Next Level Digital Artistry

Next Level Digital Artistry

Author: Steve Brazill August 30, 2018 Duration: 30:39

When Frederick Van Johnson first introduced me to the work of Gilmar Smith I knew I had to chat with her. Gilmar (pronounced Hil-marrr) is a photographer and Photoshop artist specializing in creative portraiture. While she does create her art with various subjects, the photo in the gallery below of the man walking the phones is of my recent guest Kirk Marsh, she often includes much more familiar subjects in her work – herself and her children.

Her style is colorful, energetic and humorous, and when she’s not photographing or editing, you can find her writing content for various websites and magazines.

Once I started researching her it became very clear, very quickly, Gilmar is a creative person with an amazing attitude. Her guest blog post for Scott Kelby, from back in 2014, really shows it best. I love this quote, so true:

“Working in a positive creative environment is extremely important to me.  I’ve been contacted several times to collaborate with different kind of artists and when I see their posts on social media I just get completely turned off by erratic behavior. It doesn’t matter how good somebody’s work is, a bad attitude can easily screw up a deal.”

Her more recent appearance on Scott’s blog is an amazing story about her journey through finding herself and her wrist inside. A story about being nice, and finding your tribe. I am excited for this show.

Join digital artist Gilmar Smith and me as we take a deep dive into her image Master Chef Kids, an image of her kids cooking with fire, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Connect with Gilmar

Portfolio: gilmarphotography.com
Facebook: @gilmarsmithphotography
Instagram: @gilmarsmith
Twitter: @gilmarmsmith

Gilmar Online

Scott Kelby’s Guest Blog (2014)
Scott Kelby’s Guest Blog (2018)
DYI Photography Interview
TWiP Interview – Personal Growth with Photography
TWiP Show – Clowning Around with Photoshop

Photoshop Tools Mentioned in the Show

Infinite Color Panel


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 200

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
The Magic of Infrared [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
To introduce the guest on this show I’d like to start by giving a bit of background… The first time I met Troy Miller I was doing a presentation at a local photo group, Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videog…
Sculpting with Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:19
When describing Blair Bunting’s photography there are few way to approach it. First of all there is the website bio version, which starts: “Blair Bunting is an advertising photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona specializ…
Light Painting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Let’s start here… Cliff Mautner’s career in photography spans 38 years. Think about that for a minute… 38 years ago Nikon released the world’s first SLR with Matrix Metering, the Nikon FA, and the world’s first camera wi…
Photographing an Album Cover [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:15
I have writer’s block because of my guest. In fact, describing William Snyder is so difficult that I’ve been waiting to write this for two days. I’m ready to give it a shot now, but let me say up front that there is litt…
Aviation Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:18
It’s the return of Moose Peterson! The first time Moose Peterson was on the show I was pretty nervous. Usually I am trying to calm guests that are nervous about being on a show, but this was different. Moose is a legend…
Beverage Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
Everybody loves a good meal, and it seems like everybody is posting photos of their food, but when food photography is done right you can seemingly taste it. That’s where Freddy Clark comes in, and when he gets his hands…
Photographic Timing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
Damian Strohmeyer is a Boston based photographer that’s just as comfortable photographing a Super Bowl, as he is shooting a portrait. His body of work spans from fast action sports, like The World Series, The World Cup,…
Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
St. Louis wedding photographer Sal Cincotta, and his award winning studio, take photography to a level few will ever achieve. Traveling the world to document their client’s most cherished moments, Sal and his team push t…
Extreme Photojournalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
One of the best parts of doing this podcast is the never ending inspiration I see from amazing photographic talents. Sometimes, the guests I get on the show are photographers I stumble upon while browsing the web, someti…
Long Exposures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
If you’re here then I will assume you are, at a minimum, a fan of good photography. Perhaps it interests you as a craft, or an art, or more likely you are a photographer that wants to improve their skill set. That means…