Friday, March 16, 2012

Artistic Plight

One of my favorite aspects of photography is also one of my least favorite things about photography:
"One man's trash is another man's treasure."
(My husband likes to say as we are driving by a garage sale "One man's trash is another man's...trash!", which I always find hilarious, until I catch glimpse of what might be "treasure" as the car inexplicably accelerates!)

Every photographer has a different style and technique, a different way of seeing people and the world. And every person who views our art, interprets it differently; loves it, hates it, is indifferent to it.


There will always be some person who cannot see the value, whether it be from a different world view or a disappointed expectation, and I have to be alright with that.

It is the plight of the artist. 


The trick is finding the balance of being challenged without being hurt. And learning to let go and sometimes just accept that the mere subjective nature of art is what makes it so frustrating yet so beautiful at the very same time!


The following photograph captures a few strands of beach grass during sunset on Anna Maria Island in Florida. Most of the time I wouldn't switch a sunset shot to black and white for fear of missing the whole point of the photograph, but for some reason, I felt compelled to see what it would look like. 
To my eye, it turned a beautiful typical sunset photograph into something more. 

The quotation I placed in the picture is something I came across a few months ago - the inspiration for this post, and the balm to the occasionally hurt ego of the artist.  







Monday, March 12, 2012

Football and Fishing In February

A few weeks ago I had a session with Mr. Hunter. It was a frosty 30 degrees out in downtown Grand Rapids and despite the temperature, Hunter was a good sport! And he even brought a few props along for the photoshoot!  :)







Despite the ridiculous cold, it was a beautiful morning - with plentiful sunshine!!




And to warm up, we hurried on inside to the skywalk overlooking the city


Yeah, I think he might be working it for the camera just a little...

Okay, I think Hunter might be ready to end the photoshoot...  :)