Over the last few weeks I've done some photography, viewed other people's photos, talked with many people, listened to others, and read a few books on photography. On our way back from Oregon last week several pieces seemed to slide into place giving me an epiphany on opportunities, not just for myself but also for other photographers.
- Jim came to one of our Friday Night Discussion Group (FNDG) meetings looking for ideas on making money with photography. I'd like to do this myself as well as provide a legacy income for Julia.
- Noella told us that we could stay in one place and take different photos all day. She even showed us how to use reflectors and foils to get different effects.
- There are many courses in photography, some free, some inexpensive, but I've found a treasure trove in the books I've found at the libraries, thrift shops, and yard sales. These books, though many of them are pre-digital, are still viable in the areas of composition, lighting, posing techniques, and such. For example, from a 1983 library book comes this wisdom; "Some of the most striking images come from geometric patterns found in architecture, industry, and sometimes in nature. Sharp angles and strong lines tend to produce stark contrasts of light and shade that allow you to create almost abstract images, which are interesting precisely because the subject is difficult to interpret." With books I can go at my own pace, compare my photos to those in the books, and make adjustments to my techniques accordingly.
- I found that I can get interesting photos by pointing my camera up from below flowers to get an interesting perspective. I'd seen this before but finally tried it and liked it. Several others did the same thing at our recent flower field trip. I've seen some flower photos from so close that part of one petal becomes a fascinating display of color and patterns. I've seen panoramic shots of square miles of flowers. Just considering flowers you could sit in one spot and take hundreds of interesting photos with no two alike.
Field Trip Photos
- Looking at the photos of the flower field trip, especially Roger's and Lee's, it became clear to me that almost anything can make an interesting photo, even a rusty nail or a broken stick. The short trip we took with Noella could have been stretched into a couple of weeks resulting in thousands of unique and beautiful photos. At the very least it would give the photographer great practice and experience.
Roger's Photos
Lee's Photos
- Several times at the FNDG's we have discussed different photo hosting web sites, some of which even sell, print, frame, package, and ship for you. Other sites and software help you to create and print your own coffee-table books while still others print-on-demand and sell books. There's a large variety of software available to help create the digital books used for printing. Some of that software comes under the heading of digital scrapbooking but some of the web sites allow you to create your books without purchasing any software.
- I've noticed that many photographers like to go to far off places to get just a few interesting photos while others, like me, tend to be more restricted in the amount of travel we can endure or afford.
- At the FNDG's we've also talked about selling our photos, from the large framed ones like Fred does to the simple stock photo sites. In order to make money at these stock photo sites these days one has to have a large number of photos for people to choose from. But considering the above that should not be too difficult. With the current copyright laws the income from these can keep coming to our children and grandchildren long after we're gone.
- With a minimal amount of equipment and expense I, and any photographer, can create thousands of potentially saleable photos and post them on a relatively inexpensive web site for sale. There will need to be some order to this chaos, such as good keywords and categorization, but it can be done.
- Given enough great shots any photographer can create and sell photo books online for little investment. Just as a limited production of any art work can become a collector's item so can a limited printing of a photo book. At the very least a copy can be handed down through generations as a legacy and family heirloom.
- Computers are great for many things but good-old-fashioned books are still full of magic. With a book in hand you can go at your own pace, even in places where computers can't, or shouldn't, go. And through the libraries they're free to use.
- A great deal of practice can come from setting up in one spot (even your backyard) and spending all the time available taking shots of everything from macro to panorama, from left to right, from up to down, from above to below, from dawn to dusk, and even into the night. At the end of the shoot the you can review the hundreds of shots for composition and other aspects to see how you can improve your skills. And, if desired, go back and try to improve on what you've already done.
- For that matter, you don't even need to leave your house to obtain thousands of interesting photos, as Art has well demonstrated.
Art's Photos
- Since we live in the desert/Antelope Valley we have the advantage over photographers in the rest of the world in that we have much more available time to photograph those things that are unique to our area. Plus there are all those things that aren't unique to "here" but make interesting photos anyway.
Glenn