Photographer Clay

Tag: learn

  • The Passionate photographer

    The Passionate photographer

    I often see people mention how they are passionate about photography, but are they truly passionate about photography? If we look at the definition of the word:

    • easily aroused to anger
    • filled with anger
    • capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling
    •  ENTHUSIASTIC, ARDENT
    • swayed by or affected with sexual desire

    We see that they may mean they are enthusiastic about or ardent admirers of photography. I often question whether they are truly enthusiastic about photography or do they just use the word because it sounds good. I’m not doubting whether they truly enjoy photography or love taking photographs but that they may not be passionate about it. For me, photography is a passion. I think about photography every day, I look at photographs every day, and I work with my photo editing software every day. I talk to other photographers about photography every day. I don’t spend all day every day, some days I spend more time than other days but not a day goes by without something photography related. I don’t mean to imply that I’m better than others, in fact, I have a lot of things to learn and get better at with photography. This is why I spend time every day doing something photography related. My goal is to not compete with others but to be a better photographer today than I was yesterday.

    The passionate photographer, in my opinion, studies, talks about, reads about and learns about photography a bit every day. If you truly want to improve become passionate about photography. Find places to look at photography outside of social media. Read about photography, not just gear but about the art of photography. Play with new techniques and styles. Become a student of photography. It isn’t always about taking photographs every day. It’s about all aspects of photography.

  • Is photography gear still important?

    Is photography gear still important?

    Is photography gear still important or can we create fantastic photographs with basic equipment? In years past, we needed fast lenses for low-light photography because we were limited in how fast we could push our film speed (or digital sensor). Today we have the capability to shoot at ISOs that exceed 3,000,000 and combined with the noise reduction capabilities of modern software the photographs are quite useable. As I have also learned when I purchased a new to me camera lens that is nearly 30 years old the sharpness and contrast of the old lens are nearly as good as a new lens manufactured today.

    I bought this used 30-year-old lens because I needed to replace or repair a newer lens of nearly the same focal length, 70mm to 200mm). My 70-200mm lens was an f/2.8 but it would no longer zoom out to 200mm and began to develop an intermittent focus issue. I found a used 70-210mm f/4-5.6 lens in very good condition for $134. To replace the 70-200mm f/2.8 I was likely to spend 10 times that much. Was it really worth it to get one or two stops faster? I could make it up by upping the ISO one or two stops. For some of you, this may be a bit too technical but my point is we don’t always need to spend big money on gear. We don’t always need the latest gear. We can create great work with what we have available. Don’t chase gear, chase creativity, chase honing your skills, chase art.

  • Are you in it for art or money?

    Are you in it for art or money?

    I got started in photography as a hobby, basically to make art. I never dreamed of making any money at it until years after I started. It was fun for me. I photographed family events, birthday parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and such but only for me. It wasn’t until years later that I thought I could make some money. I soon realized that much of the time it took away from the fun. It was a job. It was, at times, a rewarding job, but nonetheless, it was a job. I soon stopped doing photography as a job and got back to photography for fun. Nowadays, it often appears that people get involved with photography and very shortly after starting begin to look for ways to make money. They work hours and hours but rarely realize most of them are actually making less than minimum wage.

    I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to photograph for money. There is a need for it. At the same time, those that really want to make money in photography need to learn to treat their photography as a business. To successfully run a business you must calculate your cost of doing business and then price your product accordingly. That includes paying yourself. For me, that is a job and I would rather do my photography to create art and have fun. If I sell something I took a picture of while having fun great, if not I had fun.

  • What if no one likes my art?

    What if no one likes my art?

    Nowadays, we can share our photographic art instantaneously with the world with just a few clicks of a button. We can also get instant feedback, but what if no one likes our photographic artwork? Does it matter? I have read that the only person you should compete with is yourself. You should strive to be a better person, a better artist, and a better photographer than you were yesterday.

    The feedback may be helpful but it also may not be helpful. You don’t have to succumb to the will of others and create artwork to please them unless, of course, you are working for someone else. We create art to please ourselves, or you should be. It is a plus when others like our work but we must like our work first and foremost. As an artist, we should be creating works that we are passionate about and that says what we wish to say. I work to bring out how I see a subject or scene. If the final artwork connects with others that is a bonus. If art doesn’t connect with others but it conveys my concept to me it is successful. Create work you’re proud of without worrying about making sure others like it. If you as the artist aren’t happy with your work it is likely others will not like it either.

  • Photography: Technique or Artistic Style?

    Photography: Technique or Artistic Style?

    This is one of those age-old questions. Is it more about technique or artistic style? I’m not talking about documentary photography but rather a photograph as an art form. At this point, it would seem rather obvious, a photograph as an art form is about artistic style and expression, but is it?

