Dear Readers:
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!
The start of the year marks my second in tenure as Editor-in-Chief of this fine publication and as you know I’m especially proud to have the privilege of leading our fine team of writers who have contributed the many articles that you have enjoyed over the past year. Over the course of the past year I have picked up a few tips which I’ll share with you for your benefit and to improve your photography and dedication, but more on that later.
Indie Spotlight
This year we shall continue to bring you many fine articles including featuring photographers from around the world in our Indie Spotlight series. As you know we feature photographers of note regardless of where they are in the world and even if English is not their primary language. In my opinion, appreciation of photography is not bound by language, camera type, gender, geographic location or politics; it is simply, a matter of talent, timing, aptitude and appreciation that determine good photography. If you know of anyone you think should be featured please drop me a note and include their name, web presence and email address to me via email to editor@fuelyourphotography.com.
Photography Coach
This year we are also making changes to our Photography Coach column, it will no longer be a question and answer column. Dawn will now lead you to better photography through use of her professional coaching qualifications, Masters in Human Development and I’m sure you already know that she holds a B.A. in Photography. If you read some of Dawn’s past columns you’ll know why she now not only holds the position of Photography Coach but she now also holds the title of Field Editor. Congratulations Dawn! Before you start to wonder what you will do with those questions that you wanted answers to, Dawn is still available to answer them for you just drop her an email at coach@fuelyourphotography.com.
New Writers
Every so often we have a few slots available for photographers and writers of caliber. If you feel you are this person, want to join our team of talented professionals and can commit to writing one article per month drop me an email to editor@fuelyourphotography.com. Not only do our writers share their photographic knowledge but as an educator, with 19 years of experience, I can tell you that the best way to learn is to teach. Writing for Fuel Your Photography bolsters your knowledge of both basic and advanced photographic technique, enables you to devise lessons plans and best of all gives your photographic work major exposure as we suggest using your own work for primary imagery to accompany your articles. If you are up to the challenge drop me a note!
Tips
Over the years I have picked up a few tips that we can all benefit from, today I’m going to share a few of those tips with you:
Inspiration
At some point many of us lack inspiration for new work, this is partially because we hoard our work, we take fantastic images and then don’t show them so we don’t get the acknowledgement that inspires us to continue. We also don’t have enough professional exchange. Photographers, by nature are often private about their work, professional liaisons will assist you in broadening your scope and enable you to produce images that you may not have initially conceptualized. If you have a local group for photographers JOIN IT! A few years ago I joined the Barbados Photographic Society, a group which I now also have the pleasure of leading, the experience has been hugely rewarding for me and it shows in my work. Getting out there and having face to face meeting with other photographers on shoots is an experience you really can’t pay for. Sometimes you may not even shoot, while on such a venture, you may be taken up in watching how another photographer works with a model, captures a macro image, shoots motorsport photography. This is truly a rewarding experience, TRY IT!
Social Media
In recent times the line between photographers and non-photographers has become blurred. From time to time I view profiles on social media while seeking candidates for nomination to our Indie Spotlight series and sometimes I can’t tell if the profile I’m viewing is a photographer or simply a photography lover resharing an image. Unfortunately, I have to pass them up and move on to the next one. The lesson to be learned from this is if you are a photographer make sure this is clearly stated in your profile. Furthermore, if you have the ability to share things both publically and non-publically be sure to keep the photography as public and other post that may not be photographically related as non-public or shared with specific people. This avoids a problem of to much noise and not enough signal!
Representing Your Work
We’ve all heard it – “a picture says a thousand words.â€Â Unfortunately that doesn’t suffice and we still need to be able to talk clearly and concisely about our photography and our photographic ability. In the space of 4 weeks over 50 people who were nominated for the Indie Spotlight series and were very excited to be featured had to decline because they were unable to describe what they photograph, how they do it, what they’d like to do next, what inspires them, what equipment they use and a host of other questions. Frankly these are all basics that we should know and be able to explain at the drop of a hat. If you can’t already do this you have some work ahead of you. My challenge to you is for you is to write two different short descriptions outlining your work, comprised of  2 paragraphs (no more than 500 words in total), one should be a version explaining what you do to persons that have photographic knowledge and the other should be for persons who have little/no photographic knowledge, but don’t just keep them to yourself, send them to family, friends and fellow professionals and then talk to them a couple days later and ask them what you do. Have you done a good job of explaining it to them? Are you memorable? It takes more than your images make you memorable!
Thank You
I’d like to say a sincere thank you to YOU, our readers, as without you we have no purpose. I’d also like to say a sincere thank you to our writers because without them there would be nothing to read. Thanks you’s also go to photography lovers because without them, we’d have no audience to appreciate our photography. Last but not least thank you to our families for enduring delays while we stop on that family outing because we have seen something that we simply must photograph immediately and for any other family time on which our love of photography makes an incursion.
Do have a prosperous and blessed 2013, keep reading FYP and keep making those awesome images.
Take care!
– Jeremy
Editor-in-Chief
