I post my photos on Flickr for family and friends to view. I could care less if anyone else likes or dislikes them. I like them and that's all that matters. I post them for my enjoyment, not to collect awards.

Rather than trying to impress with displays of technique, I am more interested in showing the world through my eyes. My subjects may be very simple everyday things or scenes, but they appeal to me and my goal is to present a moment in time, not collect awards. If I add a little commentary along the way, it's to add some interest to the photo.

Awards and Flickr Explore

While I appreciate the sentiment, please don't post Award Invites as I will no longer post to Award Group Pools just to collect awards and compliments. I may post to Group Pools if the photo is of interest for a particular subject but I will not post to Groups where you have to comment on XXX number of images. That is their decision to run their Group like that but it doesn't work for me.

I am not interested in chasing places in Flickr Explore either. For me, photography and Flickr is an interest ... it's not an ego-trip competition to see who can get the most comments.

My Cameras and other Gear

Many people include a long list of their cameras, lenses, tripods and other gear they use. What I use to capture my images doesn't matter... it's not about the gear. Whatever camera you do have ... learn all you can about it and all the controls.

You got a Nikon D3X with the most expensive lens. That's great, have fun. I can show you better photos taken with a point and shoot. It's not the camera... it's the photo that counts. People couldn't give a stuff if your photo was taken with a Nikon or a Canon or a Box Brownie... they want to see a photo that moves them. Some people just don't get that!

Someone at a social photography group once told me "I don't know why Point and Shoots are part of this group anyway!" That's when I stopped going.

When was the last time you went to dinner and heard someone say "That was a great meal..! What kind of oven did you use to cook it?"

On Learning Photography

You wanna know the secret of how to take images that move people ? Read some books, like David DuChemin's "Within the Frame." It will change your outlook after the first chapter... or perhaps Chris Orwig's books or Peter Watson's. Go and search out the works of Eugene Atget. Find the sites of photographers you like and study their images. What draws you to an image? I'm still learning ... aren't we all?

"Look for the light - then work with it."

"Gear is Good. Vision is Better" - David DuChemin

"Art is not what you see but what you make others see" Edgar Degas.

I think this quote from American Beauty sums up my approach to photography... this is what I am trying to capture....

Ricky Fitz... "It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in."

All photos are my original work and are copyright. If you want to use any of my photos for any reason, please ask first. And all the images you see are mine... I took them.

To all those who have commented ... your words of encouragement are appreciated.