Behind the Camera: A conversation with Peter Hurley

Great stuff. Thanks for posting, it has me thinking and I can't ask for more than that.

Jan 2, 2016permalink

VoiceOfReason

Good stuff!! Would love to see more interviews like this from other masters. ps turn up the interviewers mic.

Jan 1, 2016permalink

Last entry***
No banana for you either!!
No banana for you either!!
Look at the "Money For Nothing" lyrics, from Dire Straits.
They applied to ANY kind of instant success in ANY field of the Arts.
And, by the way, people like you are taking my comment PERSONALLY, like if I had a bone against Mr. Hurley. No, I don't. Then again I still have the DEMOCRATIC right to my opinion, and frankly, his work doesn't impress me. Not enough to write an article about it.
That's all.

Dec 31, 2015*permalink

Forza5

Give me a break, all the hacks offering criticism that will never posses 100th the talent or success of Mr. Hurley.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

You shouldn't feed the troll.. He already started this discussion earlier and now he got upset..

Jan 1, 2016permalink

Hey photominion...
Calling names to those who have a different opinion or point of view from you is the weapon of the poor minded left with no INTELLIGENT arguments. Insults won't give you the edge. I'm not tired. You see me here, don't you?
And Forza5...Mr. Hurley's TALENT hasn't yet begun to impress me. Maybe he's as talented in photography as you are in writing: there's an S missing at the end of POSSES.

Jan 1, 2016*permalink

That's the problem with Trolls, there's no point arguing, no matter the intelligence behind your argumentation.

You don't even know Hurley's history, let alone have anything to show for yourself that would allow you to judge his skills.

As was said before:
Using the lights, the camera and all the settings as he does is quite easy. Everyone who knows the basics of photography and lighting can take these pictures.
And guess what, Hurley has always said so himself!!!
What makes him an exceptionally successful photographer is his personality, his skill WITH people, interaction, communication, etc.

I guess it takes some spine to acknowledge that, because you cannot get there through simple gear purchases..

Jan 1, 2016permalink

Well, following your brilliant argument, I gather ONLY hens could be allowed to talk about eggs, uh?
And stop using that over extended, useless epithet: Troll. It only reveals your mind narrowness to shout names at people who do not share your miserably opinion or shallow point of view.
Go ahead and marry Hurley, for what I care. Build him a chapel. Then again, after all is done and said: His style does not impress me.
Your admiration for him borders pervert insanity.
Pobre pendejo. No sabe la diferencia entre verga y dedo.

Jan 1, 2016*permalink

dennis tennis

DEMOCATRIC rights? You are claiming that you have inalienable rights to post on a private bulletin board hosted by a subsidiary of AMAZON? Do you also claim "First Admendment rights" to walk into private businesses, and yelling state your views on things? Do you expect to be able to do this as part of your DEMOCRATIC rights?

Jan 2, 2016permalink

No banana for you!!
Wait..! On a second thought:
I'll give you half banana.
But, can you please write shorter questions?
Thanks!

Jan 2, 2016*permalink

Forza5

Peter is a great instructor, seen most of his videos, just bought his book. Thanks DPR for posting this interview, and great to see a long video interview. Looking forward to more DPR interviews in the next year.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

Mfritter

The longer he talks, the more interesting it gets. So happy he wasn't doing a hard-sell for Cannon.

The discussion of "squinching" was great. New to me, but lots of references on google. While technical issues were not in the forefront, I was struck by the fact that his headshot work is done with a 100mm lens three feet from the subject. Standard practice, I think, would be to have used a longer lens from a greater distance.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

If you earn 1 grand per shoot with your headshots you don't have to worry about SOPs :D

He loves macro lenses for their crazy sharpness and already used a 120mm f/4 macro on the Hasselblad.

I also see the potential advantage of intimacy at such a distance.
If you watch him work, most models would probably tell him their credit card codes..
If you can build up this level of trust, getting so close isn't a problem anymore.

Jan 1, 2016permalink

Richard Franiec

It is interesting to see that the interview can become a monologue.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

66GTO

Peter Hurley was a Hasselblad digital shooter for a long time with well over 600,000 clicks on one body. Makes me wonder about the switch to Canon?

