On beginnings

A few years ago, I resumed a pastime that I had thought early in life might be my profession. It turned out that my life took many twists and turns totally unrelated to that initial impulse. Still working, and nowhere near retirement, I began buying digital cameras back in 2002. First, a cheap, underpowered model to try it out. I quickly moved on to a more expensive DSLR. Then some lenses and various gadgets, then another camera and another. And another.

In 2004, I came across a really unique group of photographers scattered across parts of NW Arkansas, Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Missouri that met in Fayetteville, Arkansas, under the name of the Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas. Since then, my education has begun anew. I'm now the secretary/treasurer for this organization, and we meet in Springdale, Arkansas. I'll never lose my fascination with and love for gadgets, but I've begun to focus on what it really means to "be" a photographer. My library of photography books is increasing, and my subscription list is out of control.

There are so many choices. Can I replace my current income, and handle the various burdens I've accumulated, through photography? If so, do I focus on fine art? Commercial? Do I follow my interests or do whatever pays?

I'm becoming confident in my technical abilities and the quality of my work, but I'm finding more questions than answers. Feel free to visit my website, which, at the moment is woefully behind what I've been shooting for the past six weeks - several charity events, six concerts, a wedding, etc.

Recently, an old friend of mine from Kansas created a new blog, Ideas to Images, and it crystalized a thought I'd had for a while: to create a blog of my own where I could document my journey as a photographer. I've long been inspired by several talented photographers who are also prolific writers and who share their knowledge through the web. Chief among these is Michael Reichmann's Luminous Landscape, where I could spend whole days just reading his and his guest writers' thoughts on their art and craft. It occurred to me that I might be able to provide something of value to less-experienced photographers by discussing what I'm doing, why I'm doing it, what I'm learning, and share some of my work. I have no illusions that anyone will expect expert advice from this blog. But I may get lucky and get some valuable feedback from—I would hope—interested readers who help determine the directions I go in.

So, there you have it. The beginning of another, perhaps, mundane journal. We'll see.