Category: Photography

Making the most of your Fuji X system

by Stanley LearyPhotography
 
 

If you are reading this because you saw this might apply to the Fuji X system, then you need to invest in Bill Fortney’s A User’s Guide to the Fuji X-System ebook. If you are thinking about the Fuji system, this is the best $9.95 you will spend. It will help you navigate all their cameras and lenses. The best part is Bill speaks as a pro, and his words of wisdom may help you from purchasing something that you might regret, and then he gives you tips on things you might need.

Most people who write this kind of book have drunk the Kool-Aid of the company and oversold the brand. Bill Fortney loved Nikon, and I never felt like he was overselling Nikon.

If you have ever been to photo shows, you may have met Bill. I often remember standing at a trade show across the table, talking to Bill about the latest cameras and lenses.

The book A User’s Guide to the Fuji X-System is the same voice I have listened to for many years.

“Nope, not yet!” is one of the quotes about the system. Honest that the camera doesn’t do all that his Nikon System does.

Fortney even says, “What kinds of photography is the X-System not my first choice for Heavy duty sports shooting Birds in flight – extreme wildlife action. I didn’t say you can’t do this; I think there are better systems for it!”

He is honest, and his advice will save you lots of time and money in figuring out how to get the most out of the Fuji System.

He goes on and tells you all the great reasons Fuji is worth the investment and how it saves his back for one.

With Bill’s permission, here is one of the pages to give you a sneak peek into the ebook.

 

There are a lot of examples of everything he talks about in his illustrations.

Bill’s Nikon Gear

By the way, Bill still owns his Nikons. He just wrote a blog to ensure you understand how the Fuji system is a tool and not the only one he uses. Here is that blog link [http://billfortney.com/?p=12572]

Nikon D750 available light ISO 12800, 25600 & 51200 @ Wedding

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 51200, ƒ/4.5, 1/100

I attended a wedding for a friend yesterday as a guest. I thought I would take some photos and give those to the bride and groom from the day. I stayed out of the way of the hired photographers and just shot photos I saw.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/50

The service occurred at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Buckhead in Atlanta, GA. The room for the wedding was pretty dark. I used ExpoDisc to get a custom white balance, and then the settings on the camera were ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6 @ 1/50.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/60

After the service, we moved to the hallway between the two rooms they had reserved for the wedding and the reception for a formal receiving line. The light here was about the same at the wedding. Now, the canned spotlights in the ceiling occasionally would make the quality of the light suffer and sometimes help. Here, the bridesmaids weren’t thrilled with the hot light in the background.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ5.6, 1/40

Sometimes, the light was just fine on the subjects’ faces, as my wife and the bride’s parents for this photograph.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.3, 1/15

I took just a few photos of the bride and groom on their first dance when I realized the AUTO ISO I had set up to peak at ISO 12800 would not cut it. When shooting at 1/15 shutter speed, I also realized that raising this one ƒ-stop wasn’t enough. Thankfully, the Nikon D750 let me raise the ISO to 51200.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 51200, ƒ/5.6 1/60

The cool thing is while the ISO 51200 noise is noticeable, this is far superior to the film days when you shot above ISO 800.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 51200, ƒ/5.6, 1/60

At the highest ISO, I noticed the noise in the shadows, and there, you could see the grid pattern of the pixels.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 28735, ƒ/3.8, 1/80

Since I had the camera’s ISO set on AUTO, the camera ISO of 28735 while taking this couple’s photo, there was a carving station to my back. I intentionally put the couple there to take advantage of the extra light in that dark room.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 32254, ƒ/3.8, 1/80

Then, another couple joined them, and they stepped back just a bit. This raised the ISO to 32254, and I got another excellent photo without using Flash.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 51200, ƒ/4.5, 1/100

Then, when my wife asked for a photo with some friends, I knew that the lack of that carving station behind me and the stage behind them wasn’t the best lighting. So I took a photo first, looked at it, and decided for the first time that day to use the pop-up Flash at a slow shutter speed.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 28735, ƒ/4.5, 1/100

Notice how the noise almost disappears with the added Flash. This is because the camera change was only less than a stop.

