POI

POI# 5 – A Father’s Day Tribute

July 20, 2010 by alex Leave a Comment

My dad is a great teacher so I was easily able to learn the basics –
aperture, shutter speed, and back then ASA film speed. He’d buy me
photography books for Christmas and birthdays and gently critique my
results. In time I got beyond the "snapshot" and got the hang of the
tools, and started to take photos that expressed more than just "point and shoot." He introduced me (figuratively) to Freeman Patterson

(another POI), whose influential book, The Art of Seeing, sent me over the moon with delight as I saw just what kinds of cool images could be made with a little imagination.

So, that is really where and how I got my start. I suppose
this is how it is for many of us, we get exposed at an early age and it
just unfuses every molecule with that drive to create something. The
secret? Become exposed to it early; have a good teacher, practice often,
get good feedback, and keep educating your self.

Thanks Dad! Happy Father’s Day.

POI# 4

June 16, 2010 by alex 2 Comments

minolta And then there is Jim. When I got my very first 35mm SLR (which I still have BTW) he would tolerantly let me “take pictures” of him anytime anywhere! Early morning even before coffee (yikes!) or, more formally, as I attempted to practice the finer points of portraiture.

As well as having almost infinite patience for these artistic quirks, Jim was a very handsome guy, – it was impossible to take a bad photo of him. For years I mistakenly attributed all those good photos of him to my emerging photographic talent, and I coasted on this grand deception for ages until, over time I actually did become a pretty good photographer. (And it wasn’t till much later a portrait pro pointed out the various flaws in my subsequent portrait photos, that I came to know the embarrassing truth – my early success was a fluke and the beauty was all Jim and not me.)

POI #3

June 8, 2010 by alex Leave a Comment

What can a nature photographer learn from a wedding and portrait photographer?

Well, if you’re me and the wedding photographer is Patty Boge, an awful lot! Patty and I worked together at a software development company. We didn’t work in the same department and didn’t really see each other too often (with 125 employees on 2 floors I didn’t see too many people too often!!!). But one day she mentioned that she was leaving the company because she was going to devote all her time to her photography business. I remarked that that was pretty cool and that I also knew my way around a camera. She wanted to see some of my photos so I put a few on a CD for her.

Next thing I knew she has shopped it around to all her pro photographer buddies who apparently were impressed enough to want to meet with me to talk about my “work” and help me advance in a new career. And the rest, my friend, is a story that you already know.

So I have a more than profound appreciation for Patty – it was her that got me into the biz!

POI #2: Man Ray

June 3, 2010 by alex Leave a Comment

Man Ray was a surrealist artist and photographer creating images around the turn of the last century. Much of the pop culture of the 60s, 70s and 80s were either directly or indirectly inspired by his art works and images. His work “the lips” were used for the Rocky Horror Picture Show’s ads. Many musicians including R.E.M. and the Red Hot Chili Peppers used his art as inspiration in either lyrics or album covers.

I like his daring, and his willingness to do things differently. His main message that resonates with me, especially relevant today, with all the coolness digital art offers:

“Of course, there will always be those
who look only at technique, who ask ‘how’, while others of a more
curious nature will ask ‘why’. Personally, I have always preferred
inspiration to information.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Ray

POI – people of influence: #1

June 1, 2010 by alex Leave a Comment

Not neccessarily the Number 1 POI, but influencial for sure. Deepak Chopra. He has influenced my perceptions about imagination and creativity. Despite what you may think about his “new age” philosophy, he has a way of helping you see alternatives. To me, imagination and the art of seeing is all about the alternative.

What we see everyday might be mundane and even boring, but with the right influence or suggestion, we can begin to see alternatives in the everyday views. My image “The Devil’s in the Details” is a bit of the embodiment of this. The title is only a suggestion, but you begin to see the alternative views when you look past the reality of a bush, because of the way our perceptions work.

If you are open to different ways of thinking – and thus, seeing, read a few pages from Deepak’s books. Enlightening in so many ways.