A photography client told me the other day that my work has an organic feel to it. She called my approach to photography unspoiled and under-influenced. (Thanks Peggy!) I started to think about it and wondered what brought her to that conclusion. Every photographer starts somewhere. My journey into photography started in the fields around my home. As soon as my kids would climb the stairway on the bus, I would disappear into rural places, hoping to capture some unexpected treasure. Untrained on so many levels, I would turn dials on my camera haplessly hoping l could get my clunky Nikon machine to capture the world as my mind was seeing it. Personally, the most riveting observations have always come my way when I see the marriage of nature touched lightly by the human hand. When nature and humanity mix respectfully, the beauty can be undeniable. When we tread gently this earth we stand upon, the result seems ethereal. This subtle mix is what makes a photograph memorable (See Molly above). The flip side can also bring an interesting result. Bring a person into a heavily human developed entity, and the human in the photo takes on a different role. Here the subject of the photo can play the master role like that of Leonardo Davinci, creating a picture filled with the possibility and brilliance of mankind (see Heather below). As I dive deeper into my photography obsession, I realize the need to make the subject become an integrated part of the bigger picture. This will always be at the very core of my thinking before hitting the shutter button. Your photo somehow needs to tell a story. Now that I am fortunate enough to capture some HS seniors behind the lens, my thinking hasn’t changed. The required headshot may define one's look and style, but the wider angle tells a more poignant story of how we seem to fit into this world. While a portrait may be about the individual, it's even better when defined by the bigger picture. The trick is to make it believable. Placing a person into a setting and making them look like they belong there requires trusting your subject and the setting. At the moment it clicks, is when you press the shutter. I'll stick to finding inspiration in the everyday miracles I see in front of me. I plan on defining my work with this sentiment in mind. Perhaps, this is why I always look forward to seeing whats around the next corner.
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