Dec 31, 2015permalink

leventebandi

Peter is a really inspirational human being.
But the interview was ploaded weeks ago as far as I remember, wondering why did DPR post it that later

Dec 31, 2015permalink

cgarrard

Loved it. If you're looking for tips, they are in there. Listen.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

KodaChrome25

Peter Hurley videos are inspirational. Thanks again DPR.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

alextardif

wait... is the guy in the shoot above from The Big Short? ...awesome film, btw :)

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Oli4D

Well I appreciate these interviews a lot. Really.

BUT why can't dpreview not at least try to keep in mind the most simple things in terms of cinematography?
I know it's a gear-head / tech site. But this does not mean the most fundamental principles of cinematography have to be ignored :/

When shooting an interview and cutting back and forth between a wide shot and a close up shot, PLEASE place the two cameras in a way that makes sense.
In this case: If Mr. Hurley sits on the left side of the frame in the wide shot and looks to the left while talking, the close up camera should also have his head framed more to the right, him looking to the left as well.
Very simple and would be much more comfortable to watch.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Snapper2013

I see what you mean 10 seconds in also

the white balance between the cameras are not the same.
Just sayin....

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Stu 5

It is really badly shot. It is a very basic error to make. Makes it very uncomfortable to watch. Plus as was said the white balance is not the same on the two cameras. Poor colour grading.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

Prairie Pal

I appreciate Dpreview including these interviews as part of their reporting. But the interviewERS really need get over their nerves from being in FRONT of a camera, plus learn some social skills. Secondly please have a keen interest in your guest and his/her history and achievements so that you can participate in the discussion over and above saying "sooo, tell me all about yourself" and then putting them on the spot to recite a bio. thank-you.

Jan 1, 2016permalink

photomy

Yes, at worst have him centered in close-up rather than left of center as was done. Did they have to be that close to the boring background?

Jan 3, 2016permalink

elsen029

I really like the interview but the camera technique is really bad indeed.
I agree with all commments in this thread. On top of that, Mr. Hurley is out of focus when he leans forward. His chair is sharp though...

One more tip: switch on the microphone on the interviewer as well, and check all settings (white balance) BEFORE starting to shoot...

Come on DPR guys, You can do better than that, you're not a bunch of amateurs!

Jan 4, 2016permalink

RolliPoli

What a generous guy. Thanks Peter!

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Photomonkey

Peter Hurley is cut from the same cloth as Chase Jarvis. Very handsome charismatic guys with photo skills and great work ethic.

For both, their charisma and good looks are the far more important factor in their success than their photo skills.

We love watching these videos because they are so likable and cool and we feel that they like us despite our overweight, dorky selves. We feel that if we just changed a few things in our lives we would rock the photo world.
But in the end it is those gifts plus crazy hard work that got them where they are.
Congratulations.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

cgarrard

Who's overweight and dorky? ;)

Dec 31, 2015permalink

Stockstradr

I think Photomonkey has made one of the smartest more insightful posts about Peter Hurley.

I'm just a camera enthusiast who saw a few minutes video of Peter and thought "this guy is one of the greatest portrait photographers in the world!"

Then I watched about 10 vid's of Hurley and listened closely to what he said and didn't say. I concluded he's successful only in the narrow niche of headshots - and his knowledge and skill may not extend much beyond headshot photography. Especially technically.

What Peter really is great at (and has to teach us) is the power of: 1) Charisma; 2) Great directing of subjects on facial expression; 3) SELF PROMOTION !

What about Peter's knowledge of equipment, and the technique and science of photography?

In interviews, he admits stumbling into his equipment choices.

Asked about full frame lenses that would yield portrait photos similar to his 120 mm @ f/4 medium format, he suggests an 85 mm at f/1.2 or f/1.4

I don't like his math!

