Less Is More

The sound of my voice freaks me out!

2012-01-18T10:10:00.000-05:00

When Agency Access asked me to do a podcast about my experience with the campaign manager pro program, my brain heard interview... not voice recording. Alas, it didn't turn out too bad and I even sound like I know what I am talking about most of the time! check it out HERE if you dare, it's only 4 minutes.

It's Contest season! Are they good and necessary or just revenue builders? The answer is Yes.

2012-01-17T13:01:00.000-05:00

I have always thought that entering contests was very important, a relatively cheap and easy way to get your work in front of people who hire photographers. But it can get expensive FAST, just look at the first awards Due for the ADC, $100 for a single image. ouch. My contest budget has typically been $600/year and in the past couple years I have tried to rain that in. Sorry ADC, it's not me, it's you. They certainly have the best design and Ads for their contests but even as a professional I think it is too much.

Extended Deadline = January 20th

Single image = $100

Series = $150

Interactive = $250/300

www.adcawards.org

Deadline = January 25th

Single images = $45

Series = $55

Video = yes

www.pdnphotoannual.com

Deadline = January 27th

Single image = $35

Series = $95

Video upload as 10 still images = $95

www.ai-ap.com/cfe/

Deadline = March 16th

Single image = $35

Series = $70

Video = 80/160

www.commarts.com/competitions/photography

Early Bird Deadline = April 30th

Single image = $35

Series = $60

Each additional category = $25

Deadline = May 2012

Details not yet available

www.graphis.com

Deadline in March/May?

www.newyorkphotoawards.com

Time for a Snack?

2012-01-12T15:46:00.000-05:00

The above shots are published in Spirit Magazine. The Cheese Balls image is from my stop motion video, "BALLS!"

Food Photography on PDN

2012-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Kilberg is a consultant I work with, she has an article on PDN's Photoserve about Food Photograpy, see the whole thing Here.

Be Safe & Have a Happy Holiday Season

2011-12-30T16:02:00.000-05:00

Every year I try to decide what to use as a holiday card, this year I knew the minute I took the shot. This comes from the gift guide I did for Fast Company this fall. See Fast Co Holiday post. The question is not only what image to use but who to send it to. With email and Facebook here to serve us, it is easy to reach many people. In the past I have sent thousands of printed pieces as well as thousands of emails. But in an effort to make it a bit more personal I am printing out about 50 and mailing them to my existing clients. I am also posting it here and therefore it will be on my Facebook page. I will stick with this plan for next year as well I think.

It has been a wonderful year and I am very grateful to all my clients, business partners, family and friends.

Thank you.

Whisky Advocate for the Holidays

2011-12-20T10:48:00.000-05:00

Whisky Advocate Magazine

I shot this with Art Director John Thompson in a New Jersey warehouse. I got to see my entire studio on a pallet lifted and carted around by forklift... not something you see every day. I hadn't counted on the temperature being so cool but that makes sense of course. Also, not too many restaurants in the warehouse districts... next time we will brown bag it! A special thank you to the photo editor, Sarina Finkelstein.

I wasn't aware Whisky needed and advocate, ha ha. A "new" magazine by the publisher of Cigar Aficionado and Wine Spectator, Whisky Advocate was a publication in a different form called Malt Advocate. When M Shanken purchased the publication they rightly changed the name. One big consideration... Whiskey or Whisky? There must have been a few meetings about that one.

Whisky (Scottish English and British English) or whiskey (Irish English and American English)

Popular Mechanics - The Secret War

2011-12-15T14:42:00.001-05:00

USB fabrication and ammo procurement by Megan Caponetto

The iPad version

Ho Ho Holy Moly Batman, we've been busy. A behind the scenes look at last week.

2011-12-13T12:18:00.001-05:00

The first shot is from a typical cosmetic/product set using my ol trusty 4x5 in my studio. I use the Kapture Group's sliding back adaptor for my Phase one Back. This set is a 4 light configuration, about as ambitious as I ever get. The soft box pointed towards the background provides the main light indirectly by bouncing of the paper. I have one light with a grid spot shooting through each sheet of plexi, frosted side facing product for nice highlights. Finally, a wee kick from an overhead light with a 10 degree grid spot for that little somethin extra. The black cards peeking in the sides provide a darker edge on the product which helps hold detail in the edges. I use mainly Broncolor in the studio and Dyna Lite studio heads on location, this shot uses both.

Below is the prodigious and tremendous props stylist, Ed Gallagher, attempting to work a little magic with some really cheap ribbon. We have just finished the Gift Guide season, on to Valentine's Day! In this shot, Ed is trying to work his magic below my Fuji GX680II, also adapted to my phase back with the help of the Kapture Group. I really should have swung the camera out of his way since it is mounted on my camera stand. I own two, a big beautiful FOBA stand and a small, much cheaper Cambo. I have a pretty small studio these days and I have my FOBA on permanent loan to Evan Kafka's Some Studio, a terrific rental studio in NYC where I shoot often.

A grey card color checker shot from my Valentine's Day shoot for Ethel M (Mars) Chocolates. The above shot is achieved with only two lights, a medium Super Pro Chimera soft box pointed back and the background, and a small fill light. As well as a heavy handed use of fill cards and flags.

Above and below we have the talented and extremely funny food stylist, Brian Preston-Campbell, attempting to arrange some root vegetables. This was being shot directly overhead with my Canon 5D MarkII using a combo of natural light and strobe. It was a partly cloudy day, one of the trickiest when using day light as the exposure and quality of the light bounce all over the place... even with the use of an excellent daylight rental studio such as A Loft NYC. Here I have a Profoto Beauty Dish with diffusion bouncing of the wall/window/ceiling adding an extra bit to my long exposure. I have my Profoto dish converted to Dynalite, an easy process. And when the sun came out I suspended the 1 stop silk you can see off to the left side across the back of the set. I love me a big Mathews silk.

lots of dishes to choose from for my Shop Smart shoot...

My lovely and new tricked out 27" iMac. I used to travel with a laptop and Eizo monitor but this machine is great to travel with and it's all one piece. I still have 3 ColorEdge Eizo monitors in the studio, they are by far the best monitors I have ever used and carry a 5 year warranty.

