Scott Krycia Photography

What's New!

2009-06-05T15:35:00.002-04:00

Sorry, I've been not posting lately. I've been super busy with projects @ the studio. Check this video out! All to familiar to me.

Flight 1549 Pics Back Online!

2009-04-21T17:25:00.004-04:00

What great pictures of the salvaging of Flight 1549 aka “The Miracle On The Hudson!” This is a story told to perfection. Just look at the images and no words are necessary.

You may remember that the photographer had been requested, forced, coerced into taking the images down. After a big debate he was able to get the rights to the images back.

Click Here to Visit the Site!

Court St.

2009-04-07T23:35:00.004-04:00

Philly... more coming soon!

2009-03-26T23:43:00.001-04:00

'Forged' In Scranton

2009-02-10T09:23:00.003-05:00

Sorry for my lack of post lately, I've been working as the still photographer on a new film set in Scranton, called Forged. It's a gritty, redemptive story about a father and son reconnecting while on the run from their past, and is being directed by William Wedig (Tryst, Rise Of The Dead). The movie stars Manny Perez (Pride and Glory, Rescue Me), Jaime Tirelli (Marathon Man, Carlito's Way), Margo Martindale (Million Dollar Baby), David Castro (Where God Left His Shoes) and Kevin Breznahan (Superbad, There Will Be Blood). The movie shoots from January 31 through March 2 in NEPA, so look for the cast and crew around Scranton/Wilkes Barre.

Pavaline Studios

2009-01-30T18:14:00.004-05:00

I'm now blogging for Pavaline Studios, which is a film industry community. My first blog about production still photography is online. Give it a read here. Thanks!

Tilt-Shift Time Lapse

2009-01-28T17:44:00.001-05:00

This is really cool!!!

Metal Heart from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

2009 Presidential Inauguration Day, Jan 20th, 2009, Washington, DC Photos Wrap Up

2009-01-27T18:21:00.003-05:00

Ok, back from the big day. What a incredible time! I've been editing and uploading photos to flickr for the last few days. Digital is great, but I differently shoot more. More to Come!

Mac turns 25!!

2009-01-22T18:23:00.003-05:00

Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the original Macintosh, the first personal computer to draw masses, introduce the mouse and incorporate a graphical user interface, relying on images instead of text.

The Apple Inc. watershed product entered American consciousness amid fanfare, with a $1.5 million commercial, made by Ridley Scott, wowing audiences during Super Bowl XVIII. The piece's title, "1984," invoked author George Orwell's message and stood as a warning against conformity.

Two days after the ad ran, the Macintosh became available and life, as people knew it, changed. No longer were computers viewed as toys with which to play primitive games or as untouchable tools reserved for degreed engineers. We began to think different.

The Bush Shoe Protest Photos!

2009-01-19T18:46:00.003-05:00

I'm in Washington for the inauguration. We ran into a Anti-War Protest. Little to my knowledge it was going to get pretty heated! Anti-war protesters were throwing shoes outside the gates of the White House on President George W. Bush's last day in office.
About 500 people marched to the White House and threw about 40 pairs of shoes at the gate while tourists looked on and took photos. Here is my Flickr Gallery

Heading to the Big Show!

2009-01-18T18:20:00.002-05:00

I'll heading to the Inauguration and will be back on Wednesday. I'll post some photos on Flickr and will be sending news out on Twitter. Woo Hoo! This is going to be fun!!!

Social Networking changes the face of Journalism

2009-01-16T13:03:00.007-05:00

We all know the news of yesterdays jet crash. However there is a back story. Jkrums (as he's known on the popular micro-blogging site) set off an Internet firestorm Thursday when he posted an image on Twitter of passengers huddled on the wing of a US Airways plane – only moments after the aircraft plunged into the Hudson River. Many news outlets are running his photo. Could this be the new citizen journalism delivery platform?

Twitter user becomes star in US Airways crash - Janis Krums sets Internet abuzz with iPhone photo.

