Monthly Archives: July 2012

Thirty Five Years behind the Camera – A Word of Thanks

By splaine | Published July 12, 2012

July 11 is an auspicious day in my calendar.

July 11, 2012 marks a milestone in my career as a photographer.  Thirty five years ago on a sweltering summer day I entered the federal office building in Manchester, NH  a civilian and emerged a few hours a freshly inducted private in the Army. On that day I began my journey to becoming a professorial photographer by volunteering for a four-year enlistment.  I was to become an 84 Bravo, in Army speak. (MOS 84-B = Military Occupation Specialty STILL PHOTOGRAPHIC SPECIALIST).

Private Dan Splaine in the Public Affairs office at Fort Rucker, Alabama in 1978

This photo was made very early in my photography career (1978). At the time of this shot I had just graduated from the US Army still photographic specialist training school at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Co. This was my first photography job! I was attached to the Public Affairs office at Fort Rucker, AL which was the home of Army aviation training. The wall behind me covered with copies of the press photos that I cranked out of the my tiny darkroom.

I spent the summer of 1977 in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in the heart of the Ozark mountains in Missouri.  This experience looms large in my memory .  I was a goofy 17-year-old kid from NH who suddenly found himself in a completely unfamiliar reality.  It was a “Dorothy, we aren’t in Kansas any more” sort of epic paradigm shift.   I learned how to march, I developed some proficiency with weapons and I discovered that there are all kinds of people in this world.  Life has presented few opportunities to show  my marching skills but the weapons thing and the insight into human behavior has come in handy.

From there Uncle Sam sent me to Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora , Colorado for photography school.  To this point in life my academic record could be bets described as erratic.  Most of my reports cards  contained the full range of letters and the classroom never seemed to contain my wandering brain.  This school was different.  My teachers were a mix of civilian and active duty military photographers whose experience as combat photographers ran from  WWII through Viet Nam. This program was intense and thrilling.  This impressive bunch shared their knowledge freely  in exchange for performance.  Every week we had proficiency tests score 80% and up you get to continue in the program.  Score less than 80% and you earn a one way ticket to the infantry,for the remainder of your enlistment.  I maintained a 97% test score average for the entire  nine month program!The peril that I could spend my four years as an infantryman was a factor, although truth be told, I have never been motivated by threats.  What inspired my performance was the passion I witnessed and ultimately embraced  for the craft of photography. The photography instructor’s  enthusiasm was contagious and they required that I respect this vocation that shaped all of their lives.  The lessons they taught, both big and small, have informed my approach to photography every day of my thirty-five years behind the lens.

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those men who trained me so well, who shaped my attitude and gave me a life of photography.  As I reflect on the passing years and consider my experiences: the miles traveled and most importantly the people I have met  due to the camera, the measure of their gift is immeasurable. Happy anniversary to me!

 

 

 

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Test of Time Photography on The Friends of Kevin Radio Show

By splaine | Published July 8, 2012

On Monday (7-9-12)  I will be  Kevin Willett’s   guest on his radio show broadcast on WSMN radio in Nashua, NH.  Kevin is the founder of the FRIENDS OF KEVIN NETWORKING GROUP, a really terrific business networking group that I am a member of.  He connects business people from around the Merrimack valley and southern New Hampshire together with his program of events and activities.

There are two things about this group that make it distinctly different from the other business networking groups I have experienced.   The first is Kevin’s goal of doing some good for the communities while helping members build their businesses.  He opens the group to not for profits, leveraging the network to support their needs in any way possible.

The other feature of the group adds to its effectiveness, is Kevin himself.   This guy is really working on behalf of the members, deploying a mix of technology (social media) and a friendly personal touch.  The FRIENDS OF KEVIN RADIO SHOW, that I am a guest on tomorrow,  is a perfect example of the extra value he provides members.

I am looking forward to our conversation and having a unique platform for getting the word out about my photo services and photography workshops.   Please listen in from 11 to 12 to WSMN 1590 radio to catch his program. I am scheduled from 11:40 to 12:00.

