.21::30.the porfolio

Building my portfolio. It's something I've been working on for the last couple of years. As many of you would agree, I believe it is an ongoing process. This year, however, I feel as if I have hit some enormous wall that stands 10 feet thick, with heights stretching 500 miles beyond the stratosphere. My creativity pool has been sitting stagnant for far too long.

Since moving back to Nashville from Lexington, it seems as if I've sorta lost my sense of direction as to where I want to go with my photography. A friend of mine ,who is also trying to pursue her photographic passions, asked for some advice on how to get out of a "photographic rut." Ironic, because I feel like I'm in the same boat, yet I was able to give her some suggestions. In addition, I also gave her a series of questions to ask herself in order to come to a better understanding of where she is and where she may want to be with her photography. What's funny is that I never thought to ask myself those same questions. Until now.

Find out what you really like photographing. What are you drawn to? What kinds of photos do you find yourself wishing you had taken? Study them. What do you like about them? When you take your photos, what are you trying to convey?

Honestly, I find myself drawn to people, still life, nature. I'm drawn to the use of color, or lack there of, lighting, location, subject, emotion. When I think of the photos I wish I had been the one to take, I think of the works of some of my favorite photographers like Jenny Zarins, David Eustace, French Ruffenach, David duChemin, Steve McCurry, to name a few. Just like many art students learn from studying the works of the Masters, I feel the same practice applies to students of photography. Do I admire the Mona Lisa because of her smile? Or do I admire this painting because of the detail in the background? How did DaVinci do it? Do I admire Steve McCurry's image of the Afghan Girl because she is a beautiful woman? Or do I admire it because of the color, the lighting, the emotion captured in this frame? Had it been me there behind the lens that day, how would I have made this same photograph? I am not saying to go out there and copy someone elses work. No.No.NO. What I am saying is that we must spend time studying those elements we are drawn to in an image, whether it be the type of lighting, the tone of the image, etc., and find a way to apply those same elements into our own creative works.

Bottomline: Practice does make perfect, or at least brings us closer to it.

Now that I am rolling all these questions in my head, I realize I really need to work on some ideas, actually put them down on paper, and get some photoshoots going! Brainstorming is such a wonderful thing. Setting attainable goals is always a good way to light a fire under your bum too! My hope is to get a few more shoots with models in before the end of the year. Next dilemma: Location! Location! Location! And the scouting begins!