How To Enjoy The Process! ~Wide Angle Wednesday

"Rafaga At Sunset"

So yesterday's post received some great feedback. The emails came in all day and it would appear we've all gone through the feelings I described. Which makes today's post a no-brainer. It's easy to say to keep photographing, and intentionally enjoy the process it provides, but how?

Decide What's Ultimately Important To You. Then Eliminate the Rest.

This means you may need to rediscover what you absolutely love about photography in general and your photography in particular. Actively using your camera will do that for you. Use this time to photograph what you love that's accessible right now. Start using what images you do get to hone your true style. Make the point of the photograph to express what you feel or know or love about it. Not how many hours work went into it, how many new programs you used or could have used, or if the location is popular to anyone else. Go back through your files and round up the past images that really got responses and interest from viewers or fans and make sure you know WHY they worked or evoked those responses over others.

Eliminate the Rest

Thought I skipped this part didn't you? This is a hard topic for photographers desperate to start working or to find their niche in the business world. While you are establishing for yourself who you are behind the lens, don't try to be everything to everybody just to make a buck or get some exposure somewhere just for the sake of exposure. Eliminate the distracting offers. Take something on only if it's where you belong and have the established skills for. In the meantime, start using your strengths while you shoot. And in the genre you love. With subjects that speak to you. Anything that doesn't fall into those perimeters, ask yourself if it's important to your growth as an artist to keep aiming your camera at it, at least for now.

Know Who's In Your Corner

I did a post last month that really resonated with a few of you about the four types of people you need in your life as a photographer. The Critical Eye, The Beacon, The Cheerleader, and The Partner In Crime. They each have something valuable to offer so don't lose that connection. Take one of them out for coffee, get chatting online and on the phone regularly. Do a photo day with them. Get them talking about how they dealt with being overwhelmed, striking out on their own, and how when mistakes happened they got back up or changed direction. If these relationships are solid you can ask them for their perspective and advice and they'll happily give it. Usually because at some point someone invested in them the same way. Photography in this day and age is more about community than ever before. Don't forget that.

So get out there. Circumstances or what-ifs can't stop you. Enjoy the process of photography your way. You never know what you might discover. Just remember discovery is the point. Throw some fun into the mix and you're on your way to emerging from yesterday's "fog of despair"

Keep shooting. Enjoy the process.

Thanks for allowing me to ramble once again.

The Little Things ~ Floral Friday!

"Curly Vine"

Without any naval gazing whatsoever today, thought I'd post a random list of all the little things that I've learned to remember whenever I'm out photographing flowers or anything for that matter. Here we go;

1. Keep a sense of adventure.

2. Use my Exposure Compensation button more. It's my friend.

3. Watch my histogram. NOT my LCD screen for accuracy.

4. The light dictates my technique. The subject in that light dictates the story.

5. A tripod slows me down. Sometimes this is good, but sometimes bad.

6. The flash comes OFF the camera. I get better photographs every time.

7. I need to continue learning about my flash.

8. I always look up. Way up. There's always something above you to see.

9. The right half of the right half of your Histogram is crucial to knowing if you have a photograph with the largest amount of information possible.

(Thank you David DuChemin for this one)

10. My telephoto will always require a tripod in less than brilliant light.

It's just a slow lens.

11. If my exposure is dead on in camera, or darn near close to, my higher ISO isn't going to ruin a photograph.

12. I do my best work in Manual mode. A total 360 from four years ago, I was terrified to leave Program mode. Total control in manual is so freeing.

13. It's okay to take sucky photographs. I learn from them. Every time.

14. Photography is hard. It's hard.

15. It's hard.

16. Keep a sense of adventure.

Deliberate Photography ~ Telephoto Tuesday!

"Sweet Summer Susans"

(1/50sec.@ F/9, ISO 125, 20mmfl, 55-200mm zoom vr, late evening light, tripod)

I need to slow down. I get out on trail, and see all the potential images before me and I go into overdrive. In the back of my head I want time to stand still so the light stays exactly the way it is so as to get every shot and not miss anything. If anyone has created an app for this, please let me know. I'd be your biggest fan.

Anyone else wrestle with this? In my heart of hearts I know that if I slowly explore an area, and take some time adequate enough to properly set up the shots I'm seeing, I'm rewarded with images I love and lessons that impact me. Scouting a trail before hand becomes an important part of this more deliberate approach, and using my tripod also makes me a deliberate photographer. Simple things. But things that leave my head completely in all the anticipation of shooting a wide variety of subject matter in a designated area.

 I'm learning to not just become familiar with a location, but to allow it then to reveal itself in new ways... which always happens when I'm willing to slow down and let my eyes adjust to the way a location really functions. What's hidden in the shade, what catches the light differently, what moves in a breeze, what flourishes near a fallen tree... then finding a way to interpret it the best in camera.

The image above is of Black Eyed Susans growing wild in a field of dense tall grass. I dropped down to position the telephoto close to the grass and peer through. The result was a dreamy see-through green as I focus through the moving grasses and on the flowers. And it was all done deliberately. Guess I'm learning after all.

Have a great day folks, and thanks for the ramble!