I recently heard through the forum grapevine, that JPG Magazine is coming back, and will be changing to the RedBubble model (selling prints and merchandise), as well as continuing to publish the printed magazine.  I had neglected my portfolio and participation there, since the crash in January.

Hence, I have spent the last two or three day/nights removing images from my JPG portfolio.  It takes five steps to delete an image …. more than it takes to upload them! Many hours of concentrated effort went into the removal project, and it just doesn’t seem fair.  When I discovered what a tedious and time-consuming task it was going to be, I told myself that I would do that job in reasonable increments.  But of course, I could not do it that way.  Instead, I tore through there like a backhoe, obliterating whatever did not meet my NEW standards.  It was cathartic to look back and see how much my work has progressed in the past few months — and good to clear away the deadfall. 

I begin to get a glimpse of what fires the celebrities’ ego machines — not to draw a comparison;  I am far down the scale from that — but many of my fellow photogs would agree with me; that the feedback on photography/art forums is addictive.  It is very easy to get caught up in seeking the approval of one’s peers, rather than investing the time and energy into other aspects of the work that grow more corn.  I have been guilty of just adding images for the sake of hearing, “Nice picture!” Thus,

I can’t really complain about all the effort required to dismantle what I, myself, have built.  Now, I will begin replacing those old images – selectively. 

I suppose that most of us on the forums recognize intellectually, that much of the feedback we get there has far more to do with personalities than with skill or talent.  Most frequently, comments are reciprocal courtesy — I compliment yours, you compliment mine; we all get a warm fuzzy and tell ourselves that the recognition is deserved.  The first thing I do in the morning, is check which of my photos has been featured on RedBubble, and look for new comments on my work — on two or three different sites.  This seems as important as coffee in the morning …  and just about as productive as that cup. Now and then, there is a rejection, and that is like somebody has spit in the cream pitcher - even though it usually has more to do with subject matter than image quality. Some days, it may take as long as two hours to respond and reciprocate to all of the comments on my work.  I begin to wonder whether this is time well-spent?  What is the end benefit?

Features and kudos do not translate to sales, or recognition in the broader market.  Maybe warm fuzzies are my current drug of choice. As I become more tolerant to its effects, I require MORE stuff to attain the same effect. Now, I desire sales!

Sales, and publication of the work, are the ultimate validation; the currency that says to me that somebody likes that image well enough to spend their energy in order to take it home with them …. that they like it well enough to want to look at it again and again.

Yesterday, I sold a $4 greeting card. RedBubble gets $3.33; I get 66 cents — and I was thrilled with the arrangement.

Now, in order to get more of that VALIDATION high, I will focus on selling, rather than on verbal feedback from the Mutual Admiration Society.  I will post only images that I would proudly hang on my wall (a few exceptions might apply), and will brashly toss aside the bushel.

Things I need to remember, apart from the delightful social repartee on all the forums I participate on:

RedBubble is for sales. This is my principle vendor gallery, and should contain only my very best work.

JPG is for publication/recognition.  At some point, I lost track of the reality of JPG’s best aspect: publication of works. JPG publishes photographs that fall into line with their themes and features. Images that fit the criteria stand some chance of seeing print. Everything that falls outside those parameters is fluff to generate comments and pats on the back that feed my ego, but not my piggy bank.

PhotoForum is like my old alma mater.  I want to support that site, which taught me so much, and opened so many doors for me. I want to retain my relationships there, and most certainly, when I need HONEST feedback about a piece, this is the place to which I will always return. The benefits of participation on PF are entirely intangible - though not invalid.

Following first-of-the-year revamping, my personal website has become a portal to my RedBubble gallery, from where my long-time clients can peruse – and hopefully, purchase - my latest art works.  I came to realize that, like sharing sites, the PhotoJournal contained a “hook” for me;  inthat I often posted mediocre shots of the day, just because I felt obligated to provide a running inventory — for those repeat visitors that often compliment the site, but seldom buy anything.  I will no longer be publishing that.

I never got the point of Flick’r, and will be deleting most of my images on that site. I just don’t want mediocre stuff lying around on the internet.

Facebook is where my friends and colleagues gather to share personal experiences.  I love Facebook — but it does not grow corn for me, and I am at a loss to understand how so many people have so much time to “work  on my virtual farm”?  That’s not a criticism, but I personally do not choose to invest any of my rare  ”free time” in sending virtual chickens to virtual farms with virtual assets.  Chasing REAL wild horses is a lot more fun than that!

