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2013 Warrior Games, a Review in Photos

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:58:12 +0000

After what felt like an eternity, I finally walk off the plane and can already feel the brisk, cool Colorado air. After two previous years of doing this, you’d think I’d be used to it by now, but every time, it’s been revitalizing and refreshing. During the flight and the days leading up to the trip, I was nervous, but once my feet set foot onto the gate, I was focused and determined to take the best photos I ever have of the Warrior Games.

I look forward to it every year like a child the morning of Christmas. Since working with the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment for over two-and-a-half years, I never tire of seeing the motivation and spirit these Marines have. It’s uplifting and inspiring, but those feelings are even more intensified during the Games. I have the fortune of being around the athletes a few months prior at the Marine Corps Trials, which is the preliminaries and precursor to the Warrior Games, but it doesn’t compare to the full-fledged event that the USOC puts on each year.

For those who may be a bit unfamiliar, the Warrior Games is a Paralympic-style event that pits the different branches of the US military, as well as the British Armed Forces, against one another in a variety of competitions. Athletes battle it out in cycling, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, archery, and shooting, with the branch that performs the best throughout the competition winning the Chairman’s Cup. For the three years that the Warrior Games have been held, the Marine Corps has won the Chairman’s Cup each time, and this year, they would be defending it once again in an attempt to make it a four-peat.

The problem with events like this is that I can never truly express how I was feeling or what went on through words. Excited. Exhausted. Angered. Annoyed. Rejoiced. Impassioned. Burnt-out. Humbled. Celebratory. Proud.

So, rather than get into it with a lot of words, I figured I would highlight some of my favorite shots from the 2013 Warrior Games (and believe me, even with this many photos, I took well over 4,500 photos, so consider yourself fortunate). And for those who actually WANT to read words written by me (psychos), I’ll leave that for the end so those with short attention spans can carry on.

How do I even put the Warrior Games experience into words? Maybe it’s noting that this event goes beyond the week-long competition itself. Maybe it’s pointing out that it’s about the camaraderie more than it is about the medals. Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond thrilled and ecstatic that the Marines won it for a fourth-consecutive time. But this trip was even more special to me than before, and I took away from it more than just photos; I have stronger relationships and friendships than I’ve ever amassed upon departing.

To get the technical parts out of the way, I came guns a-blazing and ready to dominate. I was tired of having excuses about how my photos were turning out, so I made sure I brought my A game to Colorado. I was loaded: a Canon 5D Mark III, a Canon 7D as my back-up (and rarely used), a 24-70mm f/2.8 II, a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM, and even a GoPro HERO3 Black Edition with a ton of accessories. I was NOT going to let my equipment be my weakness this time. But what I discovered was that there was a much more important realization I had to make in order to achieve the results I wanted.

My intention isn’t to brag, but I can honestly stare this computer monitor in its face and type out with full disclosure that these were easily the best photos I’ve ever managed to take. And I can honestly tell you that it’s not because of my equipment. I mean, I’m not going to kid you, the Canon 5D Mark III was a lifesaver. However, my photos were the best because this time, I had a different agenda than trying to take the most technically-solid photos; I went into this year’s Warrior Games trying to get the most passion and emotion out of each photo.

Because this was my third Warrior Games, I knew what to expect, where to go to achieve the shots I wanted, and how to work around the inevitable wrenches the US Olympic Committee would attempt to throw at me. I knew where all the photographers were going to want to be, and thus, where I wanted to be instead. I didn’t know that the British press would be, for a lack of a better term, a bunch of entitled assholes, yet this wasn’t the first time I’ve ever worked with those sorts, and so I knew how to get around their douchebaggery and achieve greatness.

The difference is that I was more invested in this year’s Games. I knew the athletes on a more personal level, and if I didn’t, I made sure I did. I knew some of the coaches that have been around the Marines in previous years; I made sure I knew each one individually and personally this year. As a result, I got some of my favorite shots I have ever taken. I was more invested in the end result. In previous years, my goal was to make technically-solid shots that would be better than everyone else’s photos. This year, I wanted to make sure each athlete and their family and friends were proud of them and their achievements.

I realized something when I finally became honest with myself: this year, it wasn’t about me; it was about the Marines.

I’ve been fooling myself over the years. With everything I’ve shot, I’ve been determined to make the client happy by making sure I was at my best. I wanted to make sure everything about the photo was as close to perfect as I could make it. And with better gear, my shots were going to be. Except the one thing that I was missing was that I was losing sight of what the photos were all about. They weren’t about being perfect. They never should have been. The photos for something like The Warrior Games should be about what these Marines have overcome. To have gone through so much in their life and still come out on top to be the best they can be should be at the forefront of every photo I take. Being honest with myself, only until these games did I finally do that.

I’m looking at other photographer’s photos, and even my own from the previous two years, and I notice something that this year’s photos have that those others lack: a soul. They, like me in previous years, are trying too hard to get the shot exactly right. It’s got to be sharp, precise, with little-to-no motion blur or noise. I look at what I took this year and love seeing the motion blur on Gunnery Sergeant Bryce Keene’s hand as he makes a diving save in sitting volleyball. I love seeing the poor lighting in the gym at the Air Force Academy light up veteran Sgt. Stephen Lunt’s face and arms as he pulls back the arrow, giving him a more defined, chiseled, hard, tough look as he focuses on the target. I’ve come to terms with the fact that, shooting at 10,000 ISO for the closing ceremonies, there’s going to be a little noise. No matter what the circumstances, I made sure that this time, I didn’t lose sight of the fact that this event is something that goes beyond myself – the cause is greater than me.

I met some incredible people and saw incredible things. I saw an athlete’s final year at the Warrior Games, taking in the bittersweet sights and sounds at the swimming competition as she earned three bronze medals (“I haven’t tattooed this year’s date yet until I completed the Games – I didn’t want to jinx it and miss out,” she said).

I saw a burn victim with the most-awesome tattoo ever – a man engulfed in the flames of a phoenix – earn so many medals, he lost count.

I saw GySgt. Pedro Aquino and veteran Cpl. Angel Gomez compete in a shootout after tying in the final round of the Prone SH2 event, where Aquino bested Gomez by one-tenth of a point. And I saw Gomez celebrate with Aquino as if he actually won the gold medal instead.

I saw a participant of last year’s Warrior Games, who set Paralympic world records in swimming, be the honorary torch bearer this year, after achieving gold and silver medals at the Paralympics in London literally a year to the day after sustaining injuries that would leave him blind for the rest of his life. (And he has absolutely one of the best, most endearing personalities I’ve ever got to meet)

I saw an athlete call out the judges at the shooting competition for miscounting his score, yet rather than take the points to advance to the finals, kept his losing score because he “didn’t want to take away the opportunity for his Marine Corps brother to compete in the finals.”

I saw a coach who gave three weeks of his own personal time – without pay, mind you, and a story not unlike many of the other coaches in this event – to contribute to teaching these athletes techniques and skills for sitting volleyball, which resulted in the team having never lost a single game during the competition and increasing their record in the Warrior Games to 22-1. I also saw this coach stalk Misty May-Treanor in an attempt to get a photograph with her, but that’s an entirely different matter.

I saw more Sergeant Majors – even ones who were no longer with the Wounded Warrior Regiment command – root for these athletes and show their support not just for a few days, but for the entire competition.

Sure, I’m getting wordy, and maybe I’m even choking up a little bit as I type this, but until you see and experience the Warrior Games for yourself, I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to understand how humbled and honored I am to even have witnessed such astounding and inspiring athletes and people. For the Marines to achieve success yet again and win the Chairman’s Cup for the fourth time was almost as if I won it, too. I was way more invested in these athletes this time around that every medal they won felt like I won it right there with them.

I suppose it didn’t hurt that, during the competition, people from USOC and Deloitte, the Warrior Games’ presenting sponsor, kept complimenting the work that we have done on social media, saying how wonderful a job we were doing. Who doesn’t like a pat on the back? However, I’m fairly certain that, if it wasn’t for the mission I tasked myself to create images that truly represented the spirit, motivation, and achievements of these warriors, everything would be for naught and lacking my best effort.

I know these Games weren’t about me, but I must say that I certainly felt like I came out a winner for multiple reasons. I achieved photos that actually best represented the hard work, determination, motivation, and accomplishments of the Marines I got to know. I achieved lasting friendships with those I was photographing, rather than keeping them at arm’s length out of fear of coming across as just a groupie or an intrusive member of the media. Best of all, I achieved what I’ve been seeking with my photos for ages now: a soul.

So, perhaps I actually did deserve the trophy.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 63 – Shay Nartker

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:55 +0000

Why, hello there! I return from Colorado Springs in the best way possible: with a rant and an awesome chat with Cincinnati’s finest, fashion and wedding photographer Shay Nartker. We discuss how one’s hometown affects their photography style, juggling multiple projects, life as the significant other of a model, and a LOT more. Meanwhile, I discuss (angrily) the changes and comments coming from the Flickr camp. This episode is sponsored by Converse and B&H.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Hungry Lobbyist Mention! And What I’ve Been Up To (Ish)!

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:33:46 +0000

As you regular readers know, and because I’m not one to brag, this is especially difficult for me. And as you regular readers know, I’m full of shit when I say things like that. So, why not get on with the humble brag already, right?

Earlier today, when I took my face away from the mirror for a second, I noticed an alert on my phone about receiving a mention on The Twitter. And because I’m so vain, I dropped everything I was doing to check. Lo and behold, I noticed some nice words said about me, and I figured I MUST share. IMMEDIATELY.

I’ve done work with, and love the occasional recognition I receive, from my buddies over at FamousDC. This time, however, the author for their column “Feasting Famously”, Brian Johnson, wrote up a nice little diddy called “Five websites Washingtonians should visit (but might not)”. In it, he happened to mention little ol’ me. Huzzah!

Now, considering he mentioned that internet users should make me a part of their daily routine, and further considering I haven’t updated this blog in a while due to the 16-plus-hour-work-schedule that was the Warrior Games last week, I am thinking I’m under a significant amount of pressure! However, after returning to Washington, D.C., and finally getting settled back in, I’m back and ready to become that regular-ish part of your week!

I’ve got A BAJILLION (not a hyperbole) new blog posts coming up, including updates of my foray into the film photography world, my recent photography gigs, the lessons learned about this most-recent Warrior Games, and much, much more! Plus, the podcast is back and better than ever! Half of my hold up was the Warrior Games travels (did I mention I was working 16+ hours a day?), half of the hold up was the difficulty in coordinating schedules to actually conduct the interviews, and the other half is that I’m actually traveling outside of the great city of Washington, D.C., to conduct some of these interviews! Mathematically, that doesn’t all add up, but I’m a photographer, not a rocket scientist.

Either way, it’s great to be back in D.C. and I’m ready to catch up on some sleep! And thanks again to Brian Johnson over at The Hungry Lobbyist – a site YOU ALL should be checking out!

Until next time (which will be very soon, kiddos – I pinky swear),

- Patrick

Wedding Albums at First Sight Imagery, by Red Tree Albums

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:01:16 +0000

I’ve made wedding albums in the past, but I have never been THIS excited before. Mostly because we were working with Red Tree Albums, who produce hands-down the best wedding albums I have ever seen. I suppose that’s why we proudly work with them, huh?

At First Sight Imagery, we like to inspect the wedding albums ahead of time, to ensure that everything is sorted, but since working with Red Tree Albums, it’s become sort of a given that the albums are going to come out perfectly every time. The quality and craftsmanship of these books is unmatched, and the fact that the pages to every album is thick and doesn’t crease, as well as the lay-flat binding, it’s no wonder why we’re so confident our couples will enjoy these books!

When a couple has approached us about albums, we make sure that they get to experience the quality of these books. Wedding albums are an investment, and while there are companies out there who boast inexpensive products, it’s necessary to remind everyone that you get what you pay for. And with these albums my Red Tree, you will continuously be happy with the timeless, long-lasting wedding albums they produce!

Take a look for yourself!

These particular albums we designed for January and Carl are the fabric covers, produced with beautiful Japanese silk and natural linens. We also produce a leather version for an additional cost that is just as classy and timeless, but really, it all comes down to a matter of preference. Either way, you’re going to love the look and feel of these albums every time you pick it up to look through it!

You can see how thick the album and the pages are, thanks to the Fuji Crystal Archive paper!

Each wedding album comes with custom, personalized debossing that can read whatever you choose to enhance the wedding album.

Did we mention how thick and beautiful these pages are? Because they are thick, beautiful pages! I mean, just look at them in all their glory!

The best part about these albums is the image print quality. Each page is vibrant and tack sharp, with a micro-fold crease for a very tight crease that won’t disrupt experiencing the photos. You get to view every photo as they were intended, allowing you to relive your special day for decades to come!

The important thing to us when shooting the day is to tell the story, and we want our wedding albums to accomplish the same thing. We put together the photos in a way that is unique to our couples’ wedding experience – no two albums are ever the same! Whenever we design and create a wedding album, we want to ensure that each and every time you look through it, you’re going to smile as you recount the memories!

I hope this gives you an idea into each wedding and engagement album we create at First Sight Imagery, and we hope you consider investing in one for yourself when working with us for your special day!

Until next time,

- Patrick

The Friend and Family Discount… OF DOOM!

Patrick Onofre — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:01:14 +0000

I was put in a dilemma. I hate being put in a dilemma, or at least one that I can’t find an easy way out of. I’m a business, after all, and I have rent and bills to pay, but… I had a feeling like maybe, just this one time, I could make an exception. I HATE being put in a dilemma.

I was shooting one of my first weddings, which involved very good friends of mine. They had put together the wedding themselves, making all of the details and decorations by their own crafty, creative hands, and even took other workarounds to achieve a delightful and pleasant wedding without breaking the bank. And they had asked me to shoot their wedding. And I hadn’t even been a pro for more than a couple of months.

After the initial shock and nerves wore off, I was focused and excited to capture the wonderful and special day of my two good friends. They were getting married at a beautiful New England church with a typical, gothic-style that was photogenic from every angle. But every now and then leading up to the wedding day, the reoccurring anxiety would appear. “What do I charge my friends? After all, they’re MY FRIENDS!”

It bothered me tremendously. I wanted to be taken seriously as a photographer, and I have charged according to my level of expertise and experience with other weddings that led up to their wedding date. However, this was a different situation entirely. I somehow felt guilty charging them the same rate I was charging couples whom I had only met months prior. I was charging them as if they were STRANGERS!

It’s not easy working with friends and family. There are photographers I know who refuse to work for their loved ones, and while I feel this is a bit of an extreme policy to have, I can’t blame them. The nervousness you experience, the nagging they can bring upon you… “really? You’re going to charge me THAT? Can’t you cut a little bit off the price?” All the bargaining you have to do with a client is one thing, but that these people can hold the fact they’re friends or family above your head and use that at the negotiating table is, well… just flat-out rude and inconsiderate.

So, what do you do? Do you keep the cold stance and say “my rates are my rates”? Or do you cut them a deal? Just this once? Or do you have an abstinence policy?

It’s certainly not easy when you work with those whom you’ve grown up with, but right out of the gate, there are a few bonuses to working with them. They know you and you know them, making them easier to work with. They don’t hassle you or have high demands because of their close association to you, and if you do a good job, they will give you glowing reviews to all of their friends and associates. It certainly makes the working aspect easy.

Oh, but there are cons, too. Trouble always comes at the price point, and if you stick to your guns, they will complain and holler about how you won’t even hook up your own friends or family. This could even cause a disturbance amongst your other family members or circle of friends. And who needs THAT drama – they’re supposed to help you THROUGH the tough times, not create them!

However, the answer is pretty simple: it depends. Don’t you love that answer?

It really does depend, though. Often times, I simply state that this is my rent or my car payment, or my insurance payment, or my next meal. And when you get them to visualize it that way, they quickly see that you’re not trying to slight them and you’re not being mean; you’re being a business. And not to seem mean, but asking for a discount at the expense of your ability to run a successful and profitable business is quite rude on their part. They’re taking from your plate simply to benefit themselves, and that doesn’t seem like a friendly thing to do.

With any client, mentioning how you wouldn’t try to ask the same kinds of things from your doctor or mechanic or plumber always puts into perspective that we, as photographers, are a business. We have costs and budgets to be met, bills and rent and insurance due, and if we gave everyone a discount just because we liked them, we’d be out of business in the blink of an eye! That’s not exactly the kind of business model you should have!

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cut them a break at all, however. If you really want to help out your family, there are a multitude of ways you can provide them with a discount of sorts without cutting into your profits. You could always give them an extra hour or two “on the house”. Or you could maybe gift them a book of the photos or send a treat or gift along with a disc of the images to show that you appreciate them respecting your business. You can still give them some kind of monetary discount, as long as it doesn’t hurt your ability to pay your bills, but do so responsibly – you don’t want to make a habit of this and create an expectation that you will ALWAYS give them a discount.

Eventually, I got the nerve to discuss money with my friends and figure out the details. By the end of the day, everybody was happy, and we were able to walk away with fantastic images without hurting one another’s wallets, getting a fair price and enjoy the day as friends. As it should be.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 62 – Marcus Smith

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:41 +0000

Basketball, cooking, medicine, financial analysis, music… Marcus Smith was interested in it all. When he finally landed on photography, the sky has been the limit for this sports and lifestyle commercial photographer. The Chicago native and I discuss the moment he realized he wanted to pursue a career in photography to assisting the commercial photography great Gary Land and what he learned there, and how he went on to do his own thing. Plus, how he developed his own style and how a personal project led to rubbing elbows with the 2012 Team USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. Meanwhile, I have lost faith in the people I once deemed my heroes. This episode is sponsored by ProFlowers and B&H.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

[ All Photos courtesy of Marcus Smith ]

Life Imitating Instagram

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:38:07 +0000

It made me want to punch a hole through my computer screen. Browsing the internet, I was partaking in my usual morning routine involving waking up to a cup of coffee (or three) and reading up on the latest news involving photography or anything else, for that matter. And there it was. “Mount July DSLR Lens Filters Will Be Like Instagram Filters for Your Camera.” Fuck me running.

People are adorable. At one point, the mentality was, “I can tweak it in Photoshop” and they would buy some $30 filter pack to convert their photos to look like and imitate film. Or they would buy Hipstamatic or download Instagram to achieve that analogue camera look as they took selfies or pictures of their cats. And now this. I get it – photographers have been saying all along to “try to get the shot perfect IN-CAMERA”; I just didn’t think two Stanford product design students would take that literally with these filters.

Olivia Vagelos and Martin Bush are the culprits, starting a new camera filter brand called Mount July, which features multi-color graduated filters you can twist and screw onto your camera’s lens, no matter who the maker is. And hey! That’s not all, boys and girls! You can “STACK” multiple filters together and rotate them for even more color options! Wowwy ka-ZOWWY!

