Category: ARTICLES

06-01-25

RELEASE

There was a rollercoaster in place of my brain recently when having a photography exhibit go up at SFMOMA. Even though it was a small showing (only 32 photos), the g-force walloped me both literally and figuratively. In a good way.

Since “The Nopening” in January I haven’t been able to get anything done. Add to that a couple of weeks ago I fainted, hit my head, and woke up in the ER with a concussion. What is happening to me?

I think the first target you set as a young photographer is to get published in a magazine or newspaper. That one is easy because you figure out how to start your own magazine or newspaper and run your own photos in it.

The second target is almost a joke, you say it but don’t mean it because it is pure fantasy, that is to have your photos in a museum.

It has happened before, a photo here or there, in an institution, in another city, in another country, but nothing like this.

It felt like we won a championship, training since the day we made our first zine. Yet we didn’t know there was a contest, so it was also very much lottery vibes. Either way, I will take it. I am grateful and proud of our efforts. We tossed the grenade, kaboom the exhibit opened, and I was blown to bits.

Finally getting it together. What is next? Easy to overthink it but also easy to answer, more books and zines. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of Hamburger Eyes, let’s make a book. We will work on new issues for this year, we will work on a new book for next year, and we will cancel all other plans because nothing else matters.

More soon.

PS. Our exhibit at SFMOMA is not over, it is up through August and I am doing a slideshow presentation in the theater there this Thursday, June 6th at 6pm PST alongside some great photographers.

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07-08-24

FLIGHT

Photo by Ray Potes

Sometimes it’s “flight or flight,” amiright? I set out on a mission to update this blog regularly and I bailed for a month. There was resistance. It is gone now. Sometimes timing is the problem, sometimes it is the solution.

I’ve been catching up on some zines, 4 new issues of Ray’s Reports out now. I will make a separate post for previews, but if you have made it this far into this blog post, here is a discount code for you – FLIGHTORFLIGHT . Enter code before checking out for 15% discount on entire order. This code will expire at the end of the week.

https://shophamburgereyes.com/

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05-31-24

Pressure

Photo by Ray Potes

Good morning. I was thinking about posting on IG today. Again with this topic, I know I’m annoying. I was feeling like maybe I am not doing my job correctly if I am not hard posting everyday. What is this guilt?

Firstly, there is the idea of running a business. (Feels spammy.) Secondly, there’s the community aspect. (Feels contrived.) The guilt is that by not participating you might be letting down your community and/or letting down your future business potential.

Then I heard this quote this morning watching some NBA highlights, “Pressure is a privilege.”

I am realizing that not everyone gets to do photography, not everyone has hobbies, not everyone has obsessions. We (me and you) are lucky to do what we do. It is our duty to showcase appreciation.

We must enter the arena and impact the game.

Just not on IG. Jk. This is also a realization that there are different kinds of arenas, some more comfortable than others. We knew this. This is a friendly reminder to past and future selves.
05-14-24

SUBMISSIONS

Photo by Ray Potes

Some notes about submissions. We are jammed up. We cannot put out zines and books fast enough to accommodate all the photographers we want to publish. We are working on that, this post is about ways we can speed it up.

If you didn’t know, Hamburger Eyes is a printed publication. We publish a zine that comes out at irregular intervals and occasionally we publish books, once in a while we will collaborate with another publisher to make a book.

We showcase black and white photography. We love black and white photography. Please have seen a copy or at least have a look at our website and get the vibe of what we are doing. If you shoot color, save it for one day when we publish something in color.

A lot of you are submitting to our Instagram page. Our Instagram page is highlighting photos from photographers that have contributed to our zines and books. Our Instagram page is advertisement for our physical publications, past present and future.

We ask for links to websites and/or social media. We want to see if your photos will fit in with ours before we download anything. Then, when and if the timing is right, we will contact the photographers we want for the next issue and send the proper specs with upload instructions.

This is a lot, I am probably overthinking it but also we are getting lots of questions about submissions. We do have a certain style of photos we gravitate to, but what we really want is to highlight your own personal visions and stories. We are looking for photographers more than photos if that makes sense.

Email links to – editors@hamburgereyes.com

And feel free to email us any questions or comments.
05-07-24

Cruising

Photo by Ray Potes

Weekly update here. Back from NYC. The book fair was a blast, cruising Manhattan and Brooklyn was a blast. Connecting with photographers was a blast. So much so that I think I should go back soon. Maybe even just put it in the schedule for twice a year, regardless if there’s a book fair or not. (People seem unclear if there will be a book fair next year, or that they may do it every other year rotating with the LA one, that is if there is still an LA one. There are rumors saying it’s done. No one seems to know anything. My personal opinion is maybe there are too many fairs too choose from now. And some are better than others for different things. And not just NYC, I’m talking world wide.)