You would think I could have done this all night, but remember, I am not the official photographer. So, I do not want to go around flashing and drawing more attention than I was doing.

I think the ISO 51200 on the Nikon D750 is excellent when you need a high ISO in that range. You will be able to get photos that you wouldn’t be able to do without high ISO.

I would say the noise wasn’t just due to high ISO but rather to the quality of the light and the dynamic range of that light. The Flash illustrated that the noise disappears when used at high ISO.

The direction of the light has more to do with the noise than just high ISO.

By the way, I posted these photos on social media throughout the wedding. The Nikon App on my Android phone lets me sync using the Wi-Fi on the Nikon D750.

I was shooting just RAW files, so the app would create a smaller JPEG that was big enough for Social Media as the recommended size to transfer to the phone.

The guests enjoyed seeing photos just a few minutes after I shot them on Facebook. Then, I would tag the bride, and all her friends could see the images.

When I tried to set the custom white balance, what I would do for the Nikon D4 wasn’t working with the Nikon D750. Well, I also put the Nikon Manual Viewer App on my phone. It has the Nikon D750 manual and the Nikon D4 manual. So you can search and find whatever you need.

I think searching makes this more straightforward to use than the printed manual.

I typed in White Balance and found the instructions. I was doing everything just as recommended, but the blinking pre was only viewable on the top LCD closest to the shutter release and not blinking on the big LCD on the back.

Tips Summary:

  • Use AUTO ISO. I keep it maxed to ISO 12800, but if needed, then adjust it to 25600 or even 51200
  • Use ExpoDisc for custom white balance. http://www.expoimaging.com/product-overview.php?cat_id=1
  • Use Slow Sync Flash–To avoid the background going completely black when using Flash.
  • Watch light direction–Move people to take advantage of the existing light on their faces.
  • Carry the camera manual on your smartphone
  • Use Wi-Fi and Camera App to post photos on social media while shooting.

Storytellers need a high Curiosity Quotient more than Intelligence Quotient

by Stanley LearyPhotography

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 1600, ƒ/6.3, 1/100

You may know about I.Q. [Intelligence Quotient] and E.Q. [Emotional Quotient], but there is a third C.Q. [Curiosity Quotient] that also plays into our success. I argue that the most important of these three for the entrepreneur and storyteller is C.Q.

C.Q. is the ultimate tool for producing simple solutions to complex problems. Curiosity is what a journalist does when they investigate a story and then distill it down to those digestible nuggets by their audience.

Albert Einstein famously said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

“People with high C.Q. are more curious and open to new experiences. They find novelty exciting and are quickly bored with routine. As a result, they tend to generate many more original ideas and are counter-conformists,” says Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. He is an international authority in personality profiling and psychometric testing.

Last year, Thomas Friedman wrote an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times called It’s P.Q. and C.Q., as Well as I.Q. Friedman says, “…the skill required for every decent job is rising as is the necessity of lifelong learning… those with more P.Q. (passion quotient) and C.Q. (curiosity quotient) to leverage all the new digital tools not just to find a job, but to invent one or reinvent one, and not just to learn but to relearn for a lifetime.”

Did you know that for every job opening, three people are unemployed? When finding your dream job, this isn’t the best news for job seekers. However, this does present an opportunity: to create a job that doesn’t exist yet.

Seeing opportunity is a new way of thinking for those entering the job market today. Curiosity should lead the way all storytellers think. They must think about pitching ideas rather than waiting for editors to give them an assignment.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 25600, ƒ/4.6, 1/60

Amy Toensing has been a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine for over a decade and was one of the keynote speakers for the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar just a couple of weeks ago.