The hilarious part about this is that they claim these are for both digital AND film photographers, and you can add a touch of color to your film footage without having to do all that nasty work in a video editing program. Because Lord knows aspiring filmmakers should attempt to replicate radical coloring techniques of your shots like filmmakers of yore did to The Wizard of Oz and such.

All snark aside, it’s not like this is the worst thing to ever happen to photography. Being honest, I’m not harmed with these circulating and finding their way into the market. Hobbyists and hipsters alike can enjoy adding a little extra something to their photos without having to find some mediocre filter or spend a boatload of money downloading programs to achieve these kinds of results. It’s just… whyyyyyyyy?

To answer my own question, I know why: it’s American. It’s human nature. People want to achieve something without having to put in the work. An instant fix. Rather than figuring out how to create these types of looks – or, heaven forbid, a look and style of your own – they can simply pick one of these filters up and duplicate their Instagram success with their DSLRs. But, further answering my own question, it’s just lazy and uninspired, and seeing the results, frankly… it doesn’t look that great.

What’s truly funny in all of this is that, no matter what, people always seem to want to replicate something from the past and put a modern spin on it. Kids who were born into the age of computers dream of the good ol’ days of film and try to duplicate that feeling of a nostalgia they’ve never experienced in anything they can. Hipsters pick up lomography cameras for the purpose of standing out and looking cool. Good for them. That’s not the purpose of photography.

On the flip side, I find it hilarious to hear photographers like Scott Bourne state in a recent blog post how “film isn’t all it’s cracked up to be” and essentially write off that it’s an old, useless technology. He even goes as far to say that if you’re fixated on the process of film, “you are probably not making great images anyway.” He states that “the image is what matters. Period. How you got it is only important to you and those in the camera club you are trying to impress.”

Both ends of these perspectives is hilarious to me. To argue, yes, it IS all about the image, Mr. Bourne. Part of the image is how it is made, and as a recent film convert, there’s something enjoyable about the PROCESS in making the image with a film camera that I just don’t get with digital. I will ALWAYS use digital for work, but when I look at some of the images I’ve captured through film, I have even more pride in that shot because of what it took to achieve it. Knowing that I also couldn’t achieve that precise look and feel to the image had I shot it in digital, even with the new tools and techniques I have learned, makes it all the sweeter. And I don’t think I nor my photos would fall under “not making great images anyway.”

Meanwhile, folks are still trying to replicate film without actually shooting in film. There’s a certain amount of difficulty, sure, but what’s the joy in taking a photo with some makeshift filter – whether that’s on Instagram or on your lens – instead of actually having to learn and use your photography know-how to achieve the results?

That’s like not studying for a test, then looking over the shoulder of the smart kid in class to pass. You haven’t learned the information yourself, and if you’re ever questioned on it or have to recall that information later an, you will be unable to pull up the data and apply it on your own. If you want to take better photos, you have to actually put in the work. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re unable to get those photos like the pros do, how about you start there at the “am I putting in the work to get to that point?’ question.

There are plenty of tools out there to enhance the photo-making experience and make life easier for hobbyists and professionals alike. While there will always be grumbles from the photography community, we can never immediately get rid of fads; we just have to ride them out. And sure, they may make reappearances down the line – take a look at boy bands like N*Sync and Backstreet Boys – but they’re always going to be just that: fads. To stand the test of time, you have to genuinely and authentically put out a product that is unique and something you are passionate about. We don’t look at bands like Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or even The Beatles and Rolling Stones, as “fads”. And there’s a reason for that.

And they didn’t take so many photos of their lunch on the tour bus, either.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Internet Sleuths

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:59:02 +0000

This past week has been a flood of varying emotions. We’ve experienced tragedy, heartache, fear, anger, and jubilation when the suspect was captured. Plus the earthquakes in Asia and the factory explosion in Texas… what a wild week! But there was another interesting development that arose right in front of our eyes. Something we’ve never seen before which is truly unique to our modern day and age.

When 9/11 happened, we were a mess. SWAT and rescue teams were unable to communicate with one another, our technology was unable to produce and analyze the situation to better educate us on what happened or identify the people who committed these acts, and our country was in a massive state of panic. More than eleven years later, we’re using infrared cameras on helicopters, robots, and better communication equipment to correspond and hunt down the suspected criminals in a matter of DAYS. Yet the most surprising and simplest tool that has popped up during this time is the cell phone and the communities of the internet.

Noe and I were fresh off the plane from Coachella and on the 5A bus from Dulles heading back to DC when Noe spotted the news on her phone, through Twitter. Literally within minutes of the Boston bombings, we knew about it, before TV networks and probably more than half the bus was even aware anything had happened. Soon after that, we were seeing pictures taken by civilian “photojournalists”, capturing images of the chaos with their cell phones. From our bus in the Washington metropolitan area, we were able to see everything that was happening in a city over four hundred miles away.

Soon after that, however, people were hunting down whomever committed these senseless and violent acts upon innocent civilians. Communities like Reddit were scanning thousands of user-uploaded images, trying to identify any possible suspect and piecing together whatever available data they had at their disposal. Shortly, predictions and witch hunts began, and users started posting these suspects’ Facebook pages and Twitter handles all over the site, demanding they are brought to justice.

It didn’t take awfully long before the Boston Police Department announced two suspects – one in a black baseball hat and sunglasses and another in a white baseball cap – who they observed entered the scene with backpacks over their shoulders, then, in later images, walking calmly away from scenes of the explosions without those previously mentioned backpacks. Surprisingly, (or, if I stop being sarcastic, not surprisingly) these suspects weren’t the two internet users initially thought they were. People like Sunil Tripathi, a Brown University student, or 17-year old Salah Eddin Barhoum had their reputations slandered by Reddit, 4chan, and the New York Post.

The beauty of this day and age is that we have the ability to utilize tools at our disposal, such as our mobile phones, to document occurrences that may be breaking stories before photojournalists and news organizations are able to get to the scene. We can combine user images with those of surveillance cameras to piece together the puzzle and identify criminals at speeds inconceivable years ago. Anyone with an iPhone or Android and a connection to the internet could break a story, and anyone with a Twitter or Facebook account can be a whistleblower and a hero.

But at what cost? Many people are quick to retweet or post speculative stories just for the sake of being first – a tactic numerous news organizations like CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC have done regularly. People are able to doctor photos and add fuel to the fear and frenzied fire of speculation with misinformation as a means to further their own ideologies or agendas. We have the fortunes to be the first to be informed, but what if it’s the wrong information in the first place?

There is someone I know who was posting just about ANYTHING he saw on Twitter – speculative or not, from news organizations to simple civilian twitter users doing a Sherlock Holmes impression – and continuously cycled rhetoric into the Twittersphere. He announced the suspect had been captured and the boat alight in flames hours before the suspect was actually apprehended and misleading followers to an event that never actually happened – the boat was never caught on fire. When called out on his handling of the news, he simply stated, “I’m tweeting it like I see it!”

This raises an interesting point. Just because any news item is out there – whether it’s a tweet or a photo – does that mean we should spread the information out there before we can be certain it’s a trustworthy and reliable source?

After 9/11, our society has become increasingly jumpy at the slightest hint of a situation that could put others at risk. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have your guard up for the possibility of something that could occur and harm you or your loved ones, does that mean you should live in constant paranoia and fear, circulating the slightest hypothetical stories you catch wind of just out of the sake of protecting yourself, no matter how wrong you could be? Is it right to take a photograph from a citizen photojournalist and commit to it as fact before a source like the Boston Police Department confirms it to be truth?

We live in a remarkable period where technology continues to develop at a dizzying pace, allowing us to achieve results previously unthinkable. While these devices are getting more and more brilliant, however, we need to remember that if we’re going to be the next Peter Parker, with great power comes great responsibility. Perhaps we should think a little harder before we share that photo or information and, in the meantime, stick to cat pics and selfies before we only contribute to the whirlwind of speculation.

Episode 61 – A Man and His Microphone

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

It’s been a crazy week, and there’s a lot on my mind as of late. So, taking the opportunity (since I’ve got a mic and a podcast show), I vent about The Friend and Family Discount, life and art imitating Instagram after learning about new DSLR filters, and internet sleuths. Plus, a bonus segment about lessons from the restaurant industry that have carried over into my photography career. This episode is brought to you by Manfrotto and Shari’s Berries.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Enough With The Comparisons!

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:51 +0000

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Now, I’m going to fancy a guess that he would never have entertained the idea that his words would be used in reference to photography on a podcast, but little did he know, I’m just the man to do such a thing. Thank you, Mr. Bull Moose Guy!

When we all start out, we’re easily drawn to photographic works that speak to us. The beauty of a pro’s work, or how they carry themselves and their business, is attractive, and what appeals to us is directly what we want to emulate.

But then, we grow up… well, in theory. We gain more experience after shooting more often and more frequently, learning new tricks and figuring out the mechanics and techniques of our cameras while unveiling the mysteries of photography. And all during this journey, we continue to take a peek at what our contemporaries are doing and realize… man, I am just NOT on par with where they’re at. How did they get so far ahead in the journey than me?!

And then, if you’re like me, the depression and self-doubt kick in. “I will NEVER be that good. Why can’t I shoot like that?! What are they doing that I’m not?” you start to cloud your thoughts with all of this negativity and soon enough, you stop shooting.

Do you remember high school? How you’d take a test and when you got your grades back, you saw that some of your friends did better than you did? Or maybe not even your friends, but there was always that ONE PERSON who was the brainy one who always got straight-As? And you’d think, “man… I will NEVER be a straight-A student like that.”

Whenever I would come home with those kinds of thoughts, my parents always told me that, as long as I studied hard and tried my best, they were happy with whatever grade I got – just as long as I tried. And in looking back on that, I think it’s important to continue focusing on that even today as an adult and as a photographer. I continue to work hard and pursue a career in photography with a lot of diligence and effort, and I don’t ever want to let my clients down, so I produce the best work my abilities can produce, always pushing myself to the maximum I can. And I don’t think I’d have the repeat clients I have if it weren’t for that work ethic.

I’m not as successful as the Joey L’s or the Chase Jarvis’, but I’ve come to terms with the idea that I don’t need to be at the point they’re at to be happy. I’m happy shooting what I’m shooting now, and I’m always learning ways to improve and get better, which makes me happier. And if I keep working hard and continually push myself to be better at my craft, someday I WILL get to that point.

Another note is that, when looking at one’s body of work in comparison to your own, you have to remember that they don’t see the world in the same way as you do, and therefore, they capture it differently than you do. I love the work Trey Radcliff does, with that brilliantly-done HDR photography. But I also know that that’s not how I see the world and how I go about expression my vision. I can admire it, but I don’t let his brilliance dictate my own. I know that I like shooting with a more vintage look, and while I love his photographs, comparing his work to mine is like apples and oranges… or more like a well-polished apple compared to an unripened orange, but… you know…

Whoever stated it said it correctly: “The only photographer you should compare yourself to is the one you used to be.” When I look back at the works I was doing even six months ago from today, I know for a FACT I’m shooting better than I was back then. I know that the body of work I’m able to produce now is of a higher quality than what I once was shooting, and yet I’m STILL growing. And that’s crazy to think that I’m only going to be EVEN BETTER than I am now! How exciting is that?!

I may never be a Joe McNally or Gavin Gough, but when I further reflect on it, I’m completely fine with that. Who wants to be a remake of someone else? I want to blaze my own path and be unique, telling my own story and sharing MY VIEW of the world around me. Rather than looking at the growth as a sign of weakness, I’m chosing to view it as an opportunity, especially since I know I am producing work that I’m happy with right now, even with the chance that I can only get better! It’s exciting to think that I’ve grown so far, but even with the growth I have yet to do, I can achieve greatness if I put my mind to it and work hard. And by the looks of things, my journey to greatness is just getting started.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 60 – Christian Gideon

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:00:25 +0000

Straight from Springfield, Missouri, via technology, I chat with wedding and portrait photographer Christian Gideon. We have a phenomenal conversation about his small town roots and how that, along with his hopeless romanticism, plays a major role in each photo and why a romantic point of view is vital to being a great wedding photographer, as well as getting away from the “rockstar photographer” status, the importance of creating friendships with your clients, and classic movies. Meanwhile, I recap my birthday and Coachella, and why I’ve stopped comparing my photography to others. This episode is sponsored by ProFlowers and Lomography.com.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

[ All Photos by Christian Gideon ]

Darwin Deez at the Black Cat

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:00:13 +0000

I’m always learning new things when I go out shooting, and I suppose “if you’re not growing, you’re dying,” right? However, in the case of Darwin Deez, I kind of wished that I would’ve gotten a free pass from the lessons bit. When I’m amidst shooting a band I like, the lesson I learned is that it is not an ideal time to experiment. Then again, I suppose there’s no time better than the present, or whatever cliche I can use to defend my actions. So… there’s always that.

What am I rambling about, you ask? I will explain, as I’m sure you ultimately expected. I attended the show, prepared for the Black Cat’s adoration of red lighting, and had adjusted my settings accordingly. This involves widening the aperture, increasing the ISO to 2500-3200, and setting the Kelvins all the way down to 2500. This time, however, I did something a little different. And it would be my downfall.

You can see the resulting images for yourself, which I will go into depth about my thought process afterward.

I noticed that in the past, upon getting my photos uploaded, there would still be a significant amount of noise due to the high ISO and darkness of the room. I’ve been hearing about the in-camera noise reduction of the Canon 7D and saw images of how good it can be without impacting image quality significantly. I took a look at the example photos and thought this might be helpful in my concert shots, since I hated trying to reduce the noise in Lightroom and making the musicians look like plastic toys. That was the thinking, at least.

I adjusted the noise reduction to “strong”, figuring that the setting at the venue would require a ton of noise reduction assistance. What I discovered, however, was that doing this set me up for failure. It appeared that a lot of my photos were blurry and out of focus, even though I was certain that I had my subjects in focus majority of the time. Out of the 400+ photos I took, I would venture to guess that 80% were useless due to the soft images. Rude.

This was never an issue before – my subjects would always be in focus, and the only adjustment I would have to make was to the noise, which Lightroom handled fine. In an effort to reduce the amount of work I needed to do in post-production, I ended up creating more work for myself and ultimately less-than-desirable shots. C’est la vie.

I still managed to scrap together the shots above, using the usual suspects: my Canon 7D and the 24-70mm f/2.8. My familiarity with the Black Cat has typically been spot on, but there were two things that threw me off with this set:

1) Darwin seemed to love blue lighting. And given the Black Cat loves them some red lights, I was not going to complain.

2) There were a TON of objects in my way. The number of keyboards, mic stands, and other accouterments in the way made it extremely difficult to shoot. Normally, this is just something you suck up and work around, but with the number of dance sequences Darwin and company did in between songs, it was difficult to get a clear shot of the dance moves.

No matter what the circumstances, I had a phenomenal time at the show. Darwin and his bands were really having a good time, and you could visibly see as they performed, which is always a treat when you go to a show. It makes a difference, and I had such a fun experience at the show! Plus, after having followed his career for a few years now, being able to hear some of my favorites definitely made my night!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 59 – Adrienne Pitts

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:50 +0000

[ Photo by Melissa Webb ]

New Zealand born/England resident/global citizen Adrienne Pitts hangs out with me via technology this week, where we essentially sell stuff to each other. And discuss life in New Zealand. And how she got kicked out of New Zealand by her parents to explore the world… and how that’s a normal thing. And how she ended up as the Art Director for Jamie Oliver’s magazine, Jamie (who is one of my all-time favorite chef personalities). And life as an art director, especially relating to working with photographers. And how she takes amazing portraits that simply feel relatable with a sense of nostalgia. Meanwhile, I share the importance of doing what you love.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Finally Answering The Age-Old Debate: Is It the Gear? Or the Photographer?

Patrick Onofre — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:01:33 +0000

There has always been, and perhaps always will be, a fixation on the latest and greatest gear. And there always has been, and perhaps always will be, a debate between photographers about the difference one’s photographic equipment makes in generating quality images. Personally, I think it’s a matter of one’s skill and photographic eye that creates the stunning images we see, but top-notch equipment certainly doesn’t hurt. So, which is more important? The photographer? Or the gear?

When a photographer is just starting out, the equipment is usually something more simplified. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles, which is good for any beginner, since you don’t want to overcomplicate things. Attempting to grasp basic photographic concepts is the key to building a solid foundation, and success at this level is establishing a basic understanding of one’s equipment.

However, that still doesn’t stop these folks from coveting their neighbor’s better-quality gear. Gee, it sure would be nice to have that fancier DSLR or that fancier lens! THEN my photos would look a BAJILLION TIMES BETTER! Or so goes the reasoning. They see the professional photographers – or even astounding hobbyists like Thomas Hawk – creating beautiful pieces of art and want to replicate that into their own portfolios.

So, they figure out which cameras, lenses, lights, and accessories their photographic heroes own and go out and purchase them all. Because THIS is the missing link between where they are now and where they ultimately want to end up: the equipment. Rather than mastering the gear they currently own, to this stage in one’s photographic career, it boils down to having the better gear.

And then one of two things happens: the photographer begins to master this device and is able to accurately and creatively express their unique vision. OR, more likely and more often than not, the quality in their work suffers. The photos are dull, lacking any form of expression, to the point where they would be better off shooting with an old point-and-shoot.

Meanwhile, other photographers are quick to mock these folks for their lack of knowledge or even inferior equipment. Because THEY invested more money into better gear than these folks did, THAT is the reason their images are coming out far better.

But what leads to this spiral? Why is it that some photographers are able to shoot amazing images that these others are unable to achieve with the same gear? I think it comes down to one simple concept: they lack a clear vision, missing the entire point of photography in the first place.

Photography is not a muscle-flexing contest about whose camera cost more. Photography is about being able to tell your story and share your view of the world with the world.

When I started out, I got a Sony Alpha 200. It was a great, basic camera that had essentially Minolta glass (after Sony bought them out) and I got some good photos out of it. At the time, people would ask what I shoot with, and when they learned it wasn’t one of the big two, they scoffed.

“Really? Not a Canon or Nikon? Why?!” they’d exclaim, astonished.

Because the point of creating photos isn’t about having the best camera; it’s about knowing your camera, no matter what camera that may be. Film, digital, even an iPhone… whatever your medium, as long as you’re able to express your vision and who you are as an artist, it shouldn’t matter.

I tell this story every time, and I’ll share it again. My friend, Alicia Griffin, who is a podcast alum, by the way, had a Canon Rebel which she used on a lot of her food shoots when she first began. She shot Chef George’s and Wolfgang Puck’s The Source with this camera and generated gorgeous shots of their food.