    Certainly, the technique is important as well as artistic style and expression. Without technique can we really pull off our artistic style and expression? It is sort of a quandary, at least for me. What if I totally screw up the technique but I employ artistic style and expression? It can still work. What if I nail the technique but screw up the artistic style and expression, the result most likely won’t work or at least I have discovered in my experience.

    My thoughts? Artistic style and expression are more important in creating a photographic work of art with a lesser amount of technique, but the technique is still important.

  • Photography and stress

    Photography and stress

    Sometimes I have to remind myself that photography should be a way to alleviate stress, not to create stress. I say this because every couple of years, so it appears, I get involved in some sort of group that creates a tremendous amount of stress. I just recently left such a group. The vast majority of people were fantastic. I met some new people, both photographers, and models. Made many new connections but the overall experience was often overwhelming. Lots of people in a crowded environment and the behind-the-scenes stuff was drama after drama after drama. It shouldn’t be that way but in the three times I got involved in large group settings it has turned out that way. Once I moved away from the stress of the large group, I was able to achieve some of the photographs I had envisioned during my participation, which made the experience worthwhile.

    It’s always fun to spend time with other creatives but many times you can get too many people and lose your creative focus. Maybe a short stint now and again to expose me to a variety of concepts and ideas and then move on to achieve my goals and complete them and photographic projects. I don’t want to become a one-man island but I don’t want to be just another small face in the hoards.

  • Black and white photography is my favorite

    Black and white photography is my favorite

    Last Friday I had a film noir style photo shoot planned. The model I was photographing is one of my favorites. I arrived about an hour before she did to do some final location scouting. As always with digital photography the originals were all color and were converted to black and white in post-processing.

    Black and white photography is one of my favorites because I feel I get to photograph the person’s soul rather than their clothes. For me, color sometimes gets in the way.

  • I’m spoiled by technology

    Last night I had an amazing photography session in downtown Kansas City. I get up this morning to do some edits and write my blog only to find out I have no internet or cable tv service. Ugh! Whatever will I do?

    To compensate a bit I took a screenshot of one of my photos and no writing this entry via my cellphone since I do still have cellular service. If needed I could do a cellular hotspot but I’m not really setup for it. I’m just spoiled by stuff just working. I guess my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn Express.

  • I was once a gear snob

    I was once a gear snob

    I hate to admit it but I do believe that is true. I used to be a gear snob, despite my writings and words that may have indicated otherwise. Why do I say this? I say this because I just bought a lens that is, at least, 23 years old AND spent only $140 on it. I bought the lens to use in place of my expensive 70-200 f/2.8 lens. The lens I bought is a Nikon 70-210 f/4-5.6 lens. This may not mean much to you all but suffice it to say the lens was manufactured somewhere between 1993 and 2000. It isn’t as fast as current “pro” lenses nor does it have all the fancy lens coatings all the things I used to think were necessary despite what I would often say.

    I don’t mean this post to be a review of gear but rather that it isn’t always about how much something costs or how new it is. Photography is about photographs, not gear. Quality can be achieved through many different options. It is about using the tools you have to achieve. Don’t be a gear snob, be a quality photography snob. You don’t even have to impress anyone other than yourself.

  • How has technology changed photography

    How has technology changed photography

    Daily writing prompt
    How has technology changed your job?
    View all responses

    This morning I’m following the daily writing prompt from WordPress (sort of), which was “How has technology changed your job”.

    Photography is and isn’t my job. I mean I don’t typically get paid for my work and I don’t have a boss. Photography is really a hobby for me especially since I retired and don’t have a job. That being said, technology has made significant changes to photography. Photography has always been somewhat about technology. Back in the beginning days of photography, it was about using science to create permanent copies of a scene or subject. As time progressed photography became more about art.

    Photography has progressed to use digital “film”, the emulsion film still exists, and the use of computer technology, and now artificial intelligence (A.I.) has come into play. Some worry that A.I. will ultimately replace photography. I look at it as just another step not to replace photography but rather to enhance it.

    Let’s take a quick look at the featured photograph. The featured photo looked like the photo below after I took it.

    Through the use of a computer and software to make a few adjustments I was able to go from the photo above to create the final version as seen below.

    While we were able to make these adjustments back in the “old days” of film and the darkroom it may have taken a few hours to achieve what I was able to do in a matter of a couple of minutes.

    There are those that would argue that it has become “too easy” but isn’t that the point? As technology advances tasks should become easier, not harder. Shouldn’t technology allow us to do more and not less?

    I’m all for the changes technology has had in photography and I can’t wait to see what comes next. For me, it is an exciting time.