Some of my favorites from a recent fun photography shoot of the Fall Collection for the absolutely gorgeous Lauren Harper Collection...
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jewelry Photography | Lauren Harper Collection
Some of my favorites from a recent fun photography shoot of the Fall Collection for the absolutely gorgeous Lauren Harper Collection...
Friday, April 22, 2011
One Architects | Ad Campaign in Luxe magazine
Excited to share this beautiful ad campaign I have been designing for One Architects to run in Luxe magazine:
The conceptual goal was to use the full page in an eye-catching way that would drive curiosity to visit their website. We strived to achieve this by highlighting an unusual crop of an architectural detail in the keyhole of their logo, with a different seasonal background for each corresponding issue in Luxe magazine.
Winter and Spring (running in the current issue) are shown above, and we just finished up summer, which will be a double page spread:
 |
| Winter (l) and Spring (r) full page ads in Luxe |
The conceptual goal was to use the full page in an eye-catching way that would drive curiosity to visit their website. We strived to achieve this by highlighting an unusual crop of an architectural detail in the keyhole of their logo, with a different seasonal background for each corresponding issue in Luxe magazine.
Winter and Spring (running in the current issue) are shown above, and we just finished up summer, which will be a double page spread:
 |
| Summer double page spread in Luxe |
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Springtime in the City
Rushing water is the hallmark of springtime in the mountains. Rivers burst at the seams and ponds emerge in the valleys as snow melts and rages on its annual springtime descent.
After a dozen or so of these high alpine springs, I had completely forgotten how abundantly beautiful this season can be at a slightly lower elevation!
It is April and already neighborhoods in Denver are bursting with color and new life. And I, of course, as my eyes are on overdrive, I can't help myself but try to capture the new season in its birth.
As such, my camera often feels like an extension of my self; it is the tool through which, when I use it well, I am able to communicate my vision of the art and beauty that I see in my surroundings with the rest of the world. The creative process drives me to the art of capture; the ability to share my work and evoke emotion from others is the inspiration.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Capture Philosophy | PHOTO TIP 03: SHOOT, SHARE, STAY INSPIRED
My newest creative addiction has a healthy side-effect: Pure, Raw, Synapse-Firing... INSPIRATION.
Instagram, if you aren't already familiar, is a free photo sharing app for the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad which has skyrocketed in popularity in just a few short months (Check out this article on the simple but powerful features they nailed in their launch). It took me less than an hour to figure out why it is so popular amongst photo enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals alike...
The basic tenet of "iPhoneography" is that the best camera is the one you have with you.
As any dSLR owner knows, it's not always convenient to carry tripod, camera body, kit of lenses, filters, batteries, cards, etc., and more often than not, there will inevitably be a great spot of light or moment of inspiration precisely when you decide not to tote along your gear. If you are lucky enough to have a camera in your phone, however, the opportunity for creativity and capture is hardly lost.
Dialoguing recently with a fellow Instagram'er, I realized how much inspiration I gather not only through this less formal method of shooting, but also through the daily feed of tiny square photographic compositions from all around the world. I am provoked to consider what moves me about these images -- in intimate scenes from Italy; in extraordinary aurora sky photos from Lapland; in edgy street scenes from New York City and dramatic ocean sunsets from the equator -- as they each enter my personal photo feed...
... Like miniature vacations in the palm of my hand.
With visual media such as photography, we can learn so much from studying what we like (and dislike), and we can then attempt to reproduce our favorite elements -- pattern, simplicity of composition, use of light, etc. -- from the material in our own world. A tool like this with a constant stream of content for inspiration can thus become truly addictive.
It may be obvious that as a professional photographer, I find that my style while shooting with the iPod is FAR less inhibited than when I am shooting with my dSLR. Less obvious is how dearly I have come to love the results... as well as the new possibilities. Often (as with the "drive by" photos below) I just hold the phone up to a scene and press the "shutter" without looking (not exactly possible with pro-gear). It is delightful to look later and discover there are gems in the mix.
The IG filters offer enough creativity to require no additional photo editing, but of course there are hundreds of amazing photo apps out there to process phone pix through as well, and I have found several that I enjoy, including Filterstorm, TiltShift Generator, FX Photo Studio, 100 Cameras in One, and Impression (if you want to add a copyright to your photos before posting).