After excitedly announcing on Facebook and Twitter that she had picked up a Canon 7D, she received COUNTLESS inquiries about her old camera and whether she was selling it or not. People wanted her camera because they thought that, since she was able to produce amazing works with it, that THAT camera held the magic formula inside it to take great pictures. They would buy the exact same camera model – or even those fancier DSLRs – and for some astonishing reason, their photos never came out as great as hers! Shocking.

The explanation is quite simple: it’s not a matter of WHAT equipment you own; as long as you know how to use it. It’s just that easy of a concept, people.

Julie uses film cameras, and I have used film, digital, and even iPhones. At the end of the day, I understand what I want to photograph and how I am going to go about expressing that vision. Granted, it’s not to say that should a 5D Mark III drop into my lap, I’d turn it down – you bet your sweet ass I’d happily accept it. However, it comes down to understanding the equipment I currently have to create the photos I want to make.

“But Patrick,” I can feel you snarkily and arrogantly ask, “if that’s the case, why do you rent a 24-70mm lens when you go on shoots? Why not stick with what you already own, if it’s all a matter of understanding your equipment like you say!”

Oh, you want to play that game? Alright, let’s play.

The reason is also simple: I understand the strengths of my equipment, which means I also understand the WEAKNESSES of my equipment. While I like the 7D because of its ability to have a faster frame rate than the 5D, which is great for sports, I also understand that it’s going to require one heck of a lens that can handle, say, the terrible lighting conditions of a dark and seedy concert venue. The lenses I currently own won’t achieve my vision, which is why I pick up a better lens.

Understanding your equipment is about understanding both its strengths AND weaknesses, and being able to capitalize on its strengths (such as the 7D’s fast frame rate) and its weaknesses (such as the 7D’s less-powerful light sensor and lesser image quality). At the end of the day, however, as long as I’m able to create the images I want to create while simultaneously pleasing my client and meeting their needs, I say mission: accomplished.

You can brag about whatever camera you have, and if it makes you feel better about yourself, then good for you. But at the end of the day, it comes down to being able to use what you have as a means of expression. It’s not a dick-measuring contest. It’s an art.

So what say you? Is photography a matter of the you-get-what-you-pay-for camera? Or is it the photographer? Or is it both?

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 58 – Julie Wolsztynski

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:00:57 +0000

French-American fine art photographer Julie Wolsztynski creates very dark, moody, beautiful works, which made me determined to learn how her style came about. We talk about her turbulent past, our experiences growing up, as well as the differences between American and French culture and youths. We also discuss our impressions of the DC art scene, getting representation for her art, and how the teamwork between her and her camera, as well as her decision to shoot in film plays a major role in her photographic process. Meanwhile, I question the importance of equipment in creating photographs, or if it’s a case of “you get what you pay for.”

[ All Photos by Julie Wolsztynski ]

Erin + Brian = Engaged

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:30:06 +0000

It took him six months to ask her out on a date. She wasn’t sure if he was interested, and he wasn’t sure what to say, but after some coaxing from a mutual friend, he finally went through with it. Three years later, they’re engaged. And when you see the two of them together, I would venture to say it was well worth the wait.

Andrew and I met up with Erin and Brian at the Vermillion restaurant in Old Town Alexandria - the location of their first date. If you’ve never been before, you’re missing out: fantastic and tasty menu, vibrant and colorful decor, and an extremely friendly and accommodating staff. We were able to shoot anywhere and everywhere in the restaurant and had a wonderful time!

To make matters better, as we were shooting and just about to wrap up, Brian looks up from the table and says, “I recognize that woman… wait, she was our server from our first date!” Erin spots the woman and excitedly confirms. All this time later and the elements of the first date still manage to come together! How serendipitous is that?!

After keeping warm indoors (and a few Blue Steel poses from Brian), we braved the streets and took a walk. Old Town Alexandria is tremendously scenic, even before the flowers and plants have had a chance to bloom. However, it’s also a VERY over-shot area, with a lot of cheesy, corny, and other food-related adjectives depicting the photographs. Therefore, Andrew and I made it our mission to try to stand out and make our photos different than whatever you can find on Google while simultaneously showcasing Erin and Brian’s sociable, upbeat, and low key nature.

We’ll let you decide for yourself!

Despite the chilly day, we had such a great time hanging out with Erin and Brian! These two are really fun, and their love for each other is absolutely apparent and can warm up any cold day!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 57 – Chris Crisman

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:00:36 +0000

I don’t know how I do it sometimes, but advertising and editorial photographer, and all-around awesomeness, Chris Crisman chats with me about how his days at the University of Pennsylvania, growing up in a small town, and the javelin all led to a successful and inspiring photography career, as well as the influences that lead to the development of one’s photography, how his tastes have changed, and how the camera makes the photographer… or rather, one’s relationship with the camera. Plus, we share our opinions on art schools. Meanwhile, I’ve got a fun and awesome contest for you that I explain!

[ All Photos by Chris Crisman ]

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

InstaThis! And Contests! Oh My!

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 06:00:21 +0000

I was minding my own business one day when I received an email from Nate over at InstaThis. Curious as to what this could be about, I opened the email and did some homework about InstaThis. These folks create amazing wood and acrylic prints using your Instagram photos, and Nate wanted one of my lucky followers to have a chance to get a free wooden print of their own!

I had a lot of respect for Nate and InstaThis just by checking out their website and looking at the prices, but apparently, Nate wasn’t finished. To give me a scope and better perspective to talk to you all about, he backed up his talk by sending me a print of my own!

Just a few days ago, I received my print in the mail, and wow! This thing is great, and if you’re an avid follower of this blog, you know I don’t kid around. I mean, check it out! The detail is very impressive and the print quality is spot on. My print is 10 inches x 10 inches and the hanging method is simple and easy. It’s pretty lightweight, yet durable, and the way my photo came out looks really cool! I tried to challenge them a bit by sending in one of my abstract shots, and it definitely didn’t seem to phase them one bit! It’s a great print!

So, how do you get in on this action? Great question! I’m glad you asked!

I’m all for contests and such, but I wanted it to be something a little unique to me. I shoot a wide variety of things, but I didn’t want the winner to be forced to upload and print a photo from a contest when they have another shot they’d prefer to print.

THEREFORE, here’s how I see it playing out: my show is called “Staying In Focus”, right? So, why not send me your best depth of field shot! I’ve always been a fan of brilliantly-created depth of field photos, where there’s a great play of bokeh to separate the subject from the background. But here’s the thing: InstaThis uses Instagram to make prints. SO, it HAS to be an iPhone/Android shot! TWIST!

Here’s the deal: Firstly, follow InstaThis on Twitter and/or like them on Facebook – as long as you’re following them on one of those accounts, you’re good. Also, simply tweet the following message:

Enter to win a SWEET wooden print by @InstaThis through the #StayingInFocus contest! Find out details here: http://wp.me/p2cVxn-1qk

THEN, take a clever photo with your mobile device (while you’re listening to me on iTunes or Stitcher, perhaps?) and upload it to your favorite photo sharing service – whether that’s Instagram, Flickr, EyeEm, 500px, wherever. Then, post it on Twitter, Flickr, Instagram… wherever… and make sure you use the tag “Staying In Focus” or hashtag #StayingInFocus. I’ll search for my favorite images, and the creme de la creme will receive a free print from InstaThis!

But you don’t just have to wait for this contest to have your prints done! You could get started right this second by going to InstaThis.com or connect with Instagram to upload your photos and produce these beautiful prints! AND, that’s not all: if you use the promo code “INSTATHIS15” at the checkout, you can get 15% off your order! FIFTEEN WHOLE PERCENTAGE POINTS! So get started today!

In the meantime, don’t forget to enter the contest! I want to see your best depth of field shot, so bring it! Entries for the contest will end APRIL 15th at 11:59pm EST – tax day! – so you’ve got a solid three weeks, but don’t slack off! You’ll want to win this print because it. is. sweeeeet.

To recap the details, follow InstaThis on Twitter and/or Facebook, tweet the simple message you can copy and paste about the contest from above, and post your best photo playing off of and showcasing depth of field with the tag “Staying In Focus” or hashtag #StayingInFocus before April 15th at 11:59pm.

Get those entries in!

- Patrick

Paperhaus at the Rock N Roll Hotel

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:26:39 +0000

Maybe I have a romanticism for bohemians like musicians or artists. Perhaps it’s a love affair with the idea of supporting local upstarts and talent. Whatever it is, I can’t help but enjoy aiding and assisting those who have big dreams and are starting out. It could be the whole “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt” thing, but because I had a lot of help when I was at the beginning of my career – and pursuit of happiness – I feel it’s only right to pay it forward. So when I see a talented group of guys like Paperhaus, I am compelled to show my support. It’s that whole “what goes around, comes around” bit, right?

It was a nice send off show for the band, who I was happy to shoot at the final show of the Red Palace on H Street. I came better prepared this time, bringing the film camera, but also packing the digital gear along for the ride, as well. Paperhaus was preparing for their new EP, set to be released soon, and hosted a party with a slew of local and up-and-coming artists, and I was happy to photograph the experience!

First of all, man, oh man! It was DARK in there! Most of these low key music venues tend to not have an elaborate lighting display, but Rock N Roll Hotel does a photographer NO favors with theirs! It’s going to require some good glass and a bit of noise reduction. Ok, a LOT of noise reduction. For this shoot, I had my trusty Canon 7D and shot strictly with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM Zoom lens. The reasoning is because I knew I would be so close to the stage that anything else would be either too tight or too wide for what I wanted. The 24-70mm is just too perfect to capture full shots or even tightly-cropped portraits when you’re only a few feet away from the band performing on such a low stage.

Because the lighting was so dark, majority of the time, I was shooting with the aperture nearly as wide as it can go (2.8-3.2) at a 2000-3200 ISO and roughly a 1/125 – 1/250 shutter speed. I hate going too high on the ISO because of the noise, and thankfully, even at 1/125th, I don’t get too much blur; when I do, it’s kind of a nice addition to the action, in my opinion. I still have a bit of trouble getting the right focus on the drummer through the drum kit, but because he was a lot closer for this show, I had a little better luck.

Did I mention it was dark? As a result, it was tricky getting the right focus because the camera didn’t want to acknowledge anything was there in front of me! I did a lot of manual focusing in the dark, which I don’t think I would have the confidence to do if it wasn’t for shooting with a manual film camera these past few months. Because the venue seemed keen to use a lot of blue lights, and maybe only three or four lights total, the resulting images turned out dark and moody. It seemed a bit unfitting for a lot of Paperhaus’ music, but what do I know? I’m no light technician, right?

Lightroom 4 once again came to the rescue, with its great noise reduction filter and ease of culling and editing photos. It makes me wonder how I ever used to dislike this program. And surprisingly, only a few exposure and fill light tweaks were needed to get the shots to look how I wanted them to appear. I certainly can’t get mad about that!

Overall, I’m glad that I was able to attend and support Paperhaus, who are a very talented group of gentlemen. Even better, they launched a Kickstarter campaign that has successfully been funded to help these guys pay for the costs it takes to go on the road for two months straight. Looking at their schedule, it’s going to be non-stop performing, and I am beyond excited for them to be able to go forth and pursue their dreams! I think that’s a cause I can totally get behind… it’s like that story speaks to me on some level… hmm…

Anyway, I wish them nothing but the best while they’re on tour and look forward to their EP!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 56 – Natalie Franke

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:00:08 +0000

[ all images courtesy of Natalie Franke Photography ]

Trekking to Annapolis, I hang out with wedding and lifestyle photographer and hopeless romantic Natalie Franke, where we get into a SLEW of subjects! We talk about her recent trip to WPPI and the unconventional lessons she learned there – and in life, like when someone stole her photos - as well as the experiences that shape our photographic style and how we measure success. Plus, is she really that naturally chipper? And how has her upbeat and pleasantly positive attitude affected her business and relationships with other photographers? Meanwhile, I’m comfortable in my own skin, which makes me a better photographer.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 55 – Talking To Myself

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:00:11 +0000

Jet-lagged and Daylight-Savings-Time-lagged, I sit down in front of the mic and get into my experiences at the Marine Corps Trials – what went down this year, what I did better this go around, what mistakes were made, and what I learned for next time. And after receiving… an interesting “gift” at the Regiment, I share my favorite photography books. Plus, what will be the fate of film photography and why bother with it?

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 54 – Keith Lane in Cairo

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:00:17 +0000

: : photo courtesy of Keith Lane : :

The last time I spoke to Keith Lane on the podcast, he was searching for the next place to go. All of a sudden, he’s off to Egypt and heading a fantastic project, Public Space: Cairo and later becomes an Adjunct Professor of Photography at American University in Cairo. A two-and-a-half-month excursion has quadrupled, and I decide to use my show as an excuse to see how he’s doing half a world away. We get into deviating from the typical photojournalist coverage and how to find a meaningful story, as well as making roots in a new place and adjusting to a new normal. Meanwhile, it’s tax day at PO Photography! I offer tips on keeping you safe from the IRS. This episode is sponsored by Manfrotto and Geographic Bags!

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 53 – Star Rush

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:00:28 +0000

Behold the power of the internet and technology! After a myriad of technical issues, super star mobile photographer Star Rush and I FINALLY get to chat about a myriad of subjects, ranging from what has brought on her signature photographic style, the state of photography today, and why she prefers black and white over color. We also get into her online photography magazine, Lys Foto, and what caused her to leave the highly influential Mobile Photo Group.

This episode is brought to you by Manfrotto! Click here to get 10% off your next order with Manfrotto!

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 52 – Glenn Orion

Patrick Onofre — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:00:39 +0000

What ever would possess a man to leave the thrilling life of an accountant to become a fulltime photographer? Beats me, but that’s what I find out from my conversation with Glenn Orion. We chat about going from a business degree in the States turned into the junior editor and in-house photographer in the Philippines, as well as developing your own style and what it’s like to shoot Filipino A-listers. All while at a movie theater. So bring your popcorn and enjoy the show!

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Adventures in Film, Rolls No. Two and Three

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:59:45 +0000

As much as I despise clichés, I would title my second chapter of my imaginary “You Live, You Learn”. Or perhaps “That Which Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger”. Maybe even “Sometimes, There’s Just Nothing You Can Do About It”. In this chapter, I would write about how, just when I thought things were going very well, it can all come to a screeching halt, leaving you in a puddle of your own tears and self-doubt. This would not be hyperbole by any stretch of the imagination.

The last time I used my Canon AE-1, I embarked on my first photographic journey into film by throwing myself into possibly the worst conditions one could imagine to test drive your camera: a concert in a poorly-lit venue. I mean, why not? If I’m going to figure out what the hell I’m doing, I’m going to Houdini this shit and find a way to get out of whatever predicament I found myself in. Life is too short to spend reading manuals to figure things out, and in order to practice what I preach, I needed to shoot to really learn what I’m doing.

At the end of the day, it turned out quite well. My images were a bit grainy and noisy, which required a some finagling in Lightroom. Hey, I didn’t say that by throwing myself into the fray, I wouldn’t need the assistance of training wheels! Learning my lesson, I was eager to continue shooting, so I loaded up some Ilford HP5 and prepared myself for war. I was so eager, in fact, that the day I dropped off my first roll of film, I gussied up my camera for a quick walk around Washington, DC, to try out black and white photography.

After my walk, I had a few exposures left and, determined to see what I had shot from earlier, I brought my film camera along to the Mission South concert at the Black Cat, as well as more color film, just in case I wanted to continue shooting.

And then, it happened. Things went horribly wrong.

My roll of film finished, so I went to rewind the film and… the handle broke. GASP! What was I to do?! I quickly realized it simply came unscrewed from the top, so I just had to screw the lever back in. Ok, crisis: averted. That is, until I went to resume rewinding the film. The film refused. It just didn’t want to go back to its home. I tinkered with this for a second until it felt like it had rewound, but I couldn’t tell if it had. Thanks to the darkness of the Black Cat, I attempted to quickly check the back of my camera – for a split second – as if I was the Flash running a marathon. I noticed it wasn’t done, so I continued to rewind until it was finished. Crisis: averted. Again.

That is, until I took it in to get developed. The local photography shop’s machine that develops black and white film was broken at the time I took my roll in, so I had the joy of waiting nearly three weeks to see if everything was okay. It wasn’t. I only managed the following four photos; the rest were completely blank.

Yup. That’s it. Four exposures. The day of street photos I took? Gone. Vanished. Nothing but blank negatives. My guess is that checking on whether or not the film was rewound completely ruined them, as you can tell by the light streaks in some of these images. Drat.

My third roll also saw better days. I continued my obsession with pitting myself against the worst conditions possible, this time being the Black Cat. Perhaps for the sake of the challenge, perhaps because I simply could, or perhaps because I was unaware of what I had taken (or lack thereof) with the previous roll when I shot there, something possessed me to do it. The lighting was infinitely worse – I’m still having a hard time trying to figure out what that venue’s obsession is with red lights – and made for a muddled, contrasty mess of photos because, like I do on my DSLR, I couldn’t lower the temperature. Perhaps I’m a masochist. Yeah, that might be more like it. I’m a glutton for photographic pain.

Therefore, I took the liberty to convert a lot of them to black and white. If you saw the originals, you’d be thanking me for doing that. Furthermore, I just can’t get the focusing to work in my favor in the darkness of a concert venue. Because there is no autofocus, or, what I use, the red dot that lights up when you actually get your subject into focus, I was left to guess. This didn’t leave me with a lot of usable images, but I’m going to describe them as “artistic interpretation” anyway. So… enjoy!

Olivia and The Mates

Ty Segall

Mission South

The images aren’t too bad, but none of my drummer pics came out, and the rest were entirely too dark. The conclusion? The Black Cat is just too damn dark to photograph anything tangible. I’ve been told to try Ilford Delta 3200 for such conditions, which I just might. The only thing that is holding me back is that I absolutely loathe grain. Hate it. Cannot stand it. Can’t do it. Maybe I should get over these feelings and give it a try. Stay tuned.

Coming up next: DSLR results from these shows. Stay tuned for that, too!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 51 – Robb Hohmann

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:00:52 +0000

A funny thing happened on my way to the email. I received one from one Robb Hohmann, talented photo enthusiast, who was just laid off from his job. Amidst much consideration, he’s looking for a career – and life – change, and is contemplating pursuing photography as a fulltime gig. He asked for my advice, and I said under one condition: we record a show. And because he’s an extremely nice and upstanding fellow, he agreed.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Ty Segall at the Black Cat

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:19 +0000

God dammit.

I fucked up. I don’t get upset when some unfortunate circumstance arises or some challenge presents itself that I wasn’t able to overcome, though I know I achieved to the best of my ability. So the fact that I’m upset should alert you that something I could’ve prevented occurred. And now, I’m pissed off. God dammit.

