Someone asked me the other day what type of photography do I like to shoot. Immediately my response was “portraits.”
Why?
Because people are fascinating!
Because people have individual personalities and expressions.
Because people have stories to share.
Because people are intrigued by other people.
Ever go to a museum and notice we are drawn to portraits more often than any other subject? Because people back then are just like us. In the future, they will appreciate and absorb content about us.
This is why I focus on photographing people.
Christmas With Family
It’s Not Relevant
Instagram sucks.
It used to be a great way to network with great photographers and friends. It has evolved from a creative community into an abomination of memes, unoriginal work and advertisements. When Facebook purchased Instagram everyone knew that it would change drastically and not for the better.
Shortly after, ads were popping up with no regard for anything. Nothing was relevant because Facebook hadn’t yet figured out your likes, dislikes, friends. It still hasn’t figured me out. I am seeing ads for candy, ads for salt. Yes, salt. Ads for a house flipping seminar by some faux celeb on a DIY channel. Ads for paint etc etc. What the hell does salt have to do with photography? This is a photography platform…or it used to be. IG has added video features, photo/video stories, IGTV for longer video stories. All laced with ads.
FB and IG both have shitty algorithms that is distracting what we want to see. Their shitty algorithms have also destroyed the order in which we want to see our friend’s photos by assuming they know best. But FB and IG don’t know me at all. They’ve stopped caring and allow any advertiser to show whatever they want, relevant or not and then have access to our data.
How pervasive are these irrelevant advertisements? It averages one ad for every four photos in your feed. Four, maybe five of your colleague’s images and then you get a “sponsored post”.
Think these offered options matter?
Why don’t you want to see this ad?
It’s not relevant
I see it too often
It’s inappropriate
Think again.
Deleting Facebook was easy. I never took it seriously and my friends appreciated me mocking everything that they enjoyed about FB.
Speaking of deleting…I just accidentally erased my whole last paragraph and don’t have the energy to recreate it. Anyway, IG sucks and I am getting real close to pushing that “delete account” button
Lightroom Preset Synchronization
Finally.
I’ve been able to synchronize my custom film effects from the desktop to my mobile iOS devices so now I can edit my images anywhere.
On my iPhone
On my iPad
This is a fantastic development that’ll come in handy when I am out and about and want to share processed images right away.
I need a muse to help influence and inspire my photography. Someone who understands and supports my creative vision, even if I don’t. This muse would inspire my creative vision. Someone that will allow me anything and everything. Fearless. No comfort zone because of the trust. Find the limits and then cross them anyway. Every photographer needs a muse, not just a model. A companion, my biggest fan and maybe even my biggest critic.
This muse will help guide and instruct my creative process with trial, error and success just by being there. The muse will be honest, free and open with me to unleash my creative flow.
They will fill up my photo card, drain my batteries, use up all my film because the inspiration will not stop. You are hers and she is yours. That connection between her, my camera and me is magic. My muse won’t care for other’s work, just mine. And hers, because she is a work of art herself.
