Are You a Photographer?
That was the question a woman in my neighborhood asked me this week while I was taking photos of her beautiful flowers in her garden. I promptly answered "Yes," but I had a tinge of discomfort that took me back to a time, just a few years ago, when I wasn't comfortable claiming that title.
The truth is that everyone can be a photographer with such easy access to digital devices, but most of the definitions of a photographer refer to it as a profession or a job where the person is paid. Although I occasionally get paid, I was not comfortable calling myself a photographer, primarily because I felt like that there was so much for me to learn. The reality is that there is always something else to learn, so with time I owned the label. Recently I stumbled across this definition of a photographer in Urban Dictionary that I really like: "Photography is actually the art of capturing the beauty of life, the act of appreciating ‘the moment,’ and used as a personal database in one quick snapshot." That certainly resonates with me.
One of the key aspects of being a photographer, in my mind, is to practice, test your skills, and learn from the experience as well as from others. I have taken workshops from great photographers, follow people on Instagram and Facebook, read other people's blogs, and reach out for information when needed. I find that those professionals who are accessible, willing to answer questions, and give advice are valuable assets to help me grow as a photographer.
In addition to my neighbor's question, several things happened this week that spurred more reflection. After seeing a review by Kathleen Clemons of Lensbaby's Velvet 85 mm lens a couple weeks ago, I decided to buy it. It arrived this week, so I took it on my walks. I often wonder why I keep buying lenses that have a steep learning curve, such as Lensbaby's that are manual focus, but I realized it is because I like to be challenged. I like learning, and when I do get it right in camera, the effort is worth every bit of it. And this lens did not disappoint. I fell in love with it right away and have been taking it on my daily walks exploring flower opportunities.
I also have been working on adding textures to my photos, which I wrote about last week, but this week I put in more effort to transform my Velvet 85 photos into artistic images with textures. I have posted them on Facebook and Instagram and have been pleased that others like them as well.
Just the other day after posting more of my images, I got an email from Rick Sammon, a terrific photographer and someone who has encouraged me to let the artist within me to emerge. Rick wrote a quick note to say that my "flower photos are wonderful, beautiful, and amazing." He signed off by saying "I knew you when...." Needless to say I was very flattered and impressed that he would take the time to send me that email. That says so much about who he is as a person and professional.
The other thing that stood out to me is that in the subject line he wrote "your work," and upon reflection I realized that my photos are my work regardless if I am being paid. I am dedicated to spending time weekly to advance my skills and do the work it takes to create compelling images.
I love this journey that I am on and hope that you can take some value from this. We can all commit to capturing the beauty of life and appreciating the moment through our photos. I now own that I am a photographer in all of its meanings, and I hope you can embrace the title as well. I love to hear from you so comment below, post on Facebook, or send an email.