I’ll try my best to explain without using too many fucking expletives resulting from my present state of frustration. I was really looking forward to this show, seeing how I love Ty Segall and have been following him for quite a while now. As soon as I caught wind he’d be performing in my ‘hood, I may or may not have squee’d fanatically while I purchased tickets. As I have previously stated in blog posts of yore, the Black Cat lets you bring in whatever camera you’d like with no restrictions, with the catch being as long as you can handle whatever happens during the show, since there will be no photographer’s pit. Fair enough. I’ve shot amidst a rambunctious crowd at the Black Lips show, so bring it on!

However, crowds were the least of my concerns. I don’t own my dream lens – the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 – of which my ogling and drooling over has been well documented on this site. I went to rent the lens for use during this show, since that is apparently how I take the edge off of a career taking photographs: taking more photographs. I saw a 24-70mm lens and proceeded to rent the motherfucker. When the delivery arrived, I open the box, and what do I see? A 24-70mm lens, all right. Except, it’s not a f/2.8; it’s a motherfucking f/4. FUCK! How am I supposed to shoot with that nonsense in the darkness of the Black Cat?! God dammit.

Despite my error of not double-checking my order and wasting money on a piece of shit fucking lens because I’m a fucking moron, I went with it. Why not, right? Let’s teach myself a fucking lesson.

With the aperture cranked wide, wide open to a f/4, I proceeded to shoot the concert. Let’s just say the results were less than ideal, which is infuriating considering how much I was looking forward to this show. I had the ISO to 3200 and a shutter speed somewhere in the ball park of 1/60th – not the speed I want to shoot a concert at, ever, but not too slow so I might actually capture something. I decided to go for some experimental shots, inspired by the cover to his album, Lemons. Sure. Why not?

So, here are the resulting images before I essentially got smashed into the thigh-high stage by the pressing crowd behind me, moshing and shoving during the entire show, only adding to the frustrations. To reward myself for surviving, I proceeded to the bar and drowned my sorrows into some $5 Yuenglings. Hope you like the photos, and if you don’t, I hope you learned a valuable lesson as to what happens when you don’t fucking double-check your fucking order. Fuck.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Mission South at the Black Cat

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:37:27 +0000

I’m not going to lie: I love my career choice. I get to make images for a living and meet some fantastic people. It’s a lot of fun, but nothing makes the gig more enjoyable than when you work with folks who absolutely love what they do, too. Needless to say, when it comes to Mission South, they make shooting any show of theirs an absolute blast!

I’ve been fortunate to have shot Mission South before, and they always seem to know how to put on a great, energetic performance. I was upset when I had previous obligations and couldn’t attend or shoot previous shows of theirs, but thankfully, with their show opening for Mucca Pazza at the Black Cat, I was out in full force. Along for the ride was my handy dandy Canon 7D, a 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM, and my Canon AE-1 film camera with a 28mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4. You know, just in case.

Because the local camera shop seems to have broken their machine to process black and white film (I know, I know. There will come a point where I’ll be developing my own film. Just… calm down… ok?), I’m still awaiting the results from what I shot with the AE-1. However, because technology is sweet, I still have shots from my 7D.

The Black Cat has an infamously low stage that puts you right on top of the musicians. This is both fantastic and infuriating, since you won’t get the chance to move around freely unless you’re in an empty room, but being that close allows you to get any and all shots you could want from one location with a beautiful lens like the 24-70. Yes, it even reaches the drummer. If it isn’t apparent, my love for the 24-70 runs deep.

Cranked all the way to ISO 2500 and a shutter speed around 1/60 – 1/125, I’ve learned my lesson from previous shows when I would be nervous about using an ISO that high. I was so afraid of grain and noise that I’d still attempt to shoot with a 800-1000 and a slower shutter speed that left everything a blurred mess. Kids, just set the ISO to 3200, ok? The Black Cat does you no favors with their lighting; it’s a dimly-lit, red mess. In an attempt to prevent every musician from looking like an Oompa Loompa, I’ve had to crank the Kelvins down all the way (thanks for that tip, Todd Owyoung!). Why no love for, say, blue or purple lights at the Black Cat, I have no idea.

Be sure to check them out at a venue near you. Oh, speaking of, lookie what I found! They’ve got an upcoming show at DC 9 on Thursday, February 7th! How convenient! All kidding aside, they’re a great group of guys who put on a fantastic show, so check them out! For info and how you can buy tickets, click here: www.dcnine.com/event/mission-south

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the images below!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 50 – One-Year Anniversary!

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:00:52 +0000

photo by michael andrade

One year! 50 episodes! Holy crap! Who knew I’d be able to keep this thing up and running for over 365 days?! (I certainly didn’t) Noe Todorovich guest hosts my 50th Episode/One-Year Anniversary show, as I catch up with some of the podcast alumni, answer a few questions, philosophize and hypothesize about photography, and figure out where the hell I’m going from here. Happy day!

You can listen to the awesomeness above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 49 – Heather Goss

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 07:00:51 +0000

It’s a brand new year of podcasting for your ears! And with the recent announcement of the DCist Exposed winners, what better way to start the year off than a chat with Heather Goss, former Managing and Arts Editor of DCist and founder of DCist Exposed. We get down and dirty about how the DCist Exposed show came about and this year’s winning entries, as well as how blogging led her away from a life in a law firm to being a major player in promoting art in DC.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Adventures in Film, Roll No. 1 – Dance For The Dying + Paperhaus at The Red Palace

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:00:05 +0000

Well, I certainly chose one helluva scenario to try out shooting with film for the first time.

Last week, I mentioned that I was embarking on the journey of film photography, prepared to document my experiences as I learned a whole new medium of taking pictures and creating art. I could have chosen something simple… a pleasant, yet brisk walk around Washington, D.C., a friend’s party, or maybe even a progression of what I have eaten over the past few days … but no. Not me. I had to go to the extremes, didn’t I? A dark, intimate concert venue with the always-fun-to-work-with contrasty stage lighting… and it was my first time shooting with film. Whoops!

It was the last concert being held at The Red Palace in Washington, DC, so what better way to document the occasion than through my Canon AE-1? My friend, Berto, has a brother who is in the opening band, Paperhaus, and I figured it would be a great chance to shoot some more shows, especially at such a highly-touted venue. With my camera in hand, I was ready to pursue some rockin’ photography! (ok, that was bad… I apologize)

Before I get into that, let me learn ya some things I’ve picked up about shooting with film:

It’s fun. That goes without saying, but something about having this film camera has gotten me giddier than a kid on Christmas. There’s opportunity to shoot something EVERYWHERE! Just walking to the grocery store or the coffee shop arouses my imagination and creativity. That’s saying something, considering how much I loathe the cookie cutter-esque cultural landscape Arlington sometimes.
It’s expensive. Holy shit, is it expensive. Buying film isn’t the problem ($4.95/roll for black and white, $7.99/roll for color film). Developing a roll isn’t the problem (at the location I have been to, it cost $7.99 to develop a roll of color film); it’s getting high resolution scans of said developed roll that is. (at the location I have been to, it cost $17.99 to scan a roll of color film. Ouch.) I have heard that Costco does a great job developing film, and for cheaper than that, though no word on if they develop black and white film. I’ll have to look into this more and report back with my findings. That, and I should see if I have a photo scanner. For serious.
It’s not as difficult as you think. With the ease of digital, one could look at the entirety of the film process – from loading film into the camera to shooting to processing the photos to trying to scan them to share to friends – and think it’s way too complicated. Really, it’s not. I was able to load film correctly after only a few tries, figure out how to expose the shots I’m taking in the way I want, and Penn Camera took care of the rest. I got my prints back after a day and scanned in high resolution on a disc. Easy peasy.

Frankly, there was no better feeling of fulfillment than retrieving my prints from Penn Camera. The entire trip to the store, I was genuinely excited to see what developed (literally) and how well/poor I did. There was no chimping during the show to see how I did; all I had was my recollection of how I took the shots to even learn what I did. Something about holding the tangible prints in my hand felt… rewarding. As if I achieved something great. And all I really did was take a few photos at a concert.

I’m not going to lie to you: shooting concerts is difficult. What’s worse? Shooting a concert with a film camera for your first time. While I thankfully could recollect experiences and learned lessons from previous shows I’ve shot, it was hard to focus on my subjects and have them accurately exposed while attempting to read the AE-1′s light meter. I couldn’t initially tell if my shot had come out or not and what adjustments I needed to make; I had to rely on pure instinct and whatever photography know-how I had in me. Though I enjoyed the challenge, I was definitely glad I wasn’t on assignment with a film camera!

~~Sadly~~ Not-so-sadly, a little bit of post-processing was required. I love everything about the Fuji 400H film I was shooting with – even with my extreme hatred for an intense amount of grain – but the problem was that, given the [relatively] low ISO of the film and dark conditions, my images were grainier than a wheat field. Ideally, I wouldn’t have to do anything additional to my images after they get developed, but there was so much noise that I had to tweak a bit in Lightroom. After adjusting a few sliders, I got my photos [relatively] looking how I envisioned, and then some.

Overall, film and I are going to have a long, lasting, loving relationship. Thus far, I’ve only shot with the Fuji 400H, and I selected that film because of the look of the images I’ve seen from it. The Kodak Portra 400 35mm film took a close second, but the Fuji 400H gave me this vintage, nostalgic look I was going for. Currently, I’m shooting with Ilford HP5 black and white film, so stay tuned for those!

I hope you enjoy the shots from my first roll of film!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Entering The World of Film Photography

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:00:46 +0000

Ta-da! The Canon AE-1, in all its glory. (this image not shot with the Canon AE-1)

I’ve been using this blog for three years now to document the life and times of an up-and-coming photographer. In that time, I’ve learned shooting techniques for various jobs like weddings, sports, commercial gigs, and more, as well as business and marketing aspects. I continue to learn more and more about this industry, and even then, there is always an opportunity to learn more. This year, however, I am finally embarking on a journey I continually mentioned I needed to start on my podcast, and that is to shoot with film. It’s on, bitches.

Last week, I mentioned in my 2013 New Year’s Resolutions how I wanted to create a photography project with my “new” film camera – a Canon AE-1. The problem is that I kind of sort of need to learn how to use the camera first. Case in point: I spent a good amount of time trying to load the camera with film. I mean, it was comical.

So, rather than dive in head-first into a project, first thing’s first: let’s figure out how to use this puppy, and do it right. My AE-1 has not left my side since I unwrapped it on Christmas Day, so any opportunity I have to photograph something, I will, documenting my findings along the way.

I mean, just look at that thing! It’s gorgeous!

I truly believe that shooting with a film camera such as the Canon AE-1 is going to be beneficial in many, many ways. First of all, this camera is strictly manual. I have to do just about everything myself; from focusing to adjusting the aperture and translating what the light meter is trying to hint at. Using my own experiences with the DSLR, I can tell there will be a certain amount of fidgeting needing to be done to achieve the shots I’m looking for. However, all of this, I feel, will only make me a better all-around photographer and help me achieve the desired results when any kind of situation is thrown at me.

Secondly, it’s going to force my creativity, and that’s a good thing. Too often lately, I’ve been overwhelmed at all the different types of shots I want to capture, and the overstimulation from my surroundings and abundance of subjects, in turn, motivates me LESS to shoot. Strange, I know, but it’s a conclusion I’ve come to every time I’ve wanted to start a project. With the limitations of the camera and film that’s loaded in the back come a limitless number of opportunities. I have to be more selective of what I shoot, since I don’t have the thousands of possible exposures available to me like a memory card does, which will make me really consider what I’m going to shoot even more.

Lastly, and most importantly, it just looks like a ton of fun! The inability to chimp and see what I’ve just shot has this element of excitement to it that I haven’t experienced in my DSLR, or even with my iPhone, and the anticipation of getting the roll of film developed to see what I captured sounds invigorating! Plus, there’s this sensation of nostalgia I have when holding a film camera as opposed to a DSLR that makes shooting for fun… fun! The clack! of the shutter, the tchzick! of advancing the film, the weight and feel of the camera… well, for a lack of a better term, it’s just sexy!

I’ve already bought an ample amount of film, prepared for any potential shot that comes my way. I’ve picked up both color and black and white film, so as not to limit myself to any particular one type of film, but I am already feeling the pains of film in that regard: any time I see a great shot that I want done in color, I have black and white film loaded, and vice versa. Sigh. This is going to be trickier than I thought!

Meanwhile, I’ve already developed my first roll of film, which will be its own blog post soon enough. Suffice it to say, I certainly learned A LOT in such a short period of time. Here’s a preview of that goodness:

Dance For The Dying – The Red Palace – Washington, DC

Will I survive the learning curve necessary to master [or learn as best I can] the ways of film photography? Stay tuned…

Until next time,

- Patrick

So, How Did You Do on Those New Year’s Resolutions, Patrick?

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:00:15 +0000

[UPDATE: Noe Todorovich posted something really interesting on her blog about setting goals along with an interesting infographic that touched on New Year's Resolutions that I felt tied in with this post very well. Check it out here: http://www.noetodorovich.com/blog/2013/1/21/the-importance-of-setting-goals.html]

At the end of last year, I stated that I hated doing New Year’s resolutions, yet I did some anyway. Sure enough, throughout the year and as I accomplished more and more things, I continued to have the idea of my New Year’s resolutions list in the back of my mind. Beyond the usual professional goals I set for myself, I really wanted to make the most out of 2012, before the world ended, of course. Did I achieve my goals? Let’s take a look.

Shoot Live Concert Photography Regularly - So close. So, so very close. I managed to shoot a few shows and even got to shoot the DC-based, extremely talented Mission South. However, the gigs just weren’t frequent enough to consider it “regularly”. Off to a bad start with this whole “resolutions” thing.
Regularly Post Video To The Blog - I’m going to consider this a win. After thinking about doing the video blog, I realized how much I hated my appearance in photos as is. Instead, I launched a highly successful podcast in its place, which has picked up sponsors like Stitcher Radio and garnered attention from listeners all around the world! So yes. I won this round. Booyah.
Transfer My Blog and Website Under One Roof - Done! I accomplished this back in February, and I gotta say, it looks pretty snazzy, doesn’t it? I think it accomplishes everything I need – my portfolio, my podcast, my latest work, all neatly rolled into one flash-free site of awesome. Huzzah!
Stop The Car And Shoot - Oh yeah, I crushed this one. Initially, I made this resolution because I knew that deep down, I got easily frightened away from taking shots out in the street out of fear that I was being judged. Looking back on it now, I don’t know why I cared what other people thought of me taking my camera out and snapping a photo. The end result always turned out fun, but having trips like #InstantDCtoNYC and all of my other excursions this year has helped me get comfortable with shooting bravely. I think it has also made me feel more confident about my shooting, in general, as I’m no longer afraid to go for the shot I want to achieve – whether it’s at the Warrior Games amongst a flood of photographers or shooting in a controlled setting for a clothing line. Personally, I believe I benefited from setting this goal a lot more than I originally thought when making this resolution.
Attend a Photography Expo - I’m going to say this is another victory because, while I didn’t go to an “expo” per se, I attended a few classes, such as Moshe Zusman‘s class, and purchased a few online courses to help invest in my photography business. I’ve learned so much and have been able to apply it to my own business and First Sight Imagery, which has seen tremendous rewards! ANOTHER mark in the win column, I say!
Force Myself to Regularly Schedule “Me Time” - You would NOT believe how hard this was to achieve! Being a busy body, it was pretty hard to just sit down. I started feeling extremely bad if I wasn’t answering emails or fidgeting with some photo project for the sake of shooting, but at a certain point in the year, it really struck me that, “if businesses can keep regular business hours, why can’t a photographer?” It’s not to say that I didn’t occasionally sneak in a few emails or calls on a Sunday [or holiday], but if I had established plans to be out with friends or family, I upheld those. Same with “me time”; I tried to avoid distractions and really enjoy a book, a movie, or a video game. It was… nice!

Results For The Year: 5/6 Completed! Not too shabby! Maybe my goals were a little modest, but aside from my usual business goals (that I surprisingly achieved, as well), these were the only personal goals I really sought out to accomplish. I didn’t want to create anything outlandish, but I did want to think of things that would make me enjoy the year even more. I think that worked out just fine, a-thank you very much!

I guess I’m a New Year’s Resoluter after all. Given the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed many things about 2012, I figure it’s time to list off the third edition of my New Year’s Resolutions. This time, I’m going to include a few more “professional goals” because, well, let’s be honest: I like thinking about my business. So, here are a few targets and resolutions for the new year:

Take the Staying In Focus Photography Podcast to the Next Level – I don’t care how this gets done, but I want to really get word out there about my podcast. Bigger and better guests, traveling to other countries just to record a podcast session… hell, maybe do some live recordings in front of an audience? The sky’s the limit! Either way, it’s time to gain some listeners and make more, new photography friends!
Create a Photography Project with My New Film Camera – That’s right, bitches! After all that talk about wanting a film camera so I could better learn the ins and outs of my DSLR camera, I have in my possession a Canon AE-1! See! I’m a man of action! Anyway, I’ve got a couple of what I imagine will be fun films to use and I’m eager to try this sucker out! I’m going to need to try it out and learn, since EVERYTHING will be manual, but it should be a great journey and hopefully something creative comes out of this. Hopefully.
Write Guest Blog Posts for Prominent Photography Publications - Sure, why not? I like writing (you couldn’t tell that judging how often I update my blog with articles, not tales from shoots) and figure I should just get on that. It’ll get my name out there, but more importantly, I feel like it will allow me the opportunity to positively contribute to the industry I love so much. Why not, right?
Shoot A Band Portrait for One “New To Me” Band Every Two Months – I initially thought of doing one a month, but with the podcast and wedding season? Pfft! However, shooting bands would be pretty awesome, no? I was thinking about this when talking to my littlest brother (also a photographer in the making) about new music we’ve unearthed. It would give me a chance to meet new bands while living out one of my passions: getting involved in the music scene. Done and done!
Be More Prompt – I am letting too many things fall through the cracks, and I’ve become increasingly forgetful as I’ve become increasingly busy. It’s not an excuse, which is why I need to be better about responding to emails, leaving the house earlier than normal for appointments, etc. Just a personal goal to set.
Work Out – Laugh all you want, but I am totally out of shape. Do you know how many times I was huffing and puffing during weddings this year?! Unacceptable! Gone are the days when I could eat terribly and still maintain some kind of physical fitness. I absolutely struggle waking up in the mornings, but given how many circumstances occur where an event is in the evening, my only chance is to wake up early and do something. This is going to hurt.

I’m sure I will be adding to this list, but at least I’ve got a start and something to shoot for. I have plenty of other professional goals, but they’re fairly obvious (to me, anyway), so I’ll keep them to myself. However, I don’t mind being held accountable for these (especially the “working out” one… that is going to hurt), so I chose to list them. Let’s see how I do!

