Tag Archives: Art

So You Wanna Be a Photographer, Huh? Well, Get Yourself Some TOUGH LOVE.

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When first starting out, it’s natural to surround yourself with supporters, friends and family and “fans” of your work.  Their positive words of encouragement, pats on the back and “way to go’s” are nice and satisfy an artist’s need for a confidence boost from time to time.  Nothing is better than a nice pick-me-up from folks who know you, care about you, and want to see you succeed.

But there will come a time in an artist’s life when he/she realizes that he/she must take his art to the next level.  And the only way that can happen is if he or she takes the brave next step of looking at his/her work self-critically to identify those  areas needing improvement and taking the necessary steps to correct any errors or mistakes going forward.

I reached that point this year.  I knew that I had accomplished all that I could accomplish ON MY OWN, and that I wanted and needed to take my work to the “next level” (I understand that this may mean different things to different people). I knew that I was ready to grow as an artist.  So I did three things.

First,  I joined a community group of women artists of all stripes who have committed themselves to meeting every month, sharing plans, discussing short/long-term goals and holding each other accountable for making sure we all stay on task regarding what we have committed ourselves to accomplishing this year.  Now they aren’t going to be critiquing my work per se.  But – and this is very important – they will help me brainstorm projects and tasks, offer valuable suggestions and feedback, and help me to course correct if I venture off my chosen path.

Next, I joined a Project 52 group this year, which commits me to sharing an image of my own choosing every week with other participating photographers.  I understand that at the end of 52 weeks I will have a body of work that will mark my growth as a photographer.  Along the way, as I interact with others in the group, it is my hope that they will be able to help me look critically at my work so that I can improve.

And finally, and most importantly, I have put it out in the Universe that I’m looking for a mentor and a teacher…someone with whom I can establish a one on one relationship, who can critique my work with an objective, dispassionate eye, and then give me concrete suggestions, tools and feedback for improvement.  I wanted someone who has a knack for deconstructing images, someone who can look at my work and tell me in no uncertain terms what I can do to improve any and everything from my technique, to working with the proper camera settings, i.e., shooting in manual mode, being more strategic about picking my shots, and many other areas in order to improve the overall quality and depth of my work.

I made a conscious decision to put my ego aside so that I won’t get in the way of my own growth.  I’m the type of person that always thrives on challenge and the opportunity to show someone what I can do.  And I know from experience that one on one mentoring relationships have always worked well for me AND,  that when the student is ready, the teacher will come.

Most importantly, I’m committed to working really hard over the next 12 months under the watchful eye of a mentor so that I will be ready to make some strategic moves when Year Three rolls around.

The point I’m trying to make is this:  Help may come through a support group of photographers, or a teacher or a mentor or an experienced, seasoned photographer who can help you grow and develop as a photographer.  The bottom line is to get some, and the trick is to figure out what works for you in your situation, and what your comfort level will accommodate. Mentoring relationships may not be your cup of tea, but I laid out a few options aside from mentoring that may be of benefit to you.  All in all, if you are looking to be successful in photography, or any endeavor, for that matter, you can’t do it in a vacuum.

I would love to hear from you in the comments on how you benefited from being mentored, mentoring someone else, or working within the confines of a group to take your photography or other endeavor to “the next level.”

Peace and blessings,

Tieshka

So You Wanna Be a Photographer, Huh? Well, Prepare Yourself for the Haters.

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On the advice of someone who I respect and care about, I am going to start writing a series of blog posts from time to time entitled “So You Wanna Be a Photographer, Huh?”  The person noted that I’m going into my second year of shooting and should share what I’ve learned…the good, the bad and the ugly of my experiences, most of which have nothing to do with photography at all and everything to do with making good choices so that you can pursue your life’s dream with the level of self-awareness that is so necessary to achieve some level of success and satisfaction.

At any rate, I spent a few days reflecting on the advice I received, after which I decided that this was a good idea, and would be fun.

So here’s the deal.  I plan on writing these posts when time permits and when I’m inspired to do so.  The posts will consist of straight talk – the type of real talk that I wished that I had heard before I plunged head first into the photography abyss.  My approach to this question is designed to put a more personal spin on things that you probably won’t find on other photography blogs.  It’s the type of real talk that I hope will make you think very hard before taking the plunge as I did.  I’m going to stay away from jargon and photography-speak and try to make these posts enjoyable for photographers and non-photographers alike.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I may invite some guest bloggers to opine on this question as well….different perspectives are always nice.

So I hope that you will continue to follow along on this part of my journey.  As always, thank you and peace and blessings.

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“So you call yourself a photographer…”  She said it with a snarl so vicious that dreams I didn’t know I had almost died at that very moment.  It shocked and disappointed me, because I really looked up to this person and respected her opinion.  Luckily for me, I don’t give up that easy, and I kept pushing forward.  Lesson #1:  Everyone should not be privy to your plans and dreams.

I’ve learned very early that when you step out on faith to pursue your life’s calling, haters will come out of the cracks like disease-ridden roaches.

There are usually two kinds of haters, I’ve observed. First, there are the watchful, passive aggressive haters.  These are the kind who will stand back and watch you. They don’t say anything encouraging or constructive, but they don’t say anything overtly negative either.  Either way, you get the sense that they are standing back, waiting for you to  fail, fall on your face or otherwise embarrass yourself so they can step up and say, “See, I knew it!  You should have stuck to (fill in the blanks.)…you’re good at that.”

