The Models of Memphis
FIND Style

Oh where to start? Here’s the down low. I went to Vegas. In Vegas was the mother of all photographer conventions, WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International). The theory is you attend lectures and gain a plethora of knowledge you can apply to your business and take over the world. Okay the last part is a lie but some speakers may have been promising this. It was rad. There may be ‘networking’ done as well at WPPI. ‘Networking’. Anyways, I’ll continue. So some little while ago I heard through the photographer grapevine (it’s long and decidedly friendcestuous but not in that way. We all know each other and are friends. I lie. We all know each other but some may just know another person because they are infamous for doing something to someone of a rather and etc. etc. etc. Admittedly these connections are made mostly through online means. We spend a lot of time on the computer. Photoshop is open at all these times. Browsers are open on our other screens at all times as well. It’s a multitasker’s world). I lost my place. New paragraph.

So I heard through the photographer grapevine (blame Len this time) of this great guy and photographer named Jonathan Canlas (hereon in Jon). First off, Jon’s a ridiculously nice guy who is an open book thoroughly and completely. If you know what Formspring is go read his. When you do ask yourself how long you would continue answering the same questions over and over – and then do it all over again. So yes, a rarity in the photography industry on the open-booked-ness trait. Second, he takes pretty rad photos. By pretty rad I mean pretty darn spectacular. Edging on causing the rest of use to feel defeated and hand in our cameras and return to our previous jobs (I could be a professional student until I’m 65 I know it). Third, he hugs everyone.

So naturally I followed him on Twitter, gathered more of a film knowledge base and went from there. The result was the purchase of the Hulk (Mamiya M645 1000s with 80 1.9). When I learnt he was going to be speaking at WPPI I had to attend (despite it being 8am the morning after what is considered the pinnacle ‘networking’ get together).  At the door everyone was hugged (naturally) and then asked to hand in their business card. On that note I need to backtrack. My current business brand is blah – it is what it has been since I first started my business. Let me first make it clear I do not think branding plays a significant role in one’s business when compared (note. I am saying it is relative) to customer service, vision, style, and the end product. Branding is pretty and kinda awesome but there are things that need to be addressed first. But in short I kind of hate mine currently. So since I plan on changing that up soon I didn’t want to have my old stuff plastered on my networking (note the lack of quotations) cards. So instead I created some very simple cards. On the front it is grey with a small white coloured hey. in the corner. On the reverse side it reads: Nice to meet you! (Enjoy your complimentary grey card).  If you aren’t a photographer smile, nod and continue. If you are a photographer hopefully you are already smiling and nodding (also the hexadecimal code of 18% grey is 2e2e2e). At the end of the day somehow this piece of somewhat crumby 1am wit gained me a spot at Jon’s one day Film is Not Dead (FIND) workshop in Memphis Tennessee. Highlight of my WPPI experience! So so humbled and thankful.

Of course I spent my next Brain and Society class upon returning to Calgary scouring the internet for the very best deals. Next thing I know I have a flight to Little Rock, Arkansas and a car rented to drive to Memphis. Hasta la vista Vegas, hola Memphis.

I’ll summarize. Vegas -> speaker -> workshop.

I’ll elaborate on the experience of Arkansas/Tennessee/Mississippi (“wait” you say, “where does Mississippi come in?”) later.

I’m going to give a very general review of the one day FIND workshop but before I just need to give a disclaimer that how one experiences a workshop is entirely different on personality, knowledge foundation, learning abilities and all that other jazz. So in short read with a grain of salt and interpret as you see fit.

FIND Guide

Found here.  Jon was kind enough to send it to the attendees a couple of weeks before the workshop itself. Quick conclusion. If you are 100% new to photography it is not going to teach you the basics (ie. shutter speed, ISO, aperture). You need to have a foundation in basic techniques. If you are a digital user who is wanting to delve into film and have never used film this guide is going to be worth every penny. You will want to finish and pay again just because you are guilty you didn’t pay more for the knowledge. It’s concise, to the point and gives a non-biased answer to what you need to know. Your digital photography is bound to improve as well – it kind of challenges your approach to photography. So that covers the photography newbs, and the film newbs and leave the film hobbyists and experts. I will categorize myself as a film hobbyist (definitely not an expert by any stretch of the imagination). Brief background – I started on 35mm film and have recent experience in the darkroom. I develop my own BW film and when I have access to an enlarger will print it as well. I also collect antique film cameras, fix them up and shoot with them. So I have some experience. My take is that as I said it is concise and non-biased and kind of the golden book of film I am not sure I gained all that much from reading it. Most of the knowledge provided I had either experienced myself, had read about, heard about, talked about with other photographers, or (obviously) was born with. (I am kidding on the last one).  Experts should be able to mad lib the entire FIND guide if every third word is taken out.

