That’s a somewhat comedic line from a film titled Screamers, which was adapted from a Philip K. Dick sci-fi story. A minor character in the film keeps having his personal space, in this case his fears rather than his physical space, messed with by another character who enjoys torturing the poor guy’s war-battered psyche. When it comes to personal work, I think too many people fear that same issue of Being Messed With. Laying your work…
I’ve only played it once, and it’s funny to think how removing the wrong structural piece can cause disaster in the context of winning the game. It’s just like certain jobs – they hinge on one key piece of production, and if perfection isn’t achieved, you’re in a bit of trouble. It’s way more than having a plan B or the backup to the backup plan. You can do everything correctly and you are still…
Yeah, well, I never liked the word Blog. It’s clumsy. I think of Blah and Ugh and other reflections of ugly. And having heard “just read my blog” a few thousand times makes my eyes bleed at the thought of another rambling about a topic surely mundane. Enter the writer and journalist, they have at least taken some of the sting away from language butchery. And there is the occasional Ordinary Citizen With Talent. They…
I have very few regrets. One of them is found in this post by Tom Kennedy. “Earlier in my career, I worked for a brilliant editor.” I somehow missed that action. And now that the bar has been lowered by The Image That is Good Enough, where can we find wisdom that enables us to keep growing? Right back to this post, to dig until we find what makes us professional (hint: it’s not the…
Traveling is a mindset. The fundamentals for a successful experience have very little to do with planes or itineraries. It’s kinda’ like our profession. Does knowing what technically defines an F-stop help us find our vision or convey experiences through our images? Does it make perfect execution of intricate logistics, especially while on the road, easier? (Straight from Wikipedia: In optics, the f-number (sometimes called focal ratio, f-ratio, f-stop, or relative aperture [1]) of an…
How are we supposed know what direction to launch ourselves when we are facing an industry that evolves each time we blink? The idea of Making Great Images will always apply. That’s what makes us professional, it’s a given and one of the reasons you are reading this post. So, maybe during your latest shoot, you created this brilliant set of images for the coolest client. Where are those images going to be seen and…
I’ve never been told to Get a Life. But it’s good advice and surely applies to image makers in a radically changed and visually demanding world. What would have been ridiculous a decade ago, for instance the almost immediate deadline for image delivery, is common. Then, add the complexity of multiple, simultaneous professional directions & projects, throw in airports, hotel check-ins, rental car drama, endless toll-roads, arrival & immediate trips to see clients (don’t forget…
I really don’t like labels. In this case, The Urban Explorer. It’s a fine hobby for those who like to keep score of their visits to abandoned places by taking photos, leaving foot prints and posting their trophies online. The problem was, I was in danger of being viewed as one when I began exploring one of the last structures from the days of Big Coal in NE Pennsylvania. A derelict, a giant machine, that…
Editor’s note: When I first met John Welsh, he had recently transitioned – not by choice – from staffer to independent photographer. Unlike many undergoing that same disruptive change, John was forward-thinking and full of ideas, many of which he’s successfully pursued. It is my great pleasure to introduce John as a new regular contributor to this blog. ~JH This fall I kicked a 28 year-old habit: paper calendars. I attached myself to the cloud,…
Editor’s note: When I first met John Welsh, he had recently transitioned – not by choice – from staffer to independent photographer. Unlike many undergoing that same disruptive change, John was forward-thinking and full of ideas, many of which he’s successfully pursued. It is my great pleasure to introduce John as a new regular contributor to this blog. ~JH [by John Welsh] This fall I kicked a 28 year-old habit: paper calendars. I attached myself…