Today's blog is about a journey, the journey of a camera, a life, a family and an idea. This particular story is very dear to me and it is my hope that it will give you insight into yet another facet of who I am and what I do......
Many years ago when I met the young lady who would become Mrs. Wilson (she had no idea what she was getting into:) I was a young, hobbyist photographer. I loved photography, I found it to be the way I could express my creative side and at the same time create something meaningful to share with others. I had no idea what a wonderful world it would eventually become for me. In fact, I had no idea the journey I was about to take nor any clue where it would lead me.
The gentleman who would become my Father in Law, Quentin Zinsmaster, whom we lovingly called "QJ" was a hearty, outspoken, fun loving man who just happened to be a professional photographer. He had been since the 60's and had the talent, zest for life and personality to prove it. His take on life and on the world of photography was classic and classy. He loved the craft, the art of it, the people involved in it and the legacy each shot he took created for someone, himself included. He quickly became my mentor. With a conversation that took place around a kitchen table one Saturday evening in his home in WI the decision was made that I too would take this journey. With encouragement, support and some prodding I began my career as a professional photographer.
For many years QJ had used his camera to capture the world. This camera, a Hasselblad professional, medium format camera was a classic. Using pro grade film and weighing more than a newborn this camera was the benchmark other cameras aspired too. In the right hands this camera could create images that were timeless, beautiful, elegant and full of emotion. It captured exactly what it saw, what it's user had the vision to create. It told story after story over several decades and generations. Then something changed.....
A few months ago my Father in Law became ill. After several tests, numerous hospital stays and several hard weeks, his life came to a close. His loss was so deeply felt by everyone in his family, his friends and those he had photographed over the years. The camera that had captured so many stories, so many memories and created so many beautiful images had fell silent. But this isn't the end of the story.
Last week my Mother in Law along with other members of her family came to TN to visit with us. She brought with her a gift of unimaginable meaning. Knowing what QJ's camera meant to him and how many lives it had touched she just couldn't think of it simply "going away" or being forgotten. She gave that camera along with all his lenses, battery packs and lighting to us to do with as we saw fit. What an amazing chance to continue something bigger than just the art of photography.
Armed with this amazing, classic and priceless camera I am going to continue sharing the countless stories it has yet to tell. I will be using this camera from time to time to capture some of my Fine Art images. With a tripod and some fantastic pro film I will continue to use it to share the beautiful colors and deep contrast of REAL black and white photography yet to be taken in our world.
In a world of amazing digital technology this camera still has its rightful place as a defining piece of equipment in the history and future of our profession. It can capture images that are so amazingly pure in color, tone and texture as well as true, crisp black and white images. It will allow me to use the most raw and pure forms of my skills in harmony with its classic function to once again create timeless images. This is more than just a camera, it is a piece of history, not only in my wife's family but the lives of so many others. It captured hundreds of wedding days (including my wife and I many years ago), hundreds of seniors, countless places and moments that are forever held in place by it's task.
In having the honor of now owning and using this camera I hope to continue the wonderful legacy of my Father in Law. I hope to continue to share the art, the moments, the emotion and the magic of life. This camera will continue on, it will continue to bring joy, beauty and feeling to our world. It will now continue to share the world as it once did in the hands of the master artist whom I called my mentor, my Father in Law, my friend.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
What makes Fine Art so Fine......
Over the past 20+ years as I have grown and evolved as a photographic artist I have seen many trends and styles come and go. As with any profession there are always buzzwords that seem to find a way of becoming all the rage for a time. A few years ago in photography there was suddenly a mass of "photojournalism" and "photojournalistic" photography being promoted. Those were often used in conjunction with the term "candid" and promoted as the thing of the time. I would often wonder how many clients and in fact how many of those "photographers" actually knew the difference between photojournalism and candid photography, they are completely different.
As of late the new buzzword is "Fine Art" in our profession. Something near and dear to my heart and something I feel strongly about. I am asked quite often "what is Fine Art Photography"? There is no really short answer to that but I will attempt to share with you what really makes Fine Art Photography... Fine.
In a world dominated by digital enhancement and camera technology that is amazing, Fine Art Photography takes a more base approach. In essence, Fine Art Photography is not only a style, it is a technique, a creative flair that is unique to each artist. That being said, unlike other mediums such as painting, drawing or sculpture, Fine Art Photography has a more narrow scope of focus (no pun intended). To achieve Fine Art in photography the devil is in the details. Unlike candid photography or even traditional portrait photography where props are often used to create the overall feel of the shot, Fine Art Photography uses the singular subject and or theme and builds from that in detail. Every aspect from lighting to positioning, background details, manipulation of the shooting environment and equipment. Often in a Fine Art shot the "imperfections" become the perfection if the artist is aware of them and encorporates them into their vision.