Above is what you do when you don't have a camera stand to secure your camera with while shooting overhead. Here I have a Mathews C-Stand gripping the stud from a SuperClamp's threaded pin. It is my personal belief that Everyone should own 5 Century Stands, preferably Mathews. What can I say, I started assisting in LA where they used 2 C stands for everything.

Below is a shot of a recent set of crumbled cosmetics. There are stylists that specialize in this and I have used a few, but I mainly do this sort of thing myself. It is one of the reasons I love photography, it is hands on! I have a whole set of dental tools I use for both cosmetics and diamonds but below you can see tweezers and a butter knife I found at the rental studio. It was perfect as it had a real thin and flexible surface. I joked with my assistants that I was going to steal this from Go Studios where I was shooting, I hope they didn't actually do that... time to check the kit. If I have it Halley I will bring it back :) - Halley Ganges is the owner of Go Studios and a wonderful photographer as well.

And finally, the 3 shots used to make a Cover Try image for Consumer Reports magazine, final below. The hardest part of this shot was not rigging the shredder, but shredding the paper in a way that matched my sketch to the Creative Director. They chose 3 of my 6 sketches and in the end liked two, this one and another of a $ embossed on a boxing glove.

retouching, as always, by Nathan Kipe at Every Pixel Counts.

A Fast Company Holiday

2011-12-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

We did the gift guide this year for Fast Company Magazine, a fun and crazy job. A special thanks to Jen Everett, prop stylist and to my trusty assistant, Nicole Cordier. Below the tear sheet is the shot I liked better but the one they picked is nice too.

Below is my favorite shot of the whole shoot along with the published version. There is something extremely pleasing about all the string holding those books in place and the fact that I did that in camera.

and some of the others...

Have Sex, Live Longer

2011-11-29T16:03:00.000-05:00

My second Dr. Oz story this year (see other post here). This one is for the amazing AARP, the magazine.

Jen Everett, Stylist

Nathan Kipe, Retouching

Elizabeth Fleming, help with Concepts & Sketches

I have kids, so 8pm is not so good.... but Yeah!

And now for something about photography - Contests

2011-11-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

It's an age old conundrum, like portfolio reviews, do they really help or are they just revenue builders?

The answer is Yes.

Comedian Lewis Black swears for the ADC. I wasn't going to enter this year, but now I just might F+*@ing have to.

Speaking of contests, I found out this month that I am included in the 2012 Graphis Photo Annual which will come out in early 2012. I love Graphis and it is a nice honor.

Art Direction - Ed Levine

Styling - Jen Everett & James Worrell

Client - Psychology Today Magazine

I have been included in Graphis Books a number of times over the years, below is

one of my favorites from them. I mean really, what still life photographer doesn't love

taking pictures of flowers?!

Graphis.com

Adam Ant, Michael Bolton & Antonio Banderas - This has nothing to do with photography.

2011-11-22T10:59:00.001-05:00

I had a procedure yesterday which required putting me under for a short while, when I woke up and was leaving the doctors office they said No Driving and No business decisions. All I can so is No Kidding!

I got home and saw on FaceBook that Adam Ant is no longer in a mental institution and is in fact touring for the first time in over 15 years. I saw him perform in Omaha, Nebraska when I was 15 and it was awesome. Two distinct memories: 1) somebody lighting someone's hair on fire...(actually, I know who it was but the names shall remain anonymous to protect the innocent...or not so innocent). 2) Adam helping me out of the crush of the crowd and standing beside me when the concert got out of hand and was stopped by the police. He really is only 5 feet tall.

ANYWAY, stay with me here, I looked up some old videos and saw the insanely stupid, yet somehow appealing version of Puss n Boots he did during his Strip/Phil Collins stage, and I watched it over and over again, laughing. It made me think of the new movie Puss In Boots which I took my kids to see last weekend, really quite good actually. My kids have been walking sound bites for days now and for a change I don't find it annoying. But it got me thinking, what's with all the pirate stuff? This of course prompted me to watch the SNL Michael Bolton/Jack Sparrow video about 10 times. So good.

I then watched various odd clips on Vimeo until I passed out from exhaustion... moral of this story? Keep those drugs away from me!

And, have a Happy Thanks Giving!

Michael Bolton as Jack Sparrow kissing a feathered friend.

"It's bound to end in tears" Adam Ant - Puss n Boots

"That's Good Leche"

"He's the kind of guy that will take you home and F*&! you twice."

Happy Birthday Edith James Worrell

2011-11-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

8 years ago today my life got that much better.

Binge Drinking Kills

2011-11-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

Just received a nice tear sheet for a feature in Good Housekeeping Magazine, my thanks to Photo Director Bill Swan. A favorite shot in the portfolio comes from this shoot... sad that it derives from such a tragedy.

Thanks to Jen Everett, prop stylist, for her shot glass pyramid building techniques!

Directly below is the shot in my portfolio, all in camera, no fancy photoshop work. Below that are the other shots they took pieces from to build the shot they ended up printing in the magazine. It looks great but I'm glad it wasn't me that had to change the background color in post.

Action shot.

O, Oh, Oprah! My images in the December issue.

2011-11-15T10:30:00.004-05:00

Homeland Security

2011-11-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

A few recent shots that really make me happy

Props by Megan Caponetto

Cheap can sometimes be a good thing

2011-10-24T11:31:00.000-04:00

This may seem a little odd, but one of my favorite jobs is a yearly budget beauty story for Family Circle Magazine. I like it not because it is a multiple full page feature, that is nice of course. But it is always a challenge to create a nice sculpture out of these piles of products. Still Life photography, at its core, is nothing but a 2D sculpture that draws you in. I love it and hopefully I am usually successful.

Speak the Truth

2011-10-20T13:06:00.000-04:00

Time Magazine has been one of my best clients over the years, giving me my first job in 1994 (which I shot on my kitchen table). A new Direct Mail Card and E-Promo went out this week utilizing one of my favorite conceptual images I have produced for them.

The other e promos that went out:

Shot for L'Oreal - R/GA

Shot in St. Croix, USVI

Shot for stock

This is your brain on Drugs...

2011-10-13T17:24:00.000-04:00

A recent tear sheet made me ponder some of my favorite shoots involving Drugs + Alcohol...

For Mother Jones, a story about Sativa, a prescription spray.

