Adam Kuzik - Photographer

I don’t like cold gigs. #yyc #photography

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:35:44 -0700

I don’t like cold gigs. #yyc #photography

Booth assembly rehearsal. #wedding #bridalfantasy...

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:34:05 -0700

Booth assembly rehearsal. #wedding #bridalfantasy #calgarywedding #yyc #photography

Another day of shooting pro models…

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 15:38:19 -0700

Another day of shooting pro models…

Remember how to use this..,

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:52:11 -0700

Remember how to use this..,

Like/Fav - Visit http://www.studio35photo.ca/ for info.A tour of...

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:26:29 -0700

Like/Fav - Visit http://www.studio35photo.ca/ for info.

A tour of our facilities; including our shooting bay, and the equipment we have in our arsenal. Owner and Photographer Adam Kuzik tells us a bit about the Studio

So, today was the first day at the Magnum workshop and...

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:27:10 -0600

So, today was the first day at the Magnum workshop and all-in-all it was a pretty interesting day. Constantine Manos presented his approach to street photography. He has a really relaxed manor and was quite friendly. I had to leave the lecture a bit early to head over to Sistema Toronto to photograph the kids in the program. When I got there there was obviously a lot going on. As it turned out they were trying to put together a promo video for an upcoming award show where they will be honored. I started the session by just observing to see if I could find any patterns or exceptional subjects. With so much going on I wasn’t disappointed with the choices.

Today was also my first full shoot with the Fujifilm X Pro 1. I’m pleased with how easy this camera is to carry around. Its small and light. The kids at Sistema weren’t intimidated by it and I was able to freely move about the room with little thought or notice — exactly what I wanted. I had the opportunity to try out the continuous capture (6 frames per second). It works really well, but in the on camera playback Fujifilm has grouped continuous capture frames all together in a picture-in-picture type of thing and it reviews like a movie. I will have to check with the manual about that. Also, because I don’t know what I’m going to be using the files for I chose to shoot RAW, and again, I’m totally disappointed with Silkypix. Rendering is just awful!

Tonight we’re going out for some more street style photography. So, we’re definitely keeping busy and pushing creative ideas as far as we have time for.

Shuttle Enterprise Flight To New York (201204270017HQ)

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:17:00 -0600

Shuttle Enterprise Flight To New York (201204270017HQ):

Space shuttle Enterprise, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), is seen off in the distance behind the Statue of Liberty, Friday, April 27, 2012, in New York. Enterprise was the first shuttle orbiter built for NASA performing test flights in the atmosphere and was incapable of spaceflight. Originally housed at the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Enterprise will be demated from the SCA and placed on a barge that will eventually be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in June. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Right Rig For the Job

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:20:00 -0600

With only a week before I head to the Magnum Workshop at the Scotiabank CONTACT Festival I wanted to post some thoughts on using the right rig for the job. On a day-to-day basis I use my (now discontinued) Nikon D3s the most (and its got about another year left in it). My Nikon D3x is for my studio work (again, for about another year) and then there’s my recently purchased Fujifilm X-Pro 1.

The X-Pro 1 wasn’t a cheap purchase, but an important one. And after about a week of working with this camera I absolutely LOVE IT! But, while already owning two of arguably the best 35mm DSLRs on the market, why would I drop a couple of grand on a mirrorless? Well, sometimes carrying around a full body, full frame camera makes absolutely no sense. And the Magnum Workshop is the perfect example of this.

When it comes down to it, the Magnum Workshop is a street photography and photojournalism workshop. I anticipate walking through the streets of Toronto, talking to people and taking their picture while going about their lives. No need for a bazooka here! The X-Pro 1 is a small, unassuming package with great performance. I want the best photo opportunities possible and my Nikons, to the general public, are intimidating. In addition, I’m going to be walking around Toronto for an entire week (maybe I should get a GPS app’ to see how many km’s I do…). The Nikon is heavy. I personally think its a ‘good heavy,’ but heavy nonetheless. It would definitely require a BlackRapid strap, but honestly, my shoulder would still get sore after seven days straight (and R Straps seem to becoming a fashion statement for hip photog’s). No thanks. Of course, the same thing goes for the lenses. With my X-Pro 1 I’m using my little Crumpler Bag that kind of looks like a “murse.” I’ll be packed light and able to go most places.

