Photographer Clay

Tag: fine art

  • A meeting of creatives

    A meeting of creatives

    Later this morning I’m going to a Halloween-themed photography session. It will be a gathering of both models and photographers and has been discussed for several weeks now. In the past, my experience has been hit-and-miss with these types of things. Often too many photographers jocking for time with too few models. Many say they will come but often don’t show up at the last minute.

    Like I always do with these things I will take more things than I probably need or will use but I would rather be prepared by having something I don’t use rather than need something I didn’t bring. Just like the session above, I took more things than I needed. I really used just a tripod and a single lens, but I didn’t take a portable softbox with a grid.

    I will say, that this group of creative photographers and models is getting my interest in things like this again even if this will be my first time meeting with them. Here’s hoping to find new interests and new groups to meet and collaborate with again.

  • The greatest joy I’ve had as a photograher

    The greatest joy I’ve had as a photograher

    The greatest joy I’ve had as a photographer, and in particular as a photographic artist, is I have learned to look at the world differently. I have learned there the world is an interesting place and that nearly everything and everyone is photographically interesting. I’ve learned to there is a story to be told in the objects, landscape, and people around us. My photography is an escape from politics and life’s issues even though I use my photography to express my thoughts, experiences, emotions, and wonder.

    This isn’t a difficult thing to learn. When we go out with our cameras practice just stopping and looking. Think about photography. Think composition. Think light. Think is this a decisive moment. Learn as much about your camera equipment as you can so that when you recognize something that grabs your attention you can nearly automatically compose and get the shot.

    You may be surprised at how much learning to be able to see the world as an artist will change how you view the world.

  • The challenges we sometimes face as photographers

    The challenges we sometimes face as photographers

    As photographers, or more appropriately for some of us photographic artists, we often have unique challenges. The sun is harsh, the clouds are flat and featureless, it’s hot, it’s cold, it’s raining, and I frequently see, more photographers showing up to an event than models and we are all clamoring for a position.

    I guess part of it is I often work with others like myself. We do our art for the love and joy of it rather than making a full-time living at it. As such, it is often that another opportunity arises that gathers more interest. I have had the opportunity to work with many other creatives that I have enjoyed working with to create my art.

    I’m certain this isn’t a challenge unique to me or my area. I suspect this stuff happens all over.

    I find it interesting yet frustrating that many times a day and time is agreed to be equally open, yet when that day and time arrive, the other creative is late. Sometimes you get a call sometimes you don’t.

    Nature and landscape are always there, always on time. The only challenge we face is the elements.

    I don’t mean to say that I am going to give up working with other people and creating art. Far from it. The vast majority of the people I have worked with in the past I’ve enjoyed the time, often creating some wonderful photographs. It’s just a challenge to work with and attempt to overcome.

  • Photographing outside your comfort zone

    Photographing outside your comfort zone

    Early in my journey as a photographer, I wasn’t too comfortable with a lot of subjects or genres of photography. As a result, my photographs were snapshots, at best.

    I was stuck as a photographer. As much as I tried on my own I wasn’t really growing as a photographer much less as an artist. The whole, self-taught photography journey wasn’t really working out for me as I wasn’t able to break out of my comfort zone.

    I actually began a photography course. The course forced me to move out of my comfort zone by assigning projects I had to complete to graduate. I remember the first time I connected with a model that I didn’t know as a friend or family member. I was very nervous. I began to learn about lighting and how to control it.

    I learned to control both artificial lighting and natural lighting.

    This knowledge I gained by being forced out of my comfort zone also helped me with photography without models.

    Sometimes, we have to get out there and try things that we’re not comfortable with, but at the same time, we have to have people leading us through the journey that is more knowledgeable and can help instruct us through those times when we are uncomfortable.

    I’m still working to get out of my comfort zones but now that I have much more experience and have been forced to try other subjects and genres I find it much easier to get out of my comfort zone.

    To truly grow from photographer to artist is rewarding. My journey now is to try and help others move past their comfort zones to try new things even if it is a bit scary, at first.

  • A divergent photographer

    A divergent photographer

    I can go from being totally absent of reality to a basic portrait of a person. Not only do my styles change but so do the subjects of my photographs.

    This is, in reality, how my mind works. Often a random thought just pops in or as I’m reviewing a photograph I may look at it an go, “let’s try this!”

    While it is fun to do I often find it difficult to put together a completed project. I’m not just a landscape photographer that can easily put together a 20-image project and all the images have a similar look and feel. At the same time, having such a wide array of styles and subjects often keeps my creative thoughts churning. I can go through my library of images and create something totally different from the last version of it.

    I just love my style of photography. It makes it much easier to just wander nearly any location and find something to photograph and make art of it. I don’t have to travel to exotic locations I can just walk down the street and be like, huh take that picture.

