Late Bloomers © 2010 Bo Mackison
(Second in a series on why I chose photography as my creative medium and the basis of a new career.)
#2. Photography allows me stretch artistically.
Each time I take my camera out in the field to photograph a subject, or work on a photo during post-processing, or practice getting a photograph to print exactly the way I see it in my mind, I expand my artistic abilities. There is something to be said for practice. When I look back at my first digital photographs taken in the summer of 2007, I appreciate the obvious effort that went into the production of the photos. I knew nothing about digital photography, I had only a vague idea what most of the settings and dials on my camera actually did, I could barely navigate a computer. But I was able to capture some of the appreciation I had for my subjects.
When I first began to shoot, one of my goals was to post a daily photograph on my blog for a year. Slowly I learned. The mere fact that I committed to posting daily made me pick up my camera on days when I didn’t really feel like it. But once I began looking for a subject to shoot, my enthusiasm generally increased. I always got a photograph, and I was always happy I had made the effort to keep that daily promise to myself.
My photographs have changed a lot over the last few years. At first, I worked on the basics of composition and focus and pleasing subjects. Now my photographs vary greatly. One photo may look painterly, the next may be a macro study on the color orange, a third will be a refection study of a garden pond. I love to experiment. I love to see how far I can stretch the photographic experience that my camera can produce.
I truly love to have a camera in my hands, ready to capture my vision!
About Bo Mackison
Looking forward to this series, Bo. What a great idea.
Not quite sure where this will lead. I plan on doing a lot of self- questioning and exploring.
This must be such an interesting exercise for you to explore what it really means.
I think it will help me decide which direction I want to pursue.
You have changed over the years and I’ve always enjoyed all of your photos and your writings. The process of photography and blogging enhance each other.
Blogging has been a major force in my photography development. Without a platform to share my art, it may have been much harder to continue. And yes, there has been much change over the last 3 years. I quite thrilled with all I’ve accomplished, the the road continues on…
Blogging has influenced my photography, too.
I’ve noticed the way your photography has changed and grown. It’s been fascinating to watch and to learn a thing or two while I’m watching. 🙂
It IS amazing how photography and blogging have helped influence and shape us, and…it is amazing how much artistic growth we have experienced.