2012 was a very interesting year, with plenty of ups and downs. There was plenty to be proud about with this year, but in typical Patrick fashion, I want to accomplish MORE! Hey, that’s just how I’m wired. Though there were a lot of things that made 2012 memorable, I definitely want 2013 to be the best year to date! Hopefully, I can make that happen, but if I can’t, then hopefully I can make it the second-best.

Here’s to a new year, and may it be a prosperous year for us all!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 48 – Misho Baranovic

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:00:38 +0000

I travel all the way to Australia this week to meet up with Mobile Photo Group and world-renowned mobile photographer activist Misho Baranovic (through the powers of Skype, that is). I find out his thoughts on this crazy Instagram ToS thing, the beginnings of the Mobile Photo Group, and what “Misho” is all about. I also learn about his recently-released iPhone Photography e-book and his experiences with World Vision: India. Meanwhile, “it’s time to evolve,” I say in my opening rant.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

On Being Interesting

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:20:55 +0000

I’ve come to stop writing so much unless I have something to say or show. I’m not trying to waste someone’s time with tips or tricks that I don’t do unless I actually use them myself. Plus, frankly, I don’t find writing [or reading] those kinds of articles very interesting. The Staying In Focus Photography Podcast has become a time-consuming project, yet very fruitful in learning new things and getting to speak my peace. But overall, my main goal is to remain interesting no matter what I do, at worst. I’m trying not to say something for the sake of saying something; I’m only speaking when I have something interesting to say (at least, in my mind).

If you listen to talk radio or watch shows like The O’Reilly Factor or Rachel Maddow, they all have one thing in common: they’re interesting. While there will always be disagreements as to how biased Chris Matthews is or whether Ann Coulter is a nut job or not, they all have their opinions and they stick to their guns. Everyone else just hops onto their wagon or uses them as fodder for debate. In the end, whether they’re right or wrong, we’re talking about THEM. THEY are the ones choosing to be interesting and not spit out the same regurgitated babble these “pundits” blahblahblah everywhere.

Photographers need to be more like this. Instead of generating the same kind of shots that you see duplicated by everyone else in stock photo sites, why not make yourself stand out? We all love photography because we all have an insatiable desire to create; so CREATE! You don’t see the likes of David duChemin or Gavin Gough gain notoriety because they mimic those photographers who came before them. It’s all about being interesting and different while standing by their convictions.

I think the biggest thing about the idea of not playing it safe comes from outside-the-box thinking, which is a must for photographers. Finding the story that has yet to be told. Looking for the angle that has yet to be seen. Coming up with a style and technique that has yet to be used. Pushing the limits. Do you push the limits by being “safe”? Never!

It’s all too easy to stay within the warmth and comfort of our bubbles, but that doesn’t ever get you to the next level unless you’re perfectly content with mediocrity. Every well known photographer I have ever heard or spoken to has some element of drive in the way they speak about their art and their business. And the common thread between all of them is that they avoid playing it safe and take risks with their work and their photography.

It’s not about the camera. It’s not about the gear. It’s about having a voice and using it to stand out and be different. You are the only one who views the world in the way you view it, so why share someone else’s point of view by copying them? The best ones always want to be better, and in the oversaturated industry of photography, the only way you’re going to stand out is if you take chances and make opportunities to stand out.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 47 – Moshe Zusman

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:00:58 +0000

Twelve twelve twelve! The episode so nice, the date arrived thrice! Washington, D.C., wedding photographer extraordinaire Moshe Zusman invites me to his studio to talk about how a dog got him into photography, life from Israel to the States, lighting in a wedding, and the business side of photography (and how he was able to figure it all out). Meanwhile, I plead with you all to stop being safe and be interesting.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 46 – Marita Hodges

Patrick Onofre — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:00:22 +0000

: : Photo by Noe Todorovich : :

Aloha from the island of Oahu! Ok, that was kitschy… let’s try this again: Marita Hodges joins me by the beach as we talk about how she ended up living in Hawaii after growing up in Oregon, what island life is like, how she’s able to stand out from the overdone postcard images and create nothing but awesome, and what her fears are about street and wedding photography. Plus, does she get island fever? And will she ever leave paradise? Meanwhile, I ~~suggest~~ command you try out mobile photography.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 45 – Ed Kashi

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:00:44 +0000

Turkey, football, and podcasts! World-renowned and award-winning photojournalist Ed Kashi takes a time out from his visit to DC to chat. We get into how he got started in photography after initially pursuing a writing career, as well as the life of a photojournalist, his latest project, Photojournalisms, and how he finds captivating stories to tell. Plus, what does it take to get magazines like National Geographic, New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, and Time to accept your story proposal? Meanwhile, I figure out what I’m thankful for in a year worthy of a lot of thanks.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

Episode 45 – Ed Kashi

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 44 – Navin Sarma

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:00:48 +0000

It’s a very zen-like episode this week as I chat with Washington, D.C., landscape photographer Navin Sarma. I find out what his obsession is with nature and how he feels in touch with his surroundings, as well as getting into more about shooting what makes you feel something and expressing yourself through photography. We also get into what his insightfulness is all about and battling the market to create and sell your images in unique and imaginative ways. Meanwhile, I give a shout out to the bullies.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour at The Source

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:38:27 +0000

[NOTE: Use of these images require permission of the photographer. Any use of these images without the consent of the photographer will be met with legal action. I mean, they're already of low resolution to begin with, so why would you be an idiot and steal them anyway? Just play nice and ask me. Chump.]

For a couple of hours, I was in heaven. Ever since I left the food industry for photography, the passion to be around the food scene never really went away. I have always loved the crazy concoctions magically assembled by insanely talented chefs, and I always will. Growing up in Washington, DC, I was never familiar with a diverse and inventive food scene in my hometown, but upon my return from Johnson & Wales to work and exist in our nation’s capital, I discovered that there have been tremendous strides made here, and no better display could have been drummed up than the DC leg of the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour, hosted by the fine folks at The Source.

It has been a while since I have shot for The Source, my last session being their Kentucky Derby-inspired cocktails. Though quite some time has passed from my last shoot, I always remember how warm and welcoming the staff is there, none better exemplified by Rikka Johnson, The Source’s general manager. I love being able to walk in there and receive a pleasant greeting upon entrance (and being greeted with a glass of amazing wine doesn’t hurt, either).

Having gone to Johnson & Wales, I’m well versed in the story of James Beard. For those who may not know, James Beard was an American chef and the first real culinary personality who brought gourmet cuisine to the limelight, even before the Julia Childs infamy. So when some of the best chefs of DC gather to prepare a seven course meal, along with five appetizers during cocktail hour, it’s hard for me to contain my excitement. I think I did a reasonable job. Maybe.

But seriously, check out this sick lineup: Mike Isabella of Graffiato, Will Artley of Pizzeria Orso, Victor Albisu of Taco Bamba, Haidar Karoum of Proof/Estadio, Adam Sobel of Bourbon Steak, Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen, Vikram Sunderam of Rasika, Scott Drewno and Duane Copeland of The Source, Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel’s, Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve, and Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman of Dolcezza, as well as libations created by mixologists Adam Bernbach of Proof/Estadio, Gina Chersevani of EddyBar, JP Fetherston of Rappahannock Oyster Bar at Union Market, Katie Nelson of Columbia Room, Todd Thrasher of Fanciful Feasts (Eamonn’s and Restaurant Eve), and Chantal Tseng of Tabard Inn. Seriously. So yeah, I got a little excited.

I had the good fortune to meet the chefs and experience some ridiculously delicious food. Like, insane. INSANE! I’m going to try my best to showcase the awesomeness that was at the James Beard dinner, but I will warn you: it’s going to get graphic(ly awesome).

BBQ Oyster with country ham, egg, and a buckwheat crepe, presented by Chef Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen

Fish Chutneywala – banana leaf wrapped striped bass, coconut & cilantro chutney, presented by Chef Vikram Sunderdam of Rasika

Trio of Border Springs Farm Lamb – sausage, ravioli, and meatball, presented by Chef Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel’s

Braised Creekstone Farm Beef Plate with celery root and barley risotto, presented by Chef Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve

Sweet Potato Gelato with pecan praline, presented by Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman of Dolcezza

Frangelico Poached Red Pears with black mission figs, mimolette, and candied filberts, presented by Chef Duane Copeland of The Source by Wolfgang Puck

For realz. I was absolutely spoiled with amazing food and drink all night. I know, what a tough life, right? I loved all of the dishes I got to try, but if I really had to pick a favorite, I was especially fond of the Fish Chutneywala and the braised beef plate from Restaurant Eve. Both were extremely flavorful, and the beef dish was so tender and melt-in-your-mouth. And I’m not notoriously an oyster guy, but the BBQ oyster was INSANITY. An oyster coated in pretzel crumbs??? Magnificent! But who am I kidding? Everything was magnificent!

I took a lot of photos – I mean, A LOT – but below are some of my favorites from the evening, featuring the spectacular chefs and mixologists who I had the great fortune to meet and share a meal with. I hope you enjoy the who’s who of the Washington, DC, restaurant scene!

Duane Copeland of The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Victor Albisu of Taco Bamba

Will Artley of Pizzeria Orso

Mike Isabella of Graffiato

Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve

Haidar Karoum of Proof and Estadio

Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen

Robb Duncan of Dolcezza

Adam Sobel of Bourbon Steak

Scott Drewno of The Source

Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel’s

Vikram Sunderam of Rasika

Todd Thrasher

Katie Nelson of Columbia Room

Gina Chersevani of Eddy Bar

I told you I took a lot of pictures!

Hope you enjoyed the images, but I will tell you, it is nowhere near as much as I enjoyed the food, drinks, and people!

Until next time,

- Patrick

P.S. Seriously, don’t be a jerk and steal these images. I didn’t want my watermark to ruin the photos, so don’t make me regret that decision. If I find out you did, I will go Boba Fett on your ass, hunt you down, and destroy you. Like a boss.

Episode 43 – Messay Shoakena

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:00:31 +0000

Trying to cure my election hangover, I sit down with freelance, editorial, and political photographer Messay Shoakena. I discover how he got picked up by the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and posts and tons of posts. I learn about how he grew up in countries like Ethiopia, Madagascar, Kenya, and Cameroon, and he shares stories and from his street shoots. Meanwhile, I distract myself from the nerve-wracking election results by venting about FotoWeek DC.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Samantha + John Wedding

Patrick Onofre — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:02:19 +0000

It’s been almost two years since I shot Heather and Paul’s wedding. Hell, a year ago at this time, I just returned from Mexico after surviving Hurricane Rina right before the destination wedding Andrew and I shot. Now, another momentous occasion occurred, where Alicia Griffin and I shot Samantha and John’s wedding, whose brother’s wedding was only my sixth wedding at the time.

I learned about the reasoning behind choosing Rockland Farms for their wedding reception. Funny enough, the entire time John’s brother, Paul, and fiancé, Heather, were planning their wedding, John kept saying to hold their wedding there, but they decided upon a different location. With Samantha’s adoration for goats, this seemed like a much better location for this couple. We even got to shoot Samantha and John with a goat!

It was my first time shooting on a farm, but also my first sparkler send off. In preparation for this, I used my Google machine to look up people’s experiences with this. Some didn’t use flash, but cranked up the ISO and opened the aperture wide as all. Others chose to use flash, but toned it down a step so they could actually see the sparklers. My method? I chose the latter, since that made the most sense to me. I figured it would be too dark to get my subjects in focus and I’d end up with a blurry mess. Using my handy dandy 24-70mm, I was at a 2000 ISO and a f/3.2 with a 1/80th shutter speed and went for it. After the couple walked past everybody, Alicia and I jokingly said, “one more time!” since we knew John and wanted to give him a ribbing. Surprisingly, he and Samantha were up for it, so I said to myself, “Self, let’s try the other technique!”

The other technique did not work. Everything was too dark and blurry, and even the sparklers were barely visible. I had the ISO as high as I could make it, so everything was a grainy mess. Bleh. Flash with the Gary Fong for the win! You can see the end result, but I’m frankly not too thrilled with it, mostly because even with a -1 set on the flash, it still looked too bright to me. I also learned that Maryland law prohibits the use of sparklers longer than sixteen inches, which contributed a little bit to the results. Bottom line: flash is vital, but keep it fairly low, as well as a slower shutter speed to allow more light in. Lesson learned.

I hope you enjoy the sampling of images from Samantha and John’s wedding!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 42 – Me, Myself, and I

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:00:36 +0000

: : photo by Noe Todorovich : :

I return from San Francisco with a lot on my mind, and because I have a microphone and a radio show, I get to let it all out in this week’s episode. I discuss my love for San Francisco and how reserved I am about that love for San Francisco, the next best thing for the photography business, and I begin my search for the film camera of my dreams. Plus, I respond to an email from a fellow quitter.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 41 – Angela Kleis

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 05:00:40 +0000

Film buff (well, in the sense that she’s phenomenal at the film medium) Angela Kleis rocks the mic and chats about writing for the Smithsonian Studio Arts blog while schooling me in the world of film. We also discuss why she likes her photos to make the viewer “uncomfortable” and the trending sensation of making digital images “film-like”. Meanwhile, I get excited about VSCO Keys as I surface from beneath the rock I was living under and talk all about it!

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Mission South

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:00:31 +0000

Those guys sure know how to put on a show. The trio call themselves Mission South, and whenever I put on a song like “Kerosene” or “Just A Lie” off their last EP, “Migration: Vol. 1″, I feel like I should be drinking whiskey at a roadhouse bar. For three young guys fresh out of college, they have an unbelievably developed, big arena sound. Even more impressive is their drive and focus on taking this band to the next level, and when you meet Dan (guitar, lead vocals), Mark (bass, vocals), and Max (drums), you expect nothing but big things to happen with these guys.

I was lucky enough to meet the three guys up in Bethesda to discuss an upcoming shoot, and while Noe ended up winning them over and took amazing band portraits, I was beyond happy to shoot their first concert back in DC at LivingSocial’s 918 F Street spot for the LivingSocial Music Series. I have been talking about wanting to shoot more concerts, and even discussed how that is my way of having fun as a stress reliever, so this was a great opportunity to start working my way back into photographing live shows again.

It was an interesting venue to shoot at, way trickier than what I’m accustomed to shoot. Rather than the typical photographer’s pit like most concert halls, the space at LivingSocial was a giant empty space that overlooked the bar that sat below. The watering hole reminded me of a cellar or dungeon painted in black, where we could look up in our drunken stupor and watch the performance, as if it were a hallucination in our alcohol-ridden minds. The space was tight and intimate (that’s what she said), holding about 100 or more people, which is my favorite kind of a venue. However, it was tough to get a shot of the band other than from the sides without moving concertgoers out of the way to get direct, head-on shots. Fortunately, the guys kept it exciting, making every shot unique with their energy and pure joy for simply playing the music they love to play.

The one major issue was the lighting. It was AWFUL. Bright and contrasty with a lot of reds, the other photographer and I both loathed the situation entirely. The tech said he would tone down the reds during the set, but it was no matter; we were dealing with a monster of a light set up. Fortunately, I remembered a tip legendary [to me... oh yeah, and declared #3 in Complex's 50 Greatest Music Photographers Right Now] concert photographer Todd Owyoung told me, which is to crank the white balance as cold as you can make it. This helped prevent extreme discoloration and only required extremely less tweaks to the images in post-production.

What truly saved the day was shooting with the 24-70mm f/2.8 II that Canon had released not even a week before this concert. While I’m not a fan of the lens missing image stabilization, the rest of the qualities the lens contained were phenomenal. It’s a lot lighter than the last generation lens, and the focusing isn’t funky, either (last generation’s 24-70 focused backwards, which was very counter-intuitive). I was able to shoot everything at a ISO 4000 and a 1/125th shutter speed the entire time, limiting the motion blur a ton while still having the aperture as wide as my Canon 7D could handle.

It was fun to hang out with the gents backstage before the show, but even more fun to capture the high energy and awesome set Mission South put together! I can see great things for their future and hope nothing but the best for these guys! Enjoy the images below!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 40 – Arnold Barr

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:00:36 +0000

I took a trip in The Wayback Machine to… well, just about a year ago. But nonetheless, I was very excited I got to reunite with one of my Union 206 buddies, Arnold Barr. I find out what he’s been up to lately while we chat about his travels to Europe and South Korea and photography philosophy, which makes me question my own views on the industry. Meanwhile, I reflect on the importance of having a photography community.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

January + Carl Wedding

Patrick Onofre — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:56:00 +0000

I’m a bit overdue to blog about this wedding, but it’s mostly because I’m still catching my breath from all the action and excitement from the day! January and Carl are a very energetic and engaging couple, but even our previous experiences with the two of them couldn’t have prepared us for the fun day of shooting we were in for. It was one of those wedding where you weren’t sure if the five memory cards you had on you would be enough to capture all of the excitement that was going on!

Andrew and I knew we were in for a treat from the moment we met January and Carl. January was the practical and grounded one, while Carl was the hopeless romantic one who always had a joke ready. We had the fortune of shooting their engagement photos in Baltimore, going around the Federal Hill neighborhood and taking photos around a Baltimore Love Project mural. As Carl pointed out to his friends when I met up with them as the gentlemen were getting ready for the wedding, “it was in a pretty shady area and I was sure Patrick and Andrew were going to panic, but they were just happy-go-lucky and excited to shoot. I knew they were my dudes right then and there!” Yeah, that’s right – Andrew and I brave the conditions to get the perfect shot!

I was a bit spoiled for this wedding, as I had the good fortune to use the new 24-70mm f/2.8 II that was only released a few days before. I wanted to try out this pricey piece of glass ($2,299 on B&H) in a various array of conditions, and what better way to test the limits than a wedding? I love the versatility of the 24-70, as I’m able to get wide angle shots as well as closer cropped portraits. With the traditionally horrible lighting conditions of a church, I was still able to shoot at about a 1600 ISO and still have a 1/160th shutter speed at an f/2.8. I’ve learned to try not to crank the f-stop all the way, as the results for me tend to be less than favorable, but even worse: I’m noticing my 7D is having focusing issues, and I don’t appear to be the only one. I’ll have to keep you posted on the results of how I remedy this, but one thing is for certain: that 24-70mm lens is a godsend. Seriously. Go rent it yourself to try it out!

We had a full day of shooting, and while I still don’t think all of these photos are enough to show you how awesome the day was, I’m going to try anyway because I had SUCH a great time. I mean, we had over an hour for portraits??? I easily filled a memory card with just the wedding party portraits! Too much awesome… I’ll let you see for yourself!

