exploring nature’s infinite connections
I was catching up on my blog reading and I saw a reference to an Ira Glass video series over on YouTube. They are wonderful segments on storytelling and creativity – told in a way that probably all artists can gain some inspiration from no matter what medium you work with. . Insert “photography” for story telling or reporting in what he is saying, and it fits. . I am not going to babble on too much about it and ruin Ira’s great advice here, so enjoy..
this post is tagged with these subjects, you are invited to explore and wander …
Ideas for photos don't always align with my abilities to execute them. I feel like I should have that made into a t-shirt, given how many times I've thought it to myself. I may have an idea that I have a general concept of how I will develop it, but as they say, the...
It's been one year since I returned to printing photographs at home with the replacement of my old, defunct Epson 4800 with a Canon Image ProGRAF 300 (great name 😉 ). The Epson was turned over to an electronics recycler and the Canon is slurping up delicious ink....
I've kept the files I've used to make prints over the years for the longest time. The other day I deleted them - all of them. I was doing some digital housekeeping and found these archived print files were taking up some significant drive space. I initially kept them...
Signing Photographs
Yearly Favorites
Alex Kunz
Dear Bubbles
Diane Varner
Howard Grill
Joseph W. Smith
Franz Graf
Linda Grashoff
Bob Henry
Lynn Wohlers
Meandering Passage
Michael Russell
Michigan Nature
Monte Stevens
Planet Detroit
Six Rivers Land Conservancy
Sterling Oak
T.M.Schultze
Tom Dills
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Thse videos where very good. I had never heard of Ira Glass before but I found them really good. He was really motivating.
Hi John, thanks for the comment. I would tend to agree with Mr. Shaw. Your comments about masters of their art goes along with my comments in my “Embracing failure” post – because you never see all the throwaways of many photographers.
Think of how interesting it would be if all the top photographers of the world had to publish their keeper vs. throwaways vs. time in the field figures. No doubt someone like John develops a higher percentage after so many years, but I am sure he has those days as well where he comes home with nothing that thrills him.
Mark, I enjoy visiting your blog. This is my first comment. A few weeks ago I was at a workshop with John Shaw and I was surprised to hear him say “If you go out for a day and work hard and can show one good image that you’re proud of, you’re doing fine.” (I may not have remembered his words exactly.) Anyway, he seemed to be saying, Don’t feel like you failed if you shot all day and did your best and all you’ve got is one really image (the rest didn’t succeed for various reasons), because most days are like that. I thought that was quite surprising to hear, coming from someone who could justly be called a master of his art.
On this whole subject, I have to recommend a book called “Art and Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Orland. It’s a true gem.
Glad you liked them guys. They are definitely something to continually referring to.
Awesome videos Mark. Thanks for sharing.
It took me a long time to create my own vision while trying many mediums and many techniques. It took me finally becoming proud of my own vision to settle down and create a cohesive body of work.
Thanks for the link Mark, wonderful advice in it, if I would only use it 😉
Great stuff, thanks for finding it!
Mark, thanks for sharing this. Excellent advice, especially about being productive and attempting to close the gap between your ‘taste’ and your output, or striving to get your work to be what you really want it to be.
I can certainly see that it applies for any creative art.