The technique of Fine Art Photography is not something that can be accomplished within a few months or even years of photography. It is a skill, a style and an art that is cultivated from thousands of hours of shooting hundreds of thousands of frames and being absolute in self critique and growth. It requires a mastery of the camera and its function. A mastery of light, shadow and technique. With the addition of digital tools such as software and lighting the craft is even more limitless. If done correctly Fine Art Photography is not for the faint of heart and certainly not for a novice. Sadly, I often see photographers use the term Fine Art in conjunction with images that are at best a creative candid photo. Those are wonderful images, fun, enjoyable and emotional but they are NOT fine art images.
Fine Art Photography is more than just photos, portraits or images. It is a work of art, a piece of time that has been carefully captured with the purpose of lasting for generations while still evoking the emotion and depth of the moment within which it was taken.
When you hear the term "Fine Art Photography" know that for those of us who are photographic artists this is more than a buzzword. While a photographic artist will typically charge a higher fee the images created are worthy of those fees. It is our craft, our passion, our style and the way in which we hope to leave a lasting piece of art, a legacy and a record of our world for generations to come.
As of late the new buzzword is "Fine Art" in our profession. Something near and dear to my heart and something I feel strongly about. I am asked quite often "what is Fine Art Photography"? There is no really short answer to that but I will attempt to share with you what really makes Fine Art Photography... Fine.
In a world dominated by digital enhancement and camera technology that is amazing, Fine Art Photography takes a more base approach. In essence, Fine Art Photography is not only a style, it is a technique, a creative flair that is unique to each artist. That being said, unlike other mediums such as painting, drawing or sculpture, Fine Art Photography has a more narrow scope of focus (no pun intended). To achieve Fine Art in photography the devil is in the details. Unlike candid photography or even traditional portrait photography where props are often used to create the overall feel of the shot, Fine Art Photography uses the singular subject and or theme and builds from that in detail. Every aspect from lighting to positioning, background details, manipulation of the shooting environment and equipment. Often in a Fine Art shot the "imperfections" become the perfection if the artist is aware of them and encorporates them into their vision.
The technique of Fine Art Photography is not something that can be accomplished within a few months or even years of photography. It is a skill, a style and an art that is cultivated from thousands of hours of shooting hundreds of thousands of frames and being absolute in self critique and growth. It requires a mastery of the camera and its function. A mastery of light, shadow and technique. With the addition of digital tools such as software and lighting the craft is even more limitless. If done correctly Fine Art Photography is not for the faint of heart and certainly not for a novice. Sadly, I often see photographers use the term Fine Art in conjunction with images that are at best a creative candid photo. Those are wonderful images, fun, enjoyable and emotional but they are NOT fine art images.
Fine Art Photography is more than just photos, portraits or images. It is a work of art, a piece of time that has been carefully captured with the purpose of lasting for generations while still evoking the emotion and depth of the moment within which it was taken.
When you hear the term "Fine Art Photography" know that for those of us who are photographic artists this is more than a buzzword. While a photographic artist will typically charge a higher fee the images created are worthy of those fees. It is our craft, our passion, our style and the way in which we hope to leave a lasting piece of art, a legacy and a record of our world for generations to come.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
You get what you pay for!
Hello friends! With this posting I would like to take a look into the old saying "you get what you pay for". Having been a business owner most of my life I have learned that value is important but also that value is different for everyone.
With the economy struggling and our current financial climate so uncertain, finding a "good deal" is important. I'd like to take a moment to look at what a "good deal" really is. I am going to explore this from the perspective of a small business owner / photographer as that is what I know best.
Each day I see more and more new "photographers" come to be. They promote themselves via sites such as Facebook, Twitter or a snappy website on the Internet. They showcase the fact that they "specialize" in virtually every type of photography known. They build the excitement of their service by telling you how they can get virtually anything from a coffee mug to an airplane with your photo on it. Then to put the bow on the package they show you ridiculously cheap prices for these products and services. At first glance one would think "wow, that's a great deal"....... but is it really?
Two things I know for a fact. A photographer who "specializes" in virtually every type of photography known to mankind is no specialist at all. Thus the reason that I turn down certain types of work. I shoot a limited number of Fine Art weddings and a very limited range of portraits. My area of specialty is in commercial art, particularly nature, food and fashion. The second thing, a professional photographer who is experienced and good at the art is not inexpensive. A professional photographer who is serious about what they do has enormous expense in doing it. The cost of the true professional equipment, the cost of insurance (yes, you'll want to make sure they have that on your wedding day), the cost of truly professional prints, products and offerings, none of this is cheap. One of my favorite quotes from a photographer years ago is "the sweetness of a good deal on photography doesn't compare the bitterness of a poorly taken image that you will look at for years to come".
Now before I start to get hate mail because of this post let me be clear on something. I do NOT have a problem with amateur photographers. Everybody starts somewhere, I did as did everyone else. I love to see the hobby photographer out with their camera on a mission to capture the perfect shot. My problem is simple, an amateur should not be shooting the jobs better left to professionals. Also, they certainly shouldn't be charging pennies on the dollar for that service.
