October’s Self-Assignment Image

Here is an image of Mount Yamnuska in Bow Valley Provincial Park:

I shot this in early October and have decided to use it as my  monthly image for my self-assignment.  I’ve cropped off a chunk of the blue sky to make a more square-ish format.  Mount Yamnuska is an interesting and recognizable feature in Bow Valley Provincial Park.  Its sheer limestone face was created as a result of thrust from the Mcconnell Fault.  Apparently (I’m no geological expert here), there is 80 million year old rock in its face and 8 million year old rock at the scree slopes near its base.  Pretty cool!  “Yamnuska” translates to ‘wall of stone’ from the First Nation’s term for the mountain.

Yamnuska, or Mount John Laurie as it is also called in honour of that individual who was a friend and founder of the Indian Association of Alberta, is also a popular spot for Calgary rock climbers and scramblers bent on practising their technique.  It’s a gorgeous hike in the spring and fall when you can look down from the first shoulder of the mountain and gaze out over the Bow River valley.

Expo is Over–Whew!

I had a blast this past weekend at The Camera Store’s Digital Expo.  I don’t usually do this sort of thing, but was happy to help out Roy, the editor and publisher of Outdoor Photography Canada magazine at his booth.  I met some wonderful and amazing people!  I love the stories I hear from people–their struggles, their interests…I hope the Expo participants learned lots and are all charged up to get out and get shooting.

By the way, I have had some freelance work published with Outdoor Photography Canada magazine–which is Canadian owned, spotlighting Canadian content and authored by Canadian writers and photographers.  Over the last couple of years, meeting the contributors Mark (and Leslie) Degner, Kelly Funk, Mike Grandmaison  and of course Darwin has been so uplifting and helpful.  I’m happy that the magazine is doing so well, and if you aren’t familiar with it, check it out.  It is one of a kind in Canada.

Working the Expo meant that I did not do a thing for the International Day of Climate Action over at 350.org.  That is always the balance isn’t it?  Work and life (or is it life or work?)

Announcement: New Online Course!

I am teaching a new Online Course through the Nature Photographers Network on learning to see like a photographer.  This course is great for beginners AND those of us who have been taking pictures for awhile but are stuck in a rut with our designs and composition.  Freshen it up and take things to a new level without leaving your home (well, except to snap pics, of course!)  Check it out–great value compared to all those other online courses out there.  And there’s other courses by other photographers on the site too if you are looking to improve your skills in other areas.

The Art of Constructive Criticism

I have just received my first ‘hate mail’ and here it is (minus the author’s first name):

“What a stupid article you wrote about Macro photography in the Outdoor Photography Canada magazine for summer/fall 2009.

Who cares about you ingnorance of memory cards and the camera you own. I thought the article was about  shooting Macros. Boy was I wrong. I thought I was going to learn something. Obviously you have nothing to teach or share about that subject.

My macros are nicer than yours.”

In a way, I’m flattered that this particular gentleman was moved enough to take the time to email me, but the shortcomings in his comments has inspired me to write a short blog on the art of constructive criticism.  You see, I would like to engage in a dialogue with any person who has an opinion on my work so that I can learn what clicks and what doesn’t.  But that is hard to do of course if you don’t have the full name or website of the person whose macros “are nicer”.  So, in lieu of a discussion with Monsieur B, here are a few general tips for those who love to point fingers.

#1. Stand Behind What you Say. 

Why is it that the cloak of anonymity makes some people act differently than when they are in full view?  If your comment is going to be viewed publicly, will you still make it?  If your answer is ‘no’, then perhaps you should revise or even reconsider making such a comment.

#2. Personal Attacks are Not Constructive Criticism

Ask yourself why you feel moved to comment on someone else’s work.  Are you motivated to help that person improve?  Or are you grandstanding, putting someone else down to make yourself feel good?  If your goal is to help others be better at what they do, then learning a few tips on how to get your message effectively and diplomatically across is useful.  If you are out there to thump your own chest…well, probably no one cares to hear it.  Personal attacks on other peoples’ work reveals more about the character of the sender than it helps the receiver.

#3. Start With a Positive

Want someone to actually listen to your feedback?  Start with something they did well.  This will get their attention and help balance out the negatives you are about to dish out.  Humanity spends a lot of time obsessing over the gritty stuff in life, but we can all take a lesson from Barney the Purple Dinosaur and try to get along.  Remember, your goal here is to help another person, not put them down!