    My art is about seeing the world around me and sharing my vision of it. Sometimes, it’s beauty, sometimes, it’s ugliness, and sometimes it’s uniqueness. Try it, and expand your subjects and styles. Try something totally different from your normal styles and subjects.

  • Mistakes photographers make

    Mistakes photographers make

    Yesterday, I saw an article titled, “5 Reasons Why Black and White shouldn’t be used for landscape photography.” At first, I scoffed at it and didn’t read the article until this morning. You can find the article here. This morning, I finally read it and the title did mislead me about where the author was going.

    I run across articles with similar titles often. Things like, “Biggest mistakes made by landscape photographers”, or “10 things a portrait photographer should never do”. Yes, there are things that are mistakes and things we shouldn’t do but in the end, it is really a creative decision on behalf of the photographer or artist.

    I know many of these articles are written in good spirit to inspire us to become better at our craft but I also find them somewhat pretentious, at least in the title.

    For me, it is just like the choice of color or black and white. The choice of how to develop the initial image into the final work of art. Throughout history, artists have discarded the so-called experts and created a piece that “violated the rules.” That is the whole point of being an artist. The avant-garde if you will. It may not be for everyone but if you don’t try it from time to time, how do you know it isn’t for you. Think of it as sushi for the artistic soul.

  • Photography by wandering

    Photography by wandering

    My wife and I took a short trip this past weekend on Saturday morning we had nothing planned so we got in the car and just started to wander about looking for photo opportunities. It was an exciting journey to just take a look.

    In one sleepy little town, we didn’t see anyone out in the “downtown” area, but we did find the WOW building.

    While I didn’t get as many photographs as I had hoped, it was a fun adventure. I need to do more photography by wandering.

  • Technology and the creative mindset

    Time and again I see and hear photographers say something similar to “but how much is Photoshop”? I then think about how the previous masters of photography were often on the cutting edge of the technology of their day. Often developing new processes, experimenting with new techniques and I haven’t read where other photographers of the their day say but what about the old ways.

    Today, I can create music, movies, drawings, photographs using handheld devices such as my smartphone or tablet. What a wonderful time to be a creative working in visual or audio arts. Using modern technology one is rarely without equipment or supplies to create.

    At the same time I can still utilize the old ways and create using film, paints, or musical instruments. The possibilities are endless and getting better. Don’t discount technology and the creative mind.

  • Digital versus film does it really matter?

    I was recently asked a question, “I’m wondering how much of your time is spent using photo editing software vs. film?” In reality, if I were processing my own film I spend much less time in photo editing software than I spent in the darkroom and I was only doing some basic processing in the darkroom.

    To me, the real question is does it matter? If a photographer is producing beautiful images does it matter if it is film or digital? Does it matter if the photographer spends a lot of time in the darkroom or photo editing software? What matters, to me, is the final result. What matters is the time spent composing and setting up “the shot” in the beginning. What matters is recognizing the moment. What matters is developing the eye of an artist.

    Starting with a well-composed photograph, of an interesting subject, executed well the result is often beautiful. Masters, such as Ansel Adams spent hours in the darkroom as did many of the so-called masters of photography.

    Be it film or a digital sensor doesn’t matter. Each is just a medium for recording a scene. Both are similar, yet different. In the end, a beautiful photograph is a beautiful photograph. Just think about the time spent by Michelangelo or Rembrandt creating their paintings.

    One of the biggest problems with photographic art being recognized as true art is that many think it is instantaneous. Just point the camera at a subject or scene and push the button. That doesn’t create beautiful art. Beautiful art is skillfully and carefully crafted using all the tools necessary.

    It doesn’t matter the length of time spent creating the art. What matters is the art. Nothing more nothing less.

  • I choose to be a photographic artist not just a photographer

    I choose to be a photographic artist not just a photographer

    Over the years I have chosen to not be called a photographer, but rather a photographic artist. I have found that when I use the term photographer, the first thing many people ask is, “Do you do weddings?” No, I don’t do weddings.

    I currently work in a school environment and a few days ago was picture day. Two photographers from a somewhat well-known school photography company came and took the school children’s photographs. It is assembly line photography. Everything looks the same just a different person.

    As a photographic artist, I can have multiple styles and looks. I can change midstream and go to a completely different look.

    I’m not locked into a “signature look”. I can go with what my mood is at the time. I can change the look on a whim. For me, each image is a reflection of me and my mood and personality. I relish the freedom of expression I get by calling myself a photographic artist.

    I don’t think I am better than a photographer, I’m just different. I don’t care what others call themselves. It doesn’t matter to me. What matters to me is the work. I love, and I mean truly love looking at good photographs. I spend a lot of time looking at the work of other photographers and photographic artists. Go forth and create wonderful work and let your imagination and creativeness run wild.