Postcards from the Creative Journey

397 Much Photography, Few Photographs, Part II

Interior, Jones Cottage, Cary, NC

While considering the tasks at hand to complete my current photographic obligations, it did occur to me that my version of photography today is complicated. Thirty or so years ago I decided to try to do my very best in being a photographer. I had to learn how to expose and develop film and make prints. Mounting, matting and framing were the final skills needed for those of us on a budget. We could then hang the finished print on the wall.

Not so much today.

Now, along with my Digital cameras, lots of software, I have multiple avenues to an audience. There are now many things to learn about how to display photographs; Graphic design, typography, creative writing, editing and mastering all the software to do that. There is a another whole set of “meta” skills required to make the use of the creative software such as managing image databases and the operating system of your own computer. Most importantly, for those of us that show most of our photographs on the web there is an ever evolving set of skills required to help people find your photographs.

While the opportunities to share photographs with other photographers has grown, so too has the number of skills needed to make such sharing possible.

396 Much Photography, Few Photographs, Part I

Morning, Cary Elementary School

It occurred to me that I am engaged in a host of photographic activities, but not a whole lot of it has to do with making photographs. Photographs are integral to what I’m doing, but producing new images just isn’t on my list of things to do right now. I’m hard at work updating my blog photos to match my new design. Sadly, the only creative part of that effort is in how to do it in as few as steps as possible. I’m preparing for a photographic lecture to my group of local photographic artistes (You could go back a couple of weeks and read about that if you like). That’s a lot of thinking and writing about photographs and projects, but still nothing overtly photographic. I promise the on screen presentation accompanying my talk will be spectacular, but not really photographic.

I have multiple photographic projects in progress and they all have simultaneously reached that stage where the fun is all gone and there’s nothing left but work.

395 Getting Ready for “a Talk” Part II

Detail, Early Morning, Cary Elementary School

In preparing the “Talk” (That’s 7:00 PM June 22 at the Cary Theatre, in Cary North Carolina if you’re in the area.) I am addressing the subject of my most recent completed project. (Like many photographers I also have lots and lots of uncompleted projects.) I refer to the project as the latest chapter in a book of my photographs of the town where I live. I have been photographing this same street for almost thirty years. How the newest project fits into what I have previously completed is what interests me. Many changes took place during that time. I started with gelatin silver prints, moved to platinum/palladium, then digital negatives with platinum palladium prints and finally a completely digital process. The quality of the presentation changed (I’m not sure if that’s a function of me or the materials) for the better as time passed, but the aesthetic approach has pretty much stayed the same.

One of my most popular posts has been on maintaining enthusiasm for the long term project. This is a long term project for sure and I continue to photograph here in Cary because I have the opportunity and time to do so. The street, my technology and myself have continued to change throughout this time providing a familiar scene that is constantly changing.

These two project are now on my website. The Victorian Lady and Southern Gothic are the two latest projects. Stop by and take a look.

394 Getting Ready for “a Talk” Part I

Ivey Ellington House, Cary NC

I’m giving a talk at the local photographic group in June. (That’s June 22 to be exact at the Cary Theatre, in Cary North Carolina if you’re in the area.) I figure if I have been photographing for over forty years, I guess I might be able to impart a little bit of wisdom to those that haven’t travelled very far on their creative journey.

I’ve probably written it here before but those who are on the creative journey with us are mentors, partners or followers. We are inspired by our mentors, we learn from our partners and we help the followers. We can play all three roles, sometimes, simultaneously. We help each other on that creative journey to make it more enjoyable for all.

I chose to make this presentation to the Cary Photographic Artists to give back to the photographic community here.