Ten years ago today on Saturday, August 8, 2009, I had my first encounter with a paparazzi-type photo situation. It was by complete chance. I was photographing a race in Martha’s Vineyard and the race director, who shall remain nameless, told me and the race timers that Jake Gyllenhaal was running in this race. Apparently he frequented Martha’s Vineyard several times before and might have even had a family house on the island. To be honest, at the time, I had no idea who Jake was, I kept confusing him with Toby McGuire who starred in the Spiderman movies. I photographed the race, and someone whispered to me “there’s Jake!” I turned around and saw him photographing two of Reese Witherspoons kids who were finishing. (He was dating her at the time.) He had already finished the race but it didn’t dawn on me until later that night that I had captured him finishing the race with such a great expression. I ended up posting a message on one of the photography forums I belong to, and a fellow photographer gave me a name and number of a photo agency which deals with this type of photography. Anyway, the photo of Jake running, and some of the other shots, ran in publications from Austria to New Zealand. I realized soon after seeing one of my pay stubs why certain photographers do the kind of work they do. That said, I’m still not planning on hiding in bushes or ambushing people coming out of a restaurant to help put food on my table. That kind if photography is just NOT for me. Soon after seeing one of the photos in the NY dailies, the race director banned me from his future races. This, after he told me about the actor running in his event and having no conversation at all with me about the fact that I couldn’t submit photos for publication. I still shake my head about his actions and words on social media towards me 10 years ago. Time is flying. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

My "Own" Instagram Photos

I'm having a hard time understanding, not necessarily why someone is paying $90,000 for Mr. Prince's so-called art work (which is just a blatant rip-off of somebody else's creation/work), about the fact that there is no law it seems that just because you alter somebody else's work, even just a bit, it's considered fair game. I mean, if you copied somebody else's style, I can understand that. But to take literally somebody else's, photo move something around, add/delete something here and there, and then have the audacity to sell it as your own work, is just another thing on the list of things that baffle me and make my head spin. I'm referring to the following story that has been trending for the last couple of days, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/05/25/a-reminder-that-your-instagram-photos-arent-really-yours-someone-else-can-sell-them-for-90000/?tid=sm_fb

To celebrate my 25th year in the photography business, I just created a gallery of my 40+ Instagram photos that I've discounted from $25,000+ to now just $6, on up. http://jackmccoyphotography.com/instagrammyownphotos

You think anyone is going to buy a print, or do I have more of a chance if I raise the price to the five-digit dollar mark?

I get it that people share photos, give them away to news organizations for free, or submit it to company web sites and their social media sites. It's a different day and age when it comes to this medium but that said, please undertand I don't have that luxury -- I don't have a trust fund I'm living off; I'm not a retired teacher with a pension who loves to take photos and give them away for free to friends and strangers. I don't own and operate a restaurant, and have specials and restaurant deals during certain times of the year. I don't have a civil service or government job with amazing benefits. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. I'm a self-employed freelance photographer who is trying to adapt to the ever-growing change of this industry. It's been tough these last several years, and have seen many a fellow photographer go out of business because they just couldn't pay the bills.

Thanks for reading and if nothing else, I hope I shed a little light on a profession I dearly love and am trying desperately trying to hold on to. Did I mention I'm available for your next company conference, family wedding/party, your headshot for your Linkein page or that photo you want for your dating site but are to afraid to ask a professional to do. How's that for my one semester of business marketing class? 

CWO Louis J. DeBlasio

My Grandfather-in-law, 92 years of age and a World War II veteran, was laid to rest today...

Skies

I’ve always been fascinated by the look of cloud formations, especially the way the sunlight hits/reflects off the clouds. The positions of clouds in certain settings can be so peaceful and tranquil that sometimes I will point them out to my girls in hopes that they too will learn to notice some of the beauty that exists on this Earth. After going through some shots on my camera phone, I found a bunch that I have taken over the last four years, and wanted to share them with you.

Thanks for looking.

Jack

Baldwin, NY

Bar Harbor, ME

East Rockaway, NY

JFK Airport

Long Island

New Orleans, LA

Sea Isle City, NJ

Upstate New York

West Palm Beach, FL

Yankee Stadium-Bronx, NY

Food Photography-A whole different avenue for me

I've spared people from all the food photos I take on my iPhone, and avoid posting them on any of the social media networks. Why? Well, there have been plenty. Photos of meals I've cooked for dinner. Food I've ordered from a restaurant. Even other interesting meals I've noticed at another table. I always stop and think, "Who wants to see what I'm eating?" Besides, if something looks appetizing to one person, it might look repulsive to another.

That said, I took a four-day food photo class at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan this week, and even though studio photography has never been very interesting to me I thought I'd give it a shot. Overall, I wanted to see if I could produce some shots for myself and pursue another kind of avenue business-wise, while still continuing my specialties that I cover for a living.

It can take a couple of hours to prep and style the shot, adjust the lighting, etc., before you even put any type of food on a plate or take your first shot. Not to mention the hours later it can take to edit and work on the images on the computer after you have photographed your subject.

It's a whole different avenue for me, but one I look forward to venturing into.

Thanks for taking the time to take a look.

--Jack

Day one of shooting a breakfast scene.

Day two in the morning consisted of photographing pasta.

Day two in the afternoon--while waiting for dessert to
come out of the oven I set up some vegetables.

The food stylist prepared a berry tart at the "shooting kitchen". A peach that was used for another pie is visible in the foreground.

Once cooked the tart is cut up into pieces for students to style and shoot.

Sandy-Monday, October 29, 2012

Baldwin Harbor--several different intersections flooded.

Just seems like a few months ago since I was shooting the aftermath of Irene. Well it's been 14 months to be exact. Here are some shots from Baldwin Harbor, Freeport and the Jones Beach area this morning (10/29/12). Driving on the Meadowbrook Parkway was pretty lonely with a handful of cars going north and me being the only one going South. I  had just gotten on the ramp heading south a couple of minutes before they closed it. Sandy hasn't even hit yet and it's pretty bad out there...stay safe.

East Bedell Street in Freeport covered with water.

Loop Parkway closed, by the entrance to Jones Beach.

Meadowbrook Pkwy. northbound

Hilton Head, SC with the Hipstamatic App