My beef with Photography

One of the things I love about photography is there's always something new to learn. In fact, there's so much to learn that I sometimes have trouble prioritizing it and end up feeling a bit overwhelmed, like I'll never get there (there being a place where I'm happy with the quality of my photos and not afraid to show them to the world).

But that's not my biggest beef with photography. My biggest beef is the amount of money is seems to constantly require. Don't get me wrong, I know you don't HAVE to have the latest and greatest cameras, lighting, software, etc. In fact, I took one of my favorite pictures with a four dollar disposable camera. But when you start to grow as a photographer, you realize the limitations of your current camera, lighting, software, etc. and you start WANTING more and better stuff. That's when it gets difficult, because the better stuff comes with a bigger price tag and sooner or later you hit the wall on affordability.  More later...

An Awesome Post

I read Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider blog every day and I especially enjoy Wednesdays when he has a guest blogger. Today it's Trey Ratcliff and if you haven't already read his post, you should. I love it when photographers talk about something other than gear or technique. Not that good gear and good technique aren't important, it's just that sometimes I like to read about the larger issues concerning photography. For instance, why we do it, what we hope to accomplish, the thought processes behind creativity, etc.

Trey writes a great post about getting noticed on the internet, but it's not about what you think. It's not about mechanics, but motivations.

Check it out at scottkelby.com

What's the name mean?

This is my first post and I'm experiencing stage fright, so I'm imagining the whole internet in their underwear. Wait. Cancel that. My brain is burning.

I thought I might start out with how I came up with the title of this blog. It wasn't easy. Lots and lots of names are already taken. I wanted a title that gave you a clue (even an obscure one) about the subject matter of my blog. Did it work? I think you might get it if you're an aspiring photographer as I am. For a long time in my photography I shot in program mode, letting the camera make most of the decisions for me. It worked fine sometimes, but other times not so well. I kept reading in various photo books that one of the best ways to improve your photography was to get off program mode and start making your own choices as to aperture and shutter speed (among other things). Well one day I finally tried it. I'd like to say that all my pictures from that day forward were National Geographic caliber, but that'd be a lie. But I will say that it did start to improve my photography. I had to think a lot more and come up with purposeful choices in order to best portray the scene.

Isn't that true in life as well? Too often I think I go through my day on "program mode," not really thinking about the choices that help me best portray the life I want. The older I get, the more I want to get off program mode in all areas of my life, not just in my photography. This is my journey.