Rolling Stone... seems fitting. Although these were legal drugs.

Above and below, images made for PROTO. The journal for Mass General Hospital.

Child Magazine

And then there are the booze shots... you can't really be a still life photographer and not shoot alcohol.

One of a series of Ads I shot of Bacardi 8. And no, the smoke is not real... totally faked in PhotoShop.

I have worked with Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado since the early 90s

For Good Housekeeping believe it or not, story about how 15 shots killed a teenager. Never got a tear sheet...

From one of my stop motion videos called "Cheers". It's about binge drinking and it's nice and short,

WTF? Great name for a Vodka in my opinion.

For American Express and Ogilvy

Drinkers earn more than non-drinkers... or so the article claimed.

Psychology Today

How can you save money? Stop drinking. For AARP.

I don't like nostalgia unless it's mine. ~Lou Reed

2011-10-03T09:53:00.000-04:00

I often wax nostalgically about the good ol days of photography, much to my assistants chagrin. But in particular, even though I was an early adopter of digital workflow, I miss the 4x5 camera. It was and is the perfect format in my opinion. And I often still use my 4x5 which is adapted to my Phase One back, but somehow it's not quite the same.

Imagine my surprise when I got a package on Friday full of old 4x5 film I shot, the magazine had discovered an old filing cabinet full of film during their recent move. I don't get too many film returns these days, the last job I shot film on was in 2005/6. And that client was a real hold out. This sleeve with 4x5 Ektachromes is from 1999, I did a lot of precarious stacking of valuable items back then... and I still do!

Super Deli: Direct Mail + Emailer

2011-09-29T09:27:00.001-04:00

I have been out on meetings and in the studio shooting, working it from both sides these past few weeks... and it feels good!

www.JamesWorrell.net

The Evolution of a Picture...

2011-09-26T09:42:00.000-04:00

To collect photography is to collect the world. - Susan Sontag

2011-09-16T09:22:00.001-04:00

The TEN from Jennifer Schwartz Gallery is a great opportunity to get a collection of expertly curated photography at a fantastic price. I am pleased to spread the word of Elizabeth Fleming, my better half, and her addition to the TEN collectors series. There are other good collections here including the work of Laura Griffin, check it out.

Prints are archival inkjet printed on the Epson 11880 on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper and signed by the artist. All prints are approved by Jennifer Schwartz Gallery before delivery and guaranteed to the same high standards as all of our exhibited work. Images on The Ten cannot be sold in any other size in any other location. Once an image is included in The Ten, it is retired from sale. The only opportunity to purchase this image is on the website for The Ten, and once 25 are sold, it is sold out forever.

All photos © Elizabeth Fleming

Some things never get old

2011-09-14T10:45:00.006-04:00

I am not of the Boomer generation but there were a couple

objects I photographed for this story that brought me back.

In particular, I was a Rubik's Cube master, if I do say so myself.

And now, my daughters love the mood rings and have

decimated the poor Slinky. The PEZ dispenser... Who

doesn't love cheap artificially flavored candy?

all photographs © James Worrell, 2011

AARP article

TIME Magazine - Dr Oz.

2011-09-02T15:45:00.000-04:00

Just released today for the holiday weekend! Enjoy the last days of summer...

Crary Pullen: Photo Editor

Ed Gabriels - Food Stylist

Stylist: Rachel Hornaday

Village Voice Cover

2011-08-30T15:56:00.001-04:00

Art Direction: John Dixon

Styling & Photography: James Worrell

My personal hurricane, June Lindhardt turns 5. You are loved!

2011-08-30T15:34:00.000-04:00

Born August 29th, 2006, I am a day late posting due to the hurricane. Fitting.

My MagCloud food portfolio is being used in their marketing!

2011-08-12T09:55:00.002-04:00

go to James Worrell on MagCloud HERE.

Dog Days of Photography

2011-08-10T16:50:00.000-04:00

Martin Usborne

Carli Davidson

James Worrell

Dog Days of Summer Travel

2011-08-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

This time of year brings a handful of family trips. Life is full of swimming, ice cream, cousins, grand parents, bubbles, s'mores, ghost stories, temper tantrums and airplanes. We follow the kids around like a detachment of Secret Service attending their needs, and watch them explore and grow up. From the fields of Iowa to the plains of Oklahoma summer already feels like it is coming to an end.

New e-Promos

2011-06-30T11:00:00.001-04:00

Out this week! Part of a year long effort that will be followed up

with direct mail, phone calls and meetings.

See you soon!

Big News - Big Leo!

2011-06-28T10:41:00.000-04:00

It is with great satisfaction that I announce my new commercial representation by Big Leo Productions. In the interest of keeping this short and sweet, Mary Dail has a great team and a group of artists on the forward edge of photography, styling and design, and I am happy to be part of it! Below are a few of my favorites.

Carrie Purcell, Food Stylist

Hector Sanchez

Andrea Wyner

Scott Horne, prop stylist

Ed Gallagher, prop stylist

Paul Lowe, creative direction

Testy Testy

2011-06-23T10:10:00.000-04:00

As photographers we are told by our agents to test, test, test! Some of us do, most of us don't, I do but not as often as I would like. At the present moment in the photo world video is all the rage, and over the past two years it has consumed me. It is one of the only things that has kept me sane in this crappy economy.

James Worrell Videos

Way back in 92 when I was a wee assistant I worked briefly with Craig Cutler as an assistant producer, I was then and still am very impressed by the prolific testing that man does, still! A lessor person might be jealous and competitive but I find myself just shaking my head in amazement. I have a hard enough time finding time to pay bills let alone test every week. That's right, CC52 is a personal project Craig is currently working on to test every week for a year. Currently he is on week 12. Whether or not you like his work, I certainly think it is inspiring. And although his "thinking creative" tag line on his site is very close to my Photography for Thinking, I still think he's alright.

family, a great problem to have

2011-06-20T11:15:00.001-04:00

There is a tendency in this modern society of ours to constantly show a representation of the happy family. We put on that best camera face and grab the kids, praying they will behave long enough to get at least one picture we can put on the holiday card and send to Grandma. I guess that is all well and good, I mean, it has it's place. I certainly remember being cajoled into what seemed an endless family photo as a kid just like everyone else.

