Tourist

Ok, so there I was and I could not believe it. I had just finished a morning shoot in Cambria, California of some early morning long exposure beach scenes. I was going to visit a couple of my photo friends who were having a reception at a local art gallery and was killing time at a vista view turnout in San Simeon. I was tired, but still relaxing and enjoying the wonderful seascape smells and sounds when the tourists drove up one by one. Yes, there it was. They would pull up, pop out of the car, pull out the iPhone , click off a selfie and a shot of the ocean, pop back in the car and leave. Off to the next stop. Never enjoying that beautiful moment nor the wonderful sea air, the sounds of the surf, the flying pelicans or seagulls. Just Bam, Bam thank you Maam. I had heard of this behavior before but had never experienced it. At least not in this abundance. This went on for at least an hour. Car after Car. Of course it was a 3 day weekend holiday, but really?

Now I am not against iPhones. I won a Best of Show in a mobile device only show recently and love to take mobile device images. There are more images made from mobile devices than any other camera. I’m just saying enjoy the moment folks. You can look at the pix later..!!!

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I Keep Learning

Why I Haven’t Blogged Lately

OK, so why haven’t I blogged lately. Could it be that I have been really busy doing real things like photographing, post processing, architecture, working and just living (or should I say surviving, barely)? Could it be that 85% of my followers are trying to sell me something?  Could it be that I don’t have that many followers or that in a cyber world of cybercrap that my cybercrap is more irritating than others? Plus, it takes a lot of time..!!!

 

All of the above..!!!    But good excuses right? And it makes for a good Whine with that Cheese.

 

            I guess you catch on that I’m cynical and sarcastic with a dash of a sense of humor in there someplace. Chalk that up to a lousy childhood and Viet Nam. Have to blame it on someone or something other than myself. Everyone else does, right. Makes for a good artist or so I think, but not a very good blogger..!!!

 

            Anyway, Black & White Magazine said I won another award and that made me excited and pleased. I just have to get my ass in gear and start marketing. Marketing, something I should have started at least 15 years ago. Ok, so I am a procrastinator. I seem to be a lot of things, but not a blogger. Now you know why I’m only surviving, I’m not marketing my work. I know marketing is 90% of photography. I have heard it all about marketing. I have also heard “Do what you love and the Money will come.” I am still waiting..!!!

 

            There lies the rub for me. Money vs. Love. Truly, I love the art of photography and not the business part and like anyone, I would love to have some income from this process. It is really great to be recognized by your peers and others with compliments and awards, but cash in hand is the ultimate compliment.

 

So, having said all that B.S. what is real for me, what really makes me happy is making images, sharing those images as well as learning new things and sharing any knowledge I have with anyone who is interested in learning. There is nothing better than paying it forward. And that is Free.

 

In the meantime I am going to go meditate.

 

 

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Until next time,

Crawf

 

Following your Own Vision.

The Old Time Photographers always tell you to follow your vision, your truth and all that BS. That is what just about anyone who gives advice about photography tells you. As a matter of fact, I guess “They” probably say that about any artistic endeavor or any worthwhile endeavor for that matter. It has taken me years to find my vision, if I have even found it. What I do know is that I will capture an image for Me. I really don’t care if someone likes it or not. I of course would like someone to purchase that image, what artist doesn’t. That always helps the pocketbook and ego. The important thing is that capturing that image makes me happy.

Case in point:

The above image “Legs a Running” was captured at The 44th Annual Brian Waterbury Memorial Rock to Pier Fun Run held on July 13, 2013. From Morro Bay to Cayucos, California. Now several other photographers were there and they captured the usual images that you see as far as I know. Nothing incorrect with that. Normal document type of photography is fine, but I am not normal as you can see from the above image. I am different and my vision is different. True not everyone likes that vision and that is fine with me. I am happy with the capture. Not everyone gets it and that is alright. Maybe you have to look at it a bit longer. It is an abstract. I believe it depicts what a fun run is.

It is different, like me. It is my vision for that race.

http://500px.com/crawf

Follow Your Vision..!!!

Until next time,

Crawf

Challenging Your Photography.

It seems that many photographers including myself seem to get into not necessarily a rut, but may end up photographing the same subject matter over and over. Well, recently a very good friend of mine and a great photographer Bob Canepa started a MeetUp group called Canon 5DMarkIII. We meet once a month and discuss all things about the 5DIII and are given an assignment each month. Since the group just started our first assignment was to photograph birds. Heck, I am no birder or wildlife photographer whatsoever. This was to be very challenging for me. I was ready to drop outta this group minute one. We had 5 or 6 fantastic Birders and Wildlife photographers in the group from intermediate to photographers with Magazine Cover shots and awards to their credits. But, heck I can learn from these folks even though my lens inventory doesn’t have the reach that they have. I got the courage and did get up for the challenge. I will do the best I am able with what I have, I said to myself.

So off I went into the wilds. My results were mixed to say the least. I came away with 1 good image. Some people would say that was a good day. I am greedy I would have liked to have a better day than that. On another day I went out with Bob Canepa. I picked him up at his house and out he came with a huge 500mm lens with a 1.4x extender. Man talk about lens envy. No matter, I had my 100-400 mm. I didn’t have an extender that would work. Whatever Happens, Happens. It was a good day. It always is with Bob. I came away with 4 good images that morning. The above image, I think my best.

