February 2009 Archives

Recently we began compiling many images we have taken over the years and organizing them in to a stock library.  These stock images include picturesque images of our great state, as well as many other locations we have traveled to over the years.  At the end of December, Allen and Brian flew down to Bryce Canyon and Zion's National Parks for the specific purpose of adding to our stock library.

In conjunction with our stock library, we have also created this new website. This website focuses on our aerial and architectural techniques and provides an online venue for our stock library.  We are currently in the process of making all our stock photography available for purchase online through our new website.

For the last few years we have been flying a 1946 Cessna 140 for many of our aerial photography flights.  Last year we purchased a newer and larger plane to allow us to better serve our client's needs.  Just last week, Stan made his last flight in the 140 all the way to Nebraska to deliver it to its new owner.  Leaving Spanish Fork airport at dawn, Stan arrived at Scott's Bluff airport in Nebraska after about 4 hours of flying.   Stan said his last goodbyes to the little plane as he watched the new owner fly off into the distance.

 

1947 Cessna 140
Ibex Hardpan, Utah
Fall of 2007

You've purchased the freshest ingredients, assembled a top-notch menu, found the best equipment, hired the finest help, have a great location, maybe even taken a second on your house - now don't settle for mediocre photographs that won't sell your epicurian delights. Get some great pictures!

Food photography can be one of the most challenging assignments for professional photographers. It has been said that "if you can shoot food, you can shoot anything". Time is of the essence when shooting food. A beautifully arranged cullinary creation can turn ugly in a matter of minutes. Cheese solidifies, moist food dries, sauces run, ice cream melts, and salads wilt. A successful food shoot is a matter of timing all the elements so they come together when the food is at its visual peak - usually as soon as it is put on the plate. This is generally achieved by using a "stand-in" for the perfect plate, while the lighting, props, camera position, and exposure are adjusted to meet the client's approval. The switch is then made for the real thing, and the final exposures are made as quickly as possible to catch the subject at its best.

Larger clients often use a food stylist to prepare the food and provide the coordinated props and background materials. This can be hard on the budget, but frees the photographer to concentrate on technical and artistic aspects of the shot. Simplicity in the setup and lighting will put the emphasis on the food, and can create some stunning results. Here at Photographic Solutions we have worked both with and without stylists, and have a good grasp of all the tricks of the food photography trade. Food is one of our specialties. Our digital studio facilities and location capabilities allow clients to see results within seconds, taking the guesswork out of shot selection and approval. We welcome the opportunity to work with you on any of your food photography needs.

Stan Macbean

Orem-based Photographic Solutions, Inc. recently won several awards, including Best of Category and Judges Choice, at the Professional Aerial Photographers Association annual convention and print competition in Tampa, FL, February 5^th through the 7th. The family owned company specializes in aerial, commercial and architectural photography in Salt Lake and Utah counties.

Stan Macbean, founder and president of Photographic Solutions, Inc, took home two awards from the prestigious print competition - Best of Category Air-to-Air Judges Choice and Best of Category Air-to-Air Peoples Choice. The winning print captures a low-flying single engine airplane belonging to a local pilot. It is unusual for one print to win both the Judges and People's choice in a single category.

Allen Macbean also won two awards - the first as an overall Judges Choice in the print competition for a scenic print of Bryce Canyon National Park in the winter. The second award was for winning the inaugural Iron Photoshop Competition in which contestants were given three aerial images and were judged on technical and aesthetic preparation of those images in a timed event. Additionally, Allen was asked to be a Print Competition Judge this year based on his outstanding performance in previous print competitions, including scoring the overall highest scoring print two years ago.

Photographic Solutions, Inc. is one of the few photography studios in Utah that specializes exclusively in aerial, architectural and commercial photography. The company is currently working on increasing their web presence by continually adding new images to their online scenic stock library. For more information, please visit their website: www.utahbyair.com or www.photographicsolutions.cc.