Listen to her in this interview:

Getting out of your comfort zone is what those with high C.Q. motivate daily. For example, Toensing shared how her curiosity about the artists who drew hieroglyphics on the rocks in Australia thousands of years ago had piqued her interest. So she started to ask questions, which led to a lifelong journey of a story about the Aborigines for National Geographic Magazine.

My mentor, Don Rutledge, talked about how photographers must approach their work like a child, asking, “Why is the sky blue?”

We are all born with curiosity. Curiosity causes us to use our senses to touch, smell, and explore the world. Unfortunately, sometimes adults discourage this curiosity. But without interest, there is little motivation to discover and explore. As a result, apathy can set in for us, and we can become depressed.

Curiosity is the key to learning. Curiosity also involves risk-taking.

If you find yourself in depression and apathy, maybe the key is rekindling your curiosity. So take some risks today, explore your world, and ask why.

Found my Kodak Master Photoguide

by Stanley LearyPhotography

Found this in the drawer today, and it took me down memory lane. What is it, you might ask?

Well, while this Kodak Master Photoguide has been gathering dust, the book’s insides are burned into my brain from years of using this book over and over to help me learn the principles of photography.

Here is what is on the first page of the book to tell you how to use it and what I did:

You can carry this Photoguide with you when you take pictures so it will be handy when you need it. It’s just the right size to fit in your pocket, purse, or camera bag. The Master Photoguide contains in compact form a great deal of information normally found in photo books. You’ll find it useful whether or not you have an exposure meter or an automatic camera. This Photoguide will help you set your camera for the correct exposure, select filters, use supplementary lenses for close-ups, determine depth of field and much more.
In addition, the Photoguide is especially helpful for planning purposes to show you in advance what the photographic requirements will be for the pictures you want to take.

The “Sunny 16 Rule” is on the Daylight Exposure Dial. I often used this dial because my earliest camera didn’t have a meter. You lined up your ISO with one of these:

  • Daylight or Hazy Sun
    • On light sand or snow
    • Average
  • Weak, Hazy Sun
  • Cloudy Bright
  • Heavy Overcast
  • Open Shade
On light sand or snow, dial your ISO, and the corresponding ƒ/16 would be the exposure, and the shutter speed would be the closest to 1/ISO.
 
 
I would often pull this little book out when planning a new adventure, find the tap, and then flip to the page. The text says, “the Photoguide is especially helpful for planning purposes.”
 
 
Click on the photo to see it larger.

Click on the photo above to see the existing light choices.

Click on the photo to see it larger.

The little book even helped you figure out your depth of field. Say you were to put a lens on the backboard in a basketball game. What ƒ-the number will you need to be sure the rim to the player’s faces is in focus. The calculator for depth of field would help you in planning. Back then, you would have to buy the proper ISO film for such a situation. The Kodak book helped you preplan.

Even planning on doing some macro work with extension tubes or bellows would help you figure out the proper exposure because we couldn’t take the photo and adjust immediately. Instead, you would have to go and process the film and then see the results.

For those of you starting, you need to know for most of us; we had to work at understanding the principles because the learning curve over time was longer with film. You didn’t click and look at an LCD to see your results. Sometimes it would be weeks after you got back from traveling for coverage for a month or so on the road.

While this book isn’t as necessary to the photographer’s bag, it is still relevant for those wanting to see principles of exposure on a dial. In addition, it is great for planning what you might need on your next assignment.

The best part is this book was like a cheat sheet for photography.

Fuji X-E2 helped me to capture memories in Hawaii

by Stanley LearyPhotography
 
Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 1600, ƒ/3.2, 1/500

Back in June this year, I was in Hawaii teaching 30+ students who were going to travel the world using photography as a way to engage with people.