We will be discussing how to use photography for  business communications and social media, specifically how my commercial photography services can add to bottom line. The other topic  we will cover is my program of digital photography workshops and photographer tours. I have a number of events, like the Bronx Zoo Photographer Tour (July 21) and my Photo Walk Workshops that I want to promote to Kevin’s audience.

Kevin Willett in the WSMN radio station in Nashua, NH during his radio broadcast. ©2011 Daniel J. Splaine

(Nashua, NH -€“ Nov, 21, 2011) Kevin Willett, on the air during the Friends of Kevin radio show on WSMN in Nashua, NH. Friends of Kevin is a business development/networking group that serves the business, non-profit and artist communities. The group’s goal is to promote member businesses both online through our website and social media presence, and in person at networking events.
The Friends of Kevin raises awareness of local non profits while allowing our friends to network in a stress free environment. For more information go to www.friendsofkevin.com. Photo courtesy of Dan Splaine -€“ Test of Time Photo ©2011Daniel J. Splaine All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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Fireworks Photography Fun

By splaine | Published July 7, 2012

Fireworks Photography How To

Have some summer fun with your photography!

 

The photography challenge for the members of the IMAGE MAKERS PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS, my meet-up group for photographers, for the month of July is FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Photographers have the month of July to produce new fireworks photos and post them to the event website.  The group is free to join and adult photographers are welcome to register for this event.

The reward for the best submitted image will be a two-hour private photography tutorial session with me at my studio in Nashua, NH.  We will be posting the top five images and the photo that gets the most votes from the public will win.

I am also offering a FREE GUIDE TO FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY that I will send to you via email.  Send a message with your first and last name to info@testoftimephoto.com  with the word “fireworks” in the subject line.  I will reply with a message that includes the PDF photo guide document.

Go to the event website to check out the photos already posted by other photographers.  For complete details and to join in this challenge CLICK HERE:

Fourth of July Fireworks display in Nashua. NH. Photographer Dan Splaine captured this image as part of the July photo Challenge presented by TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY ©2012 Daniel J. Splaine

Join in the IMAGE MAKERS PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP for the July 2012 photography challenge – FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY for a chance to win a two-hour private photography tutoring session with photographer Dan Splaine. ©2012 Daniel J. Splaine – All rights reserved

 

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test image sale

By splaine | Published July 6, 2012

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To Become a Better Photographer Look at Photography Critically

By splaine | Published July 5, 2012

A tip for improving your photography

Do you ever look at the photography in magazine and on websites and think “why does this image look this good”?   Are you wondering why your photographs seem to lack the impact that you see in  professionally made photographs?   Let me first say that if you are asking these questions, if you are thinking critically about your photography – Congratulations!

 

Good photography is thoughtfully conceived and executed.   Devoting time looking at other photographers work and finding inspiration and insight in those images is an important way to improve you own photography.   Now, I am not suggesting that you mimic or outright rip off the work of other photographers.  My advice is to develop your critical eye, to learn how to find the qualities in an image that make it successful.  Use that insight to inform your own creative process and approach to image making.

How do we define an image as successful?  My standard for success is very straightforward: the viewer response.  If you make a photo that engages the viewer, which captures their attention and elicits a response, you are successful.  If the viewer is distracted by a technical flaw or bored, you’re not.  A response can be cognitive – your photo makes them think, emotional it evokes a feeling or perhaps they become engrossed in narrative the story in your photo.

Good photography engages the viewer, it captures their attention. Good photography also inspires, entertains and is a catalyst for action.  For example the photography of Lewis Hine (1874-1940) who used photography as tool of social reform.  His photography directly led to child labor law reforms because of the impact they had on the public awareness of the issue.

When you look at photography made by others begin to deconstruct the visual elements and creative techniques employed in its creation.  Break down the building blocks, the creative components of the shot. Analyze lighting sources  – quality and direction, subject features, composition, optical choices, camera position, color, tone, mood, emotion and all the features of the image.  Consider the relationship of these elements and the impression they have on you – the viewer.  Use those insights when you make your photography.  Identify the elements in your scene and use your critical assessment skills to arrange them in your camera frame.