Yet, it is the other moments that interest me the most. The one's where life is actually happening. I spent the weekend at the beach like a secret service agent, keeping a watchful eye, trying to get them to eat anything besides chicken fingers and french fries, hoping they will go to bed after eating the largest ice cream cone on earth, playing referee, playing games, laughing... just being.

I am filled with the simple gratitude of having a family and all of these little concerns, and joys. I am overcome with happiness that both my girls still want to hold my hand, most of the time. And I revel in the fact that they need me, at least for now. And that makes a wonderful Father's Day.

Who's Your Daddy?

2011-06-08T14:20:00.000-04:00

Out now and just in time for Father's Day are the shots we recently did for Cocoon's GRID-IT! It was a really fun shoot, a special thanks to those involved:

Jason at The Harrison Rand Agency

Jen Everett - Prop Stylist

Big Leo Productions

There is a fun game you can play if you are obsessive at all!

GRID-IT Game

Here is the original shot from my favorite set up of the day before being used in the layout:

Fresh from the oven

2011-06-02T16:25:00.000-04:00

A few nice new tearsheets from Shop Smart and Travel + Leisure magazines.

I have an unnatural aversion to mustard, and on this day we shot many, many, many shots... all containing mustard. But I am a professional and we all got through it ok!

Brain Preston-Campbell - food

Lynda White - props

We did 3 versions of this specially embroidered hotel robe, personally I liked the folded one the best. But the stylist, Barbara Eisen from Halley Resources, was excellent making all three shine. Even the one with my assistant Alex as the model!

The Numbers

2011-05-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite clients is Spirit Magazine, the magazine from SouthWest Airlines. From time to time I do the imagery for a page called, The Numbers. They send me the statistic(s), a loose concept, and a deadline. The rest is up to me, love it!

I don't care if you think working for an in-flight magazine might be perceived as not being the best, but I am here to tell you, in this magazine climate, they are among the most creative. Sure, you won't get rich in the editorial world anymore but I love it still.

idea 1

idea 2

final retouched file

Salt image above is an out-take from this shoot for Chicago Magazine

'Inside' by George & Stephie Lange

2011-05-20T10:44:00.000-04:00

http://langestudio.com/videos/inside

A new stop-motion, Flip Books George calls them, about his son Asher. George's flip books were, and still are, a main source of inspiration for my own work. His energy and enthusiasm about his own work is infectious. LangeStudio.com

Change is Good!

2011-05-18T15:54:00.000-04:00

I am most creative when I am creating, it gets me unstuck, gets the juices flowing. I have new things coming, announcements to make. soon. In the meantime, here is a new shot I made on friday paired with the recent ESPN bow image I recently took. I love thinking about images in pairs. And yes, that shot did make a big mess.

www.jamesworrell.net

I love my job. I hate blogger.

2011-05-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

I made this exact post yesterday and last night it vanished, blogger claims it doesn't exist. This happened to the post I did yesterday on my other blog about my family. What up Blogger? Anyway, here is... again. This is my 353rd, or 354th, post. Perhaps it is time to migrate on over to Tumblr or WordPress.

While on set a couple weeks ago shooting food for a regular client, I received a call from ESPN. Can you drive upstate and photograph a Bow & Arrow for our Danger issue... and can you do it yesterday? Of course we can! After taking the child seats out of my van and putting the studio in, Alex and I drove to the home of a three time Olympic medal winner. Before last week I knew exactly zip about the Hoyt Contender Elite Compound Bow. And while I am no fan of hunting, I grew up in a city and am used to my food being processed, I have new found respect for sportsmen, hunters and the technical beauty of these contraptions. My photo above appears in the issue seen below:

ESPN, The Magazine May 2011

Holy Cr@p, remember this?

We rigged, lit and shot two different Bows in the living room of a wonderful A-frame house. I am still not sure how I would have shot these the way I wanted to without that living room.

My audience for the shoot included a Bison and friends.

Full Page Baby

2011-05-05T10:47:00.001-04:00

Once again I have to thank my awesome, get it done crew for Consumer Report's Shop Smart Magazine:

Karen Shinbaum - Photo Editor

Brian Preston - Campbell - Food Stylist

Miako Katoh - Prop Stylist

Tammy Fernandez - Art Director

Karla Griffin - Assistant Prop Stylist

Alex Wasilewski - Photo Assistant

Shannon Janelle-Cohen - Photo Assistant

ShopSmartMag.org

The Art of Daily Life

2011-04-28T12:53:00.001-04:00

I am happy to have received a copy of the exhibition catalog from the Cleveland Museum of Art featuring many of my photographs. What a rare treat it is these days to hold in your hands such a beautifully printed piece. I was never one for African Art back in school but I have developed a new found appreciation working with Constantine Petridis from the museum, and Dori from Jacaranda Tribal here in NYC. Over the past three years I have been amazed by the works, and challenged by photographing these pieces.

The Art of Daily Life is currently on display at the Cleveland Museum of art and collectors can see more examples by visiting Jacaranda Tribal's site too.

The Art of Daily Life

Cleveland Museum of Art

Jacaranda Tribal

War, What is it good for? Absolutely Nothing.

2011-04-20T18:26:00.000-04:00

"In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO."

...Tim Hetherington's last Twitter update.

Killed today in Libya. Aged 41. R.I.P.

A photojournalist with amazing subtle beauty and grace in his photographs, he made a living making the worst things human. He will be sorely missed. Goddammit.

WAR by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong 1969, Originally recorded by the Temptations.

Life is where you are, what you are doing right now... and oh yeah, stop driving so fast!

2011-04-18T13:17:00.001-04:00

Watch on YouTube HERE

From Agency 303 in Perth, Australia and featured on Ads of the World.net,

comes this beautiful three minute ad that nobody in a hurry will

ever sit down to watch. Too bad, it is really well done.

Slow Down.

Central Park 8:00 am

2011-04-14T09:16:00.000-04:00

Light My Fire

2011-04-05T17:04:00.000-04:00

The concept of a Fondue restaurant brings to mind the memory of 1970s pea green fondue pots with flowers on the side. However, after being commissioned to shoot the Melting Pot restaurant, my picture of a fondue party has been updated.

©JamesWorrell

2011-04-05T16:39:00.000-04:00

Out today and only 7 bucks for the download on Amazon.

