When I envision a final photograph I try to use every skill I have available. For me, that includes using my memory from every photograph, every painting, and every movie I have ever seen. Photography is a visual art and as such, it should utilize every memory of everything we have seen. This, to me, is what makes a photograph a work of art rather than merely a snapshot where “I saw a scene and took a picture of the same”. We, as visual artists need to engage our audience, even if that audience is just ourselves.
I know you’ve probably heard the saying, “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel”. Well, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s getting closer. The tunnel I speak of is the tunnel of working for others. I have just over 80 days left before I am committing to a new journey. That is just 50 working days. My new journey is that I am going to dedicate much more time to creating my art and writing this blog. Many of the things I have planned will take me to new places with both my photography and my writing. The light at the end of my tunnel is a second retirement.
I don’t believe you are ever too old to follow your dreams or achieve your goals. It is all a mindset and my mindset as a photographic artist is to create. My artwork may not always be to everyone’s liking but they are all to my liking.
One of the best things I have is a live-in critic and muse, my wife of 43 years. She is always able to give me her thoughts and ideas and many times she helps make them come together. Shopping for props, and assisting with lighting. She helps me come up with ideas and concepts. So not only can I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is getting close to the end but I am going into this new journey with a helper.
Keep working towards getting to the light at the end of your own tunnel. Stay focused on your art and creativity. Achieve your artistic goals and dreams. Don’t let others discourage you and if you get discouraged on your own find a helper, even if it is an acquaintance with similar dreams and goals.
I was on my way to a meeting yesterday to tour a potential location for winter photography. The meeting was 1 1/2 hours away so we stopped at a wine bar not far from the location to have a glass and a snack. Originally I was going to do some photography by “wandering around” however when we got into the area it began to rain. Not wanting to get wet since I hadn’t prepared for the rain we elected to go inside. As I was sitting at our table the view of the bar and the building outside caught my eye. The building was built in 1909 during a time when the area was used as commercial stockyards.
When the meeting time started to get close we headed off for the location of the building we were going to tour. Along the way, we saw lots of other photographic opportunities but didn’t have time to stop since we were heading to our meeting.
As I mentioned in the title of this blog, I carry a camera with me everywhere I go. It may be one of my digital SLR cameras or it may simply be my smartphone. I didn’t always believe the smartphone could serve as a “real” camera but I have since changed my mind. Current smartphone cameras have come a long way. In addition, I have learned how to properly use the smartphone camera just as I learned how to use my “real cameras”.
Take the time to learn how to use your equipment even if it is the camera on your smartphone. As I said both today and yesterday, there is a photograph everywhere you go.
If you look with the proper mindset there is a photograph everywhere you go. Think about that for a moment. The photograph I included above was taken while sitting on the patio of a local microbrewery and restaurant while I was having a beer and pizza. Since this is just “down the street” from where I live we often don’t think much of it. If I were to have a beer and pizza in a faraway destination though I would think “wow, I have to get a photograph of this.”
Often we get so used to seeing the surroundings we encounter every day that we fail to enjoy the view. Take a moment each day to stop and enjoy the views around you.
I read an article recently about how a famous musician has turned to photography and people raving over his photographs. He literally became a successful photographer. But, is it because his pictures are so extraordinary, or was it because he was already famous? I’ve looked at his photographs and they are good, but I don’t believe they are better than many of the people I know who are virtually unknown.
As for me, I’m not worried about it. I believe I shall be like the dandelion. Hanging out, even if alone without fame or famous friends, and spreading my photography and art like cypselas of the dandelion. Once my artwork is ready for release I share it with the world.
After this past weekend, I have become a part of the leadership of a group of creatives, both photographers and models. We’ve met both in person and via internet chat. I must say, it is truly exciting to be part of a group that has such enthusiasm for creating. What I find particularly interesting is that their minds and ideas work a lot like mine, yet different which will once again push my boundaries into areas I have yet to venture into.
The first series we worked on was based on a haunted house. The type of haunted house that appears in October as an entertainment venue. Models showed up dressed in their costumes and readily posed in a variety of scenes. This inspired me to work to create scenes from many of the horror movies I had watched over the course of my life. I’m enjoying putting my imagination to work with both the taking of the photographs as well as developing them further in my digital darkroom. Truly, the only thing that holds one back with this sort of session is your imagination.
A few days ago I participated in a themed photo session. The session included several models and photographers and was held at a “haunted house”. I went into the session expecting it to be like many before with too few models and too many photographers. My photographer friend, my wife (who helps with lighting and set up), and I got there fairly early and they had just completed a general walk-through. After getting our walk through we teamed up with two models and started to find locations to create.
By the end of the day, and I mean the day as we spent nearly 8 hours and worked with eight different models, I had hundreds of photographs. This session re-inspired me to continue with some of these themed photography sessions working with models.
I find these to be both fun and creative. Seeing how others work and their concepts. Then watching as each of these creative people complete their vision of the work.
These sessions won’t replace my other genres of photography but will supplement them, allowing for my vision and imagination to run wild. If you haven’t tried these sorts of things, give it a go.
In the past few years, I have become more and more convinced about the need to do more than just take a photograph. There is no photograph I take that is released “to the wild” that is not further developed in the lightroom (the digital version of a darkroom). I learned that no device can capture my vision, at least yet.
There are even times when I view a scene that I realize this is a moment to capture but I haven’t fully developed or finalized my vision until I sit down in front of my computer screens and begin to work.
The one thing I can never wrap my head around is the people who are so against further developing a photograph using computer software. With film, there is the need to develop the film and then make a print. For me, this is also true with digital photographs. I’m not shooting an Instamatic camera, you know the ones that you point, push the button, and a print comes out and develops before your very eyes.
My cameras and camera equipment are just the beginning. The end really never gets here as I often re-visit and process images in a different way and style as time goes on. For me, there is no such thing as an ending to my art. I’m always in some stage of the final version.
One of the biggest reasons I love Photoshop and Lightroom is the ability to make my vision come to life. I’m not going to show the originals but let me just say they don’t have nearly the impact as the developed versions.
The original photographs were taken with the intent to develop further in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Exposures, composition, and focus were set intentionally for further development.
It is difficult to make a horror/haunted house theme look the way you want when it is in the middle of a bright sunny day. Work to set your lighting correctly, add additional lighting effects and then develop the final image.
This is one of the types of photography sessions I just love. Make visions come to life. Create the environment. Let your imagination run wild.
Photographer Clay 