Charles Hoffman Photography

Spontaneity....

2009-11-08T11:13:00.010-07:00

I wanted to introduce you to an article about spontaneity...with new work added to the series "Compositions of Autumn". Enjoy the images!!

Spontaneity

Spontaneity naturally occurs when a person forgets the self and gives up the compulsion to control the environment. Only when one is fully in tune with the ever-changing environment can one harmoniously respond to it like the “echo to a sound or a shadow to a shape.” Most photographers recognize spontaneity as an essential component of their art.

Composition of Autumn, Number 22, Idaho, 2009

A posed photograph rarely has as much of an impact upon an audience as a spontaneous one.

Ellen Denuto says: “Even when working on assignment , my best images are those that are spontaneous. I find my best work is unplanned-it comes from the heart, I photograph what moves me.”

Henri Carter-Bresson, “For me the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously.” The photographer needs to “feel involved in what one singles out through the viewfinder.”

Composition of Autumn, Number 24, Idaho, 2009

Spontaneous actions involve a synchronicity between subject and object. When the subject is totally absorbed in the object.

Philipe L. Gross, The Tao of Photography, Seeing beyond Seeing

Compositions of Autumn!!

2009-10-20T13:16:00.052-06:00

Composition of Autumn, Number 18, Idaho, 2009

Composition of Autumn, Number 17, Idaho, 2009

Composition of Autumn, Number 19, Idaho, 2009

While we find new expressions that relate to the contemporary aesthetic landscape, we are excited about this new Composition of Autumn series of twenty images captured in Boise this year. Tracy and I both spent several days capturing the elements of foliage and color and "composed" what we think is the quintessence of Boise's parks wildness.

Now available (click here)!!

Found in the "Compositions of Autumn" gallery online!!
Available as a set and individual pieces.

A trip to the Wine Country and back!!

2009-09-21T12:29:00.002-06:00

"Red River, Oregon, 2009"

   Had a great trip to the Walla Walla wine country trip. Certianly drank great wine, visited with many people and ate great food. And on the way back we stopped in Joseph, Oregon, stayed two days and played in the area as well.

   There was much to see an do in both places we stopped in. I think the memorable events were the salmon running in the river that drains into the Wallowa lake, the brass sculptures in Joseph and the wines in Walla Walla.

   Now the interesting connection here is the tremendous creativity evident in these elements. I have lately been fascinated by the wine making process and the realization that two wine makers can source their grapes from the same vineyard and make entirely two different wines that taste and smell worlds apart. I am sure that a sommelier could smell them and tell you what region they come from but the average enthusiast probably couldn't. But the two days we spent in Walla Walla we tasted many reds and there definitely is a difference between the good winemakers and the mediocre. And in each story being told there is an element of talented and gifted creative voices being expressed.

  After we got home and downloaded the images and prepped the image of the salmon in the river to contribute to the story of the creative abundance in our world. Good stuff!!

SunValley Spirit Film Festival!

2009-08-31T12:39:00.009-06:00

"Fall Aspens, Fall 2008, Idaho" by Charles Hoffman

I am happy to announce that we had a juried entry accepted for the SunValley Spirit Film Festival auction. The auction runs from August 31st thru September 19th and is held at The Open Room, downtown Ketchum.

http://www.svspiritualfilmfestival.org/index.php

I saw what I saw!!

2009-08-27T08:18:00.005-06:00

I saw this video this morning and felt that I needed to post it on my blog...not sure who will see it but it spoke to me in volumes. I know this is a blog about our photography and all but it is my blog and this is my work and the things that are important to the work we do. And it is things like this music video and the creativity of this artist that inspire me in more ways than even I can imagine!

Watch the whole thing, it will touch you. Will speak to your heart in a real way, emotionally and spiritually.

Wedding shoot!!!

2009-08-24T23:40:00.012-06:00

We just finished a wedding Saturday and it was a hot one. I really thought I was going to pass out before the wedding even got started. I remember telling Tracy that I will never schedule an outside wedding in July and August ever again. I was throwing a fit...I don't do well in the heat especially when it gets in the 100's.

Nonetheless, we got through the day, a 10 hour day at that. After I downloaded the images today and peeked at a few of them, (it usually takes a week before I can sit down and start the culling), I had thoughts come to mind about why I do this and what it is that I get out of photographing weddings.

When Tracy and I shoot a wedding, first of all it really requires a lot of energy, concentration and stamina. With the sole purpose of capturing the emotional elements, getting the story of the two people beginning their life together, just takes a lot out of you... But that is the price to pay to get the story.

So what do I get out it it? And why is it so important to me to get the story? And do the bride and groom care?

What I read about the subject is this. There are two schools of thought in photographing weddings today. One is to follow the trends and create a glamor look. This seems to be the "popular" style. It is a style that has been practiced for many years. And is most reflected in the culture, i.e. magazines and product advertising etc. And trends in about 20 years will not be very appealing to look at. I can think back to when we were married and everyone was shooting “traditional” weddings. A fellow I know from one of the local camera shops was shooting a lot of weddings at one time said to me one day that the traditional wedding shoot lasted no more than 4 hours and every image was posed, “there was no candid stuff” he said. That is why I gravitated to the photojournalistic style, because it had a purity, a truth to it that I could work with as I have learned to do with my fine art work.

I came to understand that if a husband and wife could look at their wedding book in ten to twenty years and still have an emotional connection to the images. I did what I had originally set out to do. This is what attracts me to the photojournalistic style of wedding photography. That is why it was important to me to gain acceptance to the Wedding Photojournalist Association and the Artistic Guild. I stood for something that I believed in strongly. And in the end, the bride and groom have a book of memories that will always be a pleasure to look at and they will feel good about their day. Someone took the time to tell their story, their story!

Results Are In!!

2009-08-19T19:26:00.006-06:00

The results are in for this years juries show at the International Photography Awards for 2009. This year being the fourth year running we have entered, we garnered an Honorable Mention for the snow fence series we shot in Wyoming this last winter.

We generally submit several series and single pieces in several categories and this year we were pleased for the recognition this series received.

One never knows how the judges are going to be for the year and every year they are different. This series was really about the elements available and the composition it rendered. And the light and snow pack was behaving well for late winter and, well, I just needed to shoot it before we left the summit...Enjoy!!!

Invited to Membership!!

2009-08-18T14:35:00.002-06:00

I was invited to membership to the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) and it's Artistic Guild (AGWPJA) this month. I was very pleased to be able to share my association to this International group of wedding photographers.

blogging for the first time!!!

2009-08-17T17:07:00.000-06:00

This blogging thing is new to us, but we wanted to have our own place for brides and grooms to stay in touch with us while they are working on their wedding.