I’m not going to apologize though because well, I’m not wrong. I may not have any tact, but that doesn’t change the truth. If you want to learn how to use your camera, you need to use it more. If you want to learn to light better, study Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Davinci, etc…

Then play. Be a kid again and discover things!

There’s a tremendous lack of originality in the world and I suppose I just get annoyed at what I perceive as people trying to find the easy way out. The harder path is always the one that gains you the most.

Maybe I don’t see the value in knowing what particular settings a person used because I rarely pay attention to my own on a conscious level. However, I know that when I was first starting I was always concerned with it. Eventually it becomes instinct, but it can’t become that if you don’t work to make it so.

Blah blah blah…can you tell I’m passionate about this?

Ultimately I want to make this clear. You can all ask me any questions you want, and I will always do everything I can to answer it. I don’t want to discourage any of you from doing whatever you can to learn. You have to develop your own vision though, and no matter what knowledge I give you…that journey is and will always be your own. Nothing I say is likely to make your personal vision any clearer.

For example…I still don’t know how to describe my own work. I understand that people recognize it, but I can’t describe it because well, it’s just how I see things. I’ve heard plenty of descriptions, but if you were to ask me what my style is you’re very likely to hear a long “ummm.” To me the adjectives we attach to an image or style only scratch the surface of what it makes us feel.

Or maybe I just lack the vocabulary.

See you tomorrow,

D

Something happened immediately after posting this image on facebook that made me wonder a bit.

I’ve never understood why photographers will ask “what settings did you use?” In my mind the setting are overly irrelevant unless you’re in a studio where the shot is flawlessly repeatable. Outside, like today’s image, the settings of the camera are only a  small piece of the overall puzzle. To me this question signifies a person trying to figure out how the image was created so they can replicate it. I suppose that’s fine, but the question is…even if you use the exact same settings, camera, model, location, time of day, etc…can you say for certain that you would get the same shot?

I don’t think so, because you probably don’t see the world in the same way the photographer you’re trying to emulate does. So, while I have no issue answering the question, my suggestion to those that find themselves asking it is this:

Learn by doing. Take your camera out of the automatic modes and learn how to make the beast do what you want it to. Don’t try to replicate the vision of someone else. Instead, try to create your own. Not only will you be better for it as an individual, but your work will be better because it will be yours, not theirs.

I firmly believe that two people standing side by side with the exact same gear and subject will shoot a different image than each other over 90% of the time.

Rant over.

See you tomorrow,

D

Naturally your focus is on taking care of the job you are there for, but sometimes we keep shooting even after the job is complete. Which is why we have today’s image. After our magazine shoot wrapped, Kristie and I decided to take a few other shots just for her and her business.

(This isn’t something I would recommend doing if you aren’t sure that the original job is complete. If you mess up what you were hired for because you’re wasting time shooting outside the scope of the assignment…well, I wouldn’t expect to get that job again.)

I have to get goin for now. Still lots of images to work through today.

See you tomorrow,

D

Kinda stating the obvious huh? I mean, who doesn’t like to relax?

I’m not referring to relaxation in the lazy, spend all day on the couch way. Rather, the type where you get to simply enjoy the fact that you exist. I try to do that at least once a day, but sometimes it gets tougher than others.

Doing so is necessary for me though. It helps me center my mind and stay focused on life as a whole rather than my goals within it.

Hope you’ve all been enjoying the weekend, stay safe tomorrow.

Until then,

D

I have a meeting I need to be at soon and several more photo related tasks to finish before I head out. I’ve never understood why some photo-labs make you jump through so many hoops to become a customer of theirs. It makes zero sense. If you had to fill out hours of forms to buy a TV, would you?

See you tomorrow,

D

See you tomorrow,

D

Took a little breather today and was able to spend some time with an old friend and his little girl. Good times.

I love how a real friendship can have both people lose touch for a while and then reconnect, picking up right where it left off. I’ll admit though, it’s kinda weird to think about the fact that those friends I have in my life, are people I’ve known for over half of my life.

I guess it’s just odd to think that I’ve known anyone that long outside of family. Then again, I don’t really pay attention to the passing of large amounts of time. I also forget my own birthday. Things like that are why I own a planner!

See you tomorrow,

D

So, I had to replace the power supply in the workstation computer. All in all it wasn’t near as bad as it could have been. More often than not when a power supply goes out in a computer, it takes a lot of other parts with it. In this case nothing was damaged but the one piece, and all data is still in tact (would have been fine anyway with all the redundant backups I have). So overall just a minor inconvenience.

Can you believe it’s September already? It didn’t really dawn on me until today that summer is really almost over and we only have 4 more months until the new year. The pools close in a week here in the midwest! Tragic, I know.

You would think that I would have gotten the hint when I started shooting fall fashion for magazines…but, those things happen so far in advance I guess I just didn’t think about it.

Lots of exciting things are happening and I can’t wait to tell you about all of them. On top of those I still have these crazy side-projects I’m trying to make time for.

I have to run now, but I hope all of you are having a great week so far.

See you tomorrow,

D

It’s strong and gentle all at once. I can’t think of any other way to describe what I mean. I suppose that’s why I create the image rather than describe it in words for you to imagine on your own.

See you tomorrow,

D

From a magazine shoot in the morning, then working on getting my shoulder back to 100%, then dealing with banks for hours…you know, I’m gonna stop right there actually. As I was writing that out I realized that the one thing that I did today that I really enjoyed is the one thing most people complain the most about…their job.

Don’t get me wrong, I want to gripe about sitting in a bank for 3 hours but I just can’t now. I started my day off doing something that I love. What more do I really need?

I think it’s been a while since I offered up any encouragement on this thing, so here we go.

Rediscover your passion and pursue it as if you’re very existence depended on you living out that dream. After all, how do you know that it doesn’t?

See you tomorrow,

D