by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education, success education
Not ashamed to say tears welled up in my eyes. Looking through some old family photos brought back wonderful memories!
“A photograph is the pause button of life.” Anonymous
I really like this quote. Eight words that contain so much food for thought! It’s simplistic but profound. Having just been taken into the past with images really brings the point home. Photographs give us opportunity to revisit old friends, good times, study environments, study history, learn about motion and time. Think about the preservation of memories we as photographers are charged with in most of our businesses.
If sometimes you aren’t sure about how important your career choice is break out your own family albums and take a stroll down memory lane. I did the other day and was filled with lots of emotion. This wee what you can do push the ‘pause button of life’ for others. And don’t forget yourself and your own family!
by successfulbob | photography, photography education, success education
Bringing photography to be recognized as an art form was a difficult push in the early 20th century. Alfred Steiglitz, Edward Weston and Paul Strand were some of the main photographers pushing the limits of the materials of the day. Today’s quote come from Strand and is a gentle reminder to keep our eyes open for photographic opportunities all the time, no matter where we may be.
“The artists world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” – Paul Strand
Doesn’t it always seem that when we travel to a new location photographic opportunities seem to be everywhere? I believe when we move out of our normal everyday space our vision is freshened. The blinders we wear everyday because we have seen our neighborhood so often are firmly in place. Have you ever had another photographer shoot with you in your place and be surprised by what they capture?? I know I have. And it’s the same when I go into another photographer’s area. He or she often goes, “I never would have thought of shooting it that way.”
Work your home space. See it as if for the first time. Good shooting!
by successfulbob | photography, photography education, success education
Sometimes you need to step away from the photography and fine art community to look for inspiration.
I have met many photographers that are so intense (I must admit I have been one at times) that they forget to have fun. You’ll find that your best work comes forward when you study intensely then let go… Let the information you have gathered gel & process inside that wonderful electronic computer storage center we call a brain. Then have some seriously good times, get back to it and see how a relaxed attitude can allow creativity to reign.
This month’s quote comes from comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
“Life is truly a ride. We’re all strapped in & no one can stop it… I think the most you can hope for at the end is that your hair’s messed, you’re out of breath, and you don’t throw up.” – Jerry Seinfeld
I’ve been on holiday for a couple weeks and ideas are starting to come fast and furiously. Yahoooooo!!! When’s the last time you cut loose? Get out there. You’ll be glad you did.
by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education, success education
Many photographers, especially those in the infancy of their careers, often wonder what they should photograph.
There are many, many, many ways to make money creating images with your camera. Before you make a decision to choose a specialty, or to change the type of photography you are already doing I invite you to consider the words of this wonderful photographer…
What makes you heart beat faster?? – Beverly Walden
If you can take these words and weave them in with your decision of how you make your living in photography you will be on your way to a successful career.
Spend some time poking around the Walden’s web-site where you can see the love, depth of lighting and product line available. You will see what makes Beverly and Tim’s heart race. Check Beverly’s Blog. Beverly & Tim also have a photographer education web-site.
So, where are you headed with your photography?
by successfulbob | black & white, Lumix GH3, Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography - art quote, photography education, photography gear, success education
COLOR!! Seems to be the theme for me this week.
Just after I decided to make color the target for my shooting while traveling in Sarasota I came across the quote for today’s conversation by Pete Turner.
“I am steadily surprised that there are so many photographers that reject manipulating reality, as if that was wrong. Change reality! If you don’t find it, invent it!” – Pete Turner
From Pete’s web site – A pioneer of color photography, Pete Turner’s career began during the infancy of color photography, at a time when color was used almost exclusively for commercial purposes. Unlike many contemporaries, Turner embraced color, seizing opportunities that allowed him to master the process and to create the imagery he felt compelled to make. Unconcerned with the labels of “art” or “commercial,” I invite you to take a peek at Pete’s photos before reading more…
Many photographers upon first starting out say things like, “I would never put a filter in front of my lens, that would be cheating!” Or, “You use Photoshop that’s not really a photograph.” They then trot out the example of Ansel Adams as the master of reality and they are trying to emulate him. What these photographers don’t realize is that Ansel Adams was one of the original manipulators of all photographic materials to show the scene the way he wanted people to see it. Think about the Zone System and his altering of exposure and development to get different details into different areas of the negative, not mention dodging and burning in the darkroom that sometimes took days to pull one print he was happy with..