Gretchen Parlato by David Bartolomi

"You see, if you don't take money, they can't tell you what to do." - Bill Cunningham

2011-03-31T17:12:00.000-04:00

held over at the Film Forum NYC until April 7

www.billcunninghamnewyork.com

watch trailer Here.

Cheers! a short stop motion video about binge drinking

2011-03-23T10:34:00.001-04:00

see it Here

A Nice Behind the Scenes Video of Jim Bastardo Shooting DWR

2011-03-17T17:04:00.000-04:00

MagCloud Booth at SXSW

2011-03-15T18:03:00.000-04:00

See the above MagCloud here.

MagCloud from HP is highlighting one of my pieces at SXSW this week, pretty groovy to say the least. I made this one a couple years ago, "Food for Thinking. Drinking. Eating." If you haven't checked out MagCloud, head over there now. Their quality is better than Blurb and it is a lot cheaper. Thx MagCloud!

Heros?

2011-03-09T16:25:00.000-05:00

Recently I was asked who my heros are and why. Man, what a question. A bit like asking who your favorite band is... there is no one answer. Some days it is one thing, some days another. As a photographer, my first inclination is to list the photographers I first fell in love with way back when in school..

©Andres Serrano

Eyes in the back of your head...

2011-03-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

OMG, as the kids say...

New York artist an NYU professor surgically implants a

photo mount on the back of his head. says it hurts! omg.

see it here

Willis Avenue Bridge by Stephen Mallon

2011-03-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

Now That's what I'm talkin about!

A great stop motion video by Stephen Mallon.

See it HERE

8 cent check

2011-02-28T13:28:00.000-05:00

Best check I have ever gotten, and with postage being $.44,

one can only marvel at its beauty.

Build a better online portfolio with Stella Kramer

2011-02-28T12:08:00.001-05:00

As photographers we need to be smarter about marketing, take a listen to Stella's Webinar with PhotoShelter here. A lot of this stuff you have heard before but we photographers are a thick bunch sometimes and we need to be reminded the world doesn't revolve around our brains.

What are your goals? What do you want to be shooting? Ask yourself the hard questions.

Stella's site can be seen here.

More Work Less Waste

2011-02-22T17:28:00.001-05:00

In the ongoing debate on wether email promos work better than mailed pieces I think this illustrates things perfectly: I once had an art buyer ask me to email a copy of the promo I had sent in the mail. I managed to get this person on the phone during my follow up calls and they thought they could remember it but could I email it to them? I also had an art buyer complain about email campaigns and then tell me to keep sending them to her.

What works best? How are we to find work?

Then there was the time an agent suggested I take a certain yoga class in order to buddy up to an art director. I told her stalking was creepy and that was the end of that.

There is not one thing that works anymore, we have to think multi-platform. But one thing remains the same, if you don't have engaging work, your work is going to be Junk Mail. And this video is engaging...

First-Stop.org

I am a bit late coming to this video posted by A Photo Editor, and when I look at it I get really angry. Not because of the environment, and not because nothing works, but because I should have shot the video! It is really cool, check out his work here.

The web site, first-stop.org, does have a catchy tag line: "More Work Less Waste". However, the site itself has the feel of a run of the mill stock site with ugly green type. I mean, why would a creative want to go clicking away through this site? This is just my opinion remember, so don't get your skirt in a twirl.

It is just another thing, just another possible tool. I can't imagine somebody would advertise on this site and then not send out promos. So, Less Waste is debatable. I liked some of the comments on APhotoEditor.com,

"If you care about the environment and want to go green then stay off the plane..." & "One art director can easily generate thousands and thousands of pounds of waste per week. I wouldn’t worry about your super targeted oversized postcard".

There is just no way to get work than to go get it yourself. And you will not be motivated to go get it yourself unless you feel good about your work. So get back to work and keep shooting. If the gods don't reward you for your troubles and you have to be a janitor to survive, then be a happy janitor who loves photography goddammit.

Music

2011-02-16T14:13:00.002-05:00

As a visual artist music informs what I see more than anything, always has. At the age of 18 my beginning photography professor asked me what influenced my simple, stark style? Bauhaus I replied. The movement he asked? No, the band I said. Silence. I guess like a lot of teenage boys all I wanted was to be a rock star. I saw photography as the next best, practical thing. (laugh track goes here).

Polly Jean Harvey has been a favorite of mine since her explosion on the scene in 1992. Very few artists keep the attention of critics and fans for this long...

The new album, "Let England Shake" is a grown up record that doesn't leave me feeling like she has compromised her ideals. The fact that she got a record deal initially is amazing enough, but angry gurl rock was popular then.

view it here

Nice interview with NPR's Terry Gross here

Pitchfork review here

This review mentions the influence of Bjork and Kate Bush, I see hints of Siouxsie and the Banshees as well.

view it here.

From Vespertine, my favorite Bjork album. Watch it here.

And Kate Bush... I dunno. It's a great video though!

Watch it here.

be mine

2011-02-14T12:16:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy this short stop motion video, co-directed by my 7 year old making her directorial debut!

More images from the Village Voice cover shoot, © James Worrell

Happy Birthday...

2011-02-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

...to my amazingly talented wife, Elizabeth Fleming!

"All the single ladies..."

2011-02-09T09:54:00.001-05:00

It was great fun working with AD John Dixon at the Village Voice on this story, not too often one has to work with a bear trap. (Thanks to State Supply Props for that). And props to my retoucher Nate.

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not

2011-01-28T15:33:00.000-05:00

What is better than one Mac Pro in the shop for repairs?

TWO Mac Pros in the shop for repairs of course.

Hear me oh Mac gods, I surrender.

R.I.P.

2011-01-17T15:18:00.000-05:00

Frida

11/9/01 - 01/15/11

Born two days before 9/11 she left us two days before MLK day.

Being a dachshund, Frida had a proclivity for back problems. Almost two years ago she survived surgery and made an almost complete recovery. In the time since that surgery she aged quite a bit becoming gray on her nose, slowing down, and developing a heart condition. And although I knew she probably wouldn't live too many years longer I was completely shocked at how suddenly she left us. Last Tuesday she slipped another disk and couldn't move her back legs. She was in so much pain and we could not in good conscious put her through another operation at her age. She died in our arms, happy to see us, her people. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

Frida was one of my longest companions and she went to work with me every day, often sitting on power cords and power packs. She of course loved the food shoots the most circling the feet of food stylists like a shark, a friendly shark. She barked too much and was often very annoyingly stubborn. But she was also an outdoor dog who loved hiking and hanging out in the yard with the kids.

