friends don't let friends use bad grammar.

Take a bite out of bad grammar.

Only you can prevent bad grammar.

This is your brain on bad grammar.

Any questions?

Eric LeGrand Believe Fund: My Pledge

2011 (Originally written as 2010. I am truly behind. Thanks GS Lady!) started a few months ago, but this has been on my mind for quite some time. I've been moving to get my act together and push forward on various initiatives (including my website), but I believe the effort and time it takes to create something of high quality is well worth the wait.

A football player from my alma mater was severely injured during a game last season, and the incident has been weighing heavily on my heart since then. The grit, determination, and heart of this young man has truly been remarkable as he rehabs his way from partial paralysis. Football may just be a game, but it is a game that mirrors life and has far reaching impact and implications beyond the playing field.

[Clip about Eric LeGrand and support from the NFL]

So with this post, I am officially pledging to donate $100 for every photography gig I book. And this is a commitment I am going to honor until there is no more Eric LeGrand Believe Fund.

So keep choppin' Eric, and thanks for being an inspiration. You are a warrior.

We all face varying degrees of hardship and adversity in our lives, and I hope to act with the class, humility, and heart that you have displayed in the face of my own personal struggles.

I bELieve.

meditations in an emergency

on edge at the edge

As I grow older, I am finding that any preconceived notions of what is just and what is fair have no bearing on the unfolding of events in reality. The stakes rise, but the same arbitrary principles seem to govern the fine line between success and failure. As the stakes rise, so do the finality of outcomes. There are far fewer opportunities for redemption or second chances. One shot, one opportunity. If you miss it, you can take the bus back home.

There is a certain amount of calm that comes with being in the middle of a storm. Some of it manufactured, some of it a requisite of survival, and possibly some of it because life just can't be as bad as you might think it is. There is always a way it could be worse. And if you can't think of a possible scenario where that could be the case, that is a limitation of your imagination and not the overall depravity of reality. The only emergency is that there is no emergency.

What is it about hitting a crossroads that drives a man to the pen? I suppose it is a better outlet than the bottle. Sleepless nights and deep dark thoughts lead to deep frustration fueled meditation. Angst is good for the creative process. Jerry MaGuire had his mission statement, The Things We Think But Do Not Say. Unfortunately, there is nothing more overrated than the forgotten literature people clamor over when it is featured on a popular television show, especially as it relates to some level of personal crisis.  Case in point, you have Frank O'Hara's Meditations in an Emergency that made quite the splash on Mad Men. Having said that, there is something poignant about it.

Now I am quietly waiting for 

the catastrophe of my personality 

to seem beautiful again, 

and interesting, and modern. 

The country is grey and 

brown and white in trees, 

snows and skies of laughter 

always diminishing, less funny 

not just darker, not just grey. 

It may be the coldest day of 

the year, what does he think of 

that? I mean, what do I? And if I do, 

perhaps I am myself again.

[Meditations in an Emergency - Frank O'Hara]

As thoughts on life evolve, it becomes clear that there is a time to think, there is a time to act, and there ultimately is a time to move on. I believe in the Keep Choppin' mantra, but it might be time to start chopping another tree. And there is nothing inherently wrong with taking a break. In the words of an unknown warrior, "I am hurt but not slain. I'll lay me down and bleed a while. And then I'll rise up and fight again."