B.D. Colen - SmugMug PJ Artist-in-Residence

[Andy]

We're thrilled to announce that accomplished and notable lecturer B. D. Colen has joined us as our Photojournalism Artist-in-Residence. An experienced teacher as well as having spent decades in the field, he's here to answer your questions, provide critiques, lead discussions, and much, much more.

Stay tuned and post any queries in this thread.

[schmoo]

Huzzah! A wonderful day for PJ photographers, indeed!

[Richard]

Welcome, BD. Great to have you on board.

[bdcolen]

Originally Posted by Richard

Welcome, BD. Great to have you on board.

Thanks, Richard, it's really great to be here! If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that we are our own worst editors. The best way for any of us to improve our photography is to be part of a community of photographers.

And if I may, I'd like to add something here that I posted at the end of a fast disappearing thread. I think this may give people a bit better sense of where I'm "coming from" and what I'm about:

First, while I have done photojournalism, I do not think of myself as a photojournalist. In fact, early in my life, after several summer jobs as a newspaper shooter, I decided that I did not want to spend my life as a photojournalist, because at that time - mid-to-late-60s, photojournalism was quite limiting and I decided I would ultimately be bored. (I ended up as a writer and editor instead, and had much, much more latitude than I would have had doing traditional photojournalism.) Today, that might be different, as many newspapers and magazines are using the web to allow photographers to spread their wings and do really creative and important work.

I think of myself first of all as a photographer, and second of all as a photographer of "real life." I am very much steeped in the documentary tradition, and most of my photo heroes are either dead or will be sooner than I'd like to think. I include street photography, and a lot of portraiture in that genre, and believe that the basic principles and concepts of documentary photography can be applied to wide range of photographic genres, including family photography, wedding photography, and corporate and editorial photography.

I do in Photoshop what I would do in a film dark room; I burn, I dodge, I adjust contrast - as I would with paper grades and filters. I work very carefully to avoid creating an alternative reality. Yes, when I am shooting for a client, I will sometimes clone out an annoying intrusion into an image, but that's because it's what I'm being paid to do - and I do it rarely. Otherwise, the telephone wire stays where it was.

"People" quite neatly describes what I shoot. Obviously, there are many ways to shoot people, and I will refrain from commenting on examples of those ways that are obviously outside my range of expertise and interest. Meanwhile, I hope to learn from all of you, because everyone here has something to teach, and I have a great deal to learn.

B. D.

[rutt]

How great is this!

[rwells]

Really looking to learn from your years of knowledge.
Thanks for coming aboard!

[pathfinder]

Welcome aboard.

I look forward to your expertise, here on dgrin

[Nikolai]

Welcome!

[ziggy53]

B. D., wonderful to have you here.

[thoth]

Welcome B.D. It is an honor!

[Awais Yaqub]

Welcome Welcome !!!

[bdcolen]

Originally Posted by thoth

Welcome B.D. It is an honor!

Again, thanks for the warm welcome. I'm feeling my way here, and have been commenting on some photos. I'll comment on those where I feel my suggestions may make some difference.

Best,

B. D.

[Awais Yaqub]

Sir have you ever got chance to work in middle east or Asian countries especially in countries like Pakistan India Afghanistan etc ?

[bdcolen]

Originally Posted by Awais Yaqub

Sir have you ever got chance to work in middle east or Asian countries especially in countries like Pakistan India Afghanistan etc ?

Sadly, I have not. East Africa - Somalia and Kenya are the closest I have gotten. My daughter - a photographer and black and white master printer - just returned from a week in India raving, and my son - a photographer who travels the globe shooting skateboarders raves about Thailand. I, unfortunately, haven't done much traveling.

Best,
B. D.

[1pocket]

I have read with interest your comments on a few photos already -- you caught my attention that way before i noticed this sticky, lol.

You do get right to the point, and they are good points. I suspect that such strong swoop in kind of opinions might draw some flak, but I have already felt like I have learned.

One concern I have is that within the dGrin campus there are many different ways of approaching photography, but you seem to have a strong and distinct (realist, photojournalistic) style, that might not always be what other forum members are going after. That's fine, as long as you don't digress into arguing with us, if we really do want to achieve a different look from what you would want for yourself. So far, you've been swooping in and dropping little educational bombs, which is edifying, but could also invite a little push-back.

I like it so far, but am a little trepidatious, although not so much that I will avoid looking for an image or two to invite your comments

Welcome aboard, and thank you sharing your insight so far...

[eL eSs Vee]

I'm at one with 1 and, with the same eagerness and trepidation, I welcome you, BD, to dgrin. I look forward to learning as much as I can from you. I already have!

It's an honor to have you with us.

[bdcolen]

Originally Posted by 1pocket

I have read with interest your comments on a few photos already -- you caught my attention that way before i noticed this sticky, lol.

You do get right to the point, and they are good points. I suspect that such strong swoop in kind of opinions might draw some flak, but I have already felt like I have learned.

One concern I have is that within the dGrin campus there are many different ways of approaching photography, but you seem to have a strong and distinct (realist, photojournalistic) style, that might not always be what other forum members are going after. That's fine, as long as you don't digress into arguing with us, if we really do want to achieve a different look from what you would want for yourself. So far, you've been swooping in and dropping little educational bombs, which is edifying, but could also invite a little push-back.

I like it so far, but am a little trepidatious, although not so much that I will avoid looking for an image or two to invite your comments

Welcome aboard, and thank you sharing your insight so far...

Thanks, Steve -
Yes, I do have, uh, strong opinions, and I'm not shy about offering them. However, as you may have seen in the ongoing City Shots thread, I'll offer my opinions, respond to response, and then bow out. I want my contributions to be helpful, not disruptive, and I certainly realize there are a very wide range of styles, opinions, skill levels, and interests here. Frankly, if work is way outside my range of interest, I just won't comment.

Best,

B. D.

[ian408]

Welcome

[pathfinder]

Honest, straight shooting opinions from experts are to be treasured. Not many folks will make the effort.

Welcome to dgrin!

[bdcolen]

Originally Posted by pathfinder

Honest, straight shooting opinions from experts are to be treasured. Not many folks will make the effort.

Welcome to dgrin!

Thanks! And thanks for the Finishing School - Now, if I can only control my ADD enough to really learn that technique Rutt posted it will already be worth it's weight in gold.