Hi Everyone,

Last week I sent out press releases about my photographs being in the coop in Jerome. So far the press release has appeared on six websites, and here http://www.kudosaz.com/mainInterior.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=33274&TM=40213.43

Kudos is a local arts publication that is distributed to Sedona, Flagstaff, Cottonwood and other surrounding cities. Press releases really work.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Looking for a photography workshop? Check these out.

Have Fun,
Jeff

http://www.anchellworkshops.com
http://www.andersonranch.org
http://www.anseladams.com
http://www.artguat.org
http://www.tonystromberg.com
http://www.focusadventures.com
http://www.englander-work-shops.com
http://www.francephotogenique.com
http://www.huinoeau.com
http://www.theworkshops.com
http://www.photofieldschool.com
http://www.workshop.org
http://www.ptreyes.org
http://www.santafeworkshops.com

Hi Everyone,

Here’s an article about ImageRights International. They scan the web to see if your photos are being used illegally, and now they’re offering a free service. Check it out here http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content_display/news/e3ife5a57734af1cf190ef909fbc37ff6a3

And here’s a great article from PDN on current mounting techniques for photographs http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/photo-news/people-on-the-move/e3ia79b785237c8fd241771a8823c61353f

Have Fun,
Jeff

Wow, I only had a week and a half to find vendors, order frames, mats, backing, Plexiglas; create price tags, info stickers for the back of the prints, an info sheet on caring for Plexiglas, a bio and assemble everything. But it’s finally done and my prints are hung.

This is all taking place in the New State Motor Building (across from Grapes Restaurant and down the stairs), a garage built in 1918. The Jerome Historical Society bought it and turned it into an artist’s coop. Now there’s three photographers, a couple of painters, a sculptor, a jeweler, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and most importantly, public bathrooms. If that doesn’t pull in the tourist crowd, nothing will.

Here are some photos I took right after the pictures were hung. Now it’s back to matting 11 prints for my art bin. The art walk is tomorrow and I want to have plenty of photos on hand.

Maybe I’ll see you there.

Have Fun,
Jeff

It’s been a busy and exciting few days. On Thursday I talked with the head of the Jerome Historical Society about putting some of my photographs in their gallery space. On Friday he informed me that he wanted to put my work up in the gallery, in less than two weeks. My initial thought was, “Wow, that’s fantastic.” My second thought was, “Wow, I have A LOT of stuff to do.”

Before I did any ordering, I had to research dozens of companies to find the products I wanted, at a good price. It was actually a lot of fun. Kind of like treasure hunting. Then I spent the next four days ordering frames, mats, framing and display materials, bags for matted prints and so much more. Everything has been ordered, and I’ve made my credit card company very happy.

The frames and mats should arrive 1-2 days before they need to be installed, so I expect a frenzy of matting and framing to meet the deadline.

This will be my first gallery presence, and I’m really looking forward to the whole experience. So if you find yourself in Jerome, Arizona, on or after July 1st, head on over to the New State Motor Building (across from Grapes Restaurant and down the stairs) and take a look at my photographs. I hope to see you there.

Have Fun,
Jeff

The photography industry is going through some pretty significant changes. If you want to read an interesting New York Times article about the changes in the photography industry, go here For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path - NYTimes.com

And to read some great comments on the article, from amateurs, professionals and everyone in between, go here Pros and Amateurs Debate: Is Photography in Trouble? - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

Have Fun,
Jeff

I hope you enjoy this commercial, it gave me a good laugh.

Have Fun,
Jeff

One of the problems with digital photography is that there are no consequences for being a sloppy photographer, or just bad. You can shoot hundreds of images, and delete them all, and it doesn’t cost you a penny. There’s no monetary incentive to improve. 

I went digital two years ago, but for the 33 years before that, I shot film and I believe that is one of the factors that made me a better photographer. When it costs $20 to buy and process a 36-exposure roll of slide film, you learn how to take good photographs because it’s just too expensive to keep shooting bad images that you can’t use.

If I went out and shot five rolls of film one afternoon, that was $100 out of my pocket. No matter how good or bad my images, it was still $100. That kind of expense really motivates a photographer to shoot the best images he can. I know it certainly motivated me.