Once you have even just a few followers on IG, the feedback is immeasurably enjoyable. Like any other social media, a great part of the allure is the community itself. So far my experience is that the IG community is like an incredibly supportive, creative, international family!
My hope with this post is to encourage you, if you have the ability to shoot from your non-dSLR mobile device, to USE it, and use it every day. Take photos of your morning coffee, your pet and the walk around your neighborhood. The discipline to simply do something creative every day is a wonderful way to sharpen your skills and stay inspired. Regardless of your skill level, the tricks of composition, light and content choices which you learn quickly with this completely non-intimidating device will inform choices when using your "real" camera.
Just as important: SHARE your photos. Photo sharing communities such as Instagram offer each of us the ideal opportunity to share our vision with other people -- people who don't know each other but who truly desire to share creativity and inspiration through each other's photos and feedback.
And thus our world expands yet again... Brilliant use of the technology, in my opinion!
Until next time, Happy Spring to you! Shoot, SHARE and stay inspired!
... and as always, have fun!
--
A complete collection of the @merrittphoto feed on Instagram, can be seen here.
--
If you'd like to get started on IG, there are SO many incredible feeds out there, but here are a few recommendations for fun, interactive people to check out as you get started:
@joshjohnson @richnyc @iscooler @mouselink @brianng @electricdenim
and @steinvalente (thank you for this blog inspiration, Michel!)
Instagram, if you aren't already familiar, is a free photo sharing app for the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad which has skyrocketed in popularity in just a few short months (Check out this article on the simple but powerful features they nailed in their launch). It took me less than an hour to figure out why it is so popular amongst photo enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals alike...
 |
| Photos taken with the iPod Touch and filtered with "Lomi-fi" filter in Instagram | ©merrittphoto |
The basic tenet of "iPhoneography" is that the best camera is the one you have with you.
As any dSLR owner knows, it's not always convenient to carry tripod, camera body, kit of lenses, filters, batteries, cards, etc., and more often than not, there will inevitably be a great spot of light or moment of inspiration precisely when you decide not to tote along your gear. If you are lucky enough to have a camera in your phone, however, the opportunity for creativity and capture is hardly lost.
 |
| iPod snapshots of architecture around Denver, with various IG filters | ©merrittphoto |
... Like miniature vacations in the palm of my hand.
 |
| iPod Touch photos of my favorite model, with Lomi, Apollo and Gotham IG filters (l-r) | ©merrittphoto |
With visual media such as photography, we can learn so much from studying what we like (and dislike), and we can then attempt to reproduce our favorite elements -- pattern, simplicity of composition, use of light, etc. -- from the material in our own world. A tool like this with a constant stream of content for inspiration can thus become truly addictive.
It may be obvious that as a professional photographer, I find that my style while shooting with the iPod is FAR less inhibited than when I am shooting with my dSLR. Less obvious is how dearly I have come to love the results... as well as the new possibilities. Often (as with the "drive by" photos below) I just hold the phone up to a scene and press the "shutter" without looking (not exactly possible with pro-gear). It is delightful to look later and discover there are gems in the mix.
 |
| A new category of photos not possible with a dSLR (Please drive safely! Don't post and drive!!) | ©merrittphoto |
The IG filters offer enough creativity to require no additional photo editing, but of course there are hundreds of amazing photo apps out there to process phone pix through as well, and I have found several that I enjoy, including Filterstorm, TiltShift Generator, FX Photo Studio, 100 Cameras in One, and Impression (if you want to add a copyright to your photos before posting).
Once you have even just a few followers on IG, the feedback is immeasurably enjoyable. Like any other social media, a great part of the allure is the community itself. So far my experience is that the IG community is like an incredibly supportive, creative, international family!
 |
| Where would iPhoneography be without coffeeshop photos? iPod Touch / IG filters | ©merrittphoto |
My hope with this post is to encourage you, if you have the ability to shoot from your non-dSLR mobile device, to USE it, and use it every day. Take photos of your morning coffee, your pet and the walk around your neighborhood. The discipline to simply do something creative every day is a wonderful way to sharpen your skills and stay inspired. Regardless of your skill level, the tricks of composition, light and content choices which you learn quickly with this completely non-intimidating device will inform choices when using your "real" camera.