Andrew and I truly enjoyed our time with January and Carl and we wish them nothing but the best! Absolutely a fun bunch to be around!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 39 – James Campbell

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:00:56 +0000

Friend of the podcast James Campbell hangs out to chat with me again, but this time, he says he’s got some questions he wants to ask me. Oh really? I’m not sure what he’s going to ask, but… well, let’s see what he’s got in store! We can maybe discuss more about the upcoming InstantDC event for Foto Week DC, or maybe delve into his organized, motivated, determined mind. Or perhaps we can get into more personal matters this times. Meanwhile, I gloat about winning a bet that benefits one of my lucky winners. Maybe.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 38 – Brandon Kopp

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:00:08 +0000

When anything refers to “tourism”, I instantly shudder. Brandon Kopp anages to change my mind about the sights that DC locals take advantage, especially when I learned how the site got started. We discuss HDR, how his military history led to photography, and how he developed his precise and perfectly planned picture taking, as well as how his psychology career plays into his photography. Meanwhile, I learn that my release from the stresses of photography is… photography.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – What Am I Doing? [9.25]

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:18:45 +0000

It was just one of those weeks. I’m not sure if words could really describe it, but needless to say, I’m already bracing for what the following days will bring. I’m going to try to explain it as calmly as I can, but bear with me if I get a little emotional.

The San Francisco 49ers lost on Sunday. To the Minnesota Vikings.

*SOB!*

Alright, you get the gist. I’m overly dramatic. At least I didn’t have to suffer the heartbreaking loss that the poor Packers fans are going through today thanks to the replacement officials, and hell, my fantasy football teams went 2-0 this week. But to add to this bizarre season, my favorite football team went down and suffered their first defeat of the year. I’ve been a diehard Niners fan since I could say “Joe Montana to Dwight Clark” and look forward to every football season, especially now that I finally have something positive to root for instead of “a top ten draft pick. Again.” Football aside, it was actually a really really really really fun and spectacular week.

To start, I decided to try out the new Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II, released on Wednesday. With the variety of upcoming gigs I had – a wedding, an event, and two concerts – I figured it would be a great way to test out the range of this new lens, especially since I was never going to actually buy this lens right away. So far, so good, and I will have my take on it for an upcoming podcast episode. Needless to say, I’m hoping I hit the lottery sometime soon or wishing Santa actually does exist.

I was glad to have a large range of test subjects for this lens, with one of them being the wedding of January and Carl. It’s been about a year since Andrew and I shot their engagement shoot, so we were both really excited to see them again. They’re both extremely delightful people and so much fun to be around — Carl immediately said upon my entrance into the room he and the groomsmen were getting ready, “PATRICK. You’re doing a shot! No buts.” Oh, it was going to be THAT kind of a wedding, huh? The entire day was completely enjoyable, and I will have a few photos to share from the day coming later this week.

Meanwhile, my day of rest came with more photography. The following day to the wedding, I was jam-packed with fun times: my mom drove up from Virginia Beach to brunch and check out the new digs, my best friend, Thomas, swung by to watch his Liverpool team get ANNIHILATED by my Manchester United team and watch some football, I had a great podcast session with this week’s guest, and then the concert shoot. I really wanted to test out the lens in some varying settings, and along with me desire to shoot more shows, Noe pointed out that one of my favorite local bands, Wye Oak, was playing. What a Sunday (except for my 49ers losing, but we’ve already been over that)!

I have seen Wye Oak perform before on a few occasions, the first time being when they played with Lower Dens a few years back, and was instantly drawn to their music. Their set up is insanity: Jenn Wasner rocks out on guitar and vocals while Andy Stack goes crazy playing drums, keyboard, and bass. Despite being only two people, they generate an amazing, full sound, so I was stoked to have an opportunity to not only shoot the show, but enjoy their fantastic performance up close. I’ll be sure to have more images from the show soon, but suffice it to say, the lens saved my ass.

Speaking of saving my ass, I have been scrambling to find guests for the photography podcast and started to freak out a bit. It’s hard to be a one-man operation sometimes, and when I get backed up with photography clients, the show has the tendency to suffer. However, I have come to realize that whenever I start to feel this way, opportunities begin to present themselves, so I should never ever ever panic. Sure enough, I quickly recalled the talented and friend of the podcast Pablo Benavente mentioning a few names and was surprised I had yet to interview this week’s guest! SO, I’ve got Brandon Kopp on this week, the mastermind behind PhototourismDC.com. It was such an awesome chat, and Brandon is an extremely pleasant and astute guy that our conversation was better than I could have imagined. I’m excited to present that to you tomorrow, so be on the look out for that, as well as the flood of other episodes I now have lined up!

It’s a busy week, and this coming week is only going to get busier, but I’m so excited to be busy and conduct all of my pursuits that I’m finding bliss amidst the storm. I’m finding ways to sneak in bits and pieces of “me time” and developing a work-life balance in my ever-changing lifestyle that’s really leaving me… happy? Yikes. I never thought this curmudgeon would turn that attitude around! Then again, the 49ers lost, so I thankfully still have something to be bitter about. Whew! That was a close call!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Just Call Me “MacGyver”

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:00:22 +0000

In a recent podcast episode, I discussed that the job description for photographers needs to be updated. People are truly being misled as to what we do. Sure, we take photos and spend copious amounts of time in a dark room – whether that be digital or actual. However, the one thing that gets lost in the shuffle of words to describe a great photographer is his or her ability to make sure the shoot goes smoothly, and if things don’t go according to plan, the photographer can overcome and the client is none the wiser.

Now, I’m by no means calling myself “great” by any stretch of the imagination. All I ask is that you refer to me as “Patrick MacGyver.”

“Why,” you might be asking me as you stare at this article, “why on EARTH are you comparing yourself to one of the greatest television action heroes of our time? Especially since your hair is nowhere close to as fantastic as his Man of Action Mullet was.” That’s a fair assessment to make, but I assure you, I have a reasonable explanation for this. I pinky swear.

Recently, I shot with Kimberly Wilson, mastermind behind the brilliant Tranquil Space yoga studios and TranquiliT Eco-Luxe clothing line for the sixth time (I know, right?! SIXTH! Time sure does fly!). I headed into the shoot optimistic and excited to see what new designs she has whipped up. I know I keep saying it every time, but it still holds true: I get overwhelmed with excitement as I pull up to the yoga studio for the day’s shoot. There is a lot of happy face on TranquiliT Shoot Day going on in my car.

Once again, my good buddy, Andrew Markowitz, let me borrow the ginormous umbrella modification that has been clutch in these shoots. The shoot has become a thing of beautiful routine: I make my way to the yoga studio, unpack my seamless and gear, say hello to Tim and chat about football and the latest Apple gear we’re going to buy as he sets up his camera to record behind-the-scenes video, get the strobe in place, set up my MacBook Air for tethered capture. The usual. We all have this down to a science, and even the last-second garment delivery on the day of the shoot has become the norm. I mean, come on! When the one thing that can go wrong does and we’re prepared for it, there is nothing that could hinder our shoot, right?

Like clockwork, I go to set up the strobe and attach the umbrella modifier to it and… wait. It’s not fitting. Alright, no need to panic. Maybe I’m just attaching it incorrectly; I mean, it has been a few months since I’ve used this guy. Let’s try this… still not working. Uh oh. I GRABBED THE WRONG ATTACHMENT!!! ShitshitshitshitSHIT!

“Ok, Patrick… you just need to find a way to get the umbrella to attach to the strobe… no big deal…” We were a few minutes ahead of schedule, still waiting on the pieces we were going to shoot, so I had some time. Kimberly and Tim asked if everything was cool, seeing the umbrella still lying on the ground. “Yeah, everything is cool,” I exclaimed. Nothing to see here. Keep moving along, people. This is normal. I searched around for something I could use to attach the modifier, but… nothing. “Alright… there’s a dumpster in the alley out back. Maybe I can find something there,” I thought with my caffeine-drenched brain. After checking around the alley, I looked in my car and found a coat hanger. Good thing I didn’t clean out my car like I had planned on doing a few days before! I jimmy rigged the strobe, and sure enough, my greatest masterpiece of the day was created. Check out this beauty:

Isn’t that a magnificent marvel of human ingenuity? Hilarious.

The shoot carried on flawlessly as the umbrella held in place like nature intended it to. Heck, for a scheduled four-hour shoot, we knocked out everything in nearly half the time! We’re machines, I tell you! MACHINES! The clothing looked wonderful, with some very autumn-y color and fashions that are sure to be big hits this fall. Kimberly always does a great job tying in vintage chic with eco-friendly fabrics, and the results were really fun to shoot. Plus, having the fantastic Julia assisting and Leslie modeling the designs, it’s no wonder the day went smoothly, even with the hiccup in the lighting setup.

It was a pretty simple setup: just the single strobe, a white seamless, and a 50mm f/1.4 on my Canon 7D. Easy peasy. I kept the flash fairly even keel at just 1/4th power at f11 and got nice, even lighting to light the entire garment. It took me a bit to really get down the flash-aperture ratio in the past, but over the last few shoots, I’ve really started grasping that concept (thanks, Zack Arias!).

Overall, the shoot went extremely well, and the best part is I re-learned a valuable lesson: photographers are more than just people who press the shutter button. Photographers are problem solvers. A great photographer can take whatever challenges a situation throws at them and turn it into an advantage. Nothing ever goes 100% smoothly on a shoot, but it’s the photographer’s job to pretend like everything is going 200% smoothly. What was I supposed to do when I discovered the attachment was the wrong one? Tell my client, “sorry, but I have to head back to my place to grab the right one. See you in an hour!” or something? Heck no! You make that shit work! And in the end, it did. Just as I planned.

Whether something arises on the day of a wedding, or a model doesn’t show up on the day of a shoot, or the dad is completely over the idea of a family portrait session, it is the photographer’s responsibility to make it work, not the client. As photographers, we are improvisors, managing the situation and being able to create in adverse situations. For every shoot, a great photographer is just a modern day MacGyver. Except maybe without the hair.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 37 – Kristi Odom

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:00:22 +0000

Going from an engineering degree in Georgia to a fine art school in Australia, to traveling in six continents, Kristi Odom is certainly no stranger to adventure. We chat about how photography nearly literally fell into her lap and how she couldn’t imagine doing anything other than photography, as well as exploring her travels to foreign countries, pointers she keeps in mind when shooting abroad, and how she has photographed concerts, destination weddings, and nature. Meanwhile, I have to break up with a client.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream past episodes on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 36 – Melody Yazdani

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:00:40 +0000

After meeting at a Moshe Zusman workshop, I knew there was something about that Melody Yazdani – portrait, wedding, child, and lifestyle photographer – that I liked. A few competitive Words With Friends games later, and we’re chatting on the podcast about leaving a nearly-completed Chemistry degree in Arkansas to pursue a life of photography at the Corcoran and how Groupon kicked her career into gear. Meanwhile, I get irritated with static, and also update the definition of what a photographer really is.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 35 – Stephen Gosling

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:00:29 +0000

The British invasion takes over the podcast this week! Freelance photographer Stephen Gosling has a chat with me about how he escaped the potential life of an accountant and recalls his first impressions of America. We also discuss how he started a photography career from scratch in DC and thoughts on how to go about being a photographer’s assistant. That is, when we’re not getting interrupted. Meanwhile, I ramble about the things start-up photographers do that annoy me.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the podcast on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 34 – Brian Mosley

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:00:28 +0000

Fellow DC-native and We Love DC’s Brian Mosley swings by my ‘hood to show us the inside scoop of the life of a lobbyist, and why he’s getting out of that racket to pursue a four-month-long photographic excursion in Europe. We chat about shooting the sights of an overexposed city, as well as what he looks for in photos to feature on We Love DC and how he keeps it interesting while developing an interactive photography community on top of the DC Flickr scene. Meanwhile, I stroke my own ego over emails as I bring people together and cope with losing a potential client.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Episode 33 – Eric Spiegel

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:00:12 +0000

Eric Spiegel went from a CSI life to photography. Okay, not exactly, but we did talk about how he went from a forensics lab to the dark room. Also, we chat about how he developed as a street photographer after initially disliking the craft, making the jump into a freelance photographer, shooting as an introvert, and his arsenal of cameras and how his wife and family have taken to the career change. Meanwhile, I figure out where my influences come from and whether or not I’m a photography imposter.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and all of the previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Staying In Focus Photography Podcast Preview – Episode 33: Eric Spiegel

Patrick Onofre — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:56:08 +0000

On how Eric made the transition from a steady paycheck to a working photographer.

Full episode is out on August 22nd!

Listen to the latest podcast episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Or download the photography podcast on iTunes here.

Episode 32 – Mary Kate McKenna

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 06:00:49 +0000

Mary Kate McKenna and I get down to business about the… business… side of the photography industry. We avoid the fluff to talk about all the tricks of the trade we’ve learned that nobody likes to discuss. I also learn how she went from her beginnings of shooting $400 weddings to becoming a renowned wedding photographer, as well as finding out how her business affects her relationship, how she handles folks who ask to shoot and study under her, and planning our next trip together. Meanwhile, I answer an email about turning a fun hobby into a fun career.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

When Life Gives You Lemons…

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 22:43:12 +0000

It seems like everything is gunning to bring my spirit down lately. Life is really trying to throw all it’s got at me, but I think it’s underestimating my resiliency. You see, unbeknownst to it (shh! Let’s keep this between you and me), I made a promise to myself not to sweat the small stuff and focusing on the good. This has had a chain reaction regarding bigger ticket items and overall, my sanity has been spared. It’s not an easy task, especially since I love to get a good rant in there on occasion, but considering where I’ve been pulling my inspiration and motivation from lately, it’s easy to see why I can’t be bothered.

It hasn’t always been like this. Perhaps it will comfort you to know that I used to be a Crabby Cathy (Crabby Carl? Is that the more masculine version of that?) back in my restaurant management days. The job got old quickly – I was working too long of hours with too miserable of people for too little pay. There were so many external factors wearing on me that it caused a disturbance with the internal factors. One day, I finally had enough. I wanted to be happy. That’s not asking for a lot, right? After weighing out the contributors to my unhappiness, I made some decisions to right the path towards happy. Those decisions to be happy has carried over to doing what I love and pursuing my dreams. Having the opportunity to do what I love professionally for the past two years, it’s hard to complain.

That hasn’t meant that life has stopped giving me trouble, however. There have been a ton of bumps in the road I’ve had to overcome lately that are attempting to overshadow all the amazing and positive opportunities that I’ve been awarded. The unfortunate part is that the world doesn’t stop turning to give you a chance to catch up; you have to somehow manage this never-ending juggling act while life hits you in the shins with a bat. It’s tough to try to maintain the happy when it seems like everything and everyone doesn’t want you to be. But for the past month, I’ve had a secret weapon that I am going to share with you all. Ready to find out what it is? Here goes…

My secret weapon to combat the negative and keep myself motivated to push through is Eric LeGrand.

I don’t know this gentleman personally. We’re not best buds (though that would definitely not be a bad thing if we could be after this… HINT). However, I’ve been following him on Twitter, and ever since I’ve heard his acceptance speech for the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPY’s in July, I’ve become one of his biggest fans.

On October 16, 2010, Eric was playing for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a game against the Army. In the fourth quarter, LeGrand went for a tackle and ended up on the ground, paralyzed and unable to breathe. He wasn’t sure what was going on with him, but he couldn’t get up. Unsure if this was the end of his career – or the end of his life – he knew that the battle was about to begin the moment he was placed on a stretcher and sent to the hospital. The amazing thing through all of this was that the moment he arrived at the hospital, the determination to walk again and his motivation to “grind it out” began almost immediately. A few months later, he was able to feel sensation in his shoulders and in his body, and a year after his injury, he returned to the field in his wheelchair to be with his teammates.

His amazing attitude has been addicting. You regularly see his positivity shine through his messages to his fans and followers, so it was no surprise to me to see him awarded the ESPY for perseverance. Before his speech, I had nearly forgotten to check up on what happened to that Rutgers defensive tackle, but I have made sure never to miss a beat ever since. It’s been wonderful to see his motivation every day, along with his amazing sense of humor and overall great attitude despite having a tremendous mountain to climb. His every day challenges and continuous therapy sessions haven’t prevented him from gaining ground on his goal to one day walk again. When you see the pictures of his progress and his determination, you are assured just as much as he is that he most certainly will.

The best part is that it really puts everything you’re going through in perspective. Had a rough commute? The server at the restaurant got your order wrong? Have a delayed flight at the airport? Tough day at the office? I feel like a lot of people blow up these minor inconveniences to monstrous proportions and allow that to completely wreck their day. On the grand scale, what does it really matter? I hate to say it, but… get over it. I know there’s the adage “someone always has it worse than you,” which is such a cop-out answer because everybody handles things differently and certain things can be more challenging to some than others. The point I’m trying to make is that, perhaps, things aren’t always as bad as they seem. I had a rough patch last year, and 2012 has been a tremendous roller coaster, but when I take into account all of the good that’s around me, the tough times don’t seem so tough. Furthermore, seeing such things like the motivation of Eric LeGrand, who, despite the challenges, is STILL making it happen and doing big things with his life, one can’t help but be inspired to give every day their best effort, kick some ass and take names.

It’s easy to lose sight of the things you love when the little things that want to bring you down start piling up. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that you can’t lose the positive perspective, and the best way to stay the course is surrounding yourself with all of the supportive and encouraging people and things and allowing them to positively influence your life. In my case, I’m fortunate enough that I have an opportunity to photograph things for a living, talk with amazing and talented individuals for my podcast, and share my experiences with you all. I’ve got my friends and family and a job I love – all those negative things, while annoying, are barely a blip on the radar in the bigger picture.

I hope you find solace and peace in your lives! And follow Eric LeGrand on Twitter – @EricLeGrand52

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 31 – Angela B. Pan

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 06:00:14 +0000

HDR photographer extraordinaire Angela B. Pan swings by the neighborhood to talk about how she’s able to make a business from her passion for landscape photography and handling the HDR haters. We get into how she keeps an overly exposed (I’m so punny!) Washington, DC environment looking fresh through her lens, how she manages to wake up that early, and even what her parents think about her becoming a full-fledged photographer. Meanwhile, I discover a good lesson from the story of an Olympic photographer who captured one of the most iconic shots of the games.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

What Am I Doing? [8.7] – Love and Hate

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:49:46 +0000

I’ve had an ongoing love for hating myself and my work. It’s not entirely self-induced, but over time – and with enough rejections from editors, potential clients, and the like – I can’t help but wonder what I’m doing wrong with my photography. What do I need to do to take it to the next level? I always preach that you have to love what you do, and I actually DO love my work, for once, but is my artistic point of view not translating or something, which is why I keep getting turned down? Are “the powers that be” seeing something that everyone else is too kind not to bring up? Great, now I get the doubts creeping in, and suddenly, the hatred for my work does become self-induced. Well played, contest judges and magazine editors.

