oh snap!

Oh. My. God. I received my three new lenses today amongst a stash of flash cards and a couple of new batteries and I am absolutely thrilled. I decided to go with a 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8 and a 100mm Macro f/2.8 and I have left the 85mm f/1.2 for a later purchase once I have really earnt it. In the meantime I am sure my alternate choice will be just fine . . . . . . because of these babies I took this afternoon. I am so overjoyed with the quality of the images I produced just on the first run with the 85mm this afternoon. My favourite is the first one of my little fluffy girl trying to sleep while I kept rolling on the floor trying to get a great shot. She doesn't seem as pleased as me that mummy has a new toy :) Actually she seems quite bored LOL. Its going to take me a while to get used to all three lenses. With the larger apeture of course comes more light so I need to be more perceptive with my natural light surroundings and work accordingly. Having shot only at a max of 4.5 for the past 3 years is going to make it a lengthy process I bet. I better start reading up a bit more . . .

over analysing

So I've been thinking. It's usually what I do I guess. I tend to overthink and overanalyse things. I make a committment to myself to become a better photographer and hopefully one that someday people will turn to to capture their memories in time and then I start to doubt myself. It got me thinking about what makes a good photographer and a desirable photographer at that. Is it a degree in arts and journalism or an innate talent that has been nutured and coaxed into reality? Is it a membership with a prestigious association or a good looking portfolio that people connect with? Is it an attractive website that begins an enjoyable experience of having your photos taken or is it a photographer that can be your friend for a few hours while taking your picture and capturing your spirit, not just your image? I have spent countless hours online looking at other photographers work and I am astounded at some of the work out there that people are paying for. Without sounding conceited there are many so called professional photographers that simply rely on a soft focus or an infused light to bring some wistfulness to an image that is otherwise (lets face it) ordinary and could have been taken by the client, not the professional, commissioned photographer. I don't want to be that type of photographer that has the boring, pixie foto or staged studio shot that relys on attractive subjects and meagre editing skills. While viewing the 'competition' around Perth, I have come across two photographers that emulate my perceived style although they also lean towards more of a fine art angle in their work. Only 2 out of the entire city and perhaps the state of Western Australia. They are both wedding and portrait photographers and they are about 5 years younger than me. They have a client base and an office space and have been featured in magazines and commissioned by corporations for their work. How do I know that my work will be able to compete with them and be able to stand alone as something special, something valid and something that can be artistic? I know that I am still learning and I have a long way and a number of years to go before reaching their standards, but I am willing to try. In fact I think I was was so excited when I found them online because there was a) a possible mentor for me locally and b) someone that I can compete with while bringing my own vision to the table. But still, what will make my photographs any more desirable than the next photographer? I would like to think it is my quest for perfection while also looking for that candid 'out-take' that we can all laugh at. My desire to push myself to create an image that speaks volumes and can leave you entranced while looking at the subject/s. Perhaps my love for the human spirit and all the wonders of our natural environment. Despite all of my forseen positives, I still can't get past the fact that maybe what I see is not what other people want to see. How do I know that a picture I love is also going to be loved by the public? It may hold something special for me but it may just be an unemotive, boring piece of film to someone else - either another photographer or a possible customer. I can only keep trying I guess and see where it takes me.