I had my Fuji X-E2 on me at all times. The Fuji X-E2 helped me to capture moments like this when, on the last night of the classes before they departed for Panama, Turkey, and Thailand, they captured moments with each other.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/500

While I also own the Fuji XF 55-200mm, I found many times that the 18-55mm inside was a long enough lens for many situations.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 3200, ƒ/4.4, 1/500

I used the Fuji XF 55-200mm when I needed the longer lens as here with the people on the stage.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 200, ƒ/5.6, 1/500

I also used it to compress the scene here in Kona, Hawaii. I love using the lenses with the OIS turned on because I usually hand-held these when making most photos.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/3.6, 1/210

The dynamic range of the sensor is also excellent. Here you can see that the people are well exposed, but the curtains and the TV are good exposure. I was able to hold the details from the highlights to the shadows.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/2.8, 1/6

This moment was my favorite photo from my entire trip. Getting this photo is just not going to happen with your smartphone. Again I am holding together from the exceptionally bright screens of the computers to the shadows of the chairs where they are sitting.

I love the Fuji X-E2 because it is small enough, yet I am not giving up the ability in low light that many other cameras do that are this small.

Shooting scenics on dirt roads out of moving Toyota Land Cruiser

by Stanley LearyPhotography
 
Fuji X-E2, Fujinon XF 18-55mm, ISO 400, ƒ/4, 1/1700

While in Honduras, I spent a long time in a Toyota Land Cruiser on dirt roads feeling like a bobblehead doll.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon XF 18-55mm, ISO 2500, ƒ/7.1, 1/500–Raindrops got on the lens.

We would be on dirt roads like this one for a couple of hours at a time.

I was in the front seat riding shotgun because I was 6’2″, and the others were much smaller in the back seat. The others had been here many times before and were astonished that I was getting any usable pictures. They had terrible experiences in these situations.

So how was I able to get sharp photos?

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon XF 18-55mm, ISO 1250, ƒ/7.1, 1/500

How I did it

1) Image Stabilization

I was shooting with my Fuji X-E2 camera and 18-55mm lens, which has integrated four-stop image stabilization that helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake normally inherent to low-light conditions and with longer focal lengths. The image stabilization made a huge difference and allowed me to use technology to compensate for my tossing around like a rag doll in the Land Cruiser.

2) Shutter-Speed

When you choose the Auto ISO on the camera, the camera automatically selects a sensitivity between the default and maximum values. Sensitivity is only raised above the default value if the shutter speed required for optimal exposure is slower than the value selected for MIN. SHUTTER SPEED.

Suppose the value selected for DEFAULT SENSITIVITY is higher than that chosen for MAX. The DEFAULT SENSITIVITY setting to the value specified for MAX. SENSITIVITY.

The camera may select shutter speeds slower than MIN. SHUTTER SPEED if pictures would still underexposing at the chosen value for MAX. SENSITIVITY.

I have set my AUTO ISO range of 200 to 6400. The one thing I do go to change regularly is the minimum shutter speed. I have it set for 1/500 when taking the photos from the moving vehicle.

Looking at the captions, you will notice that sometimes the camera would go even faster than 1/500. That is because I was in Aperture Priority and chose a ƒ-stop that bumped the shutter speed up.

I could have stayed in AUTO ISO and just gone manual, and the camera would then let me choose any shutter speed and aperture and adjust the ISO for a good exposure.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon XF 18-55mm, ISO 800, ƒ/9, 1/500

 

3) Hold the Camera Steady

Do your best to hold the camera still. I tried not to rest my arms on the window but to float, so the camera bounced as hard as we hit a bump.

4) Depth-of-field

In general, you will not be close to subjects, so shallow depth-of-field is not a significant concern, but I recommend capturing the sweeping landscape to shoot high aperture as I did on some of these photos. 

In the first photo, I shoot at ƒ/4, and some pictures ƒ/10. So experiment and be sure you are not shooting at such a large aperture that your shutter speed goes down. 

