Ok moving forward with more in ’24 have you considered where you would like to go with your Photography? Most of us look to others for inspiration. This is very common. All Photographers have done this for years, including myself.
I must admit though that I am personally not one to study many of the masters of the past. Yes I like some of the work of the past Masters… however this is now. What has been done lately?
The masters of the past stretched the boundaries. Many of the techniques we use today were developed by the masters of yesterday. Then those techniques where updated.
I kinda think that I should study more of what were are doing today, stretching todays boundaries, in order to “possibly invent’ what Photographers might be doing in the future. This is a personal opinion that I’m certain many of you would disagree with.
I look for inspiration all the time, both with the past, but a bit more with current Photographers. Then wonder what I might tweak to make it my own. Sometimes I’m left with very little from others that inspires me now. So that drives me to search within myself to create something. I personally love a challenge and I love to be different.
The images below I grabbed to inspire you – this is the type of work that sells very well for wall art. You might not think of them as great Photographs. You might be wrong. And yes, they are Photographs! And yes I composed them.
WPPI Is Coming In March
This is a print competition I’ve mentioned many times in my classes. Yet very few of my students and followers take me up on this. The inspiration you will find at this print competition will astound you.
You can also sit in on the judging of the images! This is a awesome education! To hear comments made for improvement by some of the most profound Photographers in the world is priceless! Ya’ll should join me! In the past, some of the most outstanding prints I’ve ever seen have been displayed at WPPI.
I’ll get everyone of you that follow my newsletters in for free this year, if you like. We’ll make it an event. It would be pretty cool to have a couple of hundred of you show up with me! Let me know ASAP if you’re interested. WPPI is from March 3rd till March 7th. INTEREST LIST CLICK HERE!
Yes I said this will be FREE! So click on that interest list now! Inspiration awaits!
Once I have a list of people that are actually interested and would show up, I’ll make a plan. The image below is of my good friends Jerry and Melissa Ghionis. They have taken over the Print Competition that WPPI used to have, and abruptly discontinued last year. This year is their first year with the competition being totally under their guidance. I’m personally looking forward to all the improvements they will create.
Jerry is a Nikon Ambassador and also one of the most celebrated Photographers in the world. I’ve already spoken with Jerry and Melissa… they have told me that they would make a special appearance to my group and explain the print competition in more depth, and why it’s so valuable in your quest. So hit that interested list above! You’ll be glad you did!
Our Portfolios Are Not Just a Collection Of Images
Your portfolio should be your narrative. A visual story of your work, and your growth. How you were moved, and it should speak to your unique style and expertise. Right now, you might be saying in your head, “but Garrett I’m learning! I do not have a unique style! Hell… I would just like to be able to capture what I see!”
Guess what? We are all learning! Even Jerry and Melissa Ghionis. Some of you might simply be in different places within the journey. Isn’t THAT cool!
This is why I would like to inspire you to start thinking now. I would like to assist you, and at the same time this assists me. I’ve often said there are lessons in the teaching. There are! This is the key reason I love teaching! I learn things myself!
I’ve said we’re going for more in ’24. Well I’m personally shooting for a lot more. How about you? Would you like to thread a very specific needle Photographically? What does your needle look like? How many colors of yarn will you use? How will you bend the light to show us your vision?
Building A Remarkable Portfolio Is An Ongoing Process
The most successful Photographers are constantly searching out new ideas, information, and ways to move their work forward.
Is the topic of your work singular? I personally would highly recommend stepping out of your comfort zone often. My father was a very successful Professional Photographer, but he only Photographed one genre.
In his teachings with me he considered this a failure. At a very young age my father stated “you can not call yourself a Professional Photographer until you can pick up any camera and shoot any genre, and any style, at any time.”
At the time he stated this to me I was 17 years old. For 54 years now I’ve been trying to live up to his lofty goal, and I’ve Photographed almost every genre… But not all of them. Also he said every style too didn’t he? I have not done that yet either.
For a lot of that time I was cussing him under my breath… but damn! This is the very BEST advice he ever gave me! I have learned so much! I continue to learn!
Many, many times I have stepped way outside my comfort zones. During some of these ventures, squirming every minute, but never let them see you sweat! Every single time when I finished the gig, I was monumentally happy I took it on! Those experiences have always assisted me further on down the road.
Ok An Example – Just Playing
Alright the two examples below are from one image. Remember this if someone ever says to you that they’d love to buy your print but the color scheme is wrong for their decor. They are both exactly the same image, I tweaked the colors of the one in the top image.
Yes, these images might look a bit weird to you, and they might not. They are the type of thing that sells well as wall art. Why? Because you can look at the image everyday and see something different every time.
The image above is the original image that I built the other two images out of. What is it? I know… look at it a bit and tell me what you think it is. Believe it or not I could also use this image as a backdrop behind another subject, And I could use it as a texture over other images.
It’s a rock you say? Some kind of agate? Nope! It’s petrified wood! The image below is the original shot. I cropped one little section out of the scene. It’s from the big log in the middle foreground.
Have you ever thought to do this? If so congrats! You think outside the box! You are like me in this respect… by thinking out of the box even on a crappy day, with crappy light, you will not waste your time! You will find something to shoot somehow, someway.
Just a little guess what? The very two first images at the top of this post were also pictures of Petrified Logs! All I did to those images to arrive at that look was to multiply techniques used on the original picture. I’ve said it before… I can not teach you how to multiply without first teaching you how to add.
So? Have I Got You Thinking?
Personally I’m very goal oriented. I’ve set some pretty lofty goals for my Photography this year. I’m excited to get to work on those goals. Inspiration? I think I’ve set my own inspiration.
How’s about you? Are you ready to try something new? Or improve on a technique? Or perhaps create a project, like maybe road shots? Or images of benches… You name it! The sky’s the limit!
Once again thank you for being here!
