Assisting Dennis Brack

While reading Chris Walters photo blog, I came across his "How Photog's work the State of the Union" and much to my suprise the video included an interview with Dennis Brack. That took be back down memory lane when I assisted Dennis on a job here in Cleveland about ten years ago. Dennis gives a lot back to the photo community and went out of his way to mentor me.

Dennis has won awards from the National Newspaper Photographers Association, the White House News Photographers Association and the World Press Association. For the past ten years,member of the five member board of the Still Photographers Gallery of the U.S. Senate. Member of the Executive Committee of the White House News Photographers Association.

Here is what I commented on in Chris' Blog:

Great job Chris!

I really enjoyed watching this video on the Washington photographers photographing the State of the Union. I had the pleasure of Assisting Dennis Brack when he came to Cleveland about 10 years ago or so. He was shooting with his Canon Film Cameras then with the old style of Chimping with the Polaroid Back on one of the Canon EOS cameras. I can not say enough great things about Dennis. I have assisted many great nationally recognized photographers, but he was the only one who immediately became my mentor. A week after I worked with him he mailed the book "MAGNUM Fifty Years at the Front Line of History" by Russell Miller.

The Other thing I remember about working with Dennis was his little film case which was his fathers Amo Case from the Korean War that was made out of a Black Rubberized material.

Another Blackstar photographer I have had the pleasure of working with has been Cleveland's Mike Steinberg (http://www.ComPhotography.com)

I too was impressed with the fact that David Burnett supplemented his digital photography coverage with a 4x5 Graflex style "MentorReflex" camera. I also enjoyed his candor stating that he only shot 10 frames and would be excited if he had one or two interesting shots-- it would be a big deal. I wonder if he was shooting B&W 4x5 or if it was Color E-6 or Color Neg. It was funny that he said he liked brining the 4x5 because in the digital age it is good to sweat every now and then. The 4x5 looked a little heavy-- did he mean sweating from carrying it or sweating until he found out if any of the photos turned out!

On my blog (http://www.WhereIsJK.com) I have talked about my photography, TechTalk (info about photoshop, lightroom, computers, etc.)

I like this section that you call musings where you share some insight into the photo biz section. I think I'm going to drop Dennis a line this next we and say hi!

Thanks again Chris!

- John C. Kieger :)

This was such an awesome interview with a bunch of photographers in the White House Press Corps that I have decided to post it here as well:




This video was originally posted on the Photo Business News & Forum.

Until I Blog again, remember not to take life too seriously and have a great Weekend,

John :)