Now, in no way am I hating on my Nikons. I LOVE my Nikon babies! I haven’t decided which one is coming with me, but one surely will. Hell, I’m even thinking about bringing my Quadra Rangers… But, as a professional photographer there is a right place and right time for your gear and showing up prepared, with the right tools is essential.

Recent shoot with Taleeta of AW Models International.

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:49:18 -0600

Recent shoot with Taleeta of AW Models International.

First Shots from my New Fujifilm X-Pro1 Just playing with my new...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:36:00 -0600

X-Pro1 Off of Camera

X-Pro1 processed TIF

Zoom in from processed TIF

First Shots from my New Fujifilm X-Pro1

Just playing with my new Fujifilm X-Pro1. Files look great! But conversion was a pain! No Adobe support yet (known problem) and the Fuji’s “Silkypix” converter SUCKS (so I’m gonna call it ‘sillypix’)!!! I ended up using sillypix to convert to 16 bit TIF’s then import into LR3 to further process. Take a look at the images and let me know what you think!

Today I had the opportunity to demo the new Nikon D800. Here are...

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:38:00 -0600

First Test Shoot with the Nikon D800

Crop from above file

Today I had the opportunity to demo the new Nikon D800. Here are the details of the above shots:

Shutter: 1/200”
Lens / Aperture: 105 mm (micro) at f/9.0
ISO 100
Lighting: Elinchrom Quadra Ranger Ring Flash
Files processed / converted using Nikon ViewNX 2 and Lightroom 3. No significant retouching done.

Do I like the camera? Everything considered I do. I would, however have to get the vertical grip. I would also have to be careful with the body as I take certain “liberties” with my D3x. Will I buy one? Probably.

Seth on making a ruckus in your industry

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:10:16 -0600

Seth on making a ruckus in your industry:

So, last week I was, admittedly a bit negative. But this morning a friend and client of mine, Kelley Skar (http://www.kelleyskar.com/) posted Seth’s post and it truly spoke to me. Sitting, drinking coffee with my girlfriend we literally went down Seth’s list like it was a check list.

Guess what? I’m making a ruckus and I’m unapologetic about it. I love everything about what we’re doing at Studio 35. I also don’t mind that other photographers are, well, complaining… What’s that saying “You’re nobody ‘till someone hates you…” Anyways, a bit more cheery this week! Have a great weekend — it’s time for me to head to work.

Working Towards Not Giving a F@#&

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:22:00 -0600

Coco Chanel said it best “I don’t care what you think of me. I don’t think about you at all.” Wise words from a lady with a thick skin. But lately the flack I’m getting for opening a studio, running an agressive marketing campaign, publishing photos and other stuff has been a bit much. For some reason a number of photographers out there have a severe hate on for me. And, well, it sucks. So, as much as I hate it I really have to start not giving a fuck…

I have come to learn that people ARE talking shit about me. I’m seeking the approval of “friends” who wipe the blood off the dagger. I try to keep the peace and take the high road, but I really feel spineless. It’s truly time for me to not give a fuck.

People are judging me right now.

Some people don’t like me and guess what? There’s nothing I can do about it. No amount of reasoning to their interests will help.

But, the fact is that most people don’t even care that I’m alive. And I must embrace this as this realization is nothing short of a monkey off my back. The world is big and I am small, so really I can just stop worrying about a few and concentrate on the really important things in my life.

I don’t need everyone to like me.

Here’s the thing, not only do most people not know that I exist, and some are judging me, but it totally doesn’t matter even if they are.