5) Roll down the window

I see many people trying to shoot through glass, and sometimes you have no choice. If you can roll down the window or slide it open, do so. The glass will degrade your photos’ colors, saturation, and sharpness.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon XF 18-55mm, ISO 1250, ƒ/10, 1/500

 

This would be difficult to do with your camera phone since most come with no controls such as shutter speed or aperture. Camera defaults will give you poor results, which is why you need to learn how to use your camera to adjust it to maximize it for each situation.

Honduras in Context

by Stanley LearyPhotography
 
Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 10000, ƒ/5, 1/100

This young Honduran teen is hanging just outside the door and watching the leader for Young Life lead the group of youth. Michael Aguilar and his wife, Daniela Perez, lead the Young Life program. They have only been in Honduras for less than five months from Nicaragua.

I love this photo because it symbolizes a new youth program where they have many teens peering in from outside and not sure about if they want to join or not.

I learned this technique from Don Rutledge.

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 400, ƒ/6.3, 1/100

Here I am showing one of Honduras Outreach Inc’s schools at Agalta Valley, Olancho, Honduras. Again, I stepped back with the 14mm lens to capture the two classrooms going on simultaneously and help the audience see how they teach in an open-air building.

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 500, ƒ/9, 1/100

Here I chose to shoot through a window and a door rather than just two doors. Again, I am trying to place these students in these photos in context.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 280, ƒ/5.6, 1/100

Here is a photo of Ubaldo Ponce teaching how to rope cattle. He is also one of the drivers for the Honduras Outreach program.

See how I am not using left and suitable composition elements to show the context, but now a front to back where the cattle help show what Ubaldo is doing.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 5600, ƒ/6.3, 1/250

 While this photo is a little tighter shot, it, too, has some context. You see the girl in the background watching the other girls at the board. Hey, I want to know if she is impressed, cheating, or what?

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 5600, ƒ/6.3, 1/250

 Here you can see another girl in the classroom working. I love the expression of her sounding out what she is reading. I also like the repetition of her classmates behind her in the class.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 7200, ƒ/5.6, 1/250

This little boy was sitting so still and behaving himself while we waited for more than 2 hours for a program to start. I love his expression.

Now here, I didn’t give you many contexts in the photograph. You don’t need it in every picture, which would be a problem if you did. Mix it up.

WHY? is the key to great storytelling photos

by Stanley LearyPhotography

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/2.8, 1/6

Great Photos Often Ask WHY?

Looking at the photo above, I want to know what they are doing. The more critical question is: WHY?

My mentor, Don Rutledge, talked about how photographers must approach their work like a child, asking, “Why is the sky blue?”

I have written a few times on this blog about the importance of WHY.

When I meet photography students, I like to ask what interests them other than photography. I am asking this because when I look at their portfolios, none of the photos have a passion in them. I don’t feel the photos.

We choose what we are going to photograph. If you understand WHY you like to photograph something, you are understanding what is the core emotional connection between a subject and the audience.

I recommend watching this TED talk by Simon Sinek on the importance of WHY

I like the simplicity of understanding and reversing our usual way of talking. Getting to the heart of the matter is what he is saying.

When I meet those college students, they often tell me what they like to do and how they like to do it, but they seldom tell me WHY.

This key to not just storytelling is at the core of finding the PURPOSE in your life. Once you understand why you like to do something, it is much easier to chart the course for the rest of your life.

Key to a successful story:

  • Why should the audience care?
  • Why does this matter to the subject?
  • Why does it matter to you?

Here is the Law of Diffusion and Innovation that Simon Sinek talks about in the video

Click on the image to see a more extensive and to read more. Here is a link

Photographer, are you well suited and prepared for business?

by Stanley Learybusiness / Photography
 
Nikon D4,  Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM, Sigma 2x EX DG APO Autofocus Teleconverter, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

These football players know the play; what’s the goal, and their competition. Are you this focused on your business?

