Photoshop Vs. A Pruning Tool

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

I have the utmost respect for the computer mavens who can make the sun rise and fall with Photoshop, and believe me– I don’t say that lightly.We all have to know what we are good at. I would like to believe that I am a good photographer/film maker/designer. But I’ll tell you- My Photoshop skills are limited, because that’s the way I want it.

Recently, I stumbled across a momma bird hatching 4 eggs, I shot with 3 cameras over a 5 day period. Two hours into the shoot, I realized that I was losing 70% of my photos because of dead branches and vines in the way. I proceeded to do a “Joe DiMaggio Photoshop,” which consisted of a 6ft ladder, and some pruning shears. I cleaned up the composition. New idea? I don’t think so!

In 1968, I was at my first Indianapolis 500, turn one, eye-level shot, 33 cars, chain link fence, snip snip with the dikes, bend chain link, lens through chain link…Great photo.

I guess there’s nothing new under the sun.

Tricks of the Trade: Simple is Always Better

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

On a recent photo safari, I noticed one of the advanced students had a polarizing screen on in a very deep shade situation, with no reflective surface, attempting to do an environmental portrait. What I suggested- He remove the polarizing screen, he said, “It’s stuck.”
I said “No problem,” I tried to muscle it off… It didn’t work. I went to my small Kata backpack to retrieve a rubberized jar lid remover. And for whatever reason, I forgot. And then it dawned on me- what I had carried for over 20 years at SI & Time, I always carried a pair of rubber gloves. (Occasionally, a rubber chicken.)
Ok, it was a real chicken.
Concept of rubber gloves- Fingers and palms can be used to remove filters, parts of the camera,etc.. And if you get a flat, you don’t get dirty hands.
Oh, by the way, they’re only about $1.50 a pair. They also come in handy if you want to hold up the camera store. The obvious problem with that is- there are no more camera stores! Spend $1.50, get a pair of rubberized gloves, keep one in each bag, someday it will come in handy.





© Joe DiMaggio 2010

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

© Joe DiMaggio MMIX


Blogs were not intended to be obituaries. Then again, young men are not supposed to die. Val Kosenkov was one of the most sweet, lovely people I have ever met. Unlike some of my friends that I’ve known for twenty, thirty years, I knew Val for only five years. His lovely daughter, Kristyne, was my studio manager, and recently came back to help on the cutting of a new documentary. Val had a beautiful smile, great disposition, and would go out of his way to help a stranger. God did not make many people better than Val, but for whatever reason, he chose to take him at a very young age. I know all the cliches, and I don’t particularly like them. Things like, “He’s in a better place.”
I will always remember him, and I will remember him often and fondly.
So Val, continue on your voyage because death is not the end, it’s a new beginning.
Your friend,
Joe DiMaggio

The Third Man In

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

We’ve all heard the expression, “The third man in the ring”. Man people who don’t follow boxing don’t realize how important that third man is. When I saw Arthur Mercante Jr. step into the ring and saw that black arm band, it really got to me. His dad, Arthur Mercante Sr., went to school with my father and I met Sr. 40 years ago. There is no doubt in anyones mind that he was the greatest boxing referee of all times. He was the class act, nobody better. When Arthur Mercante Jr. took charge of the Cotto- Foreman fight, it was amazing. He never let the control slip away from himself. Like his father before him, he handled himself properly, like a gentleman, and with the power of his convictions. There was no doubt in my mind that Arthur Sr. was looking down with a gigantic smile on his face and was so proud of his son. I take my barret off to both of them.


Photos © Dylan DiMaggio

Not The Outcome We Wanted

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June 5 2010 will go down as a day I watched two people I genuinely care about lose their fights; James Moore and Yuri Foreman. That’s the bad news. The good news is they both fought with tremendous courage and pride and neither one of them gave up. The first thing they teach you at the University of Missouri School of Journalism is to never get involved with the people your photographing or filming on any level, period. I’ve not only believed it but I’ve told scores of other photographers and filmmakers the same thing. What a hypocrite I must be, I did everything I could do not to get close to either one of these guys. Even though the relationships are radically different, I would’ve loved to had seen them succeed in their goals. Success is a good thing. Winning is a good thing but I guess we all have to learn from our non successes. I can’t use the f word because failure is not an option- it’s never an option. I’ve spent 5 years working with Harry Keitt, James Moore, Yuri Foreman and several other very bright, talented people.

