The Conversation

The Conversation

I have been avoiding having a conversation with myself about photography and my place in it. This is going to be a rather long post with a mix of rants and a release of things I need to say.

As a photographer I want to share and learn from others. Although creating a photo is a singular experience that cannot be shared with others, this is where my struggle starts.

Throughout my creative life I have been toting around a guitar, a camera and a journal, neither tool being more important than the other. This is how I like to work. Photography has been the most financially rewarding but it has been equal to music and writing in my artistic endeavors.

For a long time I have thought of myself as a working artist not limited to a single title or tool (which I still do).

I have been drawn to the conversation between musicians and writers. In my experience musicians and writers have a collective-collaborating-brothers-in-arms attitude. In photography that community familiarity has been missing for me.

Two musicians can sit across a room and create a single piece of music. Two writers can share in dialogues creating a single narrative; two painters can create a single mural. In photography we cannot share in creating an exposure. This creates a limitation to the tool and a gift to the process: one photographer, one exposure, and one singular creation.

In photography the best we can do is share ideas, tips and help to critique, which we do…sometimes. There is plenty of information being shared on the Internet. The web 2.0 open-source culture has created a mountain of re-worked, re-hashed and re-mixed ideas. Tweets, Facebook updates and how-to-articles (of which I have contributed plenty) have over four hundred million results when entering a Google search for the term “photographer”.

But there is no conversation; it is reactive, lacking the collective – collaborating process.

All too often in my last couple of years of teaching (Photo 101) people keep asking me for a map: a how-to-list on how to create a photo. There is no map...only understanding your tools, light and your own personal journey behind the camera.

This is where I have fallen short as a teacher: properly explaining the “what” and the “when” of becoming a photographer.

The understanding of how to use your camera in Manual, or how creating a photograph with the proper exposure does not make you a photographer any more than knowing how to use a hammer and saw does not make you a carpenter.

But photography is not a collective-collaborating experience. So when is it ok to consider yourself a photographer, and not just a person who owns a camera? There is no one correct answer to that question but there are some strong guidelines that I would recommend.

You might be considered a photographer…
~When you find that you are taking 10,000 or more photos a year.
~When you can create the image that you want to see, not the image your camera gives to you.
~ When you can problem solve in any light condition, effortlessly
~ When you no longer feel “If I only had that piece of equipment my photos would be better.”

When to go pro?
~ When you understand photography is not a profession, it’s a craft. Profession entails a great deal more.
~ When you can be honest with yourself and ethical to your clientele about your skill and experience level.
~When you are no longer surprised when you take a good, it is expected.
~When you are 100% accountable and know that you can deliver great photos, daily.
~When your surrounding professional photography community accepts you as a peer, not a hack.

I understand everything I just said is completely subjective and every point can be refuted. But that is the point; if you find that you need to define or explain why you’re a photographer, than you’re not.

No amount of equipment, technology, or Google research can make you a photographer. The only way to become a good photographer is by daily practice with purpose and effort, that and only that will develop you into a photographer.

I believe deeply in the power of creativity but this is where I have also fallen short in my teaching.

I have taught people how to use their camera (minimally at that, remember it’s just photo 101) and some have taken that to mean that they can now consider them selves pro. I do not wish to cut off anybody’s dream of becoming a photographer but I do want to plead to you to make the jump slowly, with caution and respect.

I do urge you to take photos, create something new daily because you love the process of creating and because you love the feel of the camera in your hands. Because you cannot imagine yourself not taking photos because you feel regret when you leave the house without your camera in hand, when your dreams and nightmares are about photography.

Photography is a limitless lifetime journey, enjoy the process, take great photos and share them.

With the fear of sounding like a grumpy old photographer myself, have this conversation with yourself.

Be ethical to the craft of photography. A photo is not a collective-collaborating process, know thy self….

Washington D.C.

Time Off

Happy Thanksgiving, see you next week.

Peace ~ John

Pittsburgh PA, Light Up Night 2010

You can see additional photos (HERE)

Moment

Current Reading: You Are Not a Gadget by Jaron Lanier
Current Music: Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit
Mood: Awake, finally
Smells: Coffee
Sounds: My dog pacing
Temperature: Currently 37 degrees
Thoughts: To take a simple and somewhat minimalist approach to life.

Ramdom Thoughts

The second day in a row that I had a bad night's sleep, feeling quite groggy and numb as I write this.

Last night there was a windstorm that woke not only us but also the house. The wind was so powerful that it set off the alarm in the house, twice. The odd thing was our reaction to turn off the alarm before making sure the house was not broken into. Simple lesson learned; give the house a walk through for burglars before turning off the alarm.

The morning sky was dark gray with moving clouds. The last of the leaves have fallen from the trees marking an end to the autumn season and the birth of winter for me.

Spent the last couple of days thinking about the digital-connectedness of my life (a love-hate relationship). I miss conversations with actual real people. My days are filled up with responses to emails, tweets, and facebook, but very little conversations.