So, how do I fix this? More after the jump.

As contradicting as it sounds, I’m not really that hard on myself. Sure, there are those brief moments of doubt and self-hatred that sneak in after I receive a rejection letter/email/phone call. I’ve learned that the key is that I make sure those moments are BRIEF. I vent for a second, then calm myself down and let it roll off my back. You have to. I don’t know of any photographer who has ever batted 1.000 when it comes to contacting some publisher, editor, or client and always getting the job. Rejection is a part of the game. Wallowing it doesn’t have to be. After facing yet another “thanks for your submission, however…” letter, it’s pretty easy to allow yourself to get into a slump. I was thinking about how I could’ve made the images better, how my creative statement might’ve been a turn off (pfft… yeah right. Those things are lame sauce.), or which images in the series weren’t as strong and should have been subbed out. In the end, as I was lying in bed last night, I realized that all it really means is that the next time I submit my work, I’ll make sure that I leave no doubt in the judge’s minds that my photos should be selected.

And then, of course, as soon as that happens, I get two requests from other exhibitions that are interested in my work. It’s funny how these things work, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, I had an awesome conversation with HDR landscape photographer Angela B. Pan. She was extremely pleasant to chat with and I got to learn a lot about her and how she has developed into such a fantastic photographer and person. These podcast episodes have really been a great boost for the self-esteem, not because everyone seems to compliment my work each time we meet up, but because it’s refreshing to know there are other people who go through the same trials I have been going through during my photographic career. Angela and I hit up a ton of different subjects (thanks to the coffee-induced ADD), but you can catch a sampling of tomorrow’s episode below!

It’s hard to stay the course when you think everyone is eager to bring you down or turn you down. The main thing to recognize is that as long as you’re having fun shooting what you love, and you keep at it, you’re only setting yourself up to get better over time. It’s like the saying I just made up right now on the spot: patience is a virtue, and boy! Does this career path of photography require a LOT of patience!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 30 – Renzo Grande

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 05:00:04 +0000

After going to the wrong location to hang out, I finally sit down with the fantastic street photographer Renzo Grande, also known as AliveInNYC. We talk about how he evolved into street photography and how he handles the sensory overload that is photographing NYC – and what he thinks of shooting elsewhere. We also get into how he shot for 24 hours straight, how he’s already over what he shot a few months ago and his fancy schmancy Fuji x100 Pro. Meanwhile, I learned some lessons from Moshe Zusman about running my photography business.

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

Multiple Personalities in New York City

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:01:47 +0000

I used to be scared to death of New York City. I was afraid every visit I took would be my last. I’m not necessarily sure where it stemmed from, considering I was fine in the streets of Washington, DC, but something about New York – even in Manhattan – freaked me out. As I got older, I became less afraid and more annoyed with New York. Tourists engulfed the streets, making Manhattan an urban Disneyland. Everything was overpriced, overdone, and children were wandering around everywhere. Man, I hated it so much! That all changed at some point, and while I can’t pin point it – perhaps it was exploring other boroughs or being able to drink away the annoyances – I’m glad my opinions have changed.

: : : More after the jump : : :

I can walk the streets now and find inspiration around every corner. How did that happen? Maybe it was when I brought my best friend up to New York for his first time ever. We went to see Flight of the Conchords at Radio City Music Hall and made a necessary stop to Carnegie Deli for a mammoth dinner. Seeing how excited he was to stand in Times Square reminded me that maybe I needed to reexamine New York and look at it from new eyes. I’m not sure if that was precisely the moment I got over the aggravating wall of tourists that plague the stretch of West 42nd to West 47th, but I’ve gained restored faith in the great city.

Entering Jason Groupp’s studio

I can see why people like Jason Groupp, who was ever so kind to meet up with me for a podcast session, fell in love with New York City. As I entered the building where his studio was, I could see the quirkiness and individuality NYC has. While I may not have any plans to move there any time soon, exploring Brooklyn or the neighborhoods of Manhattan really opened my eyes to what a photogenic city it is. Talking to Renzo Grande for a later podcast episode confirmed that there is a lot to love about it.

Once I got over my stubbornness of past experiences with the city, I can’t help but want to photograph everything about it – buildings, people, abstracts… it makes me feel a bit like I have multiple personalities. What specifically do I want to shoot while I’m there? Everything! It’s hard to go into a city like that without wanting to capture it all! It makes me worried that my photographic ambiguity will create less than stellar results, but during the bus ride back to DC, I felt very content with the variety of work I had to work with. I suppose that’s all that matters in the end; I felt inspired and had a great time, plus I was content in my work.

Enjoy some of the fun iPhone street shots and abstract photographs I managed to snap while taking in everything NYC had to offer!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 29 – Jason Groupp

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:00:56 +0000

While I’m tripping in NYC (not like that), I sit down with Jason Groupp, wedding photographer extraordinaire and lighting wizard, to find out how he went from commercial photography to photographing weddings. I also learn what his love for New York is all about and how he set a world record. Meanwhile, I try to keep my composure as I make the walk from the subway to his studio. Find out if I succeed!

: : : Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

What a Difference 50,000 Photos Makes

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:00:45 +0000

“You’ve only been doing this for a little over two years? It seems so much longer than that!” My friend told me this over the phone when he and I were discussing the plans and next steps to take with my photography business, and it is pretty crazy to think I’ve only been at it for two years. It’s brought me a lot of places, and because have a bit of a reflection and reminiscing complex, I couldn’t help but think about it all while I was uploading photos from a recent wedding shoot I completed. After reviewing where I’ve been for the last 50,000+ photos, however, you can understand why.

: : : more after the jump : : :

Here’s how it happened this time: I was searching for a photo to add to an exhibit I’m planning and entered the photo’s image number. “IMG_2492,” I typed into Search. Suddenly, five images popped up on the display. Curious, I clicked around on the thumbnail of the images and saw when I shot them and what they were of. A flood of memories rushed me and I was amused at what a difference each shot was from one another. It made me feel like I am leading multiple lives, and I couldn’t help but write about it.

I’m certain I’ve shot more than 50,000 photos, for sure – I started with a Sony Alpha that numbered images differently, and I tend to delete photos that are fuzzy, composed wrong, blown out, etc. So, there may even be more photos than this that I’ve shot. For the sake of argument, I saw these five pop up and couldn’t help but think about what led me to that image and how I’ve improved and grown since that shot.

Date Created: Monday, May 17, 2010 12:36 PM

Location: Northside Social, Arlington, VA

One of my first gigs since beginning my trek as a freelance photographer. This was also a little over a month after picking up the Canon 50D, which made me feel like a true professional. I remember meeting up with Stephen Fedorchak of the Liberty Tavern/Northside Social/Lyon Hall trio, with the latter two just opening at the time, and feeling super confident when I strolled into their coffee shop and wine bar. I had my Lowell flood light and umbrella and used every bit of natural light I could get my hands on. As you can see, I was still getting used to having a big shot camera in my hands; looking at this shot makes me cringe a bit now. It’s blown out and doesn’t have a lot going on. Plus, my depth of field is too shallow to fully capture everything on the cheese board.

I am pretty happy that during this shoot, I chose to utilize the space’s table tops and dining rooms so people would know what they were getting into and not dressing up everything over the top. I wanted the viewer to see precisely what they were going to get, which was already going to be great because their food was so visually appealing to begin with. That idea and philosophy has stuck with me ever since, and I continue to apply that to my shoots.

Food photography is my passion and this was my first major gig involving a very popular restaurant group in Arlington. During the entire week of shooting, I finally felt like I was doing what I loved and couldn’t believe I was living my dream.

Date Created: Saturday, September 11, 2010 9:46 PM

Location: Embassy Suites Hotel, Chevy Chase, MD

A few months later, I had my third wedding shoot. I was very thrilled when I met up with Jeffrey and Brian in July of 2010, feeling confident about shooting their wedding with my newly formed partnership with Andrew Markowitz. He and I had just shot a wedding a few months before and realized he and I made a great duo, so I was excited to shoot with him again! We met up at the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church two hours before we were supposed to meet up with Jeffrey and Brian to scope out the landscape and got extremely giddy and nervous with the mammoth size of the church. We mapped it out and had a great day of shooting both the ceremony and the reception!

The thing I remember most about this day was what happened before this shot ever happened. Only a few months prior to this, Washington, DC made marriage licenses available for same-sex couples. I was in their kitchen with a few of their friends and the marriage certificate was delivered. We all stood around the counter and looked at it in amazement. “Who would’ve thought this would ever have been available to us?” the friends asked. They were all so happy that their friends, who had been together for eleven years at that point, could finally express and announce their love to each other legally. That really hit me and more than ever, I was honored to even be there as their photographer. Even though this particular shot is a little over contrasty and warm, I’m still beyond glad I was there to capture such a momentous day.

Date Created: Thursday, June 2, 2011 7:12 PM

Location: DC Improv, Washington, DC

It had been over a year since I caught up with comedian Greg Brown. He and I got together for head shots that were to be used for his website and also in preparation for a show he was about to pitch to the Food Network, where he was going to interview chefs about what they like to cook after hours and enjoy the meal amongst other chefs and comedians in a family-style format. I learned that his show didn’t seem to fit the Food Network’s formula, but he had interest from the Discovery Channel and The Travel Channel, so I was excited to hear he was still making it happen. I was getting a little better at shooting and finally started figuring out off-camera flash, just in time for the dark comedy room.

I remember getting to know him the first time we met up while we drove around DC in February in my Volkswagen Golf to search for some places to shoot. Greg and I got along after a few minutes, since we thankfully both have very dry and sarcastic humor. He was one of my very first gigs and I will always be thankful that he gave me a chance when my portfolio only consisted of street signs, monuments, and carousel figures in the dark.

Date Created: Thursday, November 10, 2011 10:16 AM

Location: Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, DC

Earlier in the summer of 2011, one of the folks I work with at the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment had approached me about a museum exhibit she was working on for nearly three years at that point. She wanted it to focus on the hard work these amazing and resilient Marines were doing to rehabilitate and transition to civilian life. After stumbling upon my work by chance a few months prior, she initially encouraged the public affairs team to send me out to the Warrior Games in May. Once she saw the photos I took while I was out there, she put two and two together and figured out my images would be ideal for her exhibit. I was flattered, stoked, and nervous, all at once! Nearly two years of shooting and my photos would be in a museum!

We were wrapping up the collection and felt it could use a few more photos of Marines in rehabilitation. I traveled to Walter Reed Medical Center to meet up with a Recovery Care Coordinator who would guide me into some of the rooms where Marines and other service members were working on their recovery. I walked around the room and was able to photograph Marines learning to walk on new prosthetic legs and physical reconditioning, but as I made my way around, I noticed a Marine was lifting weights. I noticed the scars on his arm and what appeared to be a tattoo of the hand of his child on his bicep, which compelled me to take the photo. I had a 50mm lens on my 50D and wanted to strictly focus on him without getting much of the background in focus, so I cranked the aperture fairly wide to an f/1.8 and snapped.

Initially, I always felt bad taking the photo of these Marines. I felt like it was exploitative and an invasion of their privacy. Had it not been for being on assignment there, I don’t think I would’ve taken shots like I got that day. However, after the end result and seeing and hearing what the museum exhibit meant to people, I felt much better about what I achieved. It’s important to me to show what these Marines and other service members are going through, but even more so, to make people aware of the spectacular accomplishments they are doing while they are in recovery.

Date Created: Saturday, July 7, 2012 5:24 PM

Location: Hollin Hall. Alexandria, VA

A few weekends ago, I was asked by Alicia Griffin to shoot Kelly and Richard’s wedding day. It was an insanely hot day, which is never an ideal condition for me, and I wasn’t sure what to expect of the venue. Upon arrival, there was awesome scenery and lots of great areas to photograph in. Having shot plenty more weddings by this point, I was mentally preparing myself the entire drive over, but all of that was unnecessary when I discovered the venue and learned they were doing the portraits BEFORE the ceremony. What the what?! This gave us plenty of time to get some fantastic and fun portraits, which has typically never been possible to me.

Due to the amount of available time, it seemed like there were plenty of opportunities to capture the shots I wanted. The fact the love these two had for each other radiated in every moment only made the shots better, and because of the experience I’ve accumulated, I knew I could position myself in multiple places to get tons of angle, and that never seems to happen. Usually, I have to rush through the portraits because of other events coming up, so I made sure to have extra fun this time, and I think it shows. These two were down for anything and made it a total blast to photograph!

This time around, I had my Canon 7D and a 24-70mm f/2.8, which was an insane help. My equipment keeps getting better, my techniques keep getting better, and time starts to slow down during these wedding shoots as I continue to do them. It’s starting to feel like everything is clicking on all cylinders, which only made this day more fun.

Even amongst these five photos that all have the same image number, it not only amazes me to see how much my photography has improved, but also to see the tremendous diversity in what I’ve been able to photograph. I’ve been able to step my game up, but even more than that, I’ve been able to meet phenomenal people and capture some amazing moments. Do I still have room for improvement? Always and absolutely. Every now and then, I start to wonder if I’m making any improvements at all, which starts to really wear on me and bring me down. However, putting these images side-by-side gives me a much-needed boost of confidence and shows I actually am.

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 28 – Yonas Hassen

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 06:00:45 +0000

: : photo by Noe Todorovich : :

My obsession with brilliant photographers who shoot with film continues as I finally sit down with DC native Yonas Hassen. We run the gamut about how a seemingly random decision got him hooked on photography, how he achieves his amazing street photos and portraits, and even delve a bit into his rebellious past. Meanwhile, before I head up to NYC yet again, I seek out higher learning by going back to school… or at least a business class taught by another photographer.

Listen to the episode after the jump : : :

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

What Am I Doing? [7.17] – Business Classes and NYC

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:45:08 +0000

William Shakespeare once said, “the fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” I certainly don’t consider myself wise and know there are many more things for me to learn, though I’m happy to share my experiences and thoughts on this blog. Because of this realization, I’m going to class (not a college class, but perhaps just as important).

: : : more after the jump : : :

I’m attending a class that goes over the business of wedding photography, taught by Moshe Zusman. I’m greatly excited about this class because I feel I’m going to learn what a lot of photography classes and colleges fail to teach: business. I’ve chatted about this with a few photography friends and creatives on the podcast and it amazes me how little time they spend on educating their aspiring artists on running a successful business. Fortunately for me, Moshe is kind enough to share his knowledge with us, and I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to learn and grow!

General business courses are a start, but the business of photography is unique in so many ways. Unlike a grocery store or Wal-Mart or Starbucks, our tangible product is a photo; the service we provide is an artistic one. Figuring out how to price the product we distribute is a well known headache that has no precise science to it. How do you charge for something anyone with a couple hundred bucks and the spare time to run to Best Buy to pick up a DSLR can do? All you’re doing is pressing that shutter thingy and taking a picture, right? Hopefully I can better learn some techniques to apply (and undoubtedly share with you all… that’s just how nice a guy I am).

I’ve done alright thus far, but there’s always room for improvement. As a photography business, we should never allow ourselves to plateau in our potential to achieve greatness. I’ve always had the mentality and determination to strive for pushing myself to do better than I have before, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge of business so I can do just that. I want to get so busy that I’ll have to dedicate a portion of my profits to developing a cloning device so I can take on the workload. Alright, maybe not that busy, but busy enough that I’m slightly uncomfortable while not being too busy that my work and product suffers. That way, I never get complaisant and content with the amount of work coming in while still growing as a photographer and a businessman. I think that’s a fair target to achieve, no?

And because I can’t seem to sit still, I will be heading to NYC this weekend. It’ll be great to get out of DC once more and enjoy the time away and all of the offerings New York has to give, especially photography-wise. Even more exciting (and hopefully not to jinx it), I potentially have two amazing photographers who are down for chatting with me for the podcast, making the build up leading up to this trip comparable to the anticipation of Christmas morning. No really, I’m that excited. So, keep your fingers crossed that I can connect with these guys because I feel like we’re in for some totally amazing discussions!

Meanwhile, I’ve got yet another killer podcast episode for you. This week, I have Yonas Hassen on the program, where we run the gamut about what got him into photography, how he achieves his amazing street photos and portraits, and even a bit into his rebellious past. You can check out a sample of our conversation below:

It’s shaping up to be yet another exciting week with great conversations to be discussed and great lessons to be learned! Stay tuned for more awesomeness!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Kelly + Richard Wedding

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:00:57 +0000

In case you didn’t know, the summer can get quite hot. I mean, like woah. I don’t typically do well in these conditions; two steps out the door and I’m melting like the Wicked Witch of the West. Shooting weddings in these conditions can be miserable, but a great way to distract you from the unrelenting heat is if you have an awesome couple getting married at a fun and extremely scenic location. The wedding of Kelly and Richard had all of the above, and then some!

: : : more after the jump : : :

I had the pleasure of shooting with Alicia Griffin once more, and despite her warnings about the confusing directions to get there, I still managed to get lost. Go figure. Once I found the place where the ceremony and reception were to be, I was engulfed in an amazing saturation of green and luscious trees. I mean, everything’s so green! I met up with Richard and his groomsmen getting ready, with the information that Kelly and the bridesmaids, along with Alicia, would be arriving to take photos before the ceremony. There was a very scenic garden behind the manor they were preparing in, which is where we took the group photos and couple portraits.

There was a genius in the design of this plan, which made me desire every wedding I shoot from now on to be done this way when it comes to working under a scorching sun. We had about an hour or so before the ceremony was to take place, and in that time, we switched between shooting outdoors for a few minutes and cooling off indoors. It was brilliant because, just as I was starting to dissolve in my dress clothes, we would go inside to drink water and chill. Then, when we felt up to it again, we would take more portraits a few minutes later. This saved everyone from disintegrating in the July heat while allowing us plenty of time to capture all the portraits we desired.

I loved this plan, especially since we had over an hour to shoot and didn’t feel rushed after the outdoor ceremony to cram in as many photos as we could. And because we could take our time with the photos, I genuinely feel as though I got the most out of this portrait session for the simple fact that, unlike previous weddings, I didn’t have to hurry everyone along and end up with a single look for a portrait due to the wedding party’s leisurely stroll. Our time schedule allowed for a lot of awesome, and a lot of awesome we got!

The best part, however, is that these images are great because you can really see the love between Kelly and Richard in each shot. It didn’t require any coaxing to get them to swoon over one another because, well, they already do that naturally! They made for a very cute couple and I was very excited to get to capture their special day! Plus, there were many nice handmade details that made it truly unique, such as the chalkboards and wedding pie instead of wedding cake! Awesome!