I had a Dream...

2011-01-14T17:10:00.000-05:00

...of non-violence

...of love

...of equality

and peace.

Amen.

Have a Gr8 MLK day...

Gun control, the Elephant in the room.

2011-01-13T11:22:00.002-05:00

It has not escaped me that last week I made two posts which had images of guns in them, albeit fake and toy guns, but still... guns. The shooting in Arizona took place that following saturday and my next post was a fluffy one about Air Supply, roller skating and thrift stores. As photographers, as normal folks, how do we talk about this without alienating people? Either you are a war photographer or you just don't bring it up, I have no idea if any of my clients have strong feelings about gun control or the partisan rhetoric flying around this week on T.V.

watch Palin's "blood libel" video here

Rep James Clyburn reacts to Palin's comments here

(I readily admit this post is more for me than anyone else, if you have read this far... thank you. But the fact of the matter is that most people don't read long blog posts from photographers whose tag lines are things like Less Is More.) But I continue:

Watching President Obama speak last night made me proud of him, but not mentioning the obvious need for hand gun control in this country made me a little sad. Yes, we need to be more civil to one another.... just like Thumper reluctantly told Bambi, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". But the framers of our constitution couldn't possibly have envisioned semi-automatic Glocks. You may or may not like Obama. I personally love him, although as a nation, we have projected more on to him that he can possibly deal with. But Mr. President, the statistics say it all (see below).

Yes, let's all be civil. But let's also use this opportunity to address one of the actual problems, the elephant in the room: handguns.

click here to watch

Handguns Murdered:

373 people in Germany
151 people in Canada
57 people in Australia
19 people in Japan
54 people in England and Wales, and
11,789 people in the United States (suicides not included)

Sources: CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2007; Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence; The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

-85% of Americans want mandatory handgun registration. 85% of Americans endorse the mandatory registration of handguns and 72% also want mandatory registration of longguns (rifles and shotguns). - 1998 National Gun Policy Survey of the National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago

Lost in Love

2011-01-10T10:09:00.001-05:00

From my ongoing "Thrift Store" series, this compilation is from the Goodwill store on Rte 22 in Jersey. I only wish I could have worked in the Air Supply cassette tape I got for 49 cents. "Lost in Love and I don't know much..."

Pull my trigger

2011-01-07T11:24:00.000-05:00

Keeping in line with the gun from my last post...

A terrific stylist I work with often, Brian Preston-Campbell, is now also a model maker. This is a clear gun he made recently to add to his collection of fake ice cubes and such.

Memento Series - Boy Scouts

2011-01-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

Mama Don't Take My Kodachrome Away...

2010-12-30T13:59:00.000-05:00

Guess they might have to change the name of Kodachrome Basin State Park to MegaPixel Park? I came of age as a photographer using Kodak's Ektachrome and Fuji's Provia (my favorite), great films that are much easier to process. But nothing comes close to the colors in Kodachrome... you will have to use that app on your phone from now on as today the last roll of Kodachrome was processed. And this still doesn't resolve the issue of what to do with my parent's huge stash of slides.

RIP Kodachrome, RIP indeed.

Wired Blog

Jock Sturges In The Internet Age

2010-12-30T13:08:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Fleming has a fantastic article on A Photo Editor today, check it out here. Regardless of how you feel about Jock and his work, her piece is very well written and thought provoking; hopefully it opens a dialogue about a difficult subject.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year

2010-12-17T16:21:00.000-05:00

in the January issue of Psychology Today

2010-12-16T16:58:00.000-05:00

Psychology Today - Cognitive Outlaws.

Creative Direction + Props - Ed Levine

Retouching - Nate @ Every Pixel Counts

iWorrell

2010-12-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

Instagram

from the windows of Monica Stevenson's wonderful space on 26th st.

our Christmas tree

Edie in Bath

Plastic junk from McDonnald's

23rd Street stop, 24th Street Exit.

15th Annual Members' Juried Exhibition - Photo Center NW

2010-12-09T13:50:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to my wife, Elizabeth Fleming, on her 2nd place award in the 15th Annual Members' Juried Exhibition at Photo Center NW. The Show was judged by Crista Dix of Wall Space Gallery. First Place went to Brian Buckley and Third place went to Kerry Mansfield. The Northwest has been good to my Mrs over the past year, she recently had a show in Portland at NewSpace.

A small, poor quality, iPhone look behind the scenes of a recent editorial gig in New York

2010-12-09T10:23:00.000-05:00

Magic Mushrooms in a pill ... Timothy Leary would be so proud.

2010-12-06T15:06:00.002-05:00

Out this month in Scientific American, a shot I created out of a pill and tie dye t-shirt. Special thanks goes to Mike Mrak for designing a great magazine and Monica Bradley, a favorite Photo Editor of mine for many years. And as always, thanks to my retoucher of over 10 years, Nate at Every Pixel Counts.

Happy Chanukah

2010-12-03T17:15:00.001-05:00

I remember when we had to walk uphill Both Ways to our photo shoots...

2010-12-01T10:37:00.001-05:00

This post yesterday from PhotoShelter was/is of great interest to me as I have just started taking my iPad with me on appointments. Just like most other technology that has come along since I started shooting, the iPad probably won't replace anything. It is just another thing I have to maintain. I started in the early 90s with 2 portfolios containing laminated prints and a promo card, and at the height of the boom I had 12 printed portfolios, a yearly sourcebook ad, and quarterly promo pieces. Now it is a little of everything: a couple portfolios, web site, mobile web site, iPad portfolio, targeted MagCloud booklets & printed promo pieces, FoundFolio source book ads, and the dreaded Email campaigns.