Alexis Iacono

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

Oh my god, I’m going to say it again, I’m one of the luckiest guys in the world. Over the years I’ve had a very good friend by the name of John Iacono who has a beautiful wife, by the name of Nancy and an extremely beautiful daughter who is now acting, modeling, and doing voice over’s- pretty cool stuff. I remember many years ago having Alexis as one of my models for a photographic ad for one of the camera manufacturers. I believe we used 5 or 6 young people but even then at age 10,11, or 12, Alexis was head and shoulders above the rest not only in beauty but in presentation in how she acted and reacted under pressure. You don’t have to be much of a visionary to know that this girl is going a long way. And what a great sense of humor; she said in her last email, “But like Marsha Mason says to Richard Dreyfuss in the Good Bye Girl ‘Ask an actor a question and he gives you his credits.'”



June 5- Yankee Stadium

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

I remember Floyd Patterson beating Ingemar Johansson, then it was Cautious Clay (Muhammad Ali) against Sonny Liston. I think a lot of people will remember this fight- Yuri Foreman against Miguel Cotto. As most of you know, I’ve been working 5 years on a documentary and Yuri Foreman is the main protagonist along with Harry Keitt, James Moore and several other players.There hasn’t been a fight in Yankee Stadium since 1976; Mohammad Ali against Ken Norton. In my opinion, the key to any great sport’s photograph is timing, shutter speed, timing, and yes, timing again. You study a boxer and you know he throws combinations of 3 lefts, 1 right, 2 lefts, 1 right, and then a hook to the body. You try to time it. Peak action is absolutely critical. There’s a point where a glove moving very quickly stops for a millisecond on a person’s chin. In a perfect word, that’s what your looking for. As a photographer and former photojournalist, you’re not supposed to root but that’s hard not to do. On the evening of June 5th, I’d love to see 2 people win, James Moore and Yuri Foreman. A simplification of

peak action is 2.8 and be there. Yes it’s a take off of F8 and be there. Joe D
Photo© Joe DiMaggio

The Photographic Community

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

What I’m about to say has absolutely nothing to do with F stops, apertures, depth of field, or depth of focus. It has to do with the photographic community, how I was brought up in it and how it translates to 2010. When I started (x) number of years ago, there was an unwritten law that you would always try to help out a fellow photographer. As the age of the computer and internet arrived, things became a little less personal. I don’t believe anybody made a change in attitude with malice of thought but there was obviously some changes. Maybe it had something to do with business becoming tighter and tighter. To be quite honest, I really don’t know. Yesterday, I had an hour and a half conversation with one of the greatest photographers of our day, John Iacono. Johnny Eye stated at Sports Illustrated when he was 16 and I think he’s now 29, maybe a little older. We’ve been friends and neighbors for a long time and Johnny is just one of the nicest people God put on this earth. In case I didn’t mention it, he is also a great photographer. Earlier yesterday, I ran into another great photographer, Marty Rosengarten from Ringside Photos. Marty is a world class boxing photographer. There’s an old Italian adage for someone like Marty, he’s a mench. Marty was kind and generous enough to make a photograph of me with my dear friend Yuri Foreman. In the five years I’ve known Yuri, no one has ever done that- so Marty was the first. Exactly what is the purpose of this blog? What I’m trying to say is the family/community of photographers is alive and well. Thank you Marty, thank you Johnny, thank you Yuri.






























Photos © Marty Rosengarten

Backstage Passes

Posted by Joe DiMaggio on

This particular workshop will be unlike any other workshop ever conducted by Joe DiMaggio. Each team member will be expected to shoot 6 or 7 variations on the Bobby Kyle Band; an environmental portrait, an action shot and a candid. The end result will be a final selection of one great photo from each workshop participant. They will be expected to sign a release and they will be the owner of the copyright. Bobby will also have to right to use that photo for the internet, CD or DVD. The photo must not be any larger than 100 dpi. Each participant will have access to some very fast long lenses which will allow them to hopefully push the envelope. Unlike any other workshop, this one will start in the afternoon and go until quite late. The concert will start at 8:00 P.M. There will be rooms available at both Greeley Inn and a few B&B’s in the area. Please visit http://www.dimaggio-kalishworkshops.com

This workshop will be quite small and it will be first come
first serve. Looking forward to seeing you. Thanks. Joe D

©Joe DiMaggio