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Featured Wedding of 2009
There are some moments that can never be forgotten. Your wedding, for instance, is one of those memories that should rank up there with a child being born, buying a first house, falling in love. (Did I get the order wrong there?)
What started out as a simple referral from a realtor turned into one of the best weddings I shot of 2009. Diana and Greg were looking for a potential west side property to rent for their wedding day. They wanted to keep things small and intimate. Just them, the witnesses, the minister, a photographer and a fabulous island view. They wanted creative wedding photography, and were prepared to take the time to obtain that goal.
Photography Workshops
Everybody these days has a camera of one sort or another. Even the cheapest of cell phones has a camera built into it that rivals the first digital camera I bought almost ten years ago. Back then it was the height of technology; now it's beyond antiquated. But as the technology gets better, faster and more complex with every year, why are we still seeing the same quality of photographs time and time again? Look at the images you took with that 12.1 Megapixel all-singing, all-dancing digital camera and tell me they are any better than you used to take with the Kodak Brownie? Remember when you used to unload film from your camera, then wait days for it to be developed? I am sure the joy of traditional photography can be traced back those few moments of frantic shuffling of photographs while still standing in the lab/drug store/mall. Anyway, my point is it's not the camera that takes great photographs, it's YOU. Sure, all the modern technology helps, but we have forgotten the basics. Most Point-and-Shoots don't even have a viewfinder anymore, so how are you to frame an image correctly? Having the camera in our hands, while looking at a tiny little LCD screen, removes us completely from the seductive sensation of bringing the camera up to our face, closing one eye, and looking at the world through a tiny rectangle of light.
Okay, so you are looking for help. Either as a complete beginner or a serious amatuer who wants some direction/coaching, or somewhere in between. I offer three levels of photography workshop, so there is something for everyone. (And if you don't see something here that will work for you, consider hiring me for some individual tutoring, or have me build a custom workshop for your photography group?):
Island Rec Front Cover
Back in July 2008 I woke up from an intense dream. I was performing perfect 360 flips over and over again. Of course I have never skateboarded in my life, so the dream was particularly fun. With that in mind I decided to offer my services to Island Rec to photograph their annual skateboarding and BMX competition in Friday Harbor.
I had a great day, and I think the kids enjoyed having me around too. Seemed like they would try that little bit harder now that a professional photographer was around.
You can see all the images from this and previous year's competitions at www.sanjuanskate.org
At Home Magazine Feature
"A Scotsman with an eye refined by thousands of hours looking through a camera's viewfinder has brought his interpretation of a modern, multi-media artists' space to Friday Harbor.
The sleek all-white studio Concepia is designed to fill multiple creative roles, but is at its hart a functional, adaptable photo studio, a tightly controlled environment for portraiture and image making."
Read the complete At Home Magazine feature about Concepia by clicking here.
Ansel Portfolio Review: WINNER!
Island photographers win some time with a noted juror, reviewer
Jan 22 2009 (reprinted from Journal of the San Juans)
Six photographers from the San Juan Islands won a personal portfolio review with Jeanne Falk Adams, CEO of The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park and daughter-in-law of the late environmentalist and photographer.
Seattle Magazine Feature
I was commissioned to take exterior and interior architectural photographs of a San Juan Island house designed by Anna Hamilton of D+A Studio, who specialize in custom residential, commercial and urban design. This house was Anna's personal project and earned it a 3-Star Built Green certification and an AIA Seattle 2009 "What Makes It Green" Top 10 award.
Seattle Magazine decided to feature her house in a July 2009 article about Green Design in the Northwest. With a monthly circulation of approximately 70,000, Seattle Magazine is one of the premier lifestyle magazines in Washington.
Read the complete Seattle Magazine article which features photography by John Sinclair by clicking here.
What I do:
So what is 'Concepia"? And why is it "Your Center for Photography"?
Concepia is a new business venture run by local photographer, John Sinclair, and is located on Spring Street, opposite Wells Fargo Bank, behind the historic 100+ year old Camperdown Elm.
Concepia offers the following services:
- Commercial Gallery: A dedicated photographic gallery focusing primarily on new and emerging Photographers from the Pacific Northwest.
- Photographic Studio: Concepia is a Portraiture studio, but we have experience in all areas of commercial photography. Award Winning!
- Photoshop Services: From retouching and restoring 100 year old photos to scanning and archiving your precious memories.
- Large Format Printing: Concepia runs an Epson 9900. The best 44" printer in the world! From Premium Luster to Matte Canvas, we can print on it all.
- Standard Printing: Don't need a huge print for you wall? Let me take care of the smaller prints too. 8x10's start at $10.
- Art Bookstore: Largest collection of monographs north of Powells, or close to it. Come sit on the couch and browse the world's photographers.
- Technology Tutoring: From Photoshop to Mac, we'll hold your hand through every step.
- Photographic Workshops: we run these throughout the year, from beginners to advanced levels. Check out our calender for what's coming up
So you see, with all these services on offer, Concepia really is a "Photographic Center". Even if you don't see it see it listed on here, come in and talk to me. We'll find a solution to whatever problem you have.
