by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Photo/Art Quote – Abhijeet Sawant
Take the time to think about today’s photo/art quote…
I have noticed a lot of photographs as beautiful subjects that don’t quite make it in my book as a beautiful photograph. Why because the maker didn’t wait for a fantastic lighting situation to push the shutter. Photography is ‘painting with light’ and many today are in too much of a hurry to work a scene to it’s fullest potential.
I believe this has a lot to do with many things. Our electronic age, the instant gratification of digital cameras and the instant display of images via social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter among others.
Ansel Adams was happy if he felt he created one solid image a month and I talk to photographers who are disappointed with their work if they haven’t produced a wonderful image today… on a regular basis.
“Patience is the essence of clicking great photographs!!” Abhijeet Sawant
If you would like to create memorable images may I suggest you take a deep breath, slow down and smell the roses, so-to-speak with your image capture and your post-processing.
Invest time in your craft. It’s worth it!
by successfulbob | book review, photography - art quote, photography creativity
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – The Art Spirit Robert Henri
I was recently turned on to this book and am enjoying it immensely. Robert Henri has written about art in a way I have never heard before. He is very straightforward in presenting his ideas about art and the creation thereof.
I have a feeling that I could use this book to populate the Successful-Photographer’s Sunday Photo/Art Quote for the better part of the year. Here is a quote from Henri…
“Paint like a fiend when the idea possesses you.” Robert Henri
I enjoy this quote as I occasionally find myself super-inspired in creative spurts. During these creative times I seem to see things in a new light, viewing everyday subjects in a new way. Strangely enough, this often happens when I am traveling or upon my return home from an extended stay away. (or on nights when I can’t sleep because I drank coffee too late in the day ; )>. I have a feeling that any huge change in environment tends to sharpen the visual senses. May I suggest that you strike while the iron is hot.
When it’s working, make sure you are too…
“The student is not an isolated force. He belongs to a great brotherhood, bears a kinship to his kind. He takes and he gives. He benefits by taking and he benefits by giving.” Robert Henri in The Art Spirit
I also share this quote as it explains to me some of the reasons that I am so passionate about sharing the knowledge I’ve gained with others. As he states, “He benefits by taking and he benefits by giving.” I learn so much when I am teaching. Much of the education comes in the preparation of the programs and more from the students when I am teaching as they share lessons they have learned.
I say if you want to learn something inside and out, teach or write a book about it.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | art books, book review, photography - art quote, photography books, photography education
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Robert Henri
Thank you Helen Yancy!
Many times it is a small thought shared that opens large passageways of ideas. If you have attended any of my programs you know I am a fan of quotes from artists, photographers, inspirational speakers and authors. Helen was sitting right there in the front row and noting some of the quotes I had collected and was sharing in a slideshow before my program began.
She said, “Oh, you know of Robert Henri and his book The Art Spirit.” “No,” I replied. She had seen one of his quotes go by on the screen and she said, “You really need to get that book and read it!”
So I did.
And, now I’m going to do for you the same thing Helen did for me. Get the book!
Here’s a quote from Henri…
“When the artist is alive in any person… he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature.” Robert Henri
When I took Helen up on her suggestion I had ordered the book but let it sit on my side table before grabbing it one day. OMG. There is so much inspiration packed into these pages I don’t know where to start. When I went back through my collection of gathered quotes I found four already in there… And soon I will be adding many more.
Henri pushes you to think in different ways about your art. He was an artist but he was known more for his instruction and influence of other artists who followed in his footsteps. As he said in his book, “I have little interest in teaching you what I know. I wish to stimulate you to tell me what you know.”
And, stimulate you he does.
You never know where the next piece of your education is coming from. One reason I love teaching is I get to learn so much, from my students.
Helen thanks again for the tip.I can’t wait to read it again and really absorb Henri’s message.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – By the way Helen is working on a book on the software program Painter with Amherst Media. If you are into Painter and want to push your skills you’ll be able to pre-order soon…
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Make Money as Photographer
Thought it might be time for a little tongue-in-cheek humor for this Sunday’s Quote from an unknown author…
“The quickest way to make money at photography is to sell your camera.” Unknown
There’s always a kernal of truth in any quote like this!
Do you have a business plan? Do you buy gear thinking it will make you a better photographer? Think that new lens is the be all and end all? If you didn’t answer these questions properly then this quote might not be far off.
A suggestion for rules for new equipment purchases is to make sure a lens or new camera will pay for itself within one to three jobs and that you have an ongoing need for it. If not, and you really need a lens for a particular job, then off to the rental house you go…
If you are not thinking along these lines then this quote might not be far off for you.
Practice your photography with the gear you have and when limitations are apparant THEN it’s time to invest in new gear.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography - art quote
Sunday Photo/Art quote – Framing
I know you saw the word framing and might have thought this post would be about finishing your images.
And you’d be wrong.
Today’s thoughts revolve around your thinking when it comes to selling yourself as a photographer or as an artist. How do you present yourself to your potential clients? What is your thought process? Today’s quote comes as a way of reframing your thinking so you put yourself in the shoes of your client as to their needs and selling that verses trying to sell what you are.
“When you buy a 1/4 drill bit, what you really need is a 1/4 inch hole. Clients don’t need photographers. they need photographs.” Bill Westheimer
Remember to stay in business we have to be able to sell. But what and how we sell can determine our success…
Food for thought.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – You might want to check out some of Bill’s work he’s got some prett distinctive imagery!
by successfulbob | inspiration, photography - art quote, photography competition, photography creativity, photography education, success education
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Excellence
Let’s go back…
WAAAYYY back.
Around the time when the calendar was going lower as it progressed toward Anno Domini from the time Before Christ. There was this dude named Aristotle who was a scientist but more importantly to today’s discussion a Philosopher. Even back then he recognized that we need to practice – a lot – to become the best we possibly can be. He might have been near the first to recognize the phenomenon but he assuredly was not the last. Repetition has been touted by all the great instructors as one part of how to become good at what we do.
I believe that a major part of the secret is that little secret sauce of making it a habit. Once formed habits self-perpetuate. This makes it an almost unconscious route toward excellence. We still have to program our habits to be good ones moving us forward and not just rote repetition. We need to continue to study, to learn and to practice what we learn. The secret is to make practice the habit and just make sure we program the practice properly.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not and act, but a habit.” Aristotle, 384-322 B.C.
I feel in order to practice properly we not only need to keep at it, but we need to have some outside help in reviewing our practice. One of the ways I continue to receive outside perspective on my imagery is to participate in Professional Photographer’s of America Photographic Competitions. I respect the jurors and their opinions (FYI I am also a PPA Approved Juror) but I also sign up for the critiques to get additional feedback. It’s not like I need the feedback to earn PPA Merits and awards. I have been fortunate and hold the Master of Photography and Artist degrees and have managed a few awards along the way. The awards and degrees have not been the ultimate goal but been byproducts of my participation in trying to learn more about my craft.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be the image maker I am today without my participation in PPA’s Photographic Competition.
I encourage you to practice. To learn. To repeat again and again. And seek feedback so you have some outside opinions to help you on your way.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – I am in no way suggesting that the feedback you get will always be spot-on. You still need to run the information received through your own filters. But, I have found on many an occasion that information to be extremely valuable especially when time has passed and I can view my work with a more critical, and less personally involved, eye.
PPS – “10,000 hours.” Malcom Gladwell
