Author: jonkphoto

Detroit-local people, product, and food photographer with cinematic style.
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Colorful Effervescence

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Did you know there’s a substantial difference among tonic water, club soda, and sparkling water?  It pretty much boils down to a lack or abundance of sodium bicarbonate and/or high fructose corn syrup.

However, one thing that all 3 of the aforementioned beverages have in common is a LOT of bubbles.

My girlfriend showed me a tutorial video, presented and narrated by this guy –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqBVWlrHqG8  (You wish you had hair like that.)  You can also check out the people he works with here–>  ppsop.com/instructors.aspx

I got pretty stoked about the prospect and went to the local scrap-booking store to pick up a wide array of gaudy colorful backdrops (the gaudiness is subdued due to the shallow depth of field).  So, while I’m fairly pleased with the results, there are certainly some tweaks left to be made.

A re-do to follow!

– Jon

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Oldy but a Goody

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I’ve been gettin’ retroactive lately.

I’ve been feeling the need to restructure my portfolio – trimming down some spots, bulking up some others, creating new categories altogether…  Throughout the process I’ve been looking through my work from early on in my career all the way up to last week.  It’s been fascinating.

One of the trends I notice repeating itself is that of the “completely ridiculous.”  It seems to be a driving force in a lot of my personal work.

Which brings us to the topic at hand.

2 years ago there was a competition for a scholarship; I had to tell a story in 8 images.  As per usual, I put things off and it was dangerously close to the deadline.  Then I got a call from the accepting committee, reminding me that I still had not submitted.  I confirmed that there were still 4 days left to submit.

They corrected me.  It turns out I had gotten the date wrong.  I had less than 36 hours.

With the relentless help of Carl Amyoni, we jumped into action.

In a 30-hour shooting spree we planned the shoot, bought the props, found the locations (3 different cities), shot the pictures, and ran post production.

The project won 2nd place in the nation.

I share with you – NERDMAN.

– Jon

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Minty Fresh Work

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For the next few months I’ll be involved in a set of group assignments.  It’s basically a practical rundown of job delegation (art director, photography, designer, wardrobe, props, location…)  In the end it will provide useful insights into working with a professional team in an environment where everyone has a different opinion and a different eye for art.

These past 2 weeks we’ve been focusing on an ad series for  a household product.  In terms of the specifics, that was about it.  Household product.  3 spreads.

2 other individuals on the team, Ryan Schafer and Nancy Garcia, along with myself decided Listerine, when presented in the right light, could hold some comedic value.

We went with juxtapositions as an a attention-grabber.  Enjoy!

– Jon

And a special thanks to Marcus Samland for releasing his inner nerd in all its glory.

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And now for something slightly different.

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Boy howdy!  Do I love me some minimalist posters.

We have a photography club at my school.  I’m the president.  As such, I spend some time promoting it and designing attention-grabbing visual aids.

I’ve been wanting to do some stuff like this for a while and figured it would be a good excuse.

– Jon

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Foolishly Fun

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Most of you know, but for those who don’t – I rarely shoot weddings.  It happens occasionally, but it’s always a special circumstance (family and friends).

This allows myself and my clients a unique opportunity.  I know them and they know me.  This means I can get closer, more natural reactions, and a more personal level of happiness and humor than would be possible with a clients whose only interactions with me had been business-related.

On April Fools’ Day, with the fantastic help of Ashley Lawler, I shot a fairly unique wedding in Bay City at the Perre Marquette Train Depot.

Check out some of my favorite shots from the day!

-Jon

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Reconsideration

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Well, folks – after a bit of soul searching, a sizable chunk of staring off into the distance, and an overpowering need to get out and take some pictures, I decided it’s time for mighty deal.

I want to create.  I want to create something for YOU.

So, for the next 5 weeks, the deal is as follows:  If you’d like some portraits shot, you get half off the session.  This includes, but is not limited to: you, your kids, you and your significant other, your whole family, your grandmother, your BFF, your dog, you AND your dog…. I think you get the picture.

– Oh and dude(s) – I come to YOU.  There ain’t no sittin’ pretty on a stool in a cheesy studio, with the wafting tunes of (whoever I think you might like), that smells vaguely of Kmart brand vanilla candle.  NO, SIR (or ma’am).  This all happens on your turf (or at a super cool spot if your turf is lacking in creative possibilities).  The point here is that we’re going to have an adventure!

But let’s not forget global warming and oil and what not… don’t make me drive 50 miles, people.

ANYWAY!  Here’s a little doodle I put together for this.  Have a gander.  Send it to your mother (it’s mother’s day soon and she’d LOVE a picture with her precious little bundle of joy), send it to your coworker, your neighbor, your dog… OK, don’t send it to your dog.  That was a bad idea.

I’m rambling now.  Here’s the picture.

I’m in the Detroit area, by the way.

 

– Jon

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Blatant Filler Post

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Hey guys –

Sorry I haven’t gotten a post up in the last few days.  Things got crazy busy over the weekend and they pretty much required my full attention.  BUT DON’T FRET!  As soon as a spare hour or dozen pop up this week, I’ll have some super-awesome stuff to share.

For now, let us dwell on the unseasonably favorable weather we’ve been having.  Even though things have dialed back to a more spring-like temperature (which is good) I still have the upcoming summer right on the forefront of my mind.  Many people think of things like picnics, camping, or family trips.

I love food.

Specifically I like to cook.  A lot.  Grilling too.  OK, not “too.”  If I had my say, almost all of my food would be grilled.  Except soup.  That get’s tricky.

But vegetables.  Grilled vegetables are the way to go in the summer time.  In that regard, I present you with the vision of summer dancing in my head.  And yes – I grilled all these myself.  But not on a grill… on an electric stove.  I did, however eat that garlic.  It was fantastic.

I wish this picture was “click and smell.”

– Jon

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Smokin’ Hot

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I went through some of my old pictures and found a number of pictures with fire.  Fire and people.  But don’t worry – they’re being safe.

So, I’m thinking about starting a new project – a series of self portraits, probably in somewhat obscure locations.

Opinions?

-Jon

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Rockin’ it out.

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This a project that’s been in the works for a few months now.

So my girlfriend collects rocks.  It’s been a topic of debate occasionally (I’m not big on nick knacks).  Most walks in the woods/on the beach/around a field result in overly heavy fanny packs. I’ll admit I complain occasionally.

That said – I take back all my whining.

Rocks are pretty cool.  Did you know obsidian is actually translucent?  Because it’s volcanic glass, and whatnot, you can shoot light THROUGH it.  My gal showed me that… so if you did know, don’t rub it in… OH!  Did you also know that shiny, multi-colored colored one is a massive pain to shoot.  See – the problem with a dark, crystalline rock that reflects at every possible angle, it that you have to find that one, single, solitary, PERFECT spot for the light.  It’s irksome, to say the least.

So, here are some rockin’ pics.  Because these are generic enough, I decided to put them on my fine-art site, JonKArtogrphy.  Stop by and pick up a print if you’d like.

-Jon

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