To improve, I took classes, read photography books and magazines, analyzed every image I liked to see what attracted me to it. I learned all the rules, and how to break them. I did whatever I could to improve my craft, and it worked.

But how can you do this with digital when it costs no more to take 1,000 images than it does to take one? It’s simple, you add a cost to shooting. The next time you want to go out and shoot, do this:

1. Choose a shooting location at least one-hour away from your home. Be sure it has something you really want an image of that’s worthy of a first place prize in a top-notch photography contest.
2. When you get to the shooting location, only shoot 36 to 72 images. Don’t check the image on the screen of your camera after you press the shutter button and don’t delete anything.
3. After you shoot 36 to 72 images, go home. Only then look at your images.

You have now spent several hours of your valuable time, and after looking at your images you can decide if you wasted those hours or not. If you feel you have, don’t get down on yourself. Instead, evaluate the images.

• What is it about the photographs that you don’t like?
• How could you improve the images?
• Is the problem that you don’t know your equipment well enough?
• Do you need to work on composition or exposure?

Look at the work of other photographers to see how they captured images that you like, and apply this knowledge to your images.

Once you think you know how to take the photographs you want, go back to same location and shoot another 36-72 images. Follow the same steps you did the first time. Rinse and repeat as often as needed until you come home with the images you envisioned when this project started.

A while ago I read an article by a photographer who would lead workshops to the Arctic. He proudly proclaimed that he would take about 7,000 images, and from them he would get about 90 that were really good.

If that were me, I’d be ashamed, not proud. Many photographers use a shotgun approach and take as many pictures as they can, and hope a few turn out. That’s not photography, a chimpanzee can do that. I know you want to do better than that, and I know you can if you’re serious about your photography.

The difference between an amateur photographer and a professional is when the amateur gets a good photograph he says, “Hey, look what I did.” When a professional photographer gets a good photograph he says, “That’s what I expected.” Which one do you want to be?

If you want to improve your photography skills, use the steps above. I’m sure that you’re photography will get better with every shoot, and you will be proud of your work.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Copyright 2010 Jeff Colburn
All Rights Reserved

If you want to learn more about photography or if you love Arizona, then go to www.TheCreativesCorner.com

Montezuma’s Well is an amazing sinkhole in the Verde Valley. It was home to the Sinagua Indians for a very long time. This is because of the constant supply of water. In fact, over 1,500,000 gallons of 74 degree water flows into the well every day. There are remains of Indian cliff dwellings, large pueblo ruins, an ancient pit house and structures in a cave. The water flows out of one end of the well, through over 150 feet of limestone, and into an irrigation ditch. Some parts of this ditch are over 1,000 years old. The dissolving limestone makes the water a little carbonated, which makes some of the plants on the shore grow larger than usual. The biggest poison ivy plant I have ever seen is near where the water drains out. It actually looks more like a poison ivy tree. Itchy, itchy!

Linda-Ann at the overlook.

 Hand held, 1/250 second, f8, ISO 200, 18 mm

Montezuma’s Well as seen from the trail above the Well. You can see some of the Indian ruins in the cliff wall to the left.

Here I am at the outflow of the well, crawling around to get a picture.

Hand held, 1/40 second, f5.6, ISO 400, 32 mm

Here’s the picture I was taking of a plant growing on the edge of the irrigation ditch.

Have Fun,
Jeff

We went out shooting today to get some pictures of Saguaro cactus. At our first stop my girlfriend, Linda-Ann, went one way, and I went another. We were just 50 feet from the car, when scared, Linda-Ann called to me as she was quickly trotting back toward the car. I had no idea what had startled her until I heard her call out, “Rattlesnake!” She hadn’t noticed him until she heard his rattle. It was only five feet in front of her.

I was delighted that she had found a rattlesnake, as I’ve been wanting to photograph one for years, but never found one. So here’s the little guy (a Diamondback Rattlesnake, 2.5 feet long), who was nice enough to pose for me. I was able to take about 60 pictures of him before he crawled away. This was so cool!

Have Fun,
Jeff

Hand held, 1/160 second, f7.1, ISO 200, 154 mm