I truly enjoyed Kelly and Richard and hope you enjoy the sampling of photos from their fun wedding day!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 27 – Victoria Milko

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:00:10 +0000

: : photo by Jim Darling : :

Victoria Milko doesn’t call herself a “photographer.” Then what does she call herself? Artist? Curator? Writer? Renaissance Woman Extraordinaire? This week, I dive into her adventurous life, as well as the world of Polaroid photography to find out what her love for that medium is all about. We chat about her travels and where her photographic interests have brought her – from a fire station to Lebanon – and how she handles the critics. Meanwhile, I’m actually… happy with my work? What the what?

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

What Am I Doing? [7.10]

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:00:24 +0000

I love photography. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the most thrilling opening sentence, but it’s true. I love it. I love the challenges of it. I love the ability to express myself artistically through it. I love capturing special moments, some of which have impacted me for the rest of my life. I love pushing the boundaries of my creativity by trying to figure out how to take photos that will make me stand out and be unique. I love that it has allowed me to meet other like-minded, brilliant, creative people with whom I can converse with and become even more in love with photography. There are so many things to love about it that even the negative and frustrating aspects about it don’t seem to bother me (though I may vent about them a bit on my podcast). Without writing a romantic comedy script on my own blog, it’s safe to say that I’m glad I finally found a career that I am happy to be doing. Hugs and wet smooches all around, right?

: : : more after the jump : : :

However, it’s easy to see where some frustrating aspects may come from, in part stemming from my contemporaries. I don’t think I’m stating anything new when I say photographers from all levels – whether they’re shooting this as a leisurely hobbyist, a more serious hobbyist, semi-professional, or full-time pro – all love photography. Even dabblers are intrigued by the camera and like taking pictures. Part of what I love about photography is that there are innovators and highly-imaginative artists creating images I have never seen before, and it’s exciting and inspiring to me to experience those photos. Then there are the photographers who are regurgitating the same old photos with no real or genuine artistic expression of their own. In the digital age with seemingly endless space for storage, people are taking photos of anything and anything and posting them everywhere and anywhere, littering the internets with thousands upon thousands of food pictures and shots of their cats. Or worse, photographers who have seen a compelling image taken by Joe McNally or Trey Radcliff and rather than put their own finger print or artistic interpretation on an image, they essentially mimic the already-made photo. Snooze.

I have always been of the mindset that if the image you are about to take doesn’t speak to you in some way – doesn’t grab you by your emotional chord and say, “TAKE ME!” – then you shouldn’t waste the exposure. I want to always be pushing the envelope, which is why I started taking appstract photos in the first place. Therein lies the response to certain things that may be initially frustrating about my contemporaries: appstracts are what speaks to ME; this doesn’t mean it speaks to everyone. In the same vein, perhaps these food photos and pet pictures are what speaks to the shot taker. It’s not like they’re trying to hang their photo of last night’s dessert or their dog, Fluffy, in the Guggenheim. The same can be said about some of the hobbyists. Perhaps they’re sharing these photos that resemble a piece of work by Gavin Gogh or Joey L. because they learned a new technique or are inspired by the images and are just beginning to figure out how to put their own spin on the image. We all have to start somewhere, am I right?

I guess the point that I’m trying to ramble is that maybe we in the photography community are a little hard on our peers. Maybe we tend to choose to discourage eager upstarts rather than encourage. We all want a stronger photography community, but similar to the adage “you attract more flies with sugar than vinegar,” we could be missing out on attracting and inspiring more creative potential into the photography market by being bitter towards the newbies rather than giving them pointers. In the end, the cream always rises to the top, and the talented photographers will always be in business while the not-so-talented (or not-so-business-minded) will eventually fade into the nothingness. So, what are we so nervous about with these new guys?

I’ve always said that if someone comes along and takes the business out from under me, I must not have worked hard enough to keep it in the first place. I’m determined to stay in this business, and there is plenty of business to go around – one photographer cannot handle all of the photographic needs of a nation, let alone a city. So, hows about we all get along and share once in a while? Isn’t that what your mother taught you?

Meanwhile, I’m VERY excited about this week’s podcast episode with Victoria Milko, but I want to express my sincerest apologies to Mike Hicks. My podcast has always aired on Wednesdays, and I realized that Wednesday last week was Independence Day. I figured that everyone would be grilling and blowing shit up that day, but I severely underestimated the people going back to their normal lives and possibly tuning in the next day. Because they really didn’t. Which is a shame because, folks, I was really, really, REALLY proud of that episode. For once, everything sounded great, I had an awesome chat with an amazing photographer, and I it felt like the entire show just clicked. Alas, it didn’t seem to get any recognition like my shows have usually done as of late. So, in a pandering kind of way, I would very much appreciate it if, along with the fantastic and thrilling chat I had with Victoria Milko, you all stopped in and checked out that episode, too. You can listen to it here, here, and here.

Back to Victoria. Holy smokes. Ever since InstantDC formed a collective of photographers, I have been excited about getting to regularly chat with not only amazing artists, but also an amazing group of people. The thing is, out of everyone in the group, there are two photographers whom I still haven’t talked to for the podcast: Jorge Bañales and Victoria Milko. I hadn’t even met Victoria in person, even though I saw her first show – The Polaroid Retrospective – where she was present. I decided to change that, and boy, was I glad I did! I had my usual, basic idea of what to ask, but I learned so much about her and heard so many fantastic stories in that hour that I was squeeing all the way home! So I would highly recommend that you subscribe to the podcast so you can download it early and experience it for yourself! Check out the preview of our chat below:

So, play nice with your fellow photographer, shoot, and be merry!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Elizabeth + Dan Wedding

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:56:24 +0000

It was like a scene from a movie. Devastation surrounded me as I maneuvered my car around debris. Chaos reigned supreme as I questioned what was going on. Did I survive a nuclear blast? Was this the end of days? Should I expect scenarios I’ve seen from The Walking Dead? No. It was only a storm and the stupidity of Washingtonians magnified due to a power outage. And I was supposed to shoot a wedding through this nonsense.

Looking back at it now amidst a powered computer and air conditioning, it’s pretty humorous how ignorant people are. Four-way stops at downed traffic lights were an afterthought as people plowed their way through the intersection. It took me extra time to get to the church to meet up with my shooting partner and brochacho, Andrew Markowitz, and after assessing the situation we were in for, we decided to eat at Taco Bell – the only place in Vienna that had electricity. I suppose if Dominion Power was going to let us down, we could at least be gas powered…

We met up with Elizabeth and her son, Charlie, a few months ago in Fairfax to go over the details. Andrew and I were really excited to shoot this wedding, since the bride and groom were so cool and laid back. Little did we know we’d be shooting in post-apocalyptic Vienna, Virginia! The church had no electricity, and because it was such a tiny chapel, the packed room of people who were already hot due to the 100+ degree temperatures outside got even more heat exhausted because of the sweltering heat that circulated in the church. The pastor did a great job of speeding things up a bit to spare everyone the temperature, but it did nothing to hinder the fun and celebration of the ceremony.

One major downfall was the lack of light inside the church, and even with the power outage, the pastor requested we not use flash during the ceremony. This was more challenging than usual, since churches are never well lit to begin with, so add NO LIGHTS to the equation, and you could correctly guess that this was more of a nightmare. Andrew and I had to fire at an uncomfortable and extremely high ISO (2000 – 3200) and a wider than normal aperture to cope. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but I’m not going to tell the pastor to piss of and use flash out of spite! I felt even better about my decision to stick to the mighty 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, especially with the tight conditions of the church; there was no way anything other than a wide angle lens would work unless you hung out in the back. Despite it all, the ceremony was great and we got our shots.

Thankfully, the reception hall had power, so we knew we could at least get air conditioning inside. However, it was cramped and packed with people, so doing shots inside would be a little difficult. Plus, seven groomsmen and seven bridesmaids would be tough to squeeze together for some shots, so I knew Andrew and I would have to rush everyone into position and fire quickly. To make matters worse, the location was amongst an office park and a 7-Eleven, so it made finding a reasonably-scenic spot more of a pain than usual. Andrew spotted a wall with some ivy and we decided to make it work while avoiding the power lines and 7-Eleven signage.

Once all of that was out of the way, the reception was practically on autopilot. After you do enough weddings, you start to figure out the pacing for them and can anticipate, which is always a relief because you can focus on the technical aspects of trying to get the shot rather than panic about what else is to come. Plus, when the bride’s family came all the way from Argentina and made homemade empanadas for the cocktail hour, it was evident it was going to be a great time! The challenge with this reception hall was that it had gold-plated ceilings, which gave a golden hue to everything we shot with our flash were it to find a way to bounce off of the ceiling and onto the subject. Being mindful of this, I created a preset on my 7D to adjust the white balance, so all I had to do was turn to that setting whenever I recognized I was shooting underneath the gold ceiling. It saved me a ton of time, especially in the rush of action that is a wedding reception!

Overall, it was a ton of fun to meet everyone and be a part of Elizabeth’s and Dan’s wedding! We certainly hope they had a great time and look forward to seeing them again soon! Enjoy the sampling of their wedding during Armageddon!

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 26 – Mike Hicks

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 08:00:31 +0000

: : photo by every.seven : :

Fireworks! Explosions! Podcast! I love how the entire country is celebrating the six-month mark of my podcast! As a gift to you, what better way to join in the fun than interview the amazingly talented Mike Hicks! We explore his love for Leicas, how he finds inspiration and passion for photography, and the importance of mentors. Plus, we get my first-ever podcast bomb. Meanwhile, I consider ditching DC for a change of scenery.

You can listen to our conversation above or stream the most recent episode on Stitcher Radio here.

Download this episode and previous Staying In Focus Photography Podcast episodes on iTunes here.

What Am I Doing? [7.3]

Patrick Onofre — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:36:50 +0000

: : photo by martincordiner : :

It’s nice to know that, should apocalyptic symptoms ever occur, humanity will be completely and utterly incapable of handling them. Especially four-way stops at intersections.

This past weekend, I was driving with Noe when we saw the biggest display of lightning I’ve seen in a while. At approximately 10:25pm Friday night, I said, “wouldn’t it be something if the people who were out and about tonight got stuck in a massive rain storm?” I was secretly hoping the summer storm would pass through the night, leaving me with nothing but pleasant weather for the upcoming wedding I was going to shoot with Andrew Markowitz the next day. At approximately 10:30pm, when we just made it into the garage, almost on cue, hurricane-like winds engulfed the apartment complex and created unexpected devastation that left over a million and a half without power. Perfect, considering I still had batteries to charge for the shoot.

Completely underestimating the pathetic nature of Pepco and Dominion Power, I naively assumed electricity would restore the following morning, but alas, what would turn into the weekend from hell (mostly due to temperature), I was left scrambling to the nearest coffee shop to recharge both the batteries for my equipment and my figurative physical batteries from a terrible night’s sleep.

In what felt like I was a redpiller and experiencing the Real World in a scene from The Matrix, people were acting as if the end of days were upon us. Waiting in the lobby of a hotel that was out of power to meet up with the groom, I experienced people desperate to book a room anywhere that had power. Not even twelve hours after we lost electricity. People were running traffic lights, forgetting/ignoring the rule that traffic lights that are out at an intersection means a four-way stop. People frantically stocked up on water. Meanwhile, Andrew and I went to Taco Bell before the ceremony. Why not, right? It’s not like the world had ended.

I went to the hotel where Dan was while Andrew suffered through the sweltering heat as he took photos of Elizabeth getting ready. From what I saw on the back of his camera, the dude rocked it! I mean, this is why I love working with the guy – even during blazing hot conditions, Andrew manages to pull out some fantastic shots! The church had no power, so we were all experiencing the ceremony in a sauna; it was cooler to be outside in 100-degree weather. They tried to speed things up a bit, but even then, I felt like a heatwave + power outage didn’t prevent them from having a great wedding (and great stories to tell, to boot). Plus, even in those conditions, I had to be on my game and felt like I did – when the groomsmen commented, “Man! You were like a ninja up there, taking photos at some insane angles!” I think I did my job. Fortunately, the reception hall had electricity and the overall day went great. Less than ideal, but great nonetheless. Kudos to Elizabeth and Dan for sticking it out and moving ahead with their wedding. I had a lot of fun hanging out with Dan and the groomsmen (that sounds like a band) and meeting some truly wonderful people. Photos of this awesomesauce to come.

Meanwhile, I had to return to the atrocity conducted by Dominion Power. The house next to me had power. The house across the street from me had power. THE HOUSE LITERALLY ATTACHED TO THE DUPLEX I LIVE IN HAD POWER. However, in some cruel and humorless joke, I did not have power. How does that even happen, Dominion Power? HOW?! Completely pathetic. It must be nice being a regional monopoly.

Fortunately, upon returning to Noe’s place – because despite a lack of electricity, her place somehow remained cooler than mine – her building had power restored not even five minutes before we arrived. In a surprising race, Pepco somehow managed to beat Dominion Power in restoring electricity. What a world.

What else do I have going on… well, I’m shooting another wedding this weekend, this time with Alicia Griffin. I’m hoping the church will have A/C this time. Either way, I’m stoked to shoot another great wedding and photograph Kelly and Richard’s special day! Meanwhile, I keep getting my photos featured in We Love DC’s Weekend Flashback. It’s pretty cool to have my photos – more in particular, my appstracts – recognized by a local publication. I always felt like my work might not resonate with a lot of people, but when Thomas Hawk favorites one of your photos on Flickr, you know you’re doing something right. Time to keep on truckin’!

By the way, tomorrow on the Staying In Focus photography podcast, I’ve got Mike Hicks on the program. We had an awesome conversation that I’m thrilled in sharing with you all! You can sample a bit of it by checking out the video below. I’m going to post a preview of the upcoming podcast episode every Monday, so if you want dibs on them, subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can get the 4-1-1 before everyone else does. And speaking of subscriptions, you should subscribe to my podcast show on iTunes. You get to download the episodes for free before everyone else gets their filthy mitts on them, and I’d simply appreciate it. It helps me figure out how I’m doing with this program (and marketers like it). And drop me a line – I’d love to hear your feedback! Post a review on iTunes, email me at patrick@patrickonofre.com, or leave me a comment! I like hearing your thoughts!

So, hopefully everyone is cool out there and powered up, successfully avoiding the zombie apocalypse. And hopefully Pepco and Dominion Power will experience what BGE did back during snowmageddon, in which the government forced them to break up the monopoly and allow other companies in. Only time will tell, but I’ll have my fingers crossed.

Until next time,

- Patrick

#InstantDCtoNYC

Patrick Onofre — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:00:31 +0000

I used to loathe NYC. Hated it. Despised it. It was so dirty and grimy, the people seemed stereotypically rude, and everything was insanely overpriced. How can there possibly be “I <3 NY” shirts for such a city that is hard to love? I never understood it, and even in culinary school, when all the aspiring chefs I worked with were dreaming of making it big in New York (because of the idea that “if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere”), I was content sticking to somewhere not so… ridiculous. My, how age can change all of that.

: : photo by Michael Andrade : :

A few weekends ago, some of us InstantDC folk got a wild hair up our asses to venture to New York City. Correction: after a wedding I was supposed to shoot ended up not happening, Noe decided a day trip to New York was a good idea and booked bus tickets. We were also fortunate to have Emily Reid and Michael Andrade join us for a day of shooting; an awesome blend of styles to bounce ideas off of. I certainly wasn’t opposed to a day trip, since it had been nearly nine months since my last visit, and there is only so much inspiration I can pull from DC to get shots. A relatively-fresh, new location would be a great way for me to practice some street photography, and the amazing architecture of old and new could lead to some fun abstracts. Sure! Why not?

After an entertaining Bolt bus ride, thanks to our driver, Kevin, we landed in the heart of NYC: across from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Emily had beaten us there and was already looking upward for the next building to shoot. I was like a kid in a candy store, with the busy New York streets bustling with subjects left and right for me to shoot and so many interesting buildings to potentially toy around with. I couldn’t focus on what I wanted to shoot – street candids or architectural abstracts? It was a great problem to have, and for the first time in a L O N G time, I felt beyond inspired.

Our cell phone batteries didn’t stand a chance, as we started draining them almost immediately. So, Michael started shooting with his film camera and the rest of us had to pick and choose a little more of what we were going to shoot, recharging any time we stopped for food or a cup of coffee. Being around people I didn’t have to fear calling me out days later upon an encounter in the street, I got braver about taking street shots and started going for it, much like what I witnessed with Michael and Greg Schmigel during their iPhoneography class. I got better about setting up for my shot instead of trying to suavely snap away as I walked (which always generated a blurry mess) and could see a significant improvement to my street shots.

As my confidence grows, I feel like I was better able to achieve sharper images, especially breaking the mentality that the subject was going to call me out directly and confront me. Street photography isn’t really my bread and butter or my forte by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s intriguing to me to capture a scene or situation that I’m experiencing and share the quirkiness or beauty in everyday moments. However, I have such an irrational fear of confrontation that I could never pull off a good street shot. I’d panic that I was going to be found out and the subject I was trying to photograph would get in my face about it. I can’t explain it, and I know it’s absurd, but it was that wall which prevented me from even attempting it. Finally, after continuously going out and just shooting it, I’m starting to conquer my fears.

Besides boosting my confidence, the highlight of the trip definitely was being able to meet up with phenomenal photographers Sion Fullana and Anton Kawasaki. Their work is marvelous and poetic, inspirational and uplifting. The two of them are some of the nicest and friendliest I have met in New York, and their candidness on shooting street photography was definitely a nice push to get me over the creative hump. It was great to geek out about photography (and show off the Lytro) over some coffee and really tap their minds about how they do what they do. I’m hoping I can take another trip up there and hang out with them again soon!

Overall, it was a fun trip, and while I still have TONS of images yet to go through, I assembled a few highlights from the trip for your viewing pleasure! New York has a certain charm that may not be initially visible amongst the flock of tourists and scaffolding, but if you dig deep enough and explore, you can really find a lot to love about the city. I think I’ve gotten over my hatred for the city. Maybe. Perhaps a few more trips are necessary to fully know for sure…

and some appstracts for you…

Until next time,

- Patrick

Episode 25 – Zach Egolf

Patrick Onofre — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:00:37 +0000

The other half of The Photowalk Alliance, Zach Egolf, sits down with me for this week’s episode. When we’re not messing with the TV, we chat about shooting for fun versus shooting for business, why he won’t shoot weddings, the old guard’s impressions on photographers like us, his start into photography with Patch and what he REALLY thinks about them. Plus, I chat about my trip to San Diego and being the not-first pick.

You can listen to our conversation above or download the photography podcast on iTunes here.

(Android users and those not in tune with the iWorld: I learned a way around this so you can download it onto your own machines is to download a podcatcher app and use this link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/StayingInFocus