The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography

Bill Frakes, a renowned Sports Illustrated staff photographer, shares insights from his extensive career spanning over 100 countries. He discusses the art of storytelling in photography, emphasizing the emotional connections that shape narratives. Frakes reflects on his Nebraska roots, capturing the community's essence through his lens. He also explores how transformative DSLR technology has enhanced multimedia storytelling, while acknowledging the challenges of adapting to the evolving media landscape. His passion and dedication serve as inspiration for aspiring photographers.

Gerd Ludwig is a National Geographic photographer who is best known for his long-term work documenting the impact of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the former Soviet Union. This personal project has allowed him to the tell the story of the human toll on the people decades after the initial, dramatic events of the accident itself. For decades, he has also been working on assignments focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe, which has held a personal fascination for him. His book, Broken Empire: After the Fall of the USSR is an incredible visual telling of a country struggling to redefine itself. He has recently released an iPad App which showcases his work on Chernobyl with still, video and audio commentary. The Long Shadow of Chernobyl provides a unique method for telling the 25-years story of the accident and its long term impact on a country and a people. www.thecandidframe.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Qiana Mestrich is a photographer and the creator of the popular Dodge and Burn blog, a site dedicated to work of photographers of color. Since she fell in love with photography since she picks up a camera at the age of 16. Her professional career helping other professional to use social networking as a marketing tool. But it's her love for photography and the work on her blog that has helped to inspire her to return to school at earn her master's degree in photography at the International School of Photography in New York, where she is working to develop her own distinct photographic vision. www.thecandidframe.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Joel Grimes, an illusionist and talented photographer renowned for his dynamic sports portraits, shares his artistic journey in this engaging discussion. He delves into the emotional impact of criticism in photography and the importance of resilience. Grimes emphasizes mastering light and shadow, drawing parallels to classic painters. He candidly explores the balance between commercial demands and personal creativity, shedding light on the significance of unique artistic voices. Through personal anecdotes, he illustrates the evolution of his style and the joys of embracing vulnerability.

Ophelia Chong is an accomplished illustrator. A graduate of the Art Center College of Design, she has worked exclusively for Raygun Magazine and David Carson. As a creative director of The Workbook, she garnered five design awards for print by hiring talent and challenging them with a limited budget, but offering them an open field to create. She is represented by W+S+W/NYC for her illustration which has been in over six gallery shows and been published worldwide.She is a savvy user of social networking from flickr, Twitter and Facebook and has used these as important tools for marketing her work and creating professional opportunities for herself and others.

Juan Pons is a nature and wildlife photographer who was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a strong supporter of wildlife and natural habitat conservation and is a member of several conservation organizations. As well as selling his prints to private collectors, he also donates his images to non-profit organizations with nature and wildlife preservation missions. He is an instructor and workshop leader as well as being the co-host along with Rick Sammon of the popular podcast, The Digital Photo Experience.www.thecandidframe.comthecandidframe@gmail.com

Warren Keating’s latest works in the Overview series, are the result of collecting photographs and video of unwitting subjects from balconies in France, digitizing them on computer and painting them on canvas. Born in New Orleans in 1965, Keating won several regional awards in oil and watercolor painting and received more than a half-dozen commissions before reaching the age of 18. His work now reflects the culmination of 25 years of painting both the figure and the landscape. www.thecandidframe@gmail.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Martin Bailey is a Tokyo based nature, wildlife and portrait photographer. He is the host and producer of the Martin Bailey Photography podcast, which supports a popular blog and forum. He also conducts workshops and photographic tours in Japan and abroad. Born in London, England he immigrated to Japan and in 2010 became a Japanese citizen. His journey to becoming a full-time working professional photographer was chronicled through his podcast as was his recent health challenges. His professional and personal journey as well as his beautiful and stunning photographs are a source of great inspiration to photographers from all over the world. www.thecandidframe.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Jerod Foster is a Texas-based magazine/editorial and travel photographer. His photographic efforts focus on environmental portraiture and natural history, where he is able to devote visual resources to telling individual stories through the photographic medium and multimedia concerted projects. His background growing up in rural ranch country partially inspires him to seek through stories out among his surrounding cultural environment. www.thecandidframe.com, thecandidframe@gmail.com

Vincent Versace is a renowned photographer and educator. His work has appeared in countless publications and he is the author of Welcome to OZ 2.0. He is a popular instructor who expertise using available light and Photoshop have earned him honors and admiration of photographers from all over the world. www.thecandidframe.com, thecandidframe@gmail.com.