Kirk Tuck's Perspective on Technology, Connections & Talent

Kirk Tuck is a highly-regarded professional photographer who calls Austin home and finds inspiration all around him. Tuck has captured some of our community’s most compelling portraits and landscapes and has written four acclaimed books on professional lighting techniques. He’s also one of the most approachable teachers in the field today. Putting people at ease is simply part of Tuck’s nature. He also shuns the notion that the newest technology will always produce superior results.

Tuck often tells his students that their equipment is probably newer, fancier and more expensive than his own gear. A quick show of hands usually confirms this, but Tuck is unfazed. In fact, it reinforces the point he’s trying to prove. “There’s a misconception that the latest cameras automatically mean better pictures,” Tuck offers. “Lighting and rapport trump technicality every time.”

Unlike many experts whose disposition may come across as stodgy and intimidating, Tuck is affable, enthusiastic and quick to offer support. It’s one of many reasons that Tuck’s professional workshops are always packed with people pining to hone their craft. Tuck’s resume is impressive to anyone who reads it; clients include Dell Computer, Tivoli, Time Warner, The Arts Council of Texas and countless advertising agencies, but his passion is people. Especially Austin people. He also says that shooting downtown Austin is another favorite endeavor. “I can spend an entire afternoon downtown with my camera,” he explains.

Tuck’s work displays a unique viewpoint and an intimate signature. “My first camera was a Polaroid Swinger that took close up portraits,” Tuck says. “That may have established my style early on.”

One of Kirk’s specialties is what he calls ‘Minimalist Lighting.’ He has published three books with the fourth one scheduled to be out in the spring. The latest course Tuck taught, sponsored by Precision Camera & Video, showed 43 attendees how to create a four-light portrait effect with a single main light and a few accessories. James Hicks, one of the attendees, said, “Kirk is a very personable guy and an excellent instructor. “

Isabel Garcia, another student of the course, says, “Kirk's lighting workshop was like watching a master in action, complete with his tips, tricks, and real world examples. I learned more from his one day class than I could by reading 10 photography books. Not only was it informative, it was inspiring.”

Tuck jokes that he loves photography accessories and gadgets, particularly ones related to lighting. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to invest thousands of dollars in various items.

Remember, Tuck is a minimalist.

When asked what Tuck considered to be three must-have accessories for every aspiring photographer, he named a tripod, a large diffuser (specifically a 6 ft. x 6 ft. model) and a portable flash with power ratio control. “You can do just about anything with those three tools.”

Tuck remains connected to a larger community of artists and friends; he says it’s important to keep his passions alive and to also help him stay connected to others when we find ourselves increasingly tied to our computers. Technology may increase connections in some ways, but when it comes to authentic relationships, Tuck maintains the importance of getting out from behind the computer.

In fact, one of his recent blog posts on the isolation that many freelance professionals experience these days resonated with many readers. “I’m still getting comments on that one. It really hit home with people,” he says. He also says that sometimes photographers hide behind their technology because they aren’t yet comfortable with their own vantage point and how to use the camera as a storytelling vehicle.

Tuck’s philosophy is one that encourages people to become comfortable with their own visions and the camera they’ve chosen but not to get so immersed in the technical aspects of today’s equipment that they can’t find confidence in their own unique perspective and abilities. “Some people buy equipment as a talisman of power. It’s really better to be comfortable with your own insights.”

Tuck shares his thoughts on his blog, which can be found at http://www.kirktuck.com/. You can pick up one of his books from your friends here at Precision Camera & Video. http://www.precision-camera.com/

Pose Like the Pros for Holiday Pics

Have you ever looked at a family photo and thought that it just looked “off” for some reason? The picture is okay but nothing particularly special. The issue may be in how the people are posed. Professional photographers are masters of posing their subjects; they understand the importance of the right positioning and angles. This holiday season, you can get great family photos by using these posing tips:

Scout Your Location: Take a mental count of how many subjects you’ll have in your photograph. If it’s a particularly large group, you’ll want to make sure that there is a location capable of fitting everyone comfortably, so choose this area well in advance.

Chairs and Other Props: If you have elderly members in the group, make sure you have chairs for them to sit comfortably in. You may wish to put them in the center of the photograph and have young children sit on the floor in front of them. Adult family members can then stand or kneel around the grandparents, who will serve as the ‘anchor center’ in the photograph.

Balance Your Subjects: Take a quick inventory of who will be in the photograph and make sure that the tallest members are in the back and that you can position others in a slightly staggered manner so that one person’s head isn’t hidden behind another. Grab a pen and paper and write down each person’s name. You can use this as a cheat sheet to create a posing chart in advance. When your subjects are ready, you’ll have a plan and can get the photo posed and shot quickly, which is important when small children are involved!

Include Yourself! Remember that to leave a space for yourself in the photograph. Just make sure you remember how to set the timer on your camera before getting everyone else posed and ready!