NPPA Sends Letter to Amtrak

2009-01-13T18:17:00.002-05:00

Full Details Here.

Snow Day!

2009-01-11T09:55:00.001-05:00

Photography Is Not a Crime!

2009-01-07T18:51:00.007-05:00

Photographer Duane Kerzic set out to win Amtrak’s annual photo contest this week, hoping to win $1,000 in travel vouchers and have his photo published in Amtrak’s annual calendar.

He ended up getting arrested by Amtrak police; handcuffed to a wall in a holding cell inside New York City’s Penn Station, accused of criminal trespass.

Kerzic says he was hardly trespassing because he was taking photos from the train platform; the same one used by thousands of commuters everyday to step on and off the train.

“The only reason they arrested me was because I refused to delete my images,” Kerzic said in a phone interview with Photography is Not a Crime on Friday.

“They never asked me to leave, they never mentioned anything about trespassing until after I was handcuffed in the holding cell.”

In fact, he said, the only thing they told him before handcuffing him was that “it was illegal to take photos of the trains.”

Obviously, there is a lack of communication between Amtrak’s marketing department, which promotes the annual contest, called Picture Our Trains, and its police department, which has a history of harassing photographers for photographing these same trains.

While the Amtrak contest page does state that trespassers are subject to arrest and fines, it also states that contestants must also stay in the “public access areas”, which describes the train platform because how else are passengers going to board the train?

As always, Amtrak reminds you to stay out of danger - stay away from tracks and the railroad right-of-way. Do not trespass on railroad property or on private property adjacent to the railroad. Do not climb or approach railroad structures, towers, or wires. Stay in public access areas, and away from railroad structures and moving equipment - in stations, on sidewalks, or in parking lots. All participants expressly release Amtrak from all liability for personal injury and loss or damage to personal property, and expressly assume the risk of harm. Remember, tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property - trespassers are subject to arrest and fines.

Also:

“Security: While there is no prohibition against taking photographs of Amtrak trains, photographs may only be taken in Amtrak’s public areas, not areas restricted by signs, barriers or locked entrances. Non-public areas, such as railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment, are private property; trespassers are subject to arrest.”
-Amtrak This Week newsletter, 23JUL07

Kerzic’s ordeal began Dec. 21 when he took the train from New Jersey into New York City and debarked at Penn Station. He snapped a photo of the train speeding away, then walked down the platform where he snapped several other photos. He continued taking photos as the platform emptied into Manhattan.

Then he casually walked towards the staircase to make his own way into the city. He stopped before the stairwell to tie his shoe.

When he stood back up, the cops were hovering over him. Two cops and a dog. A black lab with a nose for explosives.

“They asked what I was doing, I said I was taking photos,” he said.

“They said put your bag on the ground and let our dog sniff it.”

He complied and the dog confirmed he was carrying no explosives in his photo bag. Then they asked for his ID. Then to see the photos.

And then they ordered him to delete the photos.

“I said ‘absolutely not’,” said the 50-year-old navy veteran who describes himself as a “conservative republican”.

They told him it was illegal to photograph the trains.

“I asked where is the sign that says that,” he said.

That was when Amtrak police officer James Rusbarsky, badge Number 466, pulled out his handcuffs.

Kerzic said he immediately placed his hands behind his back, but Rusbarsky insisted on placing the handcuffs on him backwards.

“I asked him please put the cuffs on correctly, you’re hurting me, and he refused, tightening them instead,” he said.

Then they took him to the holding cell where they handcuffed him to a wall, and even then, they still slammed the door locked, in case he somehow broke free.

Kerzic said they never accused him of trespassing until after they had him handcuffed and placed in the cell. He believes they only came up with this charge after they realized there was no law in the books that stated that photography was illegal inside a train station.

“At no time did they tell me to leave the platform,” he said. “All they wanted me to do was delete my photos.”