I made the decision to redesign my blog to a simple and somewhat minimalist style. The purpose is to keep my focus on the format to be a “working portfolio”. A place for me to document my projects and keep a diary of my thoughts.

Last night our “Create | Connect | Grow” meet-up had a nice turn out with good conversation, which confirmed my feeling for the need of more conversation and less responding.

Going for a walk…

Photo of the Week

This Week ~ Updates

Tuesday ~ Create | Connect | Grow (info HERE)
Thursday ~ Photo Workshop in McKeesport
Friday ~ Photo-Walk

Others Stuff….

So thrilled to announce that Elizabeth and I finally nailed down a date for our HOW TO EVERYTHING: PHOTOGRAPHY workshop!

If you would like to have the mysteries of the photo-universe revealed (well…most of them at least ) then this is for you! See below for further info.

TO REGISTER FOLLOW THIS LINK!
http://craig-photography.com/workshop/howtophoto/

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

New Project

“Creativity is only art if it’s shared.”

That sentence is the corner stone to a new project that I am starting.

The project is based on the subject of managing your photography life & biz. If I write this correctly you will come to think of your personal life and professional life to be married into one fluid life, which I call “Deliberate Living”.

My current working titles are “PHOTONOMICS”, “ART*LOGIKE” . Not sure which title I like yet. Any thoughts are welcomed.

Too often running a photography business feels like doing homework, rather than the work you were meant to do.

Does this sound like you? “I just need to get this thing done (return e-mails) before moving on to the next thing that needs done (updating social media) so I can get to my fun work: the creative stuff that I want to do.”

There are too many jobs within jobs that all need equal attention to keep the business moving forward.

What if you could do one thing deliberately with many positive outcomes?

It’s a business first, even if your business is to create art. That is a hard thing to say out loud for the majority of us who work in photography.

Art and commerce have a long-standing love affair with each other that is not going to go away, especially in this digital culture.

****************

Curious? So What do you think?

As always, share your thoughts with me....

Dates & Links

Next ~ Create | Connect | Grow

When: November 16
Topic: Marketing, SEO & Attracting Clients
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Where: 502 W. North Ave. Pgh 15212

open to all…

Next Photo Walk
November 19 ~ Photo Walk / Light Up Night
Where: West End Overlook
Time: 8pm (time subject to change)

open to all...

Links
SEO tips (HERE)
More SEO (HERE) be sure to watch the video.
EVENT page (HERE) for workshops.
Pittsburgh Boudoir Photography | Valentine’s Day Boudoir Special | Elizabeth Craig Intimates (HERE)

Moment

Current Reading: The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking
Current Music: Call of Love by Peter Kater
Mood: Busy, out of breath
Smells: Eggs & Toast
Sounds: Coffee brewing, percolating
Temperature: 32 degrees
Thoughts: You can either be a partial or a wave or just a wave or just a partial….trippy

1,000 Free Photos ~ Day 5 (Last Day)

~ My goal is simple: to give away 1,000 free photos in 5 days.

~Everyday this week I will post a new photo to get me closer to my goal.

~ All the photos are copyrighted under a creative commons to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work (wish I hope you do).

~ You can share or do anything you wish with these photos.

~ Please share these photos freely, post them on your blog, facebook, twitter, e-mail or hang a large print in your home (that is my wish).

Download full resolution photos (HERE)
Download screen saver size (HERE)

1,000 Free Photos ~ Day 4

~ My goal is simple: to give away 1,000 free photos in 5 days.

~Everyday this week I will post a new photo to get me closer to my goal.

~ All the photos are copyrighted under a creative commons to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work (wish I hope you do).

~ You can share or do anything you wish with these photos.

~ Please share these photos freely, post them on your blog, facebook, twitter, e-mail or hang a large print in your home (that is my wish).

Download full resolution photos (HERE)
Download screen saver size (HERE)

1,000 Free Photos ~ Day 3

~ My goal is simple: to give away 1,000 free photos in 5 days.

~Everyday this week I will post a new photo to get me closer to my goal.

~ All the photos are copyrighted under a creative commons to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work (wish I hope you do).

~ You can share or do anything you wish with these photos.

~ Please share these photos freely, post them on your blog, facebook, twitter, e-mail or hang a large print in your home (that is my wish).

Download full resolution photos (HERE)
Download screen saver size (HERE)

1,000 Free Photos ~ Day 2

~ My goal is simple: to give away 1,000 free photos in 5 days.

~Everyday this week I will post a new photo to get me closer to my goal.

~ All the photos are copyrighted under a creative commons to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work (wish I hope you do).

~ You can share or do anything you wish with these photos.

~ Please share these photos freely, post them on your blog, facebook, twitter, e-mail or hang a large print in your home (that is my wish).

Download full resolution photos (HERE)
Download screen saver size (HERE)