Sep 20, 2016*permalink

cgarrard

Hard to argue with his success regardless of the math. It's about results, not how you get there necessarily :)

Sep 20, 2016permalink

Daniel Lauring

One can see in this interview how naturally Peter Hurley makes people feel comfortable. I'm impressed when people like him share their gifts with the rest of us. Thanks for the interview and thank you, Mr Hurley.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Lea5

Nice interview. Thanks.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Well, I'll get hell back here from the teeming millions on account of what I think, and by the way, I NEVER write OMHO.. I'm not humble.
1- It's stupid to ass-u-me that we ALL have converted to 4K. That goes to whomever had the brilliant idea to post this video in 4K.
2- This Hurley guy, of which I never seen his work, may have or be rough talent. Then, I cannot help but to reminisce the Old talent: those guys such as Hamilton, Adams, Leidmann, Clarke, Newton, and the list goes on, who were issued from the Plastic Arts & Visual Media environment; then came to discover photography with MANUAL cameras.
They had to LEARN the trade the good old way: to master composition, f stop and shutter speed with a narrow window of 36 shots. Nowadays it will be a capital sin not to get a dozen of decent images out of 500 shots. It's like shooting fish in a barrel, mind you.
For these guys Bokeh wasn't an artistic expression.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

jadot

You're what people might call a "hater".
But I suppose you already knew that, huh.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

AW...A bleeding heart..
Do you know ALL the people, in order to express what they ALL think?
So, people who do not think or share your UNEDUCATED opinion are automatically HATERS...
Have a banana.

Dec 30, 2015*permalink

jadot

Wow.

Thanks for that, man. Really special.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Elandreth

Can I have a banana too?

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Of course!
But if everyone who answer is going to ask for one..I'll go broke.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Dear Jadot,
Sorry,
My intention was not to get into a personal mud slinging contest with you.
After you called me a hater, I did a Google search under his name. OMG...!Portraits...as elaborated on white bread without butter: two lights, white backdrop & make up...And he ...sells videos on how to get those wonderful results, and his studio aids talking and philosophizing about the soul of the image...
We belong to different generations, Jadot. Look, no hard feelings, but back in the 80's there was a guy who really made his name in NY working in a little, puny two rooms apt. in Manhattan: Gary Bernstein. He also published books (HP Books) and he shot on Kodachrome 25...One of the least forgiving materials to work.
Maybe I grew grumpiness by seeing how easy it is nowadays to achieve instant recognition based on camera's technology. Sorry, but if we are going to talk about male singers, we'll talk about Tom Jones, Sinatra, Pavarotti, etc. but do not bring in Justin Beaver, please.

Dec 30, 2015*permalink

fortwodriver

So, here we see an example of someone who couldn't possibly get the photos Peter Hurley gets. Why? Because he spends time on DPReview trolling, and because he appears to be a grumpy individual.

Who cares about Gary Bernstein... We're not talking about him here. But he appears to be living quite comfortably in California. Certainly, shooting with a now obsolete film was his choice, not to make it harder on himself, but because it was easier for him to ship the film off to a local Kodachrome developing house and get his slides back and many of his clients (because of the times) simply wanted K64 slides.

Don't make it sound like film-photographers toiled in despair while those who choose digital cameras have it easy. You still have to be a nice person and be there.

Good luck.

Dec 30, 2015*permalink

You can point the stars to some people, but they'll NEVER see the light.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

While Peter's setup, camera and lights, can easily be reproduced by anyone with the cash, his personality certainly can't.

He started with film too, shot in a muddy tiny apartment with only sunlight coming in through the window too.. He made it to where he is now because of how hard he worked and how great he is with people.

Just because you don't have any success or aren't ready to work hard for it, doesn't mean that nobody else deserves it these days.

While shooting film is a pain and expensive and more difficult and all, it also was a time with faaar less competition, because "everyone is great with a digital camera" these days.. You get me?

Dec 30, 2015permalink

rtack

Did you even watch the interview? There was no digital when Hurley began his career using only B&W FILM with a beat up Nikon and doing his own developing and printing. Is that MANUAL enough for you?

