by successfulbob | photography, photography education, photography lighting resources, photography seminar
Dean Collins was a lighting master extraordinaire and wonderful educator. If you have the chance to study his old videos you will learn a lot. Purchase here.Yes, he was still based in film but the lighting techniques don’t change. You’ll have to watch several times because he’ll probably be talking over your head until you expand your vocabulary and put some of his ideas to work. (pause buttons work great with Dean’s videos ’cause you can take time to absorb before moving on)
Dean mentioned one thing that really sticks in my head and leads to today’s Photo/Art quote and that was to break down your lighting equipment every night. Put away your lights. If you leave them in the same positions that they were in the day before chances are you’ll be making the same images you did before…
“Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago.” Bernard Berenson
Bernard Berenson was an historian that dealt with art so we let him in to the Photo/Art quote on Successful-Photographer. You know I don’t need a heavy connection to photography to bring up a point or two in these Sunday conversations…
Anyway, I digress. The point is I’m a firm believer in education and experimentation. I believe it was Einstein that said, and of course I’m paraphrasing here, ‘the definition of insanity is doing the same things the same way and expecting different results’. We need to attend lighting programs, sales programs, read books, magazines and scour the Internet and try new things if we are to grow as image makers. I see many photographers stop attending workshops and monthly photo meeting and I quickly see their image making skills grow stale.
Seek. Practice. Play. Become a stronger image maker. I dare you.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | imaging competition, photography, photography education
Imaging Competition… and becoming a better photographer.
“The judges were really hard this year!” “They weren’t there so they can’t see how hard I had to work to get that photo!” “My client loved that image and paid a lot of money, what do those judges know?”
I hear this call from almost every group during and just after the competition. (as a matter of fact, I remember saying these exact same words to myself when I first started competing) It echoes. And repeats as photographers who have not done so well in the scoring commiserate with each other. Until… Those photographers who want to grow speak to the judges one-on-one following the judging to get feedback on why their image did, or didn’t, do so well.
I was in Richmond, Virgina this past weekend working with photographers who are trying to up their game… And, it was a wonderful experience. These photographers heeded the call to improve their work through having peers examine and rate their imaging skills. They followed up and after hearing the comments on what could be improved and what the judges saw in the photo, as presented, the lights started going on with smiles as they realized how they could become better image makers.When giving critiques it’s great to see a makers eyes light up as they find out what the judges felt they did right in the image, and even more important, what they could to improve their photography. Whether it be improving lighting skills, composition, subject matter, color harmony, story-telling, technical excellence, image presentation and more.
If you are looking for some information on how to do better and what judges are looking for you can find more resources on the PPA web site. Pay particular attention to the ’12 Elements of a Merit Image’.
Which brings me to today’s Photo/Art quote…
“I am in no competition with anyone else, I am in competition with my Yester Self, and I am winning.” Anonymous
While it’s great to win awards it’s even greater to realize that they have already won just by being in the game of improvement through participation. It’s never comfortable hearing that your image is not the best in the world.
I can’t wait to see what these photographers will create in the coming years because they cared enough to put their work out there for the world to see in imaging competition.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – FYI. I’ve been entering competition since 1999 at State, District and PPA International. I still do. Why? Because I want to continue to push my imaging skill to a higher level. And, every time my image spins so does my stomach. When that stops happening I’ll probably retire cause it will mean that I no longer wish to improve.
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography education
A conversation that often appears in forums or where artists or photographers gather is one of is photography art?
From Wikipedia – Fine art photography is photography created in accordance with the vision of the artist as photographer.
I absolutely believe it to be true. Look at different photographers through the generations and you’ll find there are several that stand out in different aspects of photography head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
Why? For some it is the pioneering of new techniques. For others it is the subject matter chosen. For still others it is an ability to see light where others find it not. I know early in my career I was hanging out with another photographer and watched him take a photo. I was not sure what he was seeing. Turns out it was a picture of the ground and some shadows created from multi-colored lights. It was captivating! And I never saw it…
Vision. Technique. Tools. All of these things make it possible to create something. Some can push the limits and make the ordinary extraordinary. That my friends is the art of photography. If you give the same camera, lens and subject to 10 different photographers you will receive 10 different photographs. Will all of them be art? No. Will any of them? Possibly. It depends on the skills of the maker with that particular subject, lighting skills.
“…it does seem to me that Capa has proved beyond all doubt that the camera need not be a cold mechanical device. Like the pen, it is as good as the man who uses it. It can be the extension of mind and heart…” – John Steinbeck.
Is my photography art? Some is… but not all.
That’s why I continue to pursue education, to attend classes and conventions, study images, study the classic painters, photographers and cinematographers, read books and magazines on photography, painting and color, experiment, practice and teach. (cause I learn a ton when I teach – I also love to see the lights go on in someone’s eyes as they begin to understand new concepts)
Let’s check in with other art genres and see what they have to say…
I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn. – Pablo Picasso
I have always been very interested in photography. I have looked at far more photographs than I have paintings. Because their reality is stronger than reality itself. – Francis Bacon
What are your thoughts on photography as Fine Art?
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography education, success education
At the convention here in Nashville Tennessee with Professional Photographers Association at Imaging USA.
WOW!
Way over 10,000 photographers here to network, learn about photography, learn about new products and become inspired bout this wonderful business we have chosen in which to make our living.
That brings me to why my Sunday Photo/Art quote is running a day late (it’s been a really busy time!) And to not delay the quote any longer…
“It’s all about the process!” Thom Rouse
Thom presented a program called “The Case for Fine Art” and suggests if we choose or as we try to move our photography in an artistic direction that it starts with OUR process – whatever that may be.
What is creativity? Thom suggests that Creativity is the process of the prepared mind. It’s anything you do in your creative life to make your imagery. What kind of lens do you put on your camera? What format? What subjects do you shoot? What settings do you use? How do you expose yourself to new imagery to draw inspiration from? Art in museums museums, web sites, books, other photographers images?
Thom Rouse fine art image © Thom Rouse All Rights Reserved
Once you have the tools of the process down you go through a number of steps as you create your images. You need a prepared mind as noted above looking at art and life for inspiration. You can get stuck or as he calls this moment, ‘incubation’. Then possibly a reversal of thinking. Making mistakes including ‘AHA!’ moments and ‘Happy Accidents’. Having Passion and perseverance and knowing that failure defines success.
Thom Rouse fine art image © Thom Rouse All Rights Reserved
Failure defines success. We’ve been talking about that here on Successful-Photographer a lot in this Sunday morning corner and I submit once again if you are not making mistakes not constantly trying to learn you probably won’t be doing anything really creative.
What mistakes are you going to make this week, this month, this year? Go for it!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – This is only one of over 90 programs available to choose from this year. If you aren’t getting out to conventions and educational programs you are going tot be growing your art and your business
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education, success education
Be like the Energizer Bunny Rabbit ‘Eveready’!
Sometimes creating the great image is being aware enough and having good habits to not miss an opportunity. Today’s Photo/Art Quote comes from one of the top photographers in the field today. Listen and remember.
“Don’t pack up the camera until you’ve left the location.” Joe McNally
The idea is to stay aware of possibilities, and be ready for serendipity to strike at any moment. Simple thought. Great habit.
Want to learn more from a master? Check out Joe’s books…
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS Here’s the Meet Joe text from his blog.
“The thoughts, notions, and ideas here come from thirty years in the field as a shooter. Twenty plus on the road for National Geographic. LIFE staffer. Sports Illustrated contractor. 54 countries. 50 states. Read on, and welcome to my blog.” Check it out.
