My Archives: December 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
So, the forum thread in Photography on the Net got me to thinking about how the year went photographically. Did I get any keepers? How many photos did I take compared to previous years? Did my technique improve, and did I expand my capabilities? Did I shoot anything of any real substance?
I undertook a review of my photography for the past year to answer those questions and I determined the following:
1. I had about two dozen or so photos that I considered worthy of publication. This is much, much less than in previous years. That relates primarily to the next item.
2. I took far fewer photos this year than I have in previous years. This is, I think, primarily due to the issues I discussed in my last entry. I would say that most years I take an average of two or three thousand photographs, sometimes even more. This year I doubt I took more than a thousand photos total. And, when my hearts in it, I get much better results than a couple of dozen shots.
3. In some ways, my techniques did improve considerably. I added some equipment that allowed me to have far more versatility with my studio lighting, and I’ve really improved my techniques with outdoor fill flash. I also shot quite a bit of film this year (which also contributed to the reduction in volume mentioned above), and I found that I have a much easier time compensating for adverse lighting conditions to get the exposure correct. Having said that, though, I didn’t practice and improve on some skills that I had intended to work on this year, such as macro photography and wildlife photography. I did try my hand at wildlife photography (specifically birding), but I discovered that my longest lens (300mm) isn’t quite sufficient to do a good job at it. So, fates willing, I’ll add a 100-400mm f4L zoom to my lens collection this year.
4. The last question is probably the most difficult to answer, but if I’m completely honest with myself, I would say, not really. I shot a few fairs and festivals. I documented a rafting trip with my family and friends. I did some portraits and some glamour shoots for a few clients, but I didn’t really shoot anything that “wows” me. In 2003 I shot an incredible sunset in Death Valley and in 2004 I got some terrific shots of a fire dancer and of the Oregon Coast. This year, I just couldn’t seem to pull any great shots out of my heart.In 2006 I hope to do much better. First of all, I’m going to make a concerted effort to get out of the house on an early morning a couple of times a month. I’m already planning several photographic day trips to photograph in specific locations: The Columbia River Gorge (Eagle Creek, Punchbowl Falls, Rooster Rock, Shepherd’s Falls), Silver Falls State Park, McKenzie Bridge, Crater Lake National Park, Brandon Beach, Ecola Point, Haystack Rock, Seaside, Astoria, and Deschutes. I’m also planning a trip to Hawaii in the spring, so that should definitely help me to get the creative juices flowing.
I’m also hoping to work with a few new models this year. I have a project I’d like to start working on. I simply need s couple of sets of faery wings to get started. I have several models who are interested in working with me. So, I think, 2006 should be a much better year for me photographically. Wish me luck.
Posted by Mark @ 10:37 PM PST [Link]
Friday, December 2, 2005
I buy quite a bit of my equipment via the internet. Sometimes it's the only way to get the desired item without an extensive wait. I try to buy local whenever I can, and I frequent Pro Photo Supply in NW Portland or Surburban Photo in Beaverton. But I also purchase items from B&H Photo & Video in NYC from time to time. They are a reputable store and I've never had any problems with them. If you're not careful, though, you can run into some real shady outfits online. For example, Thomas Hawk had a very bad experience that is making big news in the bloggin and online photography communitys. You can read more about it on his blog at: Thomas Hawk's Bait and Switch Story
Before you buy online, it's always good to check out Reseller Ratings.Com where you can do a search on the merchant from whom your considering purchasing to see what kind of feedback they have received.
Above all Caveat Emptor: if price is significantly below B&H's price for the same item, it's likely to be a bait and switch outfit.
Posted by Mark @ 09:51 AM PST [Link] [No Comments]