Metaphors

A metaphor is a great way to get our heads around something we must work on. Now the bible uses a lot of metaphors. I think today’s football is very similar to the metaphor used in Ephesians 6:11, where Paul writes, “Put on all the armor that God gives so that you can defend yourself…”

Nikon D4,  Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM, Sigma 2x EX DG APO Autofocus Teleconverter, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

Defense 

Today in football, you will notice that more than ever, the defense isn’t just trying to bring down the guy with the ball—they are trying to strip and turn it into a fumble.

Today you must be gripping the football with everything you got, or your competition will turn your big play into their big play.

You need to know your core values for your business and hold on to them just as if you were having others trying to make you fumble.

Nikon D4,  Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM, Sigma 2x EX DG APO Autofocus Teleconverter, ISO 1000, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

Offense

You can break free of your competition and reach your goals daily—if you execute the plays you practiced repeatedly.

Worthy Opponents

Your competition isn’t your “enemy.” These are your colleagues. Like the NFL or MLB, you can get traded and play on their team the following week.

What you will notice is a worthy opponent makes you better. You also appreciate winning more when you have a worthy opponent than with no competition.

Questions for you

  • What is my goal?
  • Who are the players? Who is my client, and who is my competition?
  • What is my weakness that my competition is reaching for and trying to make me fumble?
  • What are the weaknesses of my competition?
  • Why should a client pick me when they have other choices?
  • What kind of preparation should I be doing now? Just like athletes train and watch game films to prepare for game day, is there something I can do to prepare?
  • Who is my coach?
  • Who is my trainer?
  • During my off-season, what am I doing to transform myself to be even better?

Business Tips from Truett Cathy for Photographers

by Stanley Learybusiness / Photography
Truett Cathy promoted his book “How did you do it, Truett?”

Shortly after making this photo of Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A put me on retainer. For the past eleven years, I have had the privilege to work with such a wonderful organization.

I have learned a great deal from Truett Cathy, and here are some tips for you.

Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, had a Bible verse he used as a compass for his life.

Proverbs 22:1 — “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor than silver and gold.” [King James Version (KJV)]

Here is a more modern translation from The Voice that I prefer, “A good reputation is preferable to riches, and the approval of others is better than precious silver or gold.”

Every time I was around Truett, I was inspired and entertained. He loved to have fun as hard as he worked.

Here are some quotes from Truett that I think every business person should adopt and would make them more successful.

“Fall in love with your work, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

Truett would follow up with this comment: If you are not having fun, then you are not doing something right.

One of the keys to understanding this principle is learning the difference between GIVING and GETTING.

Too many people are focused on themselves. It’s not all about you. Once you understand this, it is easier to experience the joy of life.

“My riches are my family and my foster children. I try to store any material wealth in my hand, not my heart, so I always feel free to give it away when the opportunity arises.” 

Being around Truett, you see he was very frugal, and when he did spend money, he often got a great deal. I heard more stories about a great deal Truett would get, and I was always impressed.

“Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else—our time, love, resources. I had always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.”

No strings attached was the way Truett operated. He was the first to put a restaurant into a mall, and to get people aware of his Chick-fil-A sandwich; he gave away free samples.

 

If you met Truett, you most likely were given a BOG—Be Our Guest card. All you had to do was go to a Chick-fil-A restaurant and provide them with the card, and they gave you a sandwich. You don’t have to buy anything to get it.

“My business grew on my understanding that customers are always looking for somebody who is dependable and polite and will take care of them.”

Every day, Chick-fil-a checks to see that their standards for food preparation are at the highest they can be. First, they hire consultants to come into their restaurants and measure the operational side of the business. Then, they look for ways to improve the experience for the customer and cut waste.

Chick-fil-A has a training program that helps train and retrain everyone to keep the customer always first.

“Many of the unexpected opportunities we encounter are small but significant.”

Words are carefully analyzed so that the customer feels appreciated. Truett Cathy trained the entire workforce that when someone says thank you, the proper response is “My Pleasure.” I learned more about this little phrase through the years.

