by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography education, success education
As photographers we need to find inspiration and ideas outside of the photography family. I have been following the twice-weekly newsletter of Robert Genn for years and have occasionally shared some of his ideas with you. Unfortunately, Robert has passed and is no longer with us in body. Fortunately, his daughter Sara is picking up where Robert left off and is continuing the tradition by sharing some of his best letters and posting her own thoughts and ideas. Some really good thoughts here for artists. Thanks for keeping this alive Sara!
I post this with permission. And, I encourage you to sign up for the newsletter.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Robert & Sara Genn Twice-Weekly Letter
Click to read this letter online and share your valuable insights.
An artist’s mind
September 2, 2014
Dear Bob,
My friend Joe Blodgett said, “There’s two ways to walk this path–one for the path and one for the spirit.” In a cathedral of Douglas fir and alder, blown twigs from the night’s storm over a carpet of autumn, Joe crouches down and watches the steady miracle of a spotted woodland slug.
Joe says he feels an artistic moment coming on, surrendering to the need to make something: a guilt or work-ethic thing. He’s a guy in tune with “tuning in.” Joe works with water-soluble marker-pens which he augments with watercolour washes–a technique which diffuses lines not held with fixative. The can of fixative sticks out of his jacket pocket. His method is fast and loose. After only a few minutes, he moves on.
The artistic mind, flowing properly, sees the world differently. Call it what you will–a Celestine moment, synchronicity, serendipity. There’s a higher harmonic. It’s got something to do with receptiveness and alertness. Those who expect, receive. We can leave it to the gods where it comes from. The important thing is to give in to it–allow this dream mind to run free. My friend is a living example of one who trusts dreams, hunches and intuition. Joe’s not a child–he’s just curious. On the side, he’s a good businessman, father, bookkeeper, track-keeper. It’s not a pose–it’s a desirable and natural state of being. On the path he has wandering eyes. On the path his hand becomes busy because it has to. T. S. Eliot suggested that the paths we walk are made of hints and guesses. The artist says, “What can I make of this?”
Best regards,
Robert
PS: “Intuit higher meanings in mysterious happenings.” (James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy)
“God is only another artist–like me.” (Salvador Dali)
Esoterica: Artists are often dreaming, wondering, wandering and idling in the fanciful department. It seems that artistic types can actually “live in” a world of their own creation, perhaps preferring it to the real world, their work being an extension of it.
This letter was originally published as “Artist’s mind” on December 1, 2000.
Included in this letter is an excerpt from “My idle mind” published on May 18, 2010.
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This letter is always illustrated on The Painter’s Keys website.
by successfulbob | Lumix GH4, Lumix Lounge, musician photography, photography, photography education, video
Humble.
And, extremely talented.
His name is Alan Ames.
He shared with me that he was pleasantly surprised that he was able to play along with the ‘A’ team of musicians assembled on the stage at Sound Bites Grill. I had enjoyed Alan’s playing before, he’s already on the SBG ‘Wall of Fame’ but I heard lots more. When I asked band leader Eric Miller about the additional sounds I was hearing he told me that Alan had built his own instrument. It’s called a Violyra. (I’ll check with Alan on the spelling of this) Instead of the violin’s traditional four strings Alan added two extra strings in the bass range with a different body design. His creation is so original the Musical Instruments Museum in Phoenix has commissioned him to make another for display in the museum. A true honor indeed.
Here’s a quick sample of some of the sounds Alan creates with his Violyra…
Still frame pulled from 4K video captured by the Lumix GH4.
The sounds Alan can make from this instrument are extremely varied. He said he has fused the old techniques of instrument building with the new technology and this allows him to create an incredible range of sounds from traditional violin to cello and more…
Pretty amazing the new technology available in musical instruments and cameras. It’s a great time to be a creative. What are you experimenting with??
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography education, photography marketing, success education
As a photographer you need to be front and center in your town.
The best ways are through referrals and gentle reminders like staying on the pages of your local paper through press releases. As you know you can’t be featured in a press release too often, but you can be featured if you are willing to give back by spending time and sharing your knowledge. Here’s a case in point. I am now writing a monthly column for the newspaper called ‘Photographers Corner’. Here’s the first article.