Just as important: SHARE your photos. Photo sharing communities such as Instagram offer each of us the ideal opportunity to share our vision with other people -- people who don't know each other but who truly desire to share creativity and inspiration through each other's photos and feedback.
And thus our world expands yet again... Brilliant use of the technology, in my opinion!
 |
| Happy Spring from my iPod to your eyes | ©merrittphoto |
Until next time, Happy Spring to you! Shoot, SHARE and stay inspired!
... and as always, have fun!
--
A complete collection of the @merrittphoto feed on Instagram, can be seen here.
--
If you'd like to get started on IG, there are SO many incredible feeds out there, but here are a few recommendations for fun, interactive people to check out as you get started:
@joshjohnson @richnyc @iscooler @mouselink @brianng @electricdenim
and @steinvalente (thank you for this blog inspiration, Michel!)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Snow Falling on Spring Buds
Yesterday I wore flip flops and walked (in short sleeves) to the Denver Botanic Gardens in 80 degrees of warm sunshine... even took off my shoes to enjoy the feel of warm soil between my toes for the first time this season.
Today... I photographed snow from my living room window.
Now, I did LOVE the sunshine and warmth of yesterday, but I'm not going to complain. The smell of moisture in the air is a treasured gift in the wake of early season forest fires. And on a more, perhaps, frivolous note, I can't deny loving a whirling snowfall such as this, and the backdrop of spring buds made for some fun, almost painterly compositions.
Now, I did LOVE the sunshine and warmth of yesterday, but I'm not going to complain. The smell of moisture in the air is a treasured gift in the wake of early season forest fires. And on a more, perhaps, frivolous note, I can't deny loving a whirling snowfall such as this, and the backdrop of spring buds made for some fun, almost painterly compositions.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Finger Painting | Wearable Art
We had only a tiny window of opportunity in which to fit in a shoot with Nicole wearing her latest painted dresses (co-designed by Chemical by Sasha for the Telluride AIDS Benefit).
She was a trooper out there in the sudden (and intense) snow squall, and in the end, the whirling snow added quite nicely to the magical quality of the dresses.
See more of her work here.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Telluride AIDS Benefit | Behind the Models... The Series
I'm still not exactly sure why I ever believed the local fashion show models of Telluride would actually agree to pose for these photos, but somehow they went for it, and here we are, four years strong!
There's something so powerful and pure about the grouped forms of bodies in graphic shapes like this, and the set altogether is quite fun.
Together 8 prints of these four photos have raised over $4K in the Telluride AIDS Benefit silent art auctions.
Top to bottom:
Array | 2009
Force + Grace | 2011
Hands of Hope | 2008
Outside the Box | 2010
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Telluride AIDS Benefit | Model Photo 2011
This year's theme, "Force + Grace," was another really fun concept to dream up, sketch out and photograph... A central spine of models choreographed to transfer forces top to bottom, complimented by the graceful poses of the dancers weaving on either side:
As always, the models were a dream to work with... Special thanks to this year's amazing Fashion Show choreographer/directors Katy Parnello and Amanda Carlson for their assistance in directing the shoot.
I feel so blessed for the opportunity to be involved in the promotion and fundraising for this unique and special event. Gratitude abounds for everything the board and community behind the Telluride AIDS Benefit does to make this event not only an impressive high quality and ridiculously fun experience, but also a huge success with its financial contribution -- funds which go directly to saving lives and helping improve the quality of life for children and people effected by AIDS from the Western Slope to Africa.
Watch here for photos from the always amazing TAB Gala Fashion Show!
As always, the models were a dream to work with... Special thanks to this year's amazing Fashion Show choreographer/directors Katy Parnello and Amanda Carlson for their assistance in directing the shoot.
I feel so blessed for the opportunity to be involved in the promotion and fundraising for this unique and special event. Gratitude abounds for everything the board and community behind the Telluride AIDS Benefit does to make this event not only an impressive high quality and ridiculously fun experience, but also a huge success with its financial contribution -- funds which go directly to saving lives and helping improve the quality of life for children and people effected by AIDS from the Western Slope to Africa.
