We never seem to have enough time do we? As I type this I’m getting prepared to leave Las Vegas for the Summer again. Robert Frost was correct… “miles to go before I sleep”… Only in Mr Frosts poem of “Woods Dark and Deep,” I think he meant the phrase a bit differently.
For my interpretation of that line in this case, I have a lot to do and no time to do it in! Isn’t that the case for many of us now a days? The new “corporate way” is “how do we do more, with less?”
This new “corporate way” has now actually effected our entire world. Everyone is multi tasking, and most of us are doing so with less, but I digress. That is a whole ‘nuther topic.
A Web Search For How To Prepare…
Will bring up some interesting points of view. Prepare for what? An Interview? A Medical Procedure? Or simply steps to prepare for change. In my case preparation for my life changing move to become mobile, has really taken me down some unknown paths.
Travel seems to be important to many of us. For me travel within my local areas has always been in my back pocket, even as a young man on my bicycle. I used to look at the local map and venture off to parts unknown as a very young boy, I’m talking like 8 years old!
This has carried over into my adult life. There are very few places I’ve not been to within 200 miles of Las Vegas. Now… There are a LOT of places I’ve never been too in the Western United States, even though I’ve been in every one of those States more than once!
For A Photographer Preparation Is Huge!
What camera? What lenses? What lighting? The list is long! Now… take all of those things that we Photographers can’t wait to buy? Just to narrow them down to what will fit in your new “portable home!” In my case that is a 32′ travel trailer! Which for many people might seem a very big outfit!
In addition? I also carry two four wheelers so that I can venture off to where few seldom go. This requires even more gear for support. Couple that with carrying cameras and tripods along? Not simple by any means!
Why do I make my life so complicated when it comes to this? Because when it comes to Photography just about everything has already been Photographed! Things that are “popular” to Photograph have been shot to death, and the amount of people descending into those locations has exponentially increased, to the point of over saturation.
Even when you post an image on social networking sites, someone can not wait to comment on where that image was composed. I do not understand why. I don’t think I’ve ever done this,…at least I hope not. What’s the point of that?
Some Of My Goals This Year
Are to travel to places I have not seen, even if they are in places I’ve been to. I will also be entering the Icon International Photography contest this August. A few of my students that went to the judging for that this past month, stated that those were all “prepared images”… in other words created in a controlled environment.
They are very correct! So to challenge myself even more? I wish to create some contest imagery where I really have to overcome many factors I can not control. In a studio we can control every facet of our work… On location? That’s not so easy!
So… if I wish my work to stand out from the competition “pack”… I need to do exactly that! Yet still fall within the “artistic parameters” that the judges of this competition will find exceptional. A tall order indeed! Especially if they never venture out of the studio themselves.
So What If I Fail?
What if my work “doesn’t make the grade?” I don’t really care… this is my journey, not theirs. These are my goals, not theirs. Ultimately I’m composing my work for me. It’s my journey. This is my challenge.
It’s my job as a contest entrant to try and create compositions that fall within the guidelines given, in the categories they have created, and to do so in a manner considered “above the standard of most professional Photographers.” This means I’m trying to score an 80 or above.
So how does one prepare for that? You really don’t. You simply have to go with the flow and have all the parameters in the back of your mind.
Video! I’m Playing With Video Now!
This one has been huge! I’ve been a Professional Photographer most of my entire life. Video has never been something that I wished to do. However now a days the paradigm has changed. Video is necessary now, in so many ways.
Gone are the days where I buy a book to learn something new. Not only does it take forever to read this book when we have zero time… but also the paradigm is changing so fast that by the time a book has been written, edited, gone to press, and ready to purchase and read? The subject matter has completely changed!
I have bookcases full of books I can not give away! Even the Library or Used Book locations don’t want them! I’ve learned so much from books! I have always considered books precious. I kept them in pristine condition, even if I read them many times. Now? They are worthless… a hard pill for me to swallow which is why I haven’t simply thrown them away.
Prepare… how do I prepare for that? I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. I very seldom read for pleasure. I almost always read to learn something. You are reading this now for two reasons… hopefully for pleasure (however I think my writing is anything but pleasurable) but also to maybe learn something…
So What Are You Doing To Prepare?
What challenges are you facing? My blog is really about Photography, but Photography is also about life. Are you having trouble placing enough time aside to practice your Photography? Perhaps you never seem to have time to work on your editing skills? How big of a priority is Photography in your life?
Personally one reason for my recent life changes were to place more time in my life for Photography, and less time doing what ALL Professional Photographers do most of the time, which is marketing!
I am making changes to things that are taking up too much of my time, in order that I can do things with my time that are more enjoyable. Like Travel and Photography!
My most enjoyable times Photographically have been leading PhotoSafaris. I really enjoy getting outdoors with those that have chosen to join me. I have not accomplished what I wish to really teach people with these PhotoSafaris to date. I am my own worst critic.
All of my attendees have been happy indeed. Many of these people have joined me on more than one PhotoSafari. However, I always think that I could have done things differently, in order to improve some things. Honestly that’s just good business.
How Do I Motivate People To Understand…
What actually makes a really outstanding Photograph? In this day and age people wish to cram all they can into a very small time frame. They want to do ten countries in four days. Or the Utah Mighty Five in five days.
These goals are unrealistic at best. You can’t really see one of the Mighty Five Utah Parks in five days! You will spend a lot of your time driving, and once at a location all you will get is the “walk up shot” where you stop at a pull out, walk up and shoot a snapshot, and then get back into the car.
To create an actual Photograph of anywhere takes exactly what it took back in the day of Ansel Adams, or any of the other greats. It takes preparation, dedication, time, and a whole lotta passion. Their goal was not five spots in three days… back then it was one spot for three days! Maybe more.
Even now I know that Peter Lik stayed in Page Arizona shooting every day in the same location for over a week to get one shot he liked with the light exactly how he wished it to be.
You Don’t Take A Photograph, You Make It ~ Ansel Adams
You can take a snapshot, but you need to create a Photograph. A Photograph has impact, passion, creativity, and a life of it’s own. A Photograph draws you in, it consumes you. You must keep looking at it. A Photograph takes preparation. You must also prepare your own circumstances in order to properly create a Photograph. You don’t simply go “click”
What are you doing to prepare? What are you changing now so that you can actually spend the time creating the Photographs you wish to compose? How are you increasing the time necessary to practice your art?
Throughout time we have all heard “practice makes perfect.” We know the time necessary that Classical Guitarists spent to become the phenomenal artists that they are. We also know that they themselves never think their art is perfect. They continue to hone their skills daily.
Do you expect that you should “just go click” and create a masterpiece? Or are you willing to invest the time, energy, and passion necessary to improve?
Personally Photography has been a huge part of my life for most of my life… I am not done yet my friends. Sometimes I go through times when I am searching for new inspirations, just like any artist does… however! I also know that I would wither up and die inside if I ever stopped. I am defiantly NOT prepared for THAT!