Capricorn seems to be dominant, lately.

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2009 FEB 03 – The Big Buck

 

 

Last

year, on February 20, there was snow on the ground, and I was surprised to see so many deer down from the high country, where they usually spend the winter. The next morning, an earthquake rocked Wells, NV – about 100 miles from here. I thought that explained the early migration. Animals know stuff …

 2008 FEB 20 – Mule Deer on the move

These beauties were down low, this afternoon … again, early for the season — but everything seems to be happening early, this year.

 They stood there for quite some time, looking at me looking at them. They were so still, had I not spotted them on my way up the canyon, I might have driven by without noticing. That’s one of their tricks, but it seemed strange to see so many of them playing statue all together. Notice how cleverly they chose a patch of earth in similar tone to their own. How is it, they seem to know when they are out of range? My 200 mm lens was not going to catch them well. I knew it. I don’t know how they know these things?

After a while,  they began to grow restless, and the group that was highest in the canyon began to sneak up through the trees. They ambled rather casually, at first, but I could see they were beginning to pick up speed. IF I could get to the truck and gun her up the hill in good time, I might catch the herd as they crossed the road. Yes, I knew what they had in their minds: Head for the trees. Foul up the looky-loo.

I reached the intersection just as the last doe was crossing. Can’t shoot through my cracked windshield… too late for a really good shot. My camera followed them up the rocky hill, running right into the late afternoon sun. Curses! Foiled again! … not much worth keeping in that batch of pics, but of course, I had to TRYto salvage a couple that vaguely revealed the rack I had seen among those 25 or 30 does.

2009 FEB 03 - The Big Buck - Click to view larger image

Storm On The HIgh Desert

Originally uploaded by PhotoRover

January seems more like April, this year!

Among many old cultures was the practice of “shunning” those who did not conform to cultural norms. Among certain Native American tribes, there was a tradition of declaring someone dead, who was obviously still breathing. In essence, that person was rendered “invisible” to the rest of the tribe.

When somebody close to me recently told me that my opinion has no value, I was completely taken aback!  The statement was made matter-of-factly, seemingly without malice.  I resolved not to share any more of my useless opinions with that person, and consequently, the conversation has diminished to the minimum exchange of “information”, as required. Even that information is based on opinion, and our individual perceptions of circumstances.

As I have subsequently spent several days pondering the importance of opinion to identity, I endeavored to go through just one day without expressing any opinions. I found it impossible. I have grown increasingly aware that it is largely my opinion of things that defines me as a person. I like this, I love that, I don’t approve of certain things.

I participate on some photography sharing sites, and I think it is safe to say that 99.9% of the discourse on these forums consists of the expression of opinion.

Further, I have come to realize that my images are expressions of my opinion.  The settings I choose, the framing of the shot, even the precision of focus, are determined by my thoughts about the subject, and the end result I wish to achieve.  Post processing involves more opinion: the degree of saturation I choose, adjustments to tone, levels, curves, even cropping are determined by what I think best expresses the image I am composing. If I am satisfied with the work, or not, that is my own opinion. Other people may express their opinions about an image, and that might or might not affect my opinion of it.

Much has been written in recent, as well as in ancient times, cautioning me against judgmentalism, which has its roots in the egoic mind. Often, these authors suggest having a positive attitude, and learning to perceive everything as “perfect”. Perfection is a perception. Just one person’s opinion.

Opinion, I have decided (which is an expression of opinion, in itself) is among the core attributes that define life, itself.

Even animals have opinions about things; it is essential to their survival.   I may have some control over how I choose to look at any given situation — it is still a matter of my own opinion.   Nothing — absolutely nothing – in creation is exempt from opinion. If I say, “The sky is blue,” someone else will almost inevitably say, “Oh, it’s rather gray today.”   Or turquoise, or pink. Or — one of my personal favorites: “The sky has no color of its own; blue is the result of light refraction.”

 To say that I am female, or that I am 54 years old, are assumptions based on things I have been told. Opinions based on common cultural norms and standards.

At length, I find little peace with having been told that my opinion has no value. I recognize that certain things about me don’t fit the criteria that one person has accepted as her measurement of value — her own opinion.

All my pondering has lead to me conclude that the opinion of the person who made that insensitive statement to me, is tantamount to a declaration of death. It really bites! But that’s just my opinion.