28 shots (to create this image)

If you're lover of the photographic technique, then check out this image and our architectural series found on www.getzcreativecommercial.com. These images are not just one, or two exposures, but rather 7 or more different images have been used to create each one.

In an effort to capture the vast magnificence of the Grand Canyon, we took 28 different exposures, combined them into an HDR image, applied a tone-mapping technique, and then stitched them together in one big panoramic image.

You don't always need 28 images to create an HDR image, many times I use only 7-9 exposures, but every shot is different, and you need to take into account the area you're shooting and what you want to capture, to help you decide how many you'll need for the image you want to create.

Happy shooting, and drop me a line if you've done some HDR work.
I look forward to seeing your vision.

-TJ

A Piece of me (introducing hammock)

Each one of us has painters, writers, producers and musicians that inspire us. Hammock is one such group for me. Their music filters down into my inner-artist and connects with something deeper than I can easily explain. Sometimes it feels like I'm a vapor twisting upward and onward into a vast space. Other times, I imagine myself walking alone in the snow, across a field holding my father's hand while he teaches me to enjoy God's nature and the vast wonders He prepares for us each day. 

Whether you're an eagle soaring gently on a winter's breeze or something else that takes you to your creative heart, I hope you find that spark igniting inside, pushing you to write, dance, paint, cook, hike, garden, breathe deeper, or just live in a thankful spirit for the little things.

Happy New Year,

-TJ

Hammock: Mono No Aware from Hammock Music on Vimeo.

(New Product) Fusion for Kids!

Congratulations! You've just found that "something different" you were looking for!
We know you love to have pictures of your kids. And at GetzCreative, we're committed to giving you a stylized and beautiful experience, that you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Drawing inspiration from top cinematographers, painters and story tellers, we love to blend old world styles into a contemporary vision for something truly different.

Introducing Kids Fusions!
On top of our unique stylized kids shots, we are offering Kids-Fusion! Over the next few months, we'll be bringing you more wonderful examples of girls, boys, babies, and high school senior Fusions. Each Fusion is a customized blend of artwork combined with your favorite image from one of our photo shoots. We love to hear what stage your child is in, and incorporate that into the theme of each Fusion. From toy cars, to pirates, spaceships, fairies, butterflies, trains, and their favorite stuffed animal, we will create a unique story-art just for you and your child.

Please call or email us for a consultation. We'd love to walk with you on this wonderful journey!
You can contact us at 864-354-2548 or email us at shootme@getzcreative.com

families aren't perfect.... so why should yours be?

We had an incredible season of kids and family shoots this year. And as I look through the albums, my heart warms at the images we captured for those families. Many of those images have become part of our Americana series. This series is meant to cause reflection on an age past, and a simpler time of life. But if we're honest, those simpler times were not made up of perfect people. Those times past still had days of both worry and confidence, mean-ness and kindness, bad days and good days. Times may have changed (though we still don't yet have a flying car for the masses....and I really want one) but people are still as imperfect today as they were 500 years ago.

Why am I mentioning this you may ask? It's because we all like to think we're the exception and everyone else is screwed up. And we also have the same tendency to compare ourselves to others, however this is foolishness—and only leads to discontent. Those differences, those unique things that make us who we are, those "imperfections" make us interesting, and provides spice and perspective. None of us want to be clones, and yet we try so hard to be accepted by everyone else—usually in all the wrong ways.

I want to encourage everyone to embrace those quirky images, like that family picture where the kids aren't looking at the camera, and where your smile is "just a bit off". And I want you to focus on the the beautiful moment you're partaking in.

We're not perfect, and we never will be in this life. We just might enjoy our time a little more when we realize, our smile is just fine, the kid looking down instead of at the camera is perfect, and the memories that were captured, regardless of the "time life moment", is something that no one else could experience in the same way, and is yours to treasure for your lifetime.

Merry Christmas. Wishing you all well and much love,
-TJ & Michelle

before & after: what are you paying for? (pt.2)

flash from the past part 2
Several posts ago, I talked about money, and the special value we bring our customers. (for a quick read you can find them here & here). Today, I want to reiterate some of that same message, but also put more focus on the "artistic styling" applied in our post-production phase of your project.

Every project we undertake is put through similar steps to help us achieve our cinematic look.
When you become one of our respected clients, you can expect to be given not only a specialized product, but professional customer service as well. We listen to you, and then communicate what is needed to make the project come to life. Communication is key is any relationship, regardless of its professional or personal nature. We promise to answer you in a timely fashion, and to give your project 100% of our effort.

all companies are not created equal
Assuming every company puts the same amount of detail and effort into the customer as the next guy, can leave you sorely disappointed and frustrated throughout the process. Running a business is much more than creating a superior product and selling as much as you can. Finding someone you can trust, who will be reliable and consistent, is what can take a good experience, and transform it into an extraordinary experience. I'm saying this, to help you understand the value we put on you as our customer, and the experience you can expect to have from beginning to end.

refinement of the glitz
It's no secret photoshop and other digital products have become the norm in today's photographic workflow. But many have entered this digital revolution with a limited understanding of the historic importance the darkroom as played in creating photographs. The darkroom was not just a place where film was developed, it was a place where pictures came alive and art was created!

In-camera technical prowess is always key to any great image, but so is vision, styling and execution while working with those you're photographing. But after all is said and done, and the last image is captured, the final step to creating the picture begins— and it's called the darkroom experience.

Great photographers honed their skills to refine their work in the darkroom to an art. This often set the professional, the true master of the art, apart from the hobbyist/enthusiast. The same stands true today, in the digital darkroom, of photoshop, corel painter and the myriad of other image-editing products. In today's top companies, true craftsmanship is what you're paying for.

Of course, I still encourage anyone to get a camera, shoot their passion and practice their own "digital darkroom, but for the purpose of this article, I want to get you to ask yourself, why am I paying for professionals photos for, say, $1000 that don't look much different from what you can shoot yourself), instead of paying $3000 where you're getting a personal experience and images that feel and look like art? Learn to see the the difference behind those photographers with vision and darkroom skill, and those who just love to dabble. You often get what you pay for, and educating yourself on the difference, can leave you with not only an amazing product, but a beautiful experience as well.

much love,
-TJ

Update on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 6:57PM by TJ GETZ

Update on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 11:35AM by TJ GETZ

Update on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 11:55AM by TJ GETZ