In Ansel Adams An autobiography from 1984 Adams said, “I will always embrace a credo of excellence in craft and vision; both are difficult to maintain. Photographers are composers in a sense, and the negatives are their scores. In the electronic age, I am sure that scanning techniques will be able to achieve prints of extraordinary subtlety from the original negative scores. If I could return in 20 years or so I would hope to see astounding interpretations of my most expressive images. It is true no one could print my negatives as I did, but they might well get more out of them by electronic means. Image quality is not the product of a machine, but of the person who directs the machine, and there are no limits to imagination and expression.” – Link to full article ‘Inspired by Ansel’ on black and white imaging.
Please remember that the camera does not see as the eye sees. Your pupil expands and contracts imperceptibly allowing you to see detail in the darkest shadows and brightest highlights in a wide dynamic scene
So I offer these thoughts to you. Learn as much as you can to understand what is possible in our medium. Practice what you learn so you have it available to use when you need it. Have a vision and work to achieve that vision no matter what tools it takes to create the final image.
We now have cameras that can help fine-tune our images straight out of the camera. I was never one for using camera pre-sets but the technology has come a long way baby! Now you can tweak the settings from many of the in camera art type settings and make them your own. The Lumix GH3 has some wonderful black and white settings. The Lumix GX7 can do all that plus you can now set curves in-camera. It’s a great time to be a creative pushing the envelope with all the new tools at our disposal!!
And, isn’t it interesting that an article that started out about intense color and vision in photography ends with black and white??
Turner uses ‘in your face’ color and Adams uses the complete tonal ranges in black and white to tell their stories. How will use your camera to tell your stories in your images??
by successfulbob | photography education, success education
I was asked to post on a forum the things I am thankful for and I thought I’d share them here… How about you? What are you thankful for??
I am constantly aware of how thankful I am for being one of the luckiest people on the face of the planet earth.
My wife Holly who supports what I do in so many ways.
Fellow photographers over the centuries and years who share their knowledge through books, seminars, workshops and allow me to stand upon their shoulders to create images that have been impossible in the past.
That I can say no to jobs that I don’t feel are right for me.
For all the educational opportunities available to expand my knowledge.
For the genes passed by my parents which have given me the talent, patience, work ethic and good looks
; )> to allow me to succeed in business and personal relationships.
Being able to travel outside the borders of the US receiving a world view to realize how truly wonderful we have it here under the American flag.
For those who have gone above and beyond in service to our country.
That I have all my senses intact, to see, to hear and feel with intensity.
For the general good health that is mine… and for the occasional health problems that remind me of how good I really feel.
For friends and fellow photographers who I can support in their projects with ideas and who support and cheer me on in my endeavors.
That I am able to share my knowledge with other photographers through giving programs which in turn becomes a platform for me to learn even more.
For the new micro 4/3rds format cameras which have given me a new excitement in photography because of the fact I can now have my camera in my hot little hands all the time.
My relationship with Panasonic as a sponsor for photography education programs.
The fact that I am able to give back to, and support, my community through photography.
I’m thankful that I get to deliver Meals on Wheels and share a small part of my week with those who need a little help in my dad’s honor. This selfishly allows me to spend some spiritual time with my father who passed away over five years ago. At that time he was still delivering MOW to, as he said, “the old folks” at age 86. I had promised to pick up a route when I said goodbye…
Music and musicians!
Good food. And, the occasional bad meal which makes me appreciate good food all the more!
Good wine.
Beauty.
Did I mention my wife Holly? She’s the best!