Summary: Entirely worthwhile investment to film newbs and even photography newbs with a basic foundation. It’s pretty much insurance from messing up your first rolls of film (hi. been there) and will pay back for sure. If you’re already quite familiar with film it may not be the most beneficial place you could put your money.

The Workshop: Part One

Disclaimer: I’ve never attended a photography workshop before and ∴ have had no need to read a review. So what the fudge do I talk about? I’ll ramble. Sorry.

Night before the workshop we met (and by ‘met’ I mean huddled in a motel room of epic sketchy proportions, just gotta say I consider traveling and exceeding previous sketchy locations to be an enjoyable challenge, this place ranks about #4 on my list) and made the decision to head to Rendezvous. This may have to do with tornado sirens going off and the lack of basement in the good old Rodeway Inn. It was so so delightful to meet almost all of the other attendees over delicious food and drinks.  I just want to say that the entire group was absolutely fanflippingtastic.

The workshop itself started at 9 at the sweetest little coffee shope, Cafe Eclectic (I think the credit goes to Jason for setting this up). Just reviewing my notes (read: scrawlings) I can say without a doubt I gained three very important pieces of information. One. How to shoot specific types of film and what their best uses are. Two. Group shots are your friend. Three. Shoot personal work. The last one in particular we all hear a kazillion plus one times in a week. I am really taking it to heart after the FIND workshop. It may hit the wallet but the improvements I will (theoretically) see should make it more than worthwhile. Not to mention personal work is why Wandering Homebody was created.

Much of the material covered was review from the FIND guide which is always good – who doesn’t need review? One aspect of this that I really appreciated, especially as a a student, was the willingness of Jon to answer (literally) any question regardless of where he was in the presentation. He also totally rocked at bringing it back from tangents as well.  Using his own images and wedding stories to illustrate his points you could see he really does prescribe to what he is teaching. In order to not sound redundant I’ll simply state that overall my opinion of the workshop is similar to that of the FIND guide. For individuals who are just starting into film, as it is directed to, there may be no better resource or experience. Rather than fumbling your way through the ins and outs and trying to search answers on the expanse of the net you have pretty much the encyclopedia of all things film sitting in front of you you can just ask.  In one day you can learn the stuff it may take yourself months to learn. Hello.  For someone who knows the basics of film I gained more from hearing how another photographer approaches the wedding day. At the end of the day a film and digital photographer are doing the exact same job just through different mediums – so to hear Jon’s enthusiasm and words of wisdom was good.

There’s that.

The Workshop: Part Two

So. Let me just say. I am so not a herd mentality person. Last year I went with my mum on a bus tour and I nearly died – I felt like a bit of my wandering homebody soul was being gnawed away each day by a swarm of overzealous tourists and a grating tour guide. Give me a three-edition-too-old Rough Guide and a one day bus ticket and I am a happy camper.

Here are the positives. You get to watch Jon work and interact with couples. The approach for each photographer is different and definitely hinges on their own personality but I definitely picked up some tips and hints along the way. Meandering around Memphis with other photographers with a range of different cameras is so beyond delightful. I flipping love hanging with other photographers – my own kind! So to watch others work with the light, how they pose clients, how they interact with clients was amazing.

That being said I mostly did what I mentioned above – personal work. So you will see below a severe lackage of model-esque images from a rather long-ish (2-3 hour?) photoshoot. I literally have three more model images in addition to these. Apparently I must be a control freak because I like have to have some direction plus I do not want to take credit for these images as unless you actually see a connection between the model and my camera I did not set up the shot.  However, I can hardly wait to see what the other FINDers post from these couples as they flipping rocked the streets of Memphis. Absolutely amazing.

I think that’s about it. It’s not an official review.  It’s just my meandering thoughts. I will talk about it more as I post additional work in the coming weeks.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the States. I met amazing people. I gained new knowledge. I came home with inspiration.  I count myself so fortunate to call so many people my friends now and to have this great experience.

(and here are my handful of model shots. Hurrah)

I should mention this 2/3 of this post was written at 5am and the rest at 10am. Spelling, grammar and sense are optional.