Photographer and photo educator Dan Splaine of Test of Time Photography in Nashua, New Hampshire. ©2012Daniel J. SplaineABOUT the AUTHOR:  Photographer Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience creating original photography for corporations, institutions and individuals. He operates TEST OF TIME PHOTOGRAPHY in Nashua New Hampshire, a commercial photography and corporate assignment photography services company.  A live action and location photography specialist, he is most noted for his photography of people.  His assignments have involved travel to dozens of countries and at locations throughout the United States. ranging from tropical rainforests to the hall of Congress.

Dan Splaine is also a photography educator and  he presents a program of digital photography workshops and photographer tours.  The tours and workshops are held in New England and at international locations.

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What Photography Students Say About My Photo Workshops And Photographer Tours.

By splaine | Published July 2, 2012

Ten testimonials from some of the photographers who have attended one of my recent digital photography workshop and photographer tours. 

I present a program of photography education for adult photographers of all skill levels.  I host my digital workshops at my studio in Nashua, NH and at locations throughout New England.   The photographer tour I organize at locations in New England as well at international locations.

Listed below are some of the testimonials posted by my photography students on the website of the IMAGE MAKERS PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP meet-up group I run. These comments are much appreciated and I think they show the level of positive experience my photo workshops offer to my photography students

 

“It was a great class. Dan was very informative. I really enjoy his easy-going and comical personality/instruction. He makes confusing concepts very easy to understand. Perfect Boston sites for this workshop.”  Izzy S.

“OMG, this was such an AWESOME Class! Dan was AWESOME! I learned so much and had so much fun! And I’m looking at my pictures now and I am SO PLEASED! They came out incredible! Thank you so much for your time and sharing your knowledge Dan!!! “  Erica M.

“A great opportunity to see Boston in a different light (pun intended!). Dan provides the foundation before letting us loose to shoot, then provides whatever amount of supervision/advice each person wants. Definitely recommend”  Marian

 “A lot of really awesome work to review this month! Dan’s informative comments about each participant’s individual shots are so helpful. These meetups are a great way to share knowledge and learn how-to’s from other photographers. Again, thanks Dan for putting all the time in and being so willing to share your knowledge.”  Sharon R.

 ”I always take away at least a few new ideas from Dan’s classes and this workshop not only did that but gave me a great way to challenge myself even more with a handout that included exercises. Thanks again, Dan.” Corinne C

 “Had a great day and shot some decent images. Now to work on editing. Met some new people, practiced a new technique, shot some good images, had a great lunch and got exercise. Can’t ask for more…Thanks Dan it was really great”   Laurie L-B

 “A very welcoming, fun, casual gathering of budding photographers,lead by a pro who graciously lends his time, studio space, knowledge and humor to the group. I’m looking forward to next month’s meeting”  Linda L.

 “Great weekend full of information and techniques…and the ability to go out and try these tips. It was wonderful that if we needed one-on-one assistance Dan was there to help. Thanks very much for a successful photo weekend getaway.”   Christine C

 “Thanks, Dan, for the well-presented workshop and accompanying worksheets. You’re great explaining all the points and oh, so patient with the queries.”  Jeanne P.

 “I loved the informal setting. It was very easy to ask questions and the discussions were very informative. I walked away with a better understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. And also learned some valuable tips. I loved this workshop” Angela Smith

Digital photography workshop at the TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY studio in Nashua, NH. The photo class is one of the many offered by professional photographer Dan Splaine at the studio and locations throughout New England. ©2012 Daniel J. Splaine - All Rights Reserved

 

My digital photography education program for adults includes field photography, studio photography, on-location sessions involving a range of photography topics. The photo tours are held in interesting locations and events around New England. For more information contact me at info@testoftimephoto.com  or visit the TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY website and add yourself to my email list.

Thanks to all the photography student who attended one of my recent workshops and photo tours.  A special thanks to all of you who posted sch positive comments and testimonials. I look forward to seeing you at your nest photo workshop.  _ Thanks, Dan

 

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