Update and I need some help..

[Photography~girl~]

Greetings all,

I know I haven't posted in............ages. Partially because I'm trying to figure out what I really want to master in photography, and at this moment, I'm doing mostly portriat stuff. So I feel a little out-of place if I were to post photos of a 3yro on this NATURE forum.
But you'll be happy to know, that I did go out and shot some nature stuff the other day(and my snowboard. )

Anyway.
I was talking to my mom today. At the moment I'm starting working on printing my "Portfolio", working on printing some business cards(I have a "photography name" and my uncle is making me a logo/watermark), and getting my name out there(mostly for portrait stuff). She asked me why I wanted to get into portrait stuff - Because its fun, and different. Least that's why at the moment. I haven't done it enough to really decide if that's something I want to "master".
She also said that I have a certain gift(or "eye" and she and so many others have told me) with nature photography(though sometimes I fail to see that "gift/eye" in myself...)
But honestly. I'm bored with nature photography. I go and shoot the same things again and again.(But frankly, there's not much to really shoot in this town I live in) For what reason? To just shoot? I lack a purpose that I need to...inspire me. Though I understand that not everytime I go out and shoot will have a "purpose". If I go on a trip to Boston, NYC, or some other place, I will shoot just for the fun of it.

She reccomended asking you guys if you had any ideas how I could work on getting my "name" out there. And...if I'm getting to the point where I could "publish" my work. Maybe its not really high professional stuff, but I'm tired of just shooting for the sake of shooting. I hope that some of you understand how I feel..

Do you know of any magazines that have a "student" or amature section? Do you have any ideas on how I could have more of a purpose to shoot?
Like I said earlier, I hope that some of you know, and understand how I feel. [:
Thanks for helping me so much. Not really sure where I'd be at in photography without your C&C and encouraging words.

Hope you all had a blessed Holiday, and your first few weeks in 2010 have been amazing,
Alex

~My Winter Wonderland~

[taken in my drive-way.]

[Pokie]

Photo-girl,

I can't tell you much about getting your name out, but let me tell you a story.
Many years ago, through sheer accident, I took several very good photos.
My reaction was "Wow! I can do this too!"
I submitted them to a photo contest my employer hosted, and actually got a first place award for one of them.
I started reading (and subscribed to OP!), began taking more photos and paying attention to what I was doing, hoping I could replicate my success.
It came very slowly, but here and there I had some good ones.
We went on a vacation to the Grand Canyon and I saw some beautiful scenery, lovely sunrises and sunsets, and took a lot of film.
Got home, developed the film, and the pictures, well...the pictures sucked. I got mad enough that I had to make a choice. Either forget about it alltogether and go back to snapshots, or seriously try to get better. That meant more than just reading, it meant practicing.

I live in an area that is 'challenged' from a scenic photography perspective - if what you want are broad vistas, colorful sunrises and sunsets, waterfalls, etc. I can't duplicate Galen Rowell's photos in central Georgia, not the scenery, anyway.
But what I can do, and what I did, was try to understand how photos were constructed - aperture, speed, lens selection, etc., how these relate to each other, to depth of field, to compositional approaches, to time of day and lighting, etc.
I couldn't take a picture of a mountain, but I could take a picture of a forest. I couldn't take a picture of a waterfall, but I could take a picture of a dirt road running through a swamp.

My position was that I was NEVER again going to come home from a trip and be disappointed with my shooting. I might be disappointed with the weather, the light, the opportunities, etc., but I needed to know that I would come back with the best that my equipment and my itinerary would allow.

Over the last 5 or so years I have submitted photos to various local photo contests, including the state fair, a contest hosted by a nearby university, etc. I have won several awards, and even several best of show awards. I have rarely entered without winning something, if just an 'honorable mention'. Most contests around here tend to have a half dozen or so categories - landscape, wildlife, still life, action, digitally enhanced, some theme related to the sponsor or event, and sometimes something goofy like "blue" or "sad" - and they usually have both color and black and white for each category. It's fun to try to have something that you think is good for as many categories as possible. Typically most of the categories stay the same from year to year, so it's possible to plan ahead - "I need a good B/W architecture scene" or "I need a good action shot by February 15." Maybe it's vanity, but I like a positive response to a scene that I found a way to capture. (This has to be the motivation - the money doesn't even pay for matting the photos!)

