Snapshot at a Stop Light

Snapshot at a stop light.
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snap

ExpoDisc - For Accurate White Balance

ExpoDisc

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Setting accurate “white balance” is easy with Expodisc. I have used it in offices with weird tungsten lighting. I have used it for street scene night shots in Las Vegas. Using ExpoDisc even helps me get better exposures in open shade, and at different times of the day. And, one disc the diameter of your largest lens is all you need to purchase.

http://www.expoimaging.net/

Not Lazy - Busy, Busy, Busy.

Post have been lagging because I have been on the go constantly for days. Now, just when I was hoping to rest, I will probably have to head for the west coast in my truck.
One important note: There is a 99.9% chance that I will move back to Las Vegas to retire from trucking by October 1, 2009.

My Vision - My Strategy

This afternoon I purchased “The Real Business of Photography”, by Richard Weisgrau. This book was copublished by Allworth Press and the American Society of Media Photographers. I plan on digging deep into this book tonight. However, while sitting in a booth waiting for my dinner to arrive I did read the first few pages. The first chapter deals with developing a strategic vision. This is the process of developing a strategy of getting from the fantasy stage of owning a business (in this case we are talking about a photography business) to the planning of concrete steps of turning the fantasy into a successful reality.

I guess I am lucky here. Because, I have spent a lot of the past few months in an evaluation mode. I am fairly comfortable in stating that I can define what success means to me. I am also fairly comfortable in stating what kind of photography I want to do. And, I am almost comfortable stating that I have most of the basic tools I need to do the type of work that I want to do. I also know what I am up against as far as my personality versus my ambitions go. And, I know what I will need to do to overcome my shortcomings. So,----- what is my major drawback.

I have three major drawbacks. Time, experience and confidence. But, I know that I can overcome all of these drawbacks. And, here is the way I will overcome them:
Time: It is simple. I know I will never be able to continue my current job and spend enough time in photography related activities. I am taking the necessary steps to make it possible for me to spend more time with camera in hand, and on the business side of my art.
Experience: This not only includes more education, and time with camera in hand, but networking business wise and socially. There was a time when I had a social life, and knew how to act and react to the people around me. I can do that again. It will just take some rekindling of the desires to mingle with people.
Confidence: That will come automatically with the improvement of my social life, and with the experience of negotiating with photography clients.

Like I said, I will get busy reading this book tonight. However, I want to state at this time what my vision of my successful photography business is. It is simply to be able to work for myself (although at times I hope I will work as part of a team on larger productions) producing the photography that I want to produce. And, I hope to be able to do this while maintaining the ability to be flexible in where I live, and where I travel. I know myself well enough to know that I will never loose the desire to travel. I may want more home time, but I will always want to be able to travel and learn. I believe I can accomplish these desires by practicing the kinds of photography I like most. Event, portfolio, travel, assignment, stock, and small location and studio portraiture work should enable me to accomplish my goals.

I will consider my photography business successful when the tools of my trade enable me to earn a decent living while doing the work that I love to do, enable me to have a social life, and enable me to continue the learning experience.

On My Way to Lunch

An imature Grackle sits on a window ledge waiting for Mom and Dad to rescue him. Meanwhile, Papa sits in a tree and curses at me. These shots were taken about an hour ago, just after my lunch.

Family Tragedy

Working Toward a Goal

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It is my ambition to become a professional photographer. Moreover, people photography is what I want to specialize in. I like doing editorial style photography of people as they go about their lives, and of the newsworthy events that their lives become. But, I am beginning to work with multiple flash units, and creating staged photographs. My photography, as a result, is getting better. Also, my post editing work is getting better. So, I believe, I am making major gains toward my ultimate goal. That does not, however, mean that I do not want/need input from other photographers, editors or anyone interested in helping me with their ideas or expertise.

A Networking Article

This link will send you to an article from "Truck News" by Dan Goodwill. These days "networking" is an all important ability to business and finding employment.