Many respond with “No Problem” when someone says “Thank You.” I began to understand that “No Problem” communicates that this is not my job, but I did it anyway. However, “My Pleasure” expresses that it is my job and I love to help you.

“Looking back, I can see that I had been preparing to open the first Chick-fil-A restaurant for twenty-one years.”

Truett started the Dwarf House in Hapeville, GA, back in 1946. He expanded to two restaurants, but the second one burned down one day. He started the restaurant with his brother Ben, but two years into their business Ben died in a plane crash.

Later the original Dwarf House had a fire, and Truett made all the repairs over the weekend and kept on going.

“Sometimes success is disguised as hard work.”

 
As you can see, there were many opportunities for Truett to give up and do something else.
 
Many of my photographer colleagues are going through some tough times. But, besides winning the lottery, hard work is the only other way to succeed.
 
“One of the most meaningful truisms I have learned about leadership is that it’s all about action.”
 

I have talked to many struggling photographers, and the most common thing I hear from them is I know what I should do, but I don’t get around to doing it.

Truett learned his work ethic from his mother. Truett teared up during an interview. The person interviewing Truett asked if he was OK. Truett said he just realized that he only saw his mother’s eyes closed when she was in the coffin.

While Truett worked very hard, we will most likely remember him for the blue signs for Chick-fil-A on the highways, which also say, “Closed on Sunday.”

“Businesses are not dishonest or greedy; people are. Thus, a successful or not business is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.”

Years ago, one magazine wrote about the success of Chick-fil-A, making about 1.5 Billion that year. They said closing on Sunday left half a billion dollars on the table. When someone asked Truett about it, he disagreed.

Truett believed by giving all his employees one day a week off; they worked harder those six days. The restaurants that never close drain their employees. They need a day of rest to be with their families and attend church if they choose.

“Why would I retire from something I enjoy doing? I can hardly wait to get here.”

Truett was in his forties when he invented the Chicken Sandwich. He was 46 when the first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in Greenbriar Mall.

Truett was 52, the same age I am, when he started Team Member Scholarship Program and was 63 when he began the WinShape foundation.

At 92, Truett was still working and opened Truett’s Luau in Fayetteville, GA. A new menu, a new concept, and a new restaurant were what he created.

Truett passed the baton to his son Dan when Truett was 92 years old. This past Monday, Truett Cathy passed away at the age of 93.

Here are a few more quotes for you from Truett:

Like wealth, poverty also has the power to build us up and make us appreciate what we have, or it can break our spirits. 

By ‘staying small,’ we also remain sensitive to the needs of others around us. 

As long as you are being kind to your customers, why not be kind to each other? 

I realized the importance of doing a job and doing it right, pleasing your customers, and enjoying what you’re doing. 

I worked hard for a C, but I had to work. I find that the most successful people are C students. 

I say C students rule the world cause I was in that category; I didn’t get to go to college because I was drafted when I finished, soon after I finished high school. 

More tips from Truett

Eleven Dos and Don’ts of Proven Entrepreneurial Success by S. Truett Cathy

Importance of signature in emails

by Stanley LearyPhotography

Most email programs let you create a signature that, by default, will put all the essential information people need to stay in touch with you at the bottom of the email.

Important content for a signature:

  • Include your name, role, and business name
  • Please include a few of your best contact details, but not all of them
  • Small images and logos work best
  • Promote your social media pages
Common Mistakes
  • Make the entire signature a photo—Some email providers or devices have default settings that block images in emails. So instead, use text for all the words.
  • Too Big or Too Small—make clickable areas big enough for a thumb on a mobile device. Please don’t make things so big they are not easily visible on the mobile device.
  • Too much information—Don’t list all your phone numbers, email addresses, and every way possible to reach you. Could you keep it simple?
What is remarkable is you can create a bunch of different signatures that you can choose based on your audience. For example, I customize the photos at the bottom of my signature.
Here are some I use and have used through the years:
The photo at the bottom of your signature is a small portfolio that gets your work in front of more people. Remember, many people will forward those emails around their office sometimes, and having your work seen by more people is advantageous to you in the long run.

