by successfulbob | Lumix Lounge, photography, photography competition, photography education
Imaging competition has helped me become the photographer I am today. There I’ve said it again and I’ll continue to sing it from the rooftops and encourage every photographer that want to grow, or continue to grow to participate in two to four imaging competitions a year.
I recommend you choose between your local PPA Affiliate, PPA District Competition, International Photographic Competition and the WPPI 8×10 and 16×20 competitions.
Why??
It stretches you to push your image making to a higher level. It makes you aware of minor mistakes in posing and exposure and composition and the awareness works its way into your everyday captures keeping you from having to deal with the mistakes over and over again.
Making better images leads to better sales.
Making better images leads to winning awards which leads to having an excuse/reason to send out press releases which leads to press coverage and name recognition in your community.
I had a conversation with Skip from Skip Cohen University on the Weekend Wisdom Podcast on Sprouting Photographer about Photographic Imaging Competitions. Check it out.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, inspirational video, photography - art quote, photography education
Happy New Year!
Going to head in a slightly different direction for this Sunday Photo/Art quote. Was directed to this video on creativity by Nick Pappagallo, Jr. from the Photographers Adventure Club. The message is designed for beginners but I posit that we all need the reminder, especially if we are trying new things. To push the envelope and keep the creative mindset.
The video is about a minute and a half and I recommend you give it a look…
Nobody tells this to beginners.Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, graphic design, photography, photography education, photography marketing
You know those little strings you get when you peel a banana??
Banana bowl.
When you ‘pop the top’ on a banana from the stalk end like we have all been taught there are often banana stringy thingys hanging on. Did you know if you slice the banana at the bottom and peel it toward the top you get almost no banana stringy thingys?? How many bananas have we peeled over the years and dealt with the strings when if we had done it in the opposite way they wouldn’t be there?
Banana Art
As we are moving into the New Year let’s take a look at how we do many things within our our businesses. Look at everything with fresh eyes and see if we are dealing with ‘stringy thingys’ in our shooting. Things that we do all the time just because ‘that’s the way we’ve always done them’. Try something new… and/or make sure the way you are currently doing things the best way possible!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Aspiration!
Today’s Photo/Art Quote has to do with something I aspire to.
And I’ll bet you do also.
“You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again.
You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all of your life.” Joan Miro
To create an image that sticks with people long after they have seen it is an amazing accomplishment. I’m not sure I’ve gotten there yet but the constant striving for creating this kind of photography keeps me going. How about you?
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – Joan Miro was not a photographer but was a Spanish abstract painter, writer and artist. You can check out some of his work here.
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Let’s pick up where we left off in last week’s Sunday Photo/Art Quote where Diego Rivera shared that he got more painting done when he wasn’t actually painting. Here’s another artist that gives us more thought on that subject…
“I think good dreaming is what leads to good photographs.” Wayne Miller
Wayne Miller was a Magnum photographer who also worked for Life Magazine. Mainly known for his series of photographs The Way of Life of the Northern Negro. He was inspired to photograph is own family and produce a book after he was inspired by Edward Steichen’s “Family of Man”art exhibition.
In his quote I think Miller touches on a very important idea. Creation of images starts long before the press of the button on the camera. It starts with allowing your brain to roam free. To connect ideas. To anticipate what might be. Many times we get caught up in the business of photography and forget to allow for the ‘down time’ to allow our mind to help us create new imagery.
I found after I started scheduling time to ‘play’ and mess about with personal projects my images took a step up in creativity with more depth. When there is no pressure to create a specific image you take away the fear of making a less than stellar image but you learn so much more.
Cut some time out of your schedule to dream. Some time to play and see where it takes you…
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Do you see your image in your mind before you push the shutter button??
Should you?
Probably if you want to create more artistic and impressive images. Today’s photo art quote comes from Painter Diego Rivera
“I dream a lot. I do more painting when I’m not painting. It’s in the subconscious.” Diego Rivera
I feel a good amount of pre visualization can move your images to another level.
This brings to mind a thought to spend lots of time with other people’s images and artwork to spark ideas. Just remember that just like a computer GIGO. (garbage in = garbage out) Look to find great imagery and art to study. You will find that some of the ideas will mix and match giving you a whole new way of seeing and creating your photographs.
Arthur Rainville passed on an idea that I try to keep up with. Arthur suggests each night before retiring try to study an artist for about 15 minutes. That could mean quickly reviewing a prolific artist’s entire catalog or studying intimately one or two paintings. You can do this with books, magazines or the Internet. It is amazing how your brain will incorporate things studied just before falling asleep. Arthur is a true photographic artist always trying to push the bounds of wonderful image making. I admire him greatly.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