So when they say “the best revenge is a life well lived”? Well, this is true, but it isn’t the whole truth. A life well lived is great, yes, but it cannot happen while you are sweating about who your detractors are and what they think. What I have to do, what I have no choice but to do, is accept it and move on. So not giving a fuck is actually a necessary precedent to creating a good life. It can’t happen without it.

It’s my inner circle that matters

My inner circle — my champions — understand my cause. They love and support me. They’re the important ones. It’s time to focus on them instead.

Here’s a thought: Those who don’t give a fuck change the world. The rest do not.

It’s time to dismiss the things that don’t matter. It’s time to throw out the immaterial things from my mind and focus on what must be done. My time on earth is finite and I have stuff to get done. I’m not remotely interested in living an uninteresting, unfulfilling life.

So what? Well, guess what. It’s time to not give a fuck and keep on keeping on… Watch out for a whole lot of:

Doing things that might be considered “embarrassing.” (Cough, cough… Groupon…)
Accepting that when I walk into a room of “colleagues” its going to be awkward
Pushing the boundaries of what’s considered normal, the “way its supposed to be,” or old fashion ideas

Frankly, it’s time to tell the truth. This doesn’t mean getting sucked into silliness. But, as always, if someone wants me and my opinion, well, they’re just going to get it.

Finally, a quick shout out to Julien Smith for the inspiration and quotes for this blog. Thanks man! Sorry you’re not academically cited… But, I’ve heard you don’t give a fuck…

Shots from our City Style & Living shoot. Photographer: Adam...

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:40:15 -0600

Shots from our City Style & Living shoot.
Photographer: Adam Kuzik
Model: Brooke | Numa
Styling: Kailash & Shivana Maharaj
Hair & Makeup: Krista Ho Lem

This past Friday Mallory, Ally and I got together in my living...

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 09:42:00 -0600

This past Friday Mallory, Ally and I got together in my living room, ordered a pizza and shoot some photos. Here are a couple shots.

Want to be an amazing photographer? Start with being a great assistant: Noah's Incomplete Guide to Assisting

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:04:39 -0600

photographernoah:

I’m often asked by many folks if they can “hang out for free” with me on a shoot. Many have little to no knowledge of pro photographic gear or expectations of an assistants duties. Most of the time I reply by simply stating that I currently have a great group of people I can call on to assist me on jobs, which is totally true. What I don’t say is there are a number of other factors as to why I don’t.

Read More

Chantelle | iModel Management, Calgary

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:31:02 -0600

Chantelle | iModel Management, Calgary

Adam Visits the Tease Boudoir Studio & Unboxes an Olympus

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:46:37 -0600

Adam Visits the Tease Boudoir Studio & Unboxes an Olympus

Studio Site Tour

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:21:13 -0600

Today I had the great pleasure of a site tour of my new Airdrie studio. At just under 1,200 sq ft, the studio will serve as the base of all my company’s operations. It’s amazing how “real” it becomes when you’re standing in the middle of construction, hard hat on, visualizing the studio layout.

We ran into a little problem though… The name. “Creative Captures Photography” is too long. So, we have to figure out a new name.

What a great time to run a contest! So, here’s the deal:

“Like” www.facebook.com/AKPhotoCanada
Post your studio name idea on our wall and a brief note as to why you think your name deserves to be in lights.
The top 3 studio name contributors, as chosen by us, will each receive one pair of VIP tickets to our grand opening event this fall.
All entrants will be entered into a draw for a pair of VIP tickets to our grand opening event this fall.

Thanks all for your support and I look forward to seeing your ideas!

We're looking for a great Assistant Photog’

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:47:11 -0600

We're looking for a great Assistant Photog’ :

Creative Captures | AKPhotography
Assistant Photographer (NOTE: We are seeking a female Assistant Photographer to meet certain and specific needs of our clients.)
Part Time, Casual

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