There seems upon us another wave of photography, meaning there are lots of photographers out and about right now. It’s great. When these cycles happen, some older guys poo poo on it. Not me, it only makes us stronger. Sometimes in a iron sharpens iron type of way and sometimes in a safety in numbers type of way. Like your photography will go further faster now versus 5-10 years ago simply because there are more people to receive it.

Sure, your favorite cameras are reaching all time highs on Ebay. Your spots are blown out. It won’t last forever for most of them. (Not like you and me, the obsessed.) I’m saying it’s worth it to explore/participate/ride this wave while it’s here.
04-17-24

Updaticalistic

Photo by Ray Potes

I get a lot of unsolicited advice from peers, “You should do Tiktoks.” As mentioned in multiple previous posts, I get conflicted / all in a tizzy about social media. But the idea of connecting with like minded peeps appeals to me. In fact, it is the best thing about my job and the main reason Hamburger Eyes is still happening.

I think I will stick to what I know, blogging. Not sure why the blog format stays my vibe. When Zuck took over IG and sent that message about owning all the photos, I got all weird. Anyways, I’ll start writing a weekly update here on the blog. We’ll talk about what’s happening or what’s of current interest or whatever. This is just a heads up to check back weekly.

Right now we are getting ready for the New York Art Book Fair. I’m excited because I haven’t been out there since pre-pandemic.

If you are in NY, let’s hang out.
03-23-24

HIII-ATUS

Photo by Ray Potes

Hiiiii. It’s been a while I know but guess what, hiatus over. New issue dropping later this week. Also the rumors are true, Hamburger Eyes is based in SF again. It is awesome to be back. We are settling in and ready to make hella zines and hella books.

The next issue will be larger in format, 8 inch x 10 inch. And tighter in execution, 64 pages. And it will lay flat, saddle stitch binding. I’ve been wanting for a while to go back to staples because I like when I can stare at spreads on my tables or desks for inspo and chilling, no handed.

Thanks for your patience. Oh, new website vibes now much friendlier for multiple types of devices. Technology is marvelous. Share this content.
10-07-23

Speed

Photo by Ray Potes

I think it’s normal to over think about “quality” of “content”, I usually try to evade those words and marinate on “consistency” or “volume”. But nowadays, or at least today, I’m thinking about “speed”.

What’s the rush? What’s the impatience? Is it just a sign of the times, the idea of “hustle” culture? It sometimes feels that way and it can be sticky but it is all related to “obsession.”

The need for speed is the desire to outpace or just catch up to your obsession (photography). There are 2 sides of the coin here. Yes, sometimes it is about financial success vs financial crisis. But on the other side, it is about learning. Learning what works and what doesn’t work as soon as possible. Because intuitively we know that each completed lesson is a level up.

Sometimes I’ll tell somebody or myself to “chill” or “have patience.” I’m realizing now that may not be good advice. Time is running out. Let’s go further and be faster with our experiments, wonderings, and wanderings.

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” – Henri Cartier Bresson
09-28-23

Ambassadoring

Photo by Ray Potes

I was thinking I should be posting on here more but then I was like why? Well, the easy answer is to share more info and current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors behind and in front of the scenes at Hamburger Eyes. For those that have the interest.

The tougher answer is the idea of being an ambassador of photography. This answer can be beaten into oblivion. One, who cares? Two, is anyone really checking this blog? Three, who are you to inspire or motivate or educate or encourage anything about photography? This 3rd one is the point.

If I believe that we are here to make the world a better place, then isn’t just seeding one positive thought into just one other person getting the job done regardless of my education, status, etc.? It is. If one person shoots a photo because of something I said or shot or designed as a zine, magazine, or book, then isn’t that what an ambassador does? It is. I am just thinking out loud.

I write this because we all have our doubts and concerns about ourselves. (Me, lately.) I have gotten got some great feedback from that video interview that has been recently posted. (That was filmed like 5 years ago, by the way.) I know people like Hamburger Eyes, but I didn’t fully understand that something that started as a casual zine amongst friends can have such long lasting effects.

I don’t say all this to talk about myself, I say this as a reminder to myself to pay better attention and even do more. Or, accept my role as an ambassador. Daily.

I also say this to show you, who might be in a slump or fog that just one photo, one idea, one thought, one word can help at least one other person not just in photo but in life. And thus, change the world.

Today, dear reader, you too are an ambassador. Congrats.
03-29-23

How to Make Money as a Photographer

Photo by Ray Potes

DISCLAIMER: I am still figuring this out. I am not saying that you will be guaranteed any type of money if you listen to what I say or write. What I will say though is that if you do most of these things in a professional manner, for a few decades in a row, then maybe your chances of a career in photography move up a quarter of a percentage point or so.