"I’ve heard more than one Art Buyer and Photo Editor comment that if they see another iPad portfolio they’re going to scream"

-APHotoEditor.com

As far as the iPad replacing the portfolio, it's probably not going to happen. See Rob's post on APhotoEditor today regarding the photo shelter post I mentioned above. However, I effing LOVE the iPad as a portfolio. Not because it is cheaper, and yes, it is cheaper if you can believe that. I love it because it is really cool, possibly one of the best ways to view images I have seen. It is a fabulously designed, portable, powerful device that is easily updated and transported. When I head out on appointments these days I bring along my iPad with my latest edit of work. The interaction with the screen creates an intimate relationship with the viewer much like that of a book, something the laptop was never able to achieve. If editors and buyers hate looking at them eventually as much as they hate email promos now, then I won't show it to them. But right now, for me, it rocks.

Blake Andrews Analytics: Slackers 19%, BDSM 9%, Redheads 8.09%

2010-11-30T10:01:00.001-05:00

I started following a great blog by Mr Blake Andrews today.

Thanks to Elizabeth Fleming for sending this along.

Here is a post from November 6th:

B sliced and diced

Yesterday marked the third anniversary since I began writing B back in 2007. At the time I had no idea what I was doing or how B would evolve. Three years later I'm happy to report that I still don't. I wake up every day with no idea what I'm going to write about. By the end of each day, usually something gets written. And once in a while it's even worth posting.

Here's a snapshot of monthly traffic patterns for the past three years.

These are the ten most popular posts.

Here's how often people make repeat visits. As you can see it's a lot of one-timers. Hey, it's not for everyone, right. In Google Analytics language, this can be measured through Bounce Rate, which is the percentage of visitors who link elsewhere immediately.

Then there are the people who've visited 201+ times. I don't think I've visited any blog that many times. It seems excessive. But definitely the rarest flower in the blogosphere is the 8-timer at .73%. Hang in there, 8-timers. You're special. Just don't visit again or you'll lose your status.

Here's where people visit from.

This map doesn't actually give much info beyond broad ranges. But it's worth noting that I have yet to catch on in Saharan Africa or Turkmenistan. Not sure what's going on with that. And what about poor Myanmar? What sort of photography happens there?

Here's a typical country profile. This is Brazil. Who the heck is reading B up the Amazon?

As you might expect most visitors are American like me. Here's a state by state breakdown.

It's amazing the information Google Analytics comes up with. I know a lot about you. For example, here's the visitor breakdown by vocation.

Here's what color hair you have.

Here are your sexual preferences.

Here's the breakdown of visitors who enjoy eating small blinking dots.

And here's the Foggy Mountain breakdown.

Regardless of nationality, hair color, sexuality, or gaming habits I truly appreciate every single person who takes the time to visit B. You are valued!

Ugh. Too much self-analysis. I'm taking a breather for a week. Back in mid-November. As for what to expect when I return, don't ask me. What? Do I look like I have a crystal ball? The only certainty has ever been Now.

Portfolio Magazine Calls it Quits after 22 years...

2010-11-29T14:03:00.000-05:00

©Susan Lynch

See the current and last issue of Portfolio here

Modern Art

2010-11-28T14:13:00.001-05:00

Modern Art

by Craig Damrauer

via aphotoeditor.com & 20x200

Brad Rimmer - Flak Photo weekend

2010-11-27T15:25:00.001-05:00

Fall in Chelsea

2010-11-26T14:59:00.001-05:00

Michael Wolf show at Silverstein

Jonathan Blaustein's recent post for aPhotoEditor.com is great, check it out in full here.

"...I don’t love the experience of looking at art in most commercial galleries, and I know many, many people who agree with me. Why is it that such primal human desire has been co-opted by such an alienating system? I mean, the crusty pretentious person at the front desk is a cliché for a reason. All the spaces are more or less the same, no real variation on the experience. Big white space, uncomfortable silence, gallery workers who ignore you, or scowl, or give you a condescending little smile. Could this happen in any other capitalist industry?..." - J. Blaustein

Happy Leaf Pile - Fall - Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T15:27:00.001-05:00

I love you Edith James Worrell, Happy 7!

2010-11-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

My 300th Post.

2010-11-17T16:15:00.000-05:00

My 300th post today and I am too busy to do anything clever. I am lucky enough to be fairly busy, a good problem to have. Here is a shot from set yesterday, people love this stuff. I was shooting really old African pipes, this shot from above. You can see my Canon 5D with a 24-70 precariously leaning over the set. Actually, it is sandbagged pretty well thanks to the trusty Alex. We have 3 lights with grids, the two on the side have plexi in front of them for highlights.(not seen here due to changing of the product.) The fourth light, a Profoto beauty dish modified for dyna-lite.(don't ask). It was providing just a wee kick if you know what I mean. Below is a precarious shot of an old War Shield made from Zebra, a precarious thing to rig indeed...

Jesse Burke - Identify & Compare.

2010-11-11T14:30:00.000-05:00

I have been in a creative slump these past couple of weeks so I have turned to my fellow artists and photographers for inspiration. The goal for me is to identify with an artist, not to compare myself. Telling myself this one phrase has always helped me look at someone's work I love and feel motivated instead of jealous.

Today I have been looking at a wonderful photographer I am sure you all know, Jesse Burke. I really owe this one to my wife, the fabulous Elizabeth Fleming, she turned me on to Jesse's work a while back.

It is not only the simplicity and up front nature of his images that draws me in, but also the way he edits and presents his images. If you haven't done so, check him out on his site or his blog, he has a lot going on.

Identify and don't compare... yeah, right.

2010-11-05T11:50:00.001-04:00

When I feel uninspired I look to other photographers and artists for inspiration. The idea is to identify with the work and not to compare my career with that of others. Galleries are mostly problematic as trends in contemporary photography are often elusive to me. Museums are great but sometimes hard to get to, especially when you really need to go to the grocery store and pick up the kids from school. Of course this leaves the web with its multitude of sites, blogs, and magazines.

Over time I have compiled a list of artists that I look to often for inspirational solace. Today, please consider one of my favorites, Timothy Archibald. All photos in this post are © Timothy Archibald.

His very limited edition book Echolilia is nearly sold out, let's see if we can help that along!

He also maintains a very good blog where it talks about a show he is in that opens tonight called Taking Liberties, a must see if you are lucky enough to be in San Francisco.

Check him out today on NY Times blog!

