Jun 2007
Playing it Forward
June/29/07 11:53 AM
During my childhood I was very
fortunate to have contact with and influence from several adults
who encouraged my love of nature and photography. An interest and
talent not forced, but rather something that grew effortlessly from
the opportunities placed before me - opportunities to explore,
experiment and learn.
I’ll never forget those subtle powers of positive influence.
And so now today it is my responsibility to “play it forward,” not only in encouraging and helping young photographers just starting out but also providing my own daughters with opportunities to discover their own unique talents and passions. As I stated earlier today in an email to a friend, “no matter how much money one has, a person has a moral responsibility to make the most of his or her talent. That responsibility increases ten-fold when one becomes a parent.”
This past weekend I introduced my eight year old daughter Emma to nature photography during a trip to Hocking Hills. She’s starting out with the same camera I used when I was about 11. She’s learning the basics with a Pentax Spotmatic F, a 50mm lens and a tripod. She had already become use to the convenience of a point-and-shoot digital, so teaching her how to load film and manually focus and adjust for exposure took a little time. However, sometimes shooting photography completely manual, and with film, is the best way to fall in love with the art of the craft.
Who knows whether a seed took root or not. If it did, then it probably won’t be long till we build that black and white darkroom at home. What’s most important is presenting the opportunity to learn and explore, and having lots of fun in the process.
I’ll never forget those subtle powers of positive influence.
And so now today it is my responsibility to “play it forward,” not only in encouraging and helping young photographers just starting out but also providing my own daughters with opportunities to discover their own unique talents and passions. As I stated earlier today in an email to a friend, “no matter how much money one has, a person has a moral responsibility to make the most of his or her talent. That responsibility increases ten-fold when one becomes a parent.”
This past weekend I introduced my eight year old daughter Emma to nature photography during a trip to Hocking Hills. She’s starting out with the same camera I used when I was about 11. She’s learning the basics with a Pentax Spotmatic F, a 50mm lens and a tripod. She had already become use to the convenience of a point-and-shoot digital, so teaching her how to load film and manually focus and adjust for exposure took a little time. However, sometimes shooting photography completely manual, and with film, is the best way to fall in love with the art of the craft.
Who knows whether a seed took root or not. If it did, then it probably won’t be long till we build that black and white darkroom at home. What’s most important is presenting the opportunity to learn and explore, and having lots of fun in the process.
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New Look and Sign for Picture Ohio Storefront
June/08/07 12:04 PM
After two years of being in my Centerville location, where I manage the studio and gallery for Picture Ohio, LLC, I've finally acted on a few friendly suggestions on improving my visibility. Just yesterday Signetics - a local sign-making company that I highly recommend - delivered the new sign for my storefront. What an improvement ! This time I didn't try to do the design myself, wisely leaving it up to the staff at Signetics. I am more than pleased with the design and the final product. The sing clearly communicates the emphasis on who I am and what I do versus my previous self-designed sign that simply emphasized the name of my business, Picture Ohio, LLC.
Looking back I think that name was throwing a lot of people off the fact that I provide photography services that include studio portraits, commercial/assignment, product, architectural as well as host of other digital imaging services PLUS the continued creation and sale of fine art nature, landscape and cityscape prints and photographs for decoration and stock licensing.
I was also motivated by the fact that I installed some exterior lights near my signs, on both the front and back entrances. Now I can safely say "just look for the big photography sign" when giving people directions to my studio and gallery.