Kerzic was released 90 minutes later with a citation for trespassing.

He has sent out letters complaining of the incident to everybody from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to New York Senator Hillary Clinton to everybody in between and above, including Amtrak officials, New Jersey Transit officials and even President Bush himself, in case he feels the urge to do some work before he leaves office next month.

He has also contacted a New York City lawyer who specializes in First Amendment cases and the National Press Photographers Association has also been in contact with him.

And he has been documenting his case on his website, including photos of his injured wrist and the various train platforms as well as the letters he has sent out.

Now he plans to return to Penn Station and photograph the cops who arrested him as well as continue taking photos for the Amtrak contest.

“If I win that contest, I would travel all over the country taking photos,” he said.

And if he wins the lawsuit, he may end up traveling all over the world.

Reprinted from Photography Is Not A Crime.
Please Visit Photography Is Not A Crime

Gear Review: Black Rapid R-Strap

2009-01-06T19:40:00.006-05:00

Once in awhile some of the attention for a must have gadget catches my eye. I usually don't feel the need to have lots of gadgets or fall for marketing hype, but with the Black Rapid R-Strap I did. One of my pet peeves is when, after shooting for a long time, your neck strap digs a trench in your neck. I typically use the camera supplied strap, in my case a Nikon D300 but the R-Strap has replaced that.

Here's some strap info from the site:

The R-Strap is the most innovative camera strap ever to hit the market. This patent-pending equipment offers unparalleled peace of mind and ease of access to your camera.

The R-Strap is worn diagonally across the torso from shoulder to hip and is adjustable to fit most photographers. The pad has a mesh underside for comfort and breathability.

Our locking FastenR connects the R-Strap to the tripod socket located on either the camera body or the lens. Once connected, the camera hangs upside down, resting securely at your side or in the small of your back, with the lens pointing behind you.

With the camera at your hip or behind your back, you can maneuver easily through a crowd, carry a tripod or other gear, or simply have both hands free.

There are two models of the R-Strap. RS-1: Black fabric, slim design, no storage pockets and the RS-4: Black fabric, front zippered pocket for storing small things like memory cards or business cards.

I used the R-Strap when I was shooting production stills for Malevolence: Bereavement in fall 2008. One thing I really liked was the padding on the strap. It's nice to wear the camera across your chest vs. around your neck. After shooting for 12 hours, I had no neck fatigue from wearing it. The other plus for the strap is the way it allows the user to hang the camera on your hip and be able to raise it in an instance and shoot.

Check the site here and some sample videos here.

More News on JPG

2009-01-03T11:11:00.009-05:00

After the JPG management sent out their letter, an out pouring of support came in. According to the blog there has been offers to take over the community. Also a grassroots support site has popped up. Visit Save JPG and help us Save JPG!

JPG Magazine Calls It Quits.

2009-01-02T12:58:00.006-05:00

Today is a sad day. JPG Magazine and its parent company 8020 Media is shutting down after running out of money and not being able to find any new investors. JPG was a bold idea to create a crowd-sourced magazine, with the content coming from the readers. Nearly 200,000 photographers submitted photographs for consideration to JPG, many of them via Flickr. I submitted many photos to JPG, and was a subscription holder from day one. For me it's a really big loss. I really enjoyed reading each issue (several times), and was always excited for the next issue. They have a Flickr group where you can keep the spirit alive.

PS Actions of Merit - Urban Acid

2009-01-01T18:19:00.011-05:00

Here is a great Photoshop action thats been around for awhile, Urban Acid Photoshop Action by Steven Almas. This action recreates a cross-processing technique used in some glamour, fashion, and urban photography. I truly love this action, and probably over use it a bit. Here is a sample.

Before Acid:

With Acid:

Pretty Cool! You can download it here or visit the Flicker Group deadicated to it.

Welcome to 2009!

2009-01-01T01:07:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year! It's kind of fitting that my first post is on the first day of 2009. More to come soon!