A few years back, I was given a fantastic Leatherman utility blade for my birthday.  My wife knew that this sort of multipurpose ‘thing’ would be exactly what I needed whenever I was in a situation when I needed a mini wood saw.  And I love it.  You can bet that it is always packed in my camera bag or checked in my baggage whenever I fly to a shoot (except for that one time that I accidentally tried carrying it on board with me, but that’s another post that should involve at least one pint).

What I’ve come to learn is that there are some people, far fewer than you’d expect, who embody the same multi-purposefulness as my Leatherman.  My very good friend, Peter, is such a person.  To say he’s a Jack Of All Trades devalues him because I take it to mean that he is mildly proficient in a number of fields.  Peter is truly adept at so many things, it makes my head spin.  He is such an extremely talented photographer, actor, singer, businessman, and friend.  His work doesn’t just show technical prowess.  There is a keen sense of creativity and, knowing Peter the way I do, I do love watching the madman work.  One of Peter’s greatest accomplishments (of which I am extremely fond and proud of) is a gallery installation of all the Broadway theaters (33 of them in total) in stunning HDR at the Actors Equity Association Lounge.  For the next three or four decades, all actors auditioning in New York City will look up and see the Great White Way with all of its full dynamic range.  I really am fortunate to have a friend who is as talented as he is.

You can follow Peter on Twitter, Facebook, and his Website

The Creamy Cornfield –  Peter James Zielinski

Before I begin, I want to thank Brian for allowing me this opportunity. I’ve learned so much from shooting with this guy and he’s just so damn handsome. And thanks to you, the reader, for ignoring my lack of proper grammar, sentence structure, and massive over use of ellipses.

The how I got into photography is a long and sordid story…so…

Short version…in college, my friend showed me some photos of gorgeous girls he shot in a cornfield with some really shallow depth of field. All I could say was “Wow, they’re hot…and how is the background so creamy looking?”

Fast forward 12 years and I now shoot HDR landscapes and architecture, actor headshots, live Broadway theatre / curtain calls, press lines, celebrities, weddings, and portraits.

I’ve heard you should choose your niche and shoot what you love.

Can’t help it. I love a lot of things.

But true story…creamy bokeh was what seduced me into the voluptuous arms of photography. And Photoshop only intensified the lust.  I’ve been using PS since version 3.0 and have always been intrigued / amazed by how it helped take my images to another dimension.

And that’s why I love shooting HDR. The range of tones is sexy to me and it gives me a chance to literally display my imagination on a screen or in a print.  And honestly? I get off on the fact that this new technology exists while I do. Ansel Adams didn’t have access to this shit. That’s kinda cool, ya know? We’re lucky enough to live in a time where this stuff is accessible and is around to, artistically speaking, make the impossible possible. I embrace that.

Conversely, being an actor has helped augment my photography on an emotional level. In fact, it gave me ground rules that I think are givens (or should be) for any photographer worth his salt.  Listen, react, think on your feet, improvise, and truly, honestly connect with your subject.  But most importantly?

Find your light.