Article by Bob Coates (hey that’s me!) appeared in The Villager September 1st.
The article will talk about ways a non-photographer may make better images. “Why would you want to tell people how to do your job Bob?” I’m not. I’m helping people who are going to make images better for themselves. These will not be professional photos. When they need professional images they will remember that I was helpful and I have their best interest at heart. Sales trainer and professional speaker Zig Ziglar said that when you help people get what they want you will create a good living for yourself.
The articles will help people and people will remember me when it is time to have professional images made. A win-win-win. “Wait a minute Bob. I only count two wins in your blog post.” Ah the third win is for the newspaper who receive articles to add interest to their pages without having to pay a writer. My payment is exposure and the bio at the end highlighting where people can see some of my work.
I also do a monthly radio show but that’s for a different day… Stay in front of your community there are lots of ways… This is just one.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography education, salute to business, success education
I want to salute Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Scottsdale, AZ. My wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary during an Arizona Staycation. We decided to do a little happy hour at Flemings restaurant. We enjoy the social aspects of dining at the bar and this was a great time.
Setting the stage, enter our bartenders for the evening, Brian & Erin. Our experience was wonderful all the way through. Greeted professionally and with pleasant personality. Given a very nice recommendation for wine choice. Food was well presented and flavors fabulous.
Gift box with our surprise sweets enclosed…
Remember, we enjoy the social part of dining at the bar and were chatting with a lovely woman named Jennifer and my wife mentioned in passing that we were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. A little while later Brian appears with a present of a box of chocolate truffles. He said, “Heard you were celebrating and here’s a little treat from Flemings… Congratulations.” (May be some paraphrasing here, but you get the idea.)
So a tip of the hat to Flemings in Scottsdale for a wonderfully memorable evening including stellar service.
But, that’s not really what this post is about…What are YOU doing to go above and beyond so your clients get so excited that they blog and tweet and share how excited they are about YOUR business??
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
That’s what I love about the art and profession of photography. There are so many different ways to think about how you work and present your work to the world… Today’s quote comes from National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. He has said that he could be perfectly happy with his photography even if his only subject was light itself. Here’s Sam’s quote which references a different way of thinking about photography than I do.
As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something and show it to the camera.
A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs.” Sam Abell
When you see light as well as Abell does, as well as knowing how the camera sees and interprets what our eye sees, you can make fabulous images without supplemental light. I often see and hear people say these days I’m ONLY a ‘Natural Light’ photographer. While there are some fabulous exceptions like Abell that phrase is mostly code for, “I don’t know how to use flash or other supplemental light and can’t be bothered or am too scared to learn my craft.”
All light is useful in creating the best image of our subject. In the case of natural light it often means returning to a place or scene when the light is more favorable to show off the scene better. many times especially when working against a time constraint like a deadline for a commercial project, or ‘the family will only be together for this date and time’ or other such reason. The true pro will still create a beautiful image because he or she will be able to use all of the tools available including flash and additive or subtractive lighting.
Want to be a better photographer? Study light in all it’s forms and permutations. You’ll be glad you did!
Here are two head shot portraits of Sam Abell. Tells of two different sides and conveys different messages. What’s the major difference? Light.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS I am still learning light and it’s language every chance I get attending as many conventions and seminars as possible. I’ve been doing this for about fifteen years.
Maybe I’m a slow learner.
Or maybe there’s a LOT to learn.
by successfulbob | people photography, photography education, photography software, photoshop tutorial
I often have to remove subjects from basic white backgrounds and thought I would share a technique using the Channels Palette to create the Alpha Channel to separate the subject very cleanly from the background with little fuss and muss. There is some Photoshop Magic involved. If you haven’t seen this technique before you will be pleasantly surprised by how much of a time saver it is!
Special thanks to my subject Tom Tayback of Tom Tayback and the Daddy O’s who does a 50’s & 60’s Graffiti Gold Show that is pretty darn cool. If you are in Arizona and see the show will be playing, go, I know you’ll enjoy it!
