Tag Archives: Photography

How To Piss Off A Photographer

Posted on January 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

Forgive my lack of updates, folks.  Life has a way of spiraling out of control now and then.

But, I’ve returned.  New year means time for new posts.

Recently, I was browsing articles on the PhotoShelter blog and I came across a post about the “Top Ten Ways To Piss Off A Photographer” (you can find said article here).

This got me thinking.  As a photographer, what could someone do to piss me off?

Well, the ten reasons listed in the PhotoShelter article are a good place to start.  But I think the four main things that would piss me off as a professional photographer would be the following:

1. Theft of my images.

It takes a lot of time and effort to create images I find excellent (especially since I’m my own worst critic in all things).  So when someone takes an image (or any other piece of work) I toiled hard to create and tries to use it or take credit for it, I’m not a happy camper.

2. Expect to use my service/images for free.

Photographers have bills just like everyone else.  Our photography is how we bring home the bread.  When someone thinks my work is good enough to make use of but not good enough to warrant payment, it doesn’t sit well with me.  Some photographers may find it in their hearts to do a few instances of pro bono work here and there, but when it comes down to it, no one works for free.  Photographers are no different.  And as the article mentions, offering a photographer a photo credit as payment doesn’t fly.  It’s a little insulting really.
Likewise, I find it insulting when someone wants portraits or some other photographic service from me but doesn’t feel as though they should have to pay anything for not only the prints, but the work I did in taking the photographs and making the prints (I do all my own custom printing, folks, and that‘s a lot of work).

3. Making alterations to my images without consent.

Nothing stings more than getting stoked about having an image published only to find that it’s been so completely warped by alterations and “edits” that it‘s not even the same image anymore.  Well, ok, having images stolen may sting a lot more but you get my drift.
Photographers work hard to create high-quality images.  We are attached to our work because we pour our heart and soul into it.  It is a piece of us, an extension of who we are, so to have someone alter an image without prior consent because they think it will “work better that way” is a complete insult.

4. Stereotyping

I’ve read countless posts, articles, and stories about photographers being accosted while exercising their legal right to photograph.  In this day and age, where terrorism is a real fear, someone in a public place, dressed all in black (as most artists and photographers I know do), with a camera in front of their face taking pictures is automatically looked at like a threat.  We as a society are so over-saturated by reports and images of “suspicious activity” that an innocent photographer who just wanted to take an artistic photograph of this street corner or the front steps of that building, ends up being branded anything from a nuisance to an all out terrorist.  I’m all for safety and security but that kind of stereotyping is completely ignorant and it really annoys me.

So, what do you think?  What pisses you off as a photographer?  Or, even if you aren’t a photographer, what could someone do to you in your respective field to piss you off?

Until next time…

[-_-]

~A.M.

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Posted in Life, Photography

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Backyard Photography

Posted on July 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

So, you’re sitting on the couch, watching the millionth re-run of some sitcom you could really care less about, and the urge to get out and photograph something suddenly hits you.  Only problem is, you don’t know where to go or what to photograph.  Even worse, you’re running low on funds and there’s little gas in your car’s tank.  What do you do?

I was faced with this very situation not long ago.  And as most artists and creative individuals will tell you, when the urge to create something hits, it’s a lot like when nature calls, it needs to be answered.  And pronto!

I switched off the TV, slipped on some shoes, grabbed my camera, and stepped outside.  While standing on my porch, I found myself scratching my head.  Where should I go? What should I photograph?

While pondering this, I started taking a slow walk around the perimeter of my property.  I found myself looking at the flora surrounding my yard in a slightly different way.  Usually, I would just dismiss everything as a cluster of weeds but when you’re on the hunt for a new photograph, even a weed can prove to be interesting.

So while I was looking through the weeds and tall grass on the edge of my property, I came across some pretty little flower clusters.  Now, I’m not down on the names of most flora so I have no idea what these flowers are called.  If someone knows, please tell me!  (*Edit – 7/20/2011* – My cousin’s wife and good friend of mine informed me that these flowers are called “Dianthus Barbatus” or “Sweet William”.  Thanks Shane!)