#4. Comment on Actions and Behaviours, Not the Person

Simple folks—-keep your comments to specific things that the person could do to improve.  Saying someone’s work is ’stupid’ is a waste of time.  What about their product is not successful?  What can they do next time to improve?  Be as specific as you can.  This point works for those receiving some constructive criticism too; remember that this exchange is not about YOU but your work.  Don’t take criticism personally as a reflection on your worth.  Learn to evaluate the criticism you are receiving for merit, just as the person providing the feedback is evaluating your work for merit.

#5. Keep Your Own Nose Clean!

Those who offer criticism univited often feel like they stand upon a higher moral ground.  Perhaps they have been in the biz longer than you and feel that this seniority equates to superiority (I’m not sure about the truthfulness of this) or perhaps they are one of those energy-draining, life-sucking parasites whose only pleasure is found in dragging other people down.  In any case, assuming your motives for speaking up in the first place are noble, make sure you are at least doing what you are advising the other person to do!  For example, if you wish to criticise someone else’s writings, then make sure your own written comments are free of grammatical and spelling errors.  (I’m not kidding!  How can I take seriously the comments of someone who mispells ‘ignorance’ in his hate mail??!)

Mean people are a fact of life.  Everytime you put your work out there, you risk negative and unhelpful feedback.  But growing a thick skin will help you deflect criticism that has as its aim the desire to harm and not help you.  And to all of you out there who lift a pen or peck out a few sentences, make it worth your time and ours and learn the art of constructive criticism.

Visit to the North

I had the privilege of visiting Yellowknife in the Canadian Northwest Territory this month.

 What an amazing place.

 Despite frequently lamenting the length of Canadian winters, I love the summer light in the Canadian north.  While my skin loves to soak up the flashy, hot light of the desert, I prefer to photograph in the pondering twilight of the great north.  Although not as intense as in the south, northern light has staying power.  It slowly swells and spreads, gently illuminating the face of the earth as the planet drifts on its axis like a child sleeping in its cradle. 

 

For a photographer in the south, golden light happens in minutes around sunrise and sunset before becoming either too intense or disappearing altogether.  For me, northern light is patient and abiding, painting the sky in shifting shades of silver, cyan and peach.  Southern light sends creatures scurrying for shelter from its blistery power; northern light coos for life to come out and enjoy the lingering evening that melds into dawn.

 Besides the pleasure of co-teaching a seminar with Darwin in Yellowknife (what friendly people!), I was given the opportunity by our generous host, Lee Sacrey, to photograph around the area.  Most of my images are on my new website gallery, but here are a few I really liked.

First 4×5 Pic and a Weird Surprise

So this is going to be a bit of a hodge-podge post (you’re forewarned).

First, the image above is the first photograph I’ve officially taken with the 4×5 field camera (yes!  it is out of the box!).  The couple featured are our relatives from Belgium.  They were kind enough to let me snap this image of them relaxing on the deck at Aurum Lodge.  The image was taken on expired Polaroid 100 instant film.  Amazingly, despite being VERY expired, the chemicals aren’t all dried up.  I love the yellow cast–sort of like a built-in retro look.  I have grand plans to make some still lifes of retro things (like old juke boxes, junked cars, glass pop bottles…) so that I work with the tint and development peculiarities of the film.  So cool.  Stay tuned….

Now for the weird surprise.

I’ve taken my own advice to study other art forms in order to be a better photographer and enrolled in a community painting club.  The other night, while scrabbling away at a sketch, I glanced over at the artist sitting next to me and received quite a jolt!

She was painting from a photograph of mine!!

At first I thought it was Darwin’s image as she had folded the paper to form a new framing.  But then I meandered over and told her I recognized the image and she said she had gotten the image from the 2010 Panorama Calendar put out by Firefly (there’s an entire story on this company and draggy-feet on the way to pay-day, but perhaps I should save for a Rant the poor track record of publishers for paying up).  So here’s the original image (squished small as it is a panorama):

“I hope you don’t mind….” was her offering at being found-out painting from another artist’s work.  And here is the question.  I didn’t mind in this case (even if she plans to sell her work later), but are there ethical considerations here?  If a photograph is published in a calendar, should artists seek permission from the photographer (whose name is listed on the calendar) before making a new art work from that image?  Or is that image somehow in the public domain and up for grabs?  Perhaps an acknowledgement of some kind, like a reference to the original photographer, would suffice?

