New Blog Site

I have moved this blog to a new site.
If you are not re-directed please visit keithbarracloughBlog.com

Thanks!
Keith

Why use a retoucher?
Let me give you three examples. 
All the retouched images (ones on the left) were done by Gretchen Hilmers, (her web site),
a digital retouch and compositing artist based in LA.   She has an impressive resume.
Worked full-time with Jill Greenberg as her retoucher and digital asset manager and is now freelancing.  
Check out her work - you'll be impressed.
Working with her has really changed the way I see my images.  I don't necessarily change the way
I shoot - I still like to get it all in-camera.  But knowing that she's there to put the finishing
touches on an images really make life a lot easier (and I can be more creative).  Plus I get more work
done because I'm not struggling retouching an image myself.
She use to working long distance so having her in LA and me in NYC doesn't get in the
way of our working relationship.  She's great on the phone and follows up.  Very professional!

The subtle changes in the images below are quite noticeable when the images are side by side. 
Especially in the close-up portrait.  Skin can be very tricky - trust me, I've tried it.

Last day in Vermont.  I'll call this "Breakfast at Woodstock". 
A cheap (very cheap) take-off from an Audrey Hepburn movie. 
Fresh eggs and blueberries...

Early morning at the pool. 
Got to love the smells summer - chlorine and suntan lotion.

Every now and then I get a chance to photograph someone with a very different type of job. 
This is Chuck Wise with the family goat.  As the caretaker of King Farm in Woodstock, Vermont
his job is to take care of about 150 acres of pristine forest as well as all the animals living
there - which happens to include four goats.

Lest We Forget

Here's to the first heros of July 4th. 
They started it all and gave us what we have today.
We are forever grateful.

TeachersCount

Just completed an assignment with TeachersCount, an organization who's mission is to raise the status of the teaching profession.  The campaign is a series of posters titled "Behind Every Famous Person is a Fabulous Teacher".   The posters are distributed, free of charge, to teachers throughout the United States.

Their most recent poster was of Yankee center fielder Curtis Granderson and his college teacher/mentor David Koelher.

The shoot could not have gone more smoothly.  Curtis was a little late, but that was okay with everyone on set.  The U.S. World Cup team was playing and the studio had it on their tv. Seeing them come back from a 2-0 deficit to tie 2-2 was well worth the wait.

TeachersCount is proudly supported by Jones New York, Scholastic, The NEA and Staples.

There's always some fun that happens on photo shoots - or at least there should be.

While Curtis was quite coordinated in tossing the ball and catching it, David had some slight problems. 
His instructions:  toss and then catch the baseball while looking into the camera - it's not as easy as it sounds.

I love it when there's a lot of laughter on set.

Location Portraits

Here are some outtakes from a photo shoot earlier this week.
Actors David Gutnik and Antonia Gorence.

You Think This Is Funny...

Found this today on aphotoeditor.com and Were Just Saying.

And the comments to the post were amazing:  "Actually, I am a photographer."
and "Even if I bought a Nikon D3S?" (I hope he/she was kidding).

My point is - for our profession to survive, we, as professional photographers need to evaluate why we are in this profession.
What does it really mean to be a photographer?
--Is it just to take a nice photo?
--Is it because we own some nice equipment?
--Is it because we have "sold" an image, or two?
--Is it because we have friends that think our pictures are "pretty"?

Do you really love photography?  Do you dream about it?  Smell it?  Taste it?  Live it?
Sorry, but I don't think that's enough.  It's a start though.

Taking a Photo I course at a community college is a start - but doesn't make you a photographer.
Joining a local community photo group is great - but doesn't make you a photographer.
Putting your images on Flickr can get you exposure - but doesn't make you a photographer.
All of the above is a great beginning but it all needs to be coupled and supported by a strong understanding of how this business works.

Just because I can make toast doesn't mean I can cook!  Though the way some think about this profession maybe I am.  "I can click a shutter, therefore I am a photographer".  Many really believe this.
--Learning about the business of photography - the concept of licensing, how to marketing, being a good negotiator, the ins and outs of networking...
--Having a style and a vision of what your images mean and how they relate to you target audience.
--Learning, dreaming, smelling, tasting and living this profession.

All this is a start.  But there's more.

It's never been about just picking up a camera.  It's about creating and following a pattern of behavior that enables us to live a life in which we have always dreamed.

More Fashion

Here are some more images from my personal fashion shoot with Anna-Sophie.
Video was shown for the first time last night at the Release Party in New York City. 
I'll have the web version ready next week and will post it here and on YouTube.

**I am starting a "Notes from NYC" section (see below) where I outline what's going on in the city during the week.  Hopefully I can update it all on Monday, but there will be last minute posts letting everyone know of what's happening.

"Notes From NYC":  A selection of events coming to NYC for the week of June 14

APA/NY's "Working with a Retoucher"
Monday June 14th from 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Calumet Photographic @ 22 W 22nd Street
Register here - http://www.apany.com/web/eventregistration.html

Festival Week  - Presented by Le BOOK
Connections: Tuesday June 15 and Wednesday June 16 from 12 to 9pm
Productions: Thursday June 17 and Friday June 18 from 12 to 9pm.
Both at The Puck Building - 295 Lafayette Street (Corner of Houston St.) NY
RSVP at http://www.lebook.com/productions