Watch here for photos from the always amazing TAB Gala Fashion Show!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Capture Philosophy | PHOTO TIP 02: Creative use of Foreground
Dynamic photos draw us in and give our eye the space and reason to move around inside the frame. Layering a composition with simple foreground, middle and background elements can add a great deal of interest to an otherwise flat photo. As such, many photos can be dramatically improved through the implementation of some simple but creative compositional choices.
While this may sound like a simple concept, finding the right foreground element can have a profound impact on a finished photo - from grounding the image with a sense of scale to framing and/or highlighting a subject. In fact, often in the search for a great foreground element, you can discover a whole new subject for a photograph you hadn’t previously envisioned. It’s a great exercise to explore your surroundings and find new inspiration.
Here are a few examples using a variety of different subjects:
01 | Draw your viewer into the photo with a compelling foreground element which directly leads into the photo:
Here are a few examples using a variety of different subjects:
01 | Draw your viewer into the photo with a compelling foreground element which directly leads into the photo:
 |
| Great Sand Dunes National Monument + Denver Art Museum © Jennifer Koskinen |
02 | Find foreground elements with which to frame your subject:
 |
| Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride, CO + Denver Art Museum © Jennifer Koskinen |
03 | Ground the photo by highlighting a strong foreground element in a composition that might originally have been about the background (these "discovered" opportunities often make for more personal photos of iconic locations):
 |
| Bridge Railing to Town Park, Telluride CO + Maroon Bells Wilderness, Aspen CO © Jennifer Koskinen |
04 | Relate the foreground to subject matter, highlighting, echoing or strengthening the subject itself:
 |
| Sculpture outside Denver Art Museum + Chalk Street Drawing at Telluride July 4th Celebration © Jennifer Koskinen |
05 | Create symmetry, layering and balance:
 |
| Driftwood at Maroon Bells, Aspen CO + Private Residence, Telluride CO © Jennifer Koskinen |
06 | "Work hard and you’ll get lucky"
Often great foreground material will present itself when you are open to seeing it; the audience member who pops up right in front of you with a perfect hat and hand gesture; a butterfly on a flower when you're already on your belly in the grass; a handful of autumn photographers so perfectly set they could have been staged; and lastly of course, drifting fog makes for a lovely and precious foreground that can only be discovered when in the right place at the right time:
Often great foreground material will present itself when you are open to seeing it; the audience member who pops up right in front of you with a perfect hat and hand gesture; a butterfly on a flower when you're already on your belly in the grass; a handful of autumn photographers so perfectly set they could have been staged; and lastly of course, drifting fog makes for a lovely and precious foreground that can only be discovered when in the right place at the right time:
 |
| Mountainfilm Symposium + Butterfly on Valley Floor Photographers in the Sneffles Wilderness + Wilson Peak Above the clouds Telluride CO © Jennifer Koskinen |
SUGGESTION:
The next time you are out shooting, take some extra time and move around to find interesting foreground elements with which to frame or draw the attention towards your subject. Play with your aperture as well (last month’s tip), and see what kind of results are yielded when you focus selectively and/or blur your foreground or background elements... experiment with color and composition, and most of all, have fun!
Happy Shooting :)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Playing with Tilt Shift App
 |
| Denver Art Museum |
I discovered another fun little app for the iPod this weekend and I've been having a blast experimenting with different effects on a variety of photos. It it absolutely incredible to me what these simple little gadgets can do!
This one allows you to mimic the highly specific depth of field effect of a tilt shift lens, resulting in images that often look like tiny scale models, even though these are - I swear - full scale scenes.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, this particular app is called TiltShiftGen and so far, I love it!
 |
| Denver Capitol building from Art Museum window |
 |
| 16th Street Mall, Denver |
 |
| Confluence Park, Denver |
 |
| Mesa Verde National Park |
 |
| Telluride Wedding |
 |
| View from Tattered Cover Parking Garage, Denver, CO |
 |
| Glenwood Canyon, CO |
 |
| Telluride from the Gondola |
 |
| Telluride, CO during Mountainfilm |
 |
| Denver City and County Building, July 4th 2010 |
 |
| 16th Street, Denver CO |
 |
| 16th Street, Denver, CO |
 |
| Telluride from Town Park |
 |
| Telluride, CO - July 4th |
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)