Here are the links for instructions for creating an email signature:

We are persuaded by reason, but we are moved by emotion.

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/420

I have a few friends that have bipolar disorder. My heart breaks for people dealing with clinical depression. We even lost Robin Williams to this powerful mind-altering condition.

All of us will experience times of depression in our lives; that is just part of living. I hope these thoughts of mine help those of you like me who can feel depressed even when we should be celebrating.
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Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM w/ Sigma 2x, ISO 40637, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

I shot this at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game between Alabama and West Virginia. [Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM w/ Sigma 2x, ISO 36204, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]

Have you ever heard, “Are you letting emotions get the best of you?”

I don’t know about you, but my emotions have gotten me into lots of trouble. More than getting me into trouble—I have become depressed.

You would think that the way we do better is to become more logical. But, if we take it to an extreme, the problem with that is to become more like Spock from Star Trek or maybe Shelton from the Big Bang Theory. In either of these characters, we see how often those who try and be logical all the time make a lot of matters worse.

Dale Carnegie wrote, “We are persuaded by reason, but we are moved by emotion. Several studies conclude that up to 90 percent of our decisions are based on emotion. Conversely, we use logic to justify our actions to ourselves and others.”

We also tend to embrace ideas that support our beliefs and rebuff those that challenge them.

We make a lot of decisions based on our gut feelings. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book “Blink,” talks about how quickly we judge people in less than a few seconds when we first meet them. Quick judgment is an animal instinct that helps us survive. For the most part, this gut feeling is something we learn to trust and are encouraged to do by others—“Trust your gut instinct.”

Putting a face on it changes things.

You are seen as stubborn if you are not careful. You get to set in your ways and your opinions.

I recommend to anyone struggling with their emotions that one of the best things you can do is to have a cross-cultural experience. I recommend going to another country and holding your condemning comments while you travel. Just go and experience the other culture.

The best way I have experienced this is to go with a nonprofit and help on a project. One cool thing to do is do an exchange. Have an international student stay with you and then go to their country and stay there.

I remember guys in our church went downtown Atlanta to help at a homeless shelter. I remember one of the guys being blown away at how many of the homeless had full-time jobs. So he helped wake them up at 5:00 am to get ready to work.

These guys put a face on homelessness for this guy. Sure, some pretty lazy guys might be homeless, but he found out that more than 50% of the Atlanta homeless worked.

Skipping Record

I grew up listening to vinyl records. Every once in a while, the needle could get stuck and skip, as we used to say. A minor defect in the record’s groove causes the record to play in a loop. If no one did anything, this would forever play in a circle.

I remember calling the local radio station to tell them their record was skipping.

Often I would pick the needle and move it to play the rest of the record. That simple outside action on the record player is what cross-culture experience can do for you emotionally.

I have shared over time stories that I have covered around the world. Most recently, I shared stories from Lisbon, Portugal. Next month I am going to Honduras to capture more stories.

Tip for Storyteller

Remember, “We are persuaded by reason, but we are moved by emotion.” If you want to connect with your audience, emotions are the best way to do that. One of the best ways to capture emotions is through the still photograph.

[Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 4500, ƒ/10, 1/100]

In this photo of the priest, I wanted to capture not just the priest talking but the emotional connection between him and the students. I think I got that moment.

Are you stuck emotionally? One of the best ways to battle this is to focus on others. Granted, if you cannot do this, there is an excellent reason to seek help. I know that professional counselors can make a huge difference. In addition, there are times that you might need help through drugs that can help get your body back in balance. Just like a diabetes patient takes medication to stay alive, people suffering from clinical depression can regain their life through medication and counseling.

Stay tuned for stories from Honduras.