I tend to like it when something unexpected happens or pops into the frame as I push the shutter button.  I think a lot of photographers are like that.  While I was taking a photo of another flower (again I don‘t know the name), a curious little moth (I don’t know what this little guy’s name is either!) fluttered into the frame.

You may be asking what the moral of this story is.  Well kids, the moral of this story is that you don’t necessarily have to leave home to take some nice photographs.  Just take a little walk around your back yard, your side yard, your front yard, or whatever yard you have.  You might be surprised at what you find.

Until next time…

Keep on rockin’ on!

[^_^]

A.M.

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Posted in Photography

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I’ve Been Published!

Posted on June 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

That’s right folks! I’ve been published via my former college English professor, Marcus LiBrizzi!

For those of you that haven’t been following along, in late June of 2010, Marcus called me out of the blue and asked if I would be willing to contribute a few photographs to his new book of local Downeast Maine ghost stories. Of course, I jumped at the chance. Not only for the exposure I would receive by having my photographs published in his book, but also for the opportunity to work with him again because he’s awesome!

Like any publication, the process isn’t an overnight kind of thing. It takes time to design a book’s layout, to correct any errors that may be present, and do a test run at the printer’s. Though I think the waiting is the hardest part of the process! The minute I handed over the photos in early August of 2010, I was unbelievably anxious to see the final product.

Now, after almost a year, it’s a reality. Ghosts of Acadia by Marcus LiBrizzi is ready to lovingly caress your eyeballs! And it’s awesome! If you would like a copy, head to your local bookstore and ask for it, or jump on Amazon.com and search for Ghosts of Acadia.

Trust me, if you pick up a copy of this book, you won’t be disappointed. If you’d like to take a look at the photos I have in the book, you can find them here, here, and here. Enjoy!

Until next time folks…

Keep on rockin’ on.

[^_^]

~A.M.

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Posted in Photography, Publication

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Bet You Never Expected To Find This At Home Depot!

Posted on June 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Most people walk into Home Depot looking for things like tools, lumber, gardening supplies, and bathroom or kitchen fixtures.  They don’t walk into Home Depot looking for a duck.  That’s right.  I said duck.

Yet that’s exactly what I did.

This past Wednesday (June 1st) I sat down at 6pm to watch the local evening news.  Amidst all the stories of the devastation caused by tornadoes in the South (and one in Massachusetts), car accidents, arrests, etc. there was one story that caught my attention.

The Hope Depot Duck.

It seemed as though a female duck wandered into the Home Depot in Bangor, Maine (for the second year in a row) and set up shop right smack in the middle of the store’s Garden Center.  She picked a nice spot on a waist high shelf among some potted flowers, built herself a nice cozy little nest, and laid her eggs.

The Bangor news crew interviewed one of the women that worked in the Garden Center and she said that not only was this was the second time the duck has done this, but she didn’t seem bothered by the noise of the cars outside, the equipment, or the people inside the store.  She just went about her business like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Employees in the store have made signs asking customers not to disturb their resident duck and even went as far as to run yellow caution tape around the area the duck is residing in.

Now, even though I saw this story on the news and saw the video recorded from the scene, I had to see it for myself.  So, the following day, my mother and I hopped into the car and drove the 90 miles from our house to Bangor.  90 miles just to see a duck in the Home Depot Garden Center.

What?  People have traveled greater distances for stranger reasons!

Upon arriving at Home Depot I went straight to the Garden Center.  After all, I was there to see the duck not shop for lumber!

I rounded a corner and spotted the yellow tape that marked the duck’s nesting area.  And true to the news report, it was smack in the middle of the Garden Center.  At first I couldn’t see the duck because she had piled so much hay around herself to make her nest but then I saw her move and I couldn’t believe it.  There was actually a duck nesting in the Garden Center.  Not only that but like the news report said, she actually didn’t seem bothered by anyone or anything around her.  She was just going about her daily business, fluffing the nest, checking on her eggs, and doing what ducks normally do when they‘re nesting.

Of course I had my camera with me (what good photographer doesn‘t?!).  I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this.  I clicked off a few frames (you can see one here, and another here) before my actions drew the attention of  a few other people who didn’t know anything about the duck and had come there to actually shop.  I even had a woman run up beside me and ask what was going on before she noticed the duck on her own and immediately pulled out her cell phone to snap a few pictures saying “Oh my God, that‘s so cute!”.