Guy Tal has expressed some thoughtful comments on a similar theme in his web journal.  I think that, just because something is easy (i.e. being inspired to create your own art from another artists’ works) doesn’t mean some acknowledgement isn’t due.  For the record, when I studied art in high school, our art teacher always advised noting on the back of your piece the name of the original work that inspired your interpretation by writing “After ‘Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh”, for example.

A good idea, I think, for all of us artists.

The Great Gear Search

When someone invents a camera that does not require a tripod, wake me up from the grave.

In the meantime, Darwin and I have been doing tripod testing.  I have had my share of gear-related struggles, including wrestling with frozen, metal tripod legs pre-dawn in the dead of winter.  Not much fun.  Also, carrying something that begins to feel like a small ladder on your back up a mountainside takes a bit of the joy out of photography for me.  So, I was excited to do some testing of the latest and greatest to see if anyone had made the perfect tripod (for me).  This would be something that is light yet stable, tall yet compact and simple yet effective.  (I’m easy to please.)

And perform well in water!

Although we came close with some of the new Gitzo carbon fiber models, the winter thing is still a big worry.  I have to be able to lengthen and open the tripod legs wearing my three layers of winter mittens.  This means those little pinch-pull levers won’t cut it!

Back to the drawing board….

(And as it turns out, these ‘testing images’ will have to serve for my August shoot for my personal assignment!  If I were to grade myself so far, I don’t think I would be getting a very high mark thus far.)

Summer is Almost Over

Summer is almost over…that’s what I feel like, anyway.  I look back at my summer and see a lot of admin time and little creative time.  Since winter here can be too long (gorgeous sunny, snowy days–but too many of them), I’m feeling like a little ground squirrel who has yet to pad her nest.

Luckily, I am taking a break from the computer and projects and just going camping.  Since I am pretty much camera-less (my adopted camera having been commandeered by Darwin), I can really just concentrate on enjoying the scenery.  I’m travelling with friends and we are going to a simply gorgeous spot in Banff called Waterfowl Lakes.  I’ll bring the Canon G9, but my focus will be on spending good times with friends.

Here’s a shot of Waterfowl Lake from a few weeks ago:

(The photographer in me is wishing I had my trusty little Canon Rebel for this trip…must…learn…to…let…go….)

Everyone, get out there and soak up the last of the summer sun!

Nature Photography and Photoshop: How Far is Too Far?

Check out my and Darwin’s guest column on Jay Goodrich’s blog.  How far should we take Photoshop with nature photography?  A subject dear to many photographers’ hearts….

Time Management

Remember in high school, sitting at the sidelines watching the A-student/jock/popular girl or boy in action?  How they seemed to have everything going for them, and everyone loved them in spite of themselves because they truly were great?  (If your brow is wrinkled in puzzlement at this point and you are thinking, “what is she talking about?” then you were probably one of those popular people yourself.  Read on for the perspective from the sidelines).  Of course, those students had their own issues, but it sure didn’t look like it from this side of the fence. 

 Fast forward a couple of decades.  Where are those people now?  Running the universe, most likely.  Well, we mere mortals are down on Earth, juggling the work/life balance.  I think part of the trick to becoming a Master of the Universe is effective time management.  For me, effective time management is not ‘workaholic’ but rather being a hard-worker who knows when to take time for family and oneself. 

 And yet I sit, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of administration and upkeep required when running your own photo business.  (My 4×5 camera still sits patiently in its little silver box, in the dark, in the basement.)  With the digital era, a lot of this admin is created by the multiplicity of sites available (or even required) to plug your work:  facebook, flickr, your website, other photo-forums, your blog….It seems that, to succeed in the internet age, you must be online all the time, updating, tweeting, sharing and blogging.  My business is 20% shooting and 80% show-and-tell.

 Lest you think this is merely an exercise in Complaining & Venting, I will put this out there to anyone who has some thoughts on the subject:  how necessary is it that photographers are involved with each or any of the following for their business?

• flickr
• facebook
• home websites
• a presence on photo forums
• Twitter
• a blog
• (fill in the blank)

 Are we all just victims of the digital era where a rash of superficial content is spread all over cyberspace in lieu of meaningful, deeper works?  Or is this the best way to promote your business in the digital era?

Any Masters of the Universe out there, feel free to chime in on how you manage your time to be effective at juggling all of this (I’m talking to you, Brangelina).  Those of us on the sidelines would love to know!

—

Well, this is the best I could do for my Monthly shooting assignment for July.  This is some grassy plant I don’t know the name of by our front door.  Hey, at least I got out!  I’ve jazzed up the image with a little Orton and bleach bypass in Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete to compensate for a rather blah image.