So, why shoot? For what purpose? For me there have been several - 1) practice so that when I make it to the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Death Valley, Great Smoky Mountain NP, Rocky Mountain NP, etc. I have the confidence to believe that I won't be disappointed; 2) sharing and getting feedback through participation in local contests; 3) challenging myself to find opportunities in my own backyard - finding beauty where I least expected it; 4) learning how to be versatile enough that I can take advantage of whatever opportunity comes my way (or that I can make happen) on a day to day basis.

Don't know if this helps. But I think you're on the right track - purpose and meaning will drive your interest, your willingness to work at it, and ultimately your success.
Find the reason and you're on the way.

Pokie

[Photography~girl~]

Pokie,

thanks for that story/long post. It did help some...maybe I need to find my inspiration instead of expecting it coming to me.
I know what I want to drive me... My "Business"(i use that term VERY loosely) name(after going through many names, and talking about it) will be called: Touched by Photography(then on the website/business card i'll have "with Alexandria L[lastnamehere]")

Before thanksgiving my grandmother came up and asked me to take a picture of the sunset/beach so she could give it as a gift to her daughter in-law(my aunt) I was a mission. And had my inspiration. Not sure how many pictures I took(not to mention it was a challenge due to the holidays and frozen weather) I finally "strongly" suggested a picture and how to print & frame it(did a "pano". 10by18in. though the printing wasn't the best ever, the picture was...stunning.)Once I gave the printed image to my grandmother(and grandfather) and I framed it for them, they were...strongly touched. And I know my aunt is going to LOVE the picture.

That's ^ what I want when I shoot. I know people aren't always going to be really "touched" when I take pictures for them, but really, that's what drives me. When I go to a baseball game and photograph the umpires. Their gratefulness is amazing. They feel touched and honored that I'd take the time to take pictures of them. The umpires that hardly get noticed. They now have pictures to send to their families. A mom of one of the guys said, "It was like I got to watch the game." - even though her son was in Michigan and she in Oregon.

Anyway. That's what really drives me - to touch people through this gift I've been given. [:


Thanks again, Pokie. You've shown me that perhaps I just need to look a bit more to really see the beauty in my backyard, and maybe that should be my "mission" for now. [: thanks.
Oh, and congrats on all your winnings are contests! I do plan on entering the county fair again this summer - we were given a list of the categories when got our photos back. Still unsure where I want to enter. haha. We'll see though. [:

have a good one!
Alex


(oh and this is the picture I printed for my grandmother. I know the sand is a bit dark...I really need/want a GND filter. haha)

[oTTer]

Something else, and this is very very local and not at all a claim to fame, but I had submitted several horse photos to a contest at the equine expo. When I went to pick up my prizes, the lady recognized my name as the one who had taken a particular photo that had won a 1st. So, enter enough of them I guess, and they get to know you? LOL

[Tom B.]

I have been so busy the last year or so, that my photography not only has taken a back seat, but it is at the back of the bus! But, I happened to take a look here today and noticed your topic...

It is a nice topic to discuss as I am sure all photographers go through periods where inspiration seems to escape them. I agree that if you live in place that is 'scenic or otherwise' challenged, you still need to make the most of it. I live in a state that is not overly abundant in photography opportunities as say the West or Southwest. I still go out and shoot what I can so when I get the opportunity to really shoot what I want, I am ready on all fronts, especially the with the knowledge of my equipment and settings. I bet we have all a day of shooting that we thought was just great, then to get home and realize that the results were far less then expected....Live and learn for the next time....One only gets better with practice....

I am very familar with your location...If you can drive, the Nothern Michigan area and the UP have many, many places to shoot. I know that there are several books out there just on the Waterfalls of the UP. I really enjoy shoooting waterfalls, so someday, I hope to take a trip to the UP and shoot everyone of them. Then, I would select a hand full and shoot them at different times of the year just to get a different perspective.

I too enter a few contests a year just for the fun of it. I shoot with the goal in mind of having a picture good enough to not only enter these contests, but to win. This is the challenge I give myself as I head out the door for a day of shooting. (Plus, I pay attention to what does win these contests so I know what the judges (or audience, if it is open voting) look for.

The beauty of being young is that you do not have to make any decisions right now as to what you want to do with the photography abilities you have. Take time and experiment, try different areas of photography (like you are now), and if possible, try and be the best that you can be in each area. And, at the same time, have fun with it! The key is to keep it fun and interesting - this way the boredom has a harder time of setting in...

Well, good luck and keep shooting!

Tom B.