So a good challenge every so often I think helps with your photography. Helps open that eye a bit. Gets you off the sofa sort to speak. It was a help for me. Who knew I could come up with a half way decent image.

This month we are photographing a run. Wild crazy people running on the beach for a few miles. Another new challenge for me.

Until next post..

Crawf

My Joy of Photography.

I had said that for me, photography was therapy. This is very true. It all came about first while in Viet Nam as a relief from chaos and boredom. Then upon returning to the States and enjoying my career in Architecture it became a therapy  from the restraints of that occupation. You see I was Bamboozled. I am very right brained creative kinda guy and Architecture is loaded with constraints. Some of those being, Budgets, Agency controls and regulations, Clients needs and wants, Environmental restrictions, Time constraints and so on. Very left brain stuff and too business for me but which is ok for some. I needed an outlet and photography was my cure.

So there I was out of the stuffy office and into the splendid stimulating smelling fresh air of nature. Photographing what I want, when I want and where I want. The hunt for that certain image. The excitement of finding the perfect moment and being able to capture it. Getting back and editing and post processing. But even better was that I enjoyed the results. Some of images were actually good and then when I matted and framed them they were even better looking. Then miracles began to happen. Not only did my friends and family like the images, but even strangers. Man, I was excited. They all began to tell me I should start showing my work. So I did and even more strangers like my images. Than people I didn’t even know began to know my images and my name. So weird..???

All of these things spurned me on. My therapy was working. My friends encouraged me to go to Camera Club Organizations where I met like minded people. I learned many new things and gained much needed experience. I was talked into showing work in Galleries and entering Photography Contest. I started selling more of my images and winning contests which allowed me to show my work throughout the States and in International Magazines.

Although I can proudly point out the many buildings that have my imprint on during my Architectural career, I can say at the least, my therapy has been very fulfilling and Joyful.

Until next post,

Crawf

 

Penny-farthing

This is My First Time Blogging..!!!

Well, everyone this is my first time blogging. No, I blogged for the first time yesterday in my blog “What have I been working on lately.” So, this is my second time, but really first. Whatever..!!! I am not in here to share my private life, recipes, gossip or what I had for breakfast. I am here to chat about my passion, Photography. Now that is what I eat, sleep, drink and dream about. I will add an image or two every so often. I will talk about my OPPD ( Obsessive Post Processing Disorder), my very distaste for the bottom of the earth scum thieves who steal you digital images and about sharing what little knowledge I have in my 45+ years of photography. So steal my knowledge what little there is of that, but not my images. I am sure that most if not all photographers will agree with that. All photographers know the difficulties one goes through in getting an image. Travel, weather conditions, carrying equipment, buying equipment and post processing. I could go on. It really isn’t as easy as it looks. I know in sitting in the Gallery clients will come in and say” Oh I can do that with my point and shoot.” Grrrrrrr. And then when someone comes along with no effort or work and steals it online. Triple Bozo No No Buddy..!!!

Anyway. I love to get out there and photograph as well and get behind the computer and P.P. (That’s Post Processing to ya buddy). Some are against P.P. But I am very tolerant. Whatever the artist wants to do is up to him/her. If they want to underdo or overdo, so be it. If they like it, it’s ok. I do what pleases me and if the critics or my clients like it, so much the better. Agree of Disagree. That is what makes us all different photographers with different images. So much the better. We are all correct and at the same time all wrong. No one is perfect and no one has all the correct answers.

Someone or no one may ask who are my influences? Just about anyone and everyone. Most positive and some negative. If you check out my websites and 500px.com and all that other crap if you are curious you will learn more about me. I look at photo mags, webinars, Flickr and geez anyplace I can to learn everyday about photography. I need to keep learning. I am not yet were I want to be in photography, but I am much better than I was a year ago and In another year I hope to be better than I am now.

Until next post,

Crawf

San Simeon Pier

What Have I been working on lately?

Lately I have really been into Daylight B&W long exposure. I do this utilizing neutral Density filters. I have a 2, 3 and 10 stop stop filters all by B+W. I really need to get a 6 stop filter. One can only stack 2 filters at time before you get aberrations, etc. I have been doing this for the last year and by the seat of my pants. Some images take up to 6 minutes. I have a few Flickr contacts that are fantastic. Some of these are, Nathan Wirth,Peter Levi, rohan reilly and so many more. My favorite at the moment is Julius Tjintjelaar. He does stunning work, they all do. Mr. Tjintjelaar mentioned an ebook by Sharon Tenenbaum. This read is fantastic. Very helpful. Some of the things I already knew, so it was a refresher. I of course did learn some new tricks. This ebook is a bit on the expensive side, but worth it.

I will keep experimenting and having fun. I am just waiting for some good clouds to come along.

More to come,

Crawf

 

BTW: Stupid me. I forgot to mention Sharon Tenenbaum’s ebook (Not that I endorse or am trying to sell anything. Just sharing) “How to create Long Exposure Fine Art Photography”

Lalush’s Beast © James A. Crawford 2013

Lalush’s Beast’s © James A. Crawford 2013