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Post by Steve (FloppyDog) on Jun 14, 2011 9:51:06 GMT -5
This guy is a well known figure in our local camera club. He's been the club president for several years, built our website and our database the list goes on and on. The fact, when he started in the club it had dwindled to a few members. He literally rebuilt the club from the ground up, and it wouldn't be the club it is if it wasn't for this man. He is the hardest working guy I know in photography. He now has put together an awesome group outside of the club that focuses on glamour photography and nude studies. I've had the pleasure of attending several of these myself and they're a LOT of fun and an excellent learning experience. North West Glamour PhotographyLocal photographers, if you haven't been to one of these, you're MISSING OUT.  He is also a good friend of mine. Enough of my ranting, I'll let him introduce himself. ;D |
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Post by MJDigitalArt on Jun 14, 2011 11:20:17 GMT -5
Blushing.... thanks Steve.. you are a good friend... You forgot to mention that he occasionally has these silly little rants... just ignore them....  Wow.. where do I start... well how about here... I fell in love with the art of photography in 2005. What started as just a whim... eventually turned to a fever.. I started, as most people do.. just shooting my own family members... then I found the Monticello Camera Club and learned that there was an even greater purpose for photography, and discovered skills and interest within myself that had been dormant since my days in high school when I majored in Art. While I was never really good at art.. I still had a love for it.. I think I had just never found my medium.. and in Photography, I have found it. As you explore my work, you will find that I primarily shoot people. I occasionally will go out and shoot landscapes and animals and things... but I always feel like I come up lacking.. a animal does not care if you get it's good side... and I've never been hugged by a landscape.. its feedback that I crave.. I love hearing.. "I can't believe that's really me!!" I love shooting lifestyle photography. I prefer to shoot people doing what they do.. as if there was not really a camera even there.. I like to take typical photography and transcend it to art... I am even successful occasionally. Even within shooting people.. I have a broad span of subjects.. and I am constantly trying to balance the work I do with models vs the private sector. I have been told that I have to keep the two worlds seperate.. but as anyone who does both would know.. that's not always easily accomplished. I have chosen to maintain a thinly veiled separation.. without either necessarily being blind to the other. Some of my clients would prefer to not see the model work... and some of my model work is not suitable for open public viewing. So when you discover that I am really two entities.. the separation is deliberate.. but not because I feel like I have anything to hide. I take great pride in everything I do.. and I take even greater pride in knowing that I can shoot someone's pet in the morning.. a newborn in the afternoon.. and a nude model in the evening.. and have all three come out inspired and beautifully done.. I thrive in diversity. Speaking of diversity.. another aspect to what I do, is that I love to teach. I love seeing the light come on.. and people get excited about new skills they learn. I teach Photography and Computer related classes through Longview Parks and Rec.. they can be a challenge at times.. but in the end everyone learns something. This is also what inspired me to start up the Northwest Glamour Photography group that Steve mentioned. It has dual purpose.. to help encourage newer photographers to learn skills in shooting in studio lighting, and on location.. but also in how to work with models. I teach them the appropriate way to interact with models, and how to properly network and how to maintain a positive reputation.. because reputation is EVERYTHING! I love what I do.. and I love sharing the work I do.. Photography is an amazing art medium.. and I love being active in it.. I still have soo much to learn.. but I'm hungry for it. I am a firm believer in the fact that becoming a photographer is not a destination.. it is a journey... |
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Post by droppey on Jun 14, 2011 12:18:55 GMT -5
Welcome to our lil world and I look forward to seeing your work  When are you popping over to ole Blighty to give us a teaching session?  |
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Post by Neva on Jun 14, 2011 17:30:23 GMT -5
Welcome to the board MJ!! Glad to have you!
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