Photographers worth noting: Susana Raab

2010-11-02T11:39:00.000-04:00

OMG, OkGO! & VIP Mickey Smith 2nite, i XO nyc!

2010-10-29T10:23:00.000-04:00

OkGo tonight at Terminal 5

opening tonight at invisible-exports

commute

2010-10-28T11:26:00.000-04:00

Freehands.com

2010-10-26T12:58:00.000-04:00

Freehands.com has launched their new line of gadget friendly gloves. I love them.

And yes, I shoot their photos. That is only how I found out about them.

check them out and/or head on over to their sister site: CoolHunting.com

Found Series 3 Source Book Released & Computer Generated Imagery (Nothing about Photography is real, Ansel Adams would have loved computers.)

2010-10-21T11:29:00.000-04:00

My latest ad in a source book arrived in the mail today, a spread in Found Series 3. FoundFolios.com is now part of Adbase and perhaps their marketing of the book will be a bit more solid this time around. One thing is for sure, it is a good 1/3 thinner than series 2. I guess this is not surprising given the economy. I didn't get a copy of the latest LeBook but almost everyone I know stopped advertising there last year, it was just too expensive.

My page is last in the book, which is both good and weird. Weird because it reminds me of school, growing up I was always the last one called.

I am in the food/beverage section this time even though I consider my work to be conceptual still-life. But the only other category for that is CGI/Still-Life and I am certainly not that. Don't get me wrong, I love technology and computers. I was an early adopter paying the price of a small car for Phase One's original digital back. I love shooting digitally but I am not a CGI guy, the fun in it for me has always been the arrangements I create on set, in camera. I love a good idea and figuring those out. But I just don't have a head for photoshop. Luckily, my retoucher is amazing and when I call he always delivers. I have used him for a decade now, check him out @ Every Pixel Counts.

I think CGI and photoshop manipulation is amazing. It is truly and example of using technology to push photography further. And when I hear people complain that it's not real, It makes be chuckle a bit. Nothing about photography has ever been real. Ansel Adams would have loved computers.

Me on FoundFolios.com

Robert Tardio, looks like he's got a foot in both worlds,

And he still has an enormous studio, I love his work.

He has ideas, you can tell.

Nicholas Duers creates beautiful cosmetics in this spread.

Believe You Me, Mickey Smith wants you to look at books.

2010-10-19T13:28:00.000-04:00

Mickey Smith's Second Solo Show at Invisible-Exports

Opens October 29, 2010

info Here.

I really like Mickey Smith's work. Maybe it's because my first part-time job in college was reshelving bound medical periodicals at the University of Iowa's Medical Library, much like those in the photo Blood below. And yes, it Was as fun as it sounds.

Perhaps I like her work so much because it reminds me so much of the type of conceptual work I have always loved. The simplicity, the appropriation and the multi-media of her new series. In short, the ideas.

The idea that people trust books but they don't read fits nicely into our modern world of anti-intellectualism. Just look at the upcoming elections, a nice opinion piece in the New York Times talks about how all but one republican running in the midterms denies the scientific consensus regarding Global Warming. I imagine there are a few books about that.

reAARP

2010-10-14T11:39:00.001-04:00

aarp.org

The Vanderbilt Republic: Art From the Heart, an Open Call to Artists

2010-10-12T17:06:00.000-04:00

What is the Vanderbilt Republic you ask? See below and please, watch the video. It is lovely.

A call to artists

©James Worrell

©Aaron Lampell

©Brian Finke

Brian's blog post about Art From the Heart

THE VANDERBILT REPUBLIC is a creative agency that specializes in the conception and execution of effective, monumental ideas. We expand the horizons of thoughtful, creative expression; we utilize technology as it emerges to present the world matters of importance.

CAMBODIAN LIVING ARTS (CLA) is our current partner organization. CLA has the vision “that by the year 2020, Cambodia will experience a cultural renaissance so dynamic that the arts have become the country’s international signature”. To guarantee this, we staged a 6-week, large-format, film-based shoot in Cambodia, applying professional-grade creative concepts and solutions to the formulation of a new Cambodian iconography. Our plan is to make CLA’s vision a concrete reality, and sooner than 2020, by redefining the power, and place, of the photograph.

“Anniversary” feat. Seyma & Arn Chorn-Pond from The Vanderbilt Republic on Vimeo.

Two Pints of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

2010-10-07T13:05:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, in response to my promo post which was reposted by A Photo Editor, I heard from New York photographer jonathon kambouris. On his email signature below his website was another link for his Last Meals Project. Terrific! At first glance I thought it seemed a bit too 'commercial photographer' for the subject matter, but after about the 3rd page out of the 29 in the project, I was hooked. I am strongly against the death penalty but even if you are for it, the absurdity and fascination of the last meals that are requested is very moving. Kudos Jonathan!

Print Promo vs Email Blast

2010-10-05T09:22:00.000-04:00

Are email promos a necessary evil or are they done?

Should we waste our money on printed pieces and sourcebook ads?

Subjects of much debate these days and as a photographer sitting in my cave I may be a bit out of the loop. However, it seems to me that photography buyers are OVER the email thing. If Adbase is any indication, when you look at the contacts for any given agency or magazine:

I have done my own very unscientific survey and the results are murky, yet very clear. That is to say, and I paraphrase many into one generalized statement here, "If I like your work I want to see your emails, if I don't I hate them". So, good luck deciding wether people like you or not.

I have gone from a monthly email blast to a quarterly email update timed to coincide with the very limited print promos I am sending out...250 pieces to be exact.

If you would like or dislike being one of 250 to receive this mailing, don't hesitate to send me an email.

My "limited printed piece goes out next week or so and it coincides with the Adbase/Found Folios sourcebook ad which hits agencies/magazines about the same time.

And in conclusion, it is the opinion of this photographer that we have to do everything. Just like how the web never completely put out of commission your printed portfolio... (perhaps the iPad will?) We need to do a little bit of everything and as a small business with limited resources that can be a challenge. It can also be a fun problem to solve.

Over the next few weeks I hope to highlight other photographers and their promotional campaigns, so if you know of any good ones send me an email.

Source of a source book ad

2010-10-05T08:42:00.000-04:00

Found Folios Series 3 - release next week.

Spirit & Wine Spectator

Before & After

2010-09-30T11:39:00.000-04:00