Apparently the pictures I took on our trip in mid-July have sparked some interest from photography buffs. The comments left on my wife's blog where she posted a handful of the shots have generated quite a bit of buzz, and when I posted the entire set on Facebook, I received even more oohs and aahs over the pictures.
Photography. It's something I've never even considered in my life. But I have to admit, I was shocked when I saw the pictures when we got home, astounded by their beauty, and I have been further shocked by the few comments we've received in regards to the pictures, as well as the fact that it seems to have sparked interest in at least a few members of the professional photography community.
I may actually start looking into doing this on a semi-professional level. Why?
Bulgaria, and this area of Europe in particular, is a hidden gem when it comes to natural wonders of the world, as well as ancient structures from the Byzantine and Roman empires. My wife and I are in a financially free situation that allows us to travel several times a year, and we have been making a point to visit some of the most geographically beautiful locations within Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and otherwise.
One of the people who followed us recently, in particular, has something mentioned on his blog that I had never in my life thought about before. His name is Stephen Baird and his comment was this: "I really believe that anyone can be a great photographer with ANY kind of camera."
I had never even contemplated it, but after seeing how good our recent shots came out, and feeling inspired by such comments as his, as well as knowing that we are going to be setting out to see some of the most amazing natural wonders of the world in coming months (like our trip to Seven Rila Lakes this weekend...leaving at around 5 this afternoon), I'm wondering if perhaps I might want to look into investing in a more professional camera and seeing about doing some freelance photography along with my freelance journalism and freelance writing.
In any case, just so the camera buffs who are following us can boggle (or not!), those shots were taken on an Olympus X-820, which my wife and I bought a few months back. Nothing fancy, just a nice, new digital camera for us to use in our casual sessions shooting pics of her crafting goods, around Sofia, on our walks, and otherwise. But even I, an unprofessional by any use of the word when it comes to photography, was shocked at how well those recent pictures came out. I don't even know the ins and outs of working that camera fully, and those pictures were awe-inspiring.
In any case, I'd like to thank the few photographers who have made comments and are now following along, as you guys have inspired me to start looking into (potentially) a new side-line for creative output.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Having worked as a fine art photographer, and slowly getting back into it, I have to say that it's a natural accent to writing. Based on the shots I saw, you have an eye for composition and I can see potential for you in this area. Here are a few things to consider (if you haven't already)...
Learn the basics. By that I mean learn how a camera works (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc). Regardless of what type of camera you purchase (DSLR vs a point-and-shoot), they all work the same so by understanding how they work, you'll get more out of their features; if you're a hands-on type of person this approach will allow you to shoot true photography, as opposed to using Photoshop to fix everything. There's nothing wrong with a DSLR or a point-and-shoot, it all depends on what you feel most comfortable with. The biggest advantage of DSLR's: they allow you to use different lenses, all of which can use lens filters, lens hoods, etc.
Learn the principles of art and design (movement, balance, contrast, etc). Understand how visual composition works and how the elements of art can empower your vision.
If you're feeling inspired, run with it. Develop your own style and creative process. Photography, as both an artistic and functional experience, is very rewarding.
The one thing I contemplated with Evy last week was taking a photography class this winter to learn just those things. I know *NOTHING* about cameras, but I have to admit that I have become intrigued enough to contemplate pursuing it at least on a half-way professional basis. Learning the basics about how they work just makes sense.
It's actually easier than you might think. Although a class (or good tutorial book, if you're a self-learner) will give you more details, here's what it basically comes down to:
shutter speed = exposure to light
ISO = sensitivity to light
aperture = focus/depth of field
f-stop = amount of aperture
Seriously, that's what it comes down to; everything else is an ongoing experiment. It all depends on your creative voice; shoot as much as you can now (don't wait until winter) and develop an understanding for what you like and don't like when it comes to subjects and visual treatments. Experiment. Hold a piece of clear transparency that's smudged (basically, a crude filter) in front of your camera's lens when you shoot and see what kind of effect it has; shoot out of focus; shoot without looking through the eyepiece/viewfinder. Most important: shoot a lot of photography.
Hope this helps. Send me an email if you want, I'd be happy to help.
Post a Comment