This does nothing but farther destroy the "value" of our profession. When professional photographers have to try and "compete" on price with the discounters, they can't. They can't begin to cover the expense of a legitimate business, true professional prints, albums, products and services. They are faced with being the "more expensive choice" or with being forced to close or significantly lessen what they do. Not because they aren't worth the price but because the consumer doesn't understand the difference, and yes, there IS a difference.
Friends, please understand that I am not "kicking the little guy" in this post. I am simply tired of seeing my profession, my friends who have been photographers for years and the way we as professionals make our living become eroded and devalued. Any photographer worth having will tell you that we never stop learning. We learn every time we pick up the camera. I do however feel sad that a time has come when any experienced professional photographer who is in fact an artist has to become "discount" to compete.
Certainly in these times we have all given something to survive. Every photographer I know has made some effort to make their service more affordable. That is simply the right thing to do. At some point however, a line must be drawn. Professional photographers who have invested thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars should be allowed to make a living at their chosen craft.
Just keep in mind my friends that photography is art, plain and simple. It is an art medium no different than a brush and canvas are a medium. Shouldn't a true artisan be compensated for the years of experience, vision, creativity and hard work that has gone into what has ultimately created your image? I think we can all agree that the answer to that is yes. When you see a "good deal" or someone who guarantees to beat any price on photography, ask yourself this question. How can they provide a true, quality product and service for pennies on the dollar compared to others....the truth is, they can't. It is up to you, the patron of our art to decide what is worthy of your investment. I can only hope that in time the skill, experience and true quality of art we provide will rise above the buzz of a good deal. Having a professional who is skilled, creative, passionate and moreover experienced is paramount. It should never be "good enough" to have a "good" photograph.
With the economy struggling and our current financial climate so uncertain, finding a "good deal" is important. I'd like to take a moment to look at what a "good deal" really is. I am going to explore this from the perspective of a small business owner / photographer as that is what I know best.
Each day I see more and more new "photographers" come to be. They promote themselves via sites such as Facebook, Twitter or a snappy website on the Internet. They showcase the fact that they "specialize" in virtually every type of photography known. They build the excitement of their service by telling you how they can get virtually anything from a coffee mug to an airplane with your photo on it. Then to put the bow on the package they show you ridiculously cheap prices for these products and services. At first glance one would think "wow, that's a great deal"....... but is it really?
Two things I know for a fact. A photographer who "specializes" in virtually every type of photography known to mankind is no specialist at all. Thus the reason that I turn down certain types of work. I shoot a limited number of Fine Art weddings and a very limited range of portraits. My area of specialty is in commercial art, particularly nature, food and fashion. The second thing, a professional photographer who is experienced and good at the art is not inexpensive. A professional photographer who is serious about what they do has enormous expense in doing it. The cost of the true professional equipment, the cost of insurance (yes, you'll want to make sure they have that on your wedding day), the cost of truly professional prints, products and offerings, none of this is cheap. One of my favorite quotes from a photographer years ago is "the sweetness of a good deal on photography doesn't compare the bitterness of a poorly taken image that you will look at for years to come".
Now before I start to get hate mail because of this post let me be clear on something. I do NOT have a problem with amateur photographers. Everybody starts somewhere, I did as did everyone else. I love to see the hobby photographer out with their camera on a mission to capture the perfect shot. My problem is simple, an amateur should not be shooting the jobs better left to professionals. Also, they certainly shouldn't be charging pennies on the dollar for that service.
This does nothing but farther destroy the "value" of our profession. When professional photographers have to try and "compete" on price with the discounters, they can't. They can't begin to cover the expense of a legitimate business, true professional prints, albums, products and services. They are faced with being the "more expensive choice" or with being forced to close or significantly lessen what they do. Not because they aren't worth the price but because the consumer doesn't understand the difference, and yes, there IS a difference.
Friends, please understand that I am not "kicking the little guy" in this post. I am simply tired of seeing my profession, my friends who have been photographers for years and the way we as professionals make our living become eroded and devalued. Any photographer worth having will tell you that we never stop learning. We learn every time we pick up the camera. I do however feel sad that a time has come when any experienced professional photographer who is in fact an artist has to become "discount" to compete.
Certainly in these times we have all given something to survive. Every photographer I know has made some effort to make their service more affordable. That is simply the right thing to do. At some point however, a line must be drawn. Professional photographers who have invested thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars should be allowed to make a living at their chosen craft.
Just keep in mind my friends that photography is art, plain and simple. It is an art medium no different than a brush and canvas are a medium. Shouldn't a true artisan be compensated for the years of experience, vision, creativity and hard work that has gone into what has ultimately created your image? I think we can all agree that the answer to that is yes. When you see a "good deal" or someone who guarantees to beat any price on photography, ask yourself this question. How can they provide a true, quality product and service for pennies on the dollar compared to others....the truth is, they can't. It is up to you, the patron of our art to decide what is worthy of your investment. I can only hope that in time the skill, experience and true quality of art we provide will rise above the buzz of a good deal. Having a professional who is skilled, creative, passionate and moreover experienced is paramount. It should never be "good enough" to have a "good" photograph.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)