It may have been a long trip for something some may deem trivial, but to me, it was worth it.

It just goes to show you that there can be peace and tranquility, new life in the midst of chaos, whether it be in the world or in the Garden Center of your local Home Depot.

Until next time.

Keep your eyes open, folks.  You never know what you may find!

[^_^]

~A.M.

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Posted in Photography, Wildlife

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Wildlife Sightings Are Awesome!!

Posted on April 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

 

The biggest April Fools joke that was played on me today came from Mother Nature.  After spring had taken the stage, winter decided to come back for an encore.  Here in Downeast Maine, we had no snow on the ground yesterday and today, we have about a foot.  So, while everyone else out there is pelting you fine folks with April Fools jokes and pranks (Mother Nature included in some areas of the country), I’ve decided to be nice and update you on my most recent wildlife encounters!

This past Wednesday (March 30, 2011 for those of you not following closely) I went on a nice hike with my parents in Milbridge Maine.  We went to the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge to be exact.  Now, usually, when it’s just me and my mother hiking this particular trail, we spot animal tracks but never any animals beyond small birds.  My father must be our wildlife good luck charm because this was the first time he hiked this trail with us and we had two awesome encounters with wildlife.

First, halfway through our hike, we were at a portion of the trail that runs along the water.  Just a few yards away is a small island, and I mean small.  While looking around and basking in the relatively nice weather, we spotted a rather large bird taking off from the tree tops on the little island.  While watching the bird we came to realize that it was a Bald Eagle.  I, personally, had never seen one that close before.  As I was busy taking a photo of the eagle, I heard my mother say “There’s another one!”  And when I looked up, there was indeed a second eagle taking off.  Putting two and two together, we concluded that there had to be a nest somewhere in the trees.  Smart, huh?  [^_^]

Now, for those of you that don’t know, my father was really the one that got me interested in photography in the first place.  So when we go out on these little hikes/walks/day trips we take photos together.  However, more often than not, these little photo outings of ours tend to turn into competitions as to who got the better shot.  It’s all in good fun (though I tend to win!  My father blames it on me having the better camera.  [^_^]).

So, my father and I both took several photos of the eagles as they flew back and forth from their nest on the island to wherever they were going to find food.  I didn’t see his photos on the computer screen but the shots he took looked pretty decent on his camera’s screen.  Mine came out decent as well, though I know I could have done better.  You can see one of my photos here.

Now, the Bald Eagle sighting was awesome.  I was still stoked from the sighting as we headed back down the trail toward the parking lot.  While walking along, I heard something rustling in the brush off to my left.  I stopped and looked expecting to see a deer or perhaps a raccoon running off, but instead I saw something climbing a tree that gave me a little moment of shock.  At first, I thought it was a bear cub, and as everyone knows, where there’s a baby, there’s usually a mom close behind.  But after the split second of mistaken identity, I realized I was watching a chubby porcupine waddle up the tree.

I’ve seen porcupines waddling across the road or traipsing through my yard in the evenings but I had never seen one in bright daylight climbing a tree like that.  It even stopped half way up the tree and looked at us.  Again, my father and I started our little “I-can-get-the-better-shot” competition.  And again, I didn’t see his shots on the computer screen so I can’t attest to how well he did.  Come to think of it, I didn’t see any of his shots of the porcupine at all.  Hmm.

You can see my photograph of the porcupine here.

The day didn’t end there.  Before heading home for the day, my parents and I went to the beach.  Though it was cool, it was nice.  My mother and I went hunting for beach glass while my father wandered off and tried his hand at digging up a clam or two.  Just before we were getting ready to leave, I knelt down, dug with my bare hand, and brought up two clams that made the six my father found look like infants.  Yeah, I’m awesome.  Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take photos of the clams I found compared to his so you’ll just have to take my word on this one! [-_^]

I hope everyone’s having a fun and safe April Fools Day.  Hopefully no one has suffered any mental or physical injury from any bad pranks.

Until next time folks…

Keep on rockin’ on.

[^_^]

~A.M.

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Posted in Animals, Hiking, Photography, Wildlife

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