This writing hopes to provide photo futuristic simulations in your mind if you are indeed following a path of photography.

As I said in the previous post, most photographers are running combinations. Just like having multiple camera setups, processing recipes, and print recipes we have money making recipes.

1. SERVICE – Shooting photos as a service to clients in exchange for money. Weddings, real estate, headshots, advertising, commercial, editorial, commissions, assignments, studio, documentary, etc.

2. PRODUCT – Selling your photography as a product to customers. Your photos in the shape of prints, books, tshirts, calendars, coffee mugs, fine art hanging on the walls of mansions and museums, etc.

3. SUPPORT – Creating services and products that support other photographers. Camera companies, photo labs, photo retail, publishers, gallerists, agencies, representation, design, etc.

4. EDUCATION – Creating services and products that support photography itself. Teaching classes, workshops, seminars, trainings, courses, speaking events, discussions, writing books, etc.

It’s not that complicated. Some are lucky and they find their place just doing one of these things and get really good at it. As mentioned earlier, most photographers, sometimes organically sometimes purposeful, find themselves running a bunch of these things simultaneously and/or falling into certain categories and then evolving onto other ones.

People often ask about how to get their photography noticed and I want to say match your current output to what current path that you want but I don’t say it because usually that person is not sure, hence the purpose of this blog post.

But I am not sure that is good advice because of randomness.

Like if you want to shoot basketball, then all of your front facing output should be all basketball and you should be reaching out to basketball media outlets for paid gigs and/or making basketball books, hanging photos in basketball museums, or starting your own basketball photo agency. This is simple and obvious and normal. But we have also seen it go random, where a person who shoots underwater landscapes happens to shoot his cousin’s basketball game and it turns out great and gets hired as the team photographer.

I think it is just appropriate to know all of this stuff and have some concept of a direction but also be open to all the possibilities. I started out wanting to shoot assignments for magazines and newspapers. I dreamed of splunking caves and getting portraits of a newly discovered species for National Geographic. I had a few good gigs, but mostly rejection. Meanwhile, people liked the zines I was making. So I kept making them.

Once you consciously decide to “get money” with your photography and put yourself out there, opportunities arise. Follow the white rabbit.
03-22-23

Money

Photo by Ray Potes

When it comes to my photography/publishing practice I like to think it is a 50/50 split when talking about time space and energy. In reality though, it fluctuates. The swings can be as big as 90/10 in either direction.

The system is sensitive and swings can be caused by various circumstances like economies, romances, injuries, insecurities, moon phases, etc.

To re-balance it, I self-advise, “Shoot more.” The photos feed the zines, and the zines create more zines which are hungry for more photos. It used to be the same with darkroom printing, shoot then print then shoot then print, one informs and shapes the other.

My weird logic is to tip the scale on the shooting side so much so that the printing/publishing side is forced to catch up. This is why if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ve seen me say it 1000 times, “Shoot more.”

But this post isn’t about balance. It’s about purpose.

You start with a photo curiosity, then a photo passion. Then a photo purpose. That purpose can be simple and exploratory like self expression with photography, or it can be complicated like influencing geopolitical policies with photography.

After photo purpose comes photo commitment. This is where you consciously decide to make photography your full time gig. Intrinsic drivers evolve with extrinsic drivers. That is things like passion and mastery grow and multiply with things like achievement and paying rent.

You are somewhere along this path in your photographic journey. “Shoot more,” is only good advice if you are in the curiosity phase. In all other phases, shooting a lot is basic. Or more like it is a life style choice.

So me saying, “Shoot more,” is as if your photography is without purpose which is presumptuous and asshole-ish of me. I think my new advice to any one at any phase of development would be, “Get money.”

This is a better presumption. It presumes that you are already committed or, even better, it motivates you to be on your way. Also like weather patterns, we cycle through all of these phases, sometimes stuck in a rut, sometimes hyper with no where to go. So it is supportive, “Get money.” It conjures potential. It sparks action.

Photography isn’t about money. But all the stuff you need to do photography full time costs money. Gear, rent, food, car, computer, etc. It is time to start figuring it out if you are feeling it is time to level up.

I get questions about how to get noticed, or how to get more followers, or how to blow up. In other words, how to get money. I only know what has and hasn’t worked for me (and I am very much still figuring it out), it is different for everybody so it is impossible to say in any type of formulaic way. Of course there are generalities, but each path is so specific and unique. This is one of the reasons why I think photography is so cool, it is both relatable and unrelatable at the same time, including and especially between photographers.

Sure, there are some who are happy enough with photography as a weekend hobby, but there are also a lot of us at the crossroads looking for direction. Stay tuned for the next post. It will be about all the different ways different photographers make money. Most are doing it in multiple combinations of ways. Let us count the ways.