Dec 30, 2015permalink

Photography201

I have many unpopular opinions on the forums that turns to a Pi*sing match. I agree so far as you can have a opinion and not be a yes man. The issue is with those who respond and feel they need to defend what is popular. I think that is stupid to put it mildly. If you think this is awful ok that is fine. I liked the interview. Sure now you can assume you get hundreds of images vs how many rolls and how much money you had to burn back in the film days. The beginning of the interview is maybe just dumb luck, but it is not what you know it is who you know then you figure out the rest
Hurley just had easy access to models to practice and you also have to be in a town most times to be where the work is. He mentioned buying medium format camera when he wanted to take photography seriously so you get the tools and go from there. awesome to have the support and mentoring like Hurley had with a Pro photographer already established.Right place and maybe Nepotism can be the name of the game

Dec 30, 2015*permalink

graybalanced

@papa natal, There is a flaw in your argument. Shooting the same uneducated shot over and over again does not guarantee that one of them will be brilliant. Film vs digital is irrelevant: To rise above the rest you still have to master everything you mentioned, otherwise you only have 5000 shots of the same thing. Just clicking the shutter again isn't going to improve the lighting or aperture one bit, you still have to master the fundamentals.

I hope you find a way past your blinders, because if you don't, you will be in danger of being unable to recognize young talent just because you write them off from the beginning for using a digital camera.

Dec 30, 2015permalink

That's a very asserted point of view.
Thanks for not calling me names.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

Gregography

Actually, you're making s**t up and then saying it's bad. Some facts: I took a class from Hurley. We worked with models, and he knows exactly the lighting, composition, fstop, and shutter speed that gives him what he wants and he knows how to work with his subjects (that's really his genius) - and he throws away very few shots. So while you have an agenda-arrow, and you like shooting it, you really do need to be more careful about aiming for appropriate targets. Because Hurley isn't one of them.

Dec 31, 2015*permalink

No banana for you!!

Dec 31, 2015permalink

photoshack

I have no idea what your point is, relative to this video. The video in 4K is irrelevant. You posted before you looked at the man's work but list other photographers you admire. Then you claimed you know how they learned their trade (unless you were there, you probably don't know that either.) And claiming for them bokeh wasn't an artistic expression is absurd...when it is there and it works, it becomes the artistic expression.

Aside from your weird post; I enjoyed hearing his perspective on his own success and his techniques. I admire his work. It is very good.

Dec 31, 2015permalink

No banana for you either!!

Dec 31, 2015permalink

Deliverator

Hey papa,

I don't know if you noticed this in the video: Hurley started his business on medium format black and white film with a Mamiya 645, making his own prints in a basement dark room.

That Old School enough for you?

Jan 1, 2016*permalink

Mmmm...Do you have a calendar at hand, Deliverator? Can you do a simple Maths operation? How old is Mr. Hurley? He seems to be in his 30's. Medium format cameras were getting out of circulation about 15 years ago on account of the Digital Wave. Owning that type of camera was expensive; everything around them was over-sized ($$) Guys who worked with them NEVER did their lab work at home: It was prohibitive.They sent their films to PRO labs for proofing and printing. NO amateur could afford that, especially a young guy between 15 t0 20 years old.
I never heard of an amateur STARTING & LEARNING the trade with Medium Format, when 35mm was easier and handy.
That's a load of el crapo del toro, from Mr. Hurley.
Then again RTACK sustains that Hurley says he started with a beaten up Nikon. Mmmm.

Jan 1, 2016*permalink

Mmmm...Read the article's introduction: He's called an ENGAGED STORY TELLER by the blogger who conducted the interview.

Jan 1, 2016*permalink

a) You didn't watch the video. b) He shot, and developed plenty of film, which you would know if a) wasn't true.

Jan 2, 2016permalink

"Well, I'll get hell back here"

Yeah, you likely will. You are writing garbage. That's what happens when you write garbage.

Jan 2, 2016permalink

Gary Bernstein's work is good, but he looks to be trying to capture something different than Peter. Most of his celebrity work for example seems to be "in character", rather than the person behind the character. It's work of it's time, and I really don't enjoy the eighties aesthetic.

The shot of Gene Kelly, wonderful. The shot of Kenny Rogers, woeful. Lot's of cliche in there too. That's not a shot of Robert Wagner, it's a shot of Jonathan Hart.

Actually, no. The further I get in, the worse it gets. I don't like Berstein's work. Leaves me flat.

Jan 2, 2016*permalink

"I never heard of" != it didn't happen.

Jan 2, 2016permalink

Wild Light

stfu

Jan 5, 2016permalink