I picked up a Canon G11 for my current trip back to CT. This sensor has to be the best low light sensor in a point and shoot camera. I fell in love with my Nikon D3 because of it's low light capabilities but often can't take the D3 with me everywhere I want to. The Canon G11will fill that gap. An amazing little camera and the video looks better than the Nikon D5000 I recently tested.

WILLIAM KARL VALENTINE PHOTOGRAPHER

http://www.mocp.org/collections/permanent/winogrand_garry.php

What would Winogrand photograph in todays world? It has been some 25 years since his passing, Zoos & Women are still plentiful but I wonder what other things may have attracted his attention today. I also wonder what he would do with digitial technology, both photographically and with all the different publishing and exhibition options. If he left behind 10,000 undeveloped rolls at the time of his death imagine what that volume of work would have been like if he had access to a few 64GB Compact Flash Cards and some external hard drives while he was still working.

Jennifer Katz Gallery is up now.

www.jenniferkatzgallery.com

I am very excited to be one of her initial Photographers that she is representing.

"Golden Light" has been good recently, maybe I am noticing it more but every afternoon I want to be out photographing something because of the quality of the light. Southern California light seems better in the fall and winter months. I just wish I had more time to search out areas to photograph. Too often I have the light but not much else, then when you press it never seems to work. Chicago, New York, even San Francisco it always comes naturally. I think it is harder to photograph in your own back yard sometimes because you have to make a concious effort to seperate yourself from your daily tasks and forge out on an adventure. I have gotten better at it over the years and the last few times I went photographing in Los Angeles were good, but it is still different somehow than when I am on the road.

Back home after a weekend in Chicago. Warm weather there in November, go figure. Chicago is my favorite city to photograph in. As a street photographer, or documentary photographer, or whatever label you want to give me and my work, this city has it all. Great architecture, interesting people on the streets, and some of the best light. I can't explain it but it works for me. I like NYC as well but it often seems that the buildings are so tighly packed in there that you don't get the same quality of light there. People are interesting and lots of images to be had that can make a statement about the world, but Chicago just seems to have a little more room to work in.

I didn't get in to the City during the day but my D3 was amazing with available light at night down by the river and Michigan Avenue. I know with the technological advances there are pros and cons, but I was reaping the benefits of them this weekend.

Today I wanted to mention another good resource for photographers LensWork. I first found the magazine on a newsstand and was drawn to it because my mentor Bill Jay authored the End Notes for it. Over the years I used the magazine to connect with my past studying under Bill at ASU.

I would encourage you to visit LensWork and take a look at all they offer. I currently subscribe to the Extended version which I get the magazine and a DVD with extra material 6 times a year. It is a fantastic publication and another tool to help "Sharpen the Saw".

http://www.lenswork.com/

Also for anyone who knew Bill Jay, he passed this year, or who wants to learn more about one of the best Historians of Photography I suggest buying the back issue of LensWork 83 or the Extended DVD version which I was able to contribute to.

http://shop.lenswork.com/lenswork83julyaug2009.aspx

http://shop.lenswork.com/lensworkextended83computerdvd-2.aspx

A quick reference today for one of A.D. Coleman's sites: Photocritic International is ideal for anyone who wants to keep up with current issues related to Photography. I had the honor to meet A.D. while I was studying at ASU over 20 years ago and have always found him to be intriguing and entertaining. In my mind he also was the author of the most clear and concise definition of the difference between Documentary Photography, Photojournalism, and Press Photography I have ever read. It was all of two pages long and if I can find a link to that exact document I will share it with you as soon as I get it. In the mean time hopefully you'll have a chance to explore his sites some.

http://nearbycafe.com/artandphoto/photocritic/

Nikon D3S

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/slr/d3s/index.htm

I had an opportunity to see some images from the new Nikon D3S photographed at some of the higher ISO's like 10,000 and 12,800 and they are amazing. I have been impressed by what my D3 does up to 5,000 ISO but the new D3S seems to have raised the bar again. The low light capabilites today are unbelievable.

Fine Art Photo - Updates

It has been some time between posts but here finally is an update.

Within the last week I signed on with the newly established Jennifer Katz Gallery here in Newport Beach. Jennifer has a solid background in Fine Art Photography having worked for Peter Fetterman and several East Coast galleries. When her web site is launched I will post the link.

I also entered into an agreement with Calumet Photographic yesterday for a Solo Exhibition at the Santa Ana store this coming January. The two month long exhibition will feature approximately 20 prints and I will also make a formal announcement for that opening when we establish the date.

This past Spring the Photo World lost one of its greatest historians and story tellers with the passing of Bill Jay. I studied under Bill at Arizona State and he was kind enough to write the afterword for my Santa Anita book. I definately lost a mentor with his passing but luckily he was a proflific writer, as well as a good photographer, and left behind enough material that I can still tap in to his spirit when I need some extra motivation. I trust he is sitting around with Ansel, Stieglitz, and the rest of the greats debating images as I type this. He was the best.