The other kind of hater is the spear-chucking, poor impulse control kinda hater.  He/she will come out straight, no chaser, with their venom-spewing comments and nasty remarks that offer no value to what you’re trying to do whatsoever.  You will have no doubt in your mind that he or she is not digging what you’re trying to do.  I welcome this kind of hate, because at least I know where they are coming from and I can take steps to erase them from my reality.

What do these two kinds of people have in common?  Well, more than likely, these people aren’t pursuing their life purpose (or don’t even know what they’ve been put on this earth to do, for real).  They are stuck in jobs or personal situations that are oppressive and spirit-sucking.  Because they hate where they are in life, they will find ways to try to thwart your journey.  It’s a very powerful commentary on why it’s important to conquer our fears and just step out on faith and do what we are put on this planet to do and trust that the rest will take care of itself in due time.

Bottom line:   No one likes (or really needs) haters.  I have enough going on that I have to manage.  The photography business is competitive enough and I’m always second-guessing my skills and capabilities, because, frankly, there are like 20,000,000 photographers, a lot of whom are very talented and are all looking for the same big break (or a bunch of little breaks).

Anyone who has worked as a freelancer can relate to what I’m about to say.  When you don’t have the benefit of support/encouragement/constructive criticism of a team of colleagues as you would in a more traditional work situation, it all falls on you to make things happen.  The pressure makes you hyper-critical.  I find myself constantly assessing and re-assessing my skills, my approach, my relationships, the whole shot.  It’s akin to having a whole family of haters in your head who have taken up permanent residence, constantly second-guessing you and filling your head with doubt.

The point is this:  I don’t need any help from the likes of you, dear hater.  So if you are in a hateful kind of mood and have nothing constructive to offer, please go play in traffic.  Thank you and have a nice day.

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Photo of the Day: Saundra.

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I took this portrait on assignment Saturday at the Philadelphia International Art Fair of Saundra of In Your Face Painting.  In addition to doing the face painting thing with her partner Rick, she is a spoken word artist and musician.  It was a pleasure meeting her and I look forward to seeing her in action real soon. By the way, this image will become part of my Portraits of Philadelphia:  Camera Therapy series….quintessential Philly, don’t you think?

Portrait of Saundra. Taken October 15, 2011 in Philadelphia PA, at the Philadelphia International Art Expo.

The Challenge: Ten Facebook Likes In Ten Days.

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Hello everyone!

We’ve come to the end of another week, a week, that, I must say, was anticlimactic compared to the weather rollercoaster we in the Northeast were subjected to last week!

The good thing is, summer is winding down and it’s time to look forward to fall here in the United States.  I can feel it in the air already!

I’ve always loved the transition from summer to fall, and last year, I took a number of photos on the streets of Jersey City NJ that documented that change, including the one below. For me, nothing beats cooler weather, football and the leaves on the trees changing from green to brilliant reds, yellows and oranges.

In My 'Hood (Autumn in Audubon Park). Taken 10-22-2010 in Jersey City, NJ

As I’ve reported before, here and on my Facebook page, September is my birthday month! And, my birthday actually falls on the 15th!    So, I was sitting here, really pleased to have gotten my 90th like and was wondering: Wouldn’t it really be really nice to get to 100 likes on my page before the 15th, which is in less than 2 weeks? I say 10 days but it’s really 10 business days. In the big scheme of things, I guess it doesn’t really matter. And yes. I sit at home and think these things up all by myself in the wee morning hours.

That’s how committed I am to this photography thing. I’m not one of these fancy photographers with like 2 gazillion fans, or anything. I’m really humbled and grateful for all the support I’ve received over the past year or so since I started photo blogging. It tells me that I am on the right path and I just have to keep plugging away.

And to the 90 folks who have liked my page, THANK  YOU!!! I really, truly appreciate all the support and encouragement and feedback I’ve received from you along the way.  It means the world to me!

With that said, I’d like to have more people along for the ride, so I offer my Top 10 reasons why you, the unconvinced, should like my page:

  1. Because it only takes 10 seconds to do. You click the link, go to my page, and click the Like button. The end. And I get a notification and then I shout you out on my page and make you feel all special and glittery and singled-out, like a celebrity! How awesome is that?
  2. Because it’s becoming a pretty interesting and diverse community of artists, photography lovers, and friends of those of us who love photography. If you haven’t been following along, there’s so much you’re missing, because there is a lot that I feature on my page that I don’t talk about on my blog.
  3. Because you like me. Or at least I thought you did. I’ll know for certain that you really like me if you liked my page.
  4. Because I like you. A lot.
  5. Because it’s a great place to talk about street photography, which is my primary interest. And, I feature a lot of images that don’t make it to the blog. You may be missing quite a bit and you don’t even know how much!
  6. Because I don’t take photography so seriously that I forget that it’s all about passion and creativity and emotional connections between the image maker and the subject and the viewer. There’s going to be very little technical talk on my page.
  7. Because my page features photography that documents my time spent in three states! Three! Count them: New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania!
  8. Because I also like to link to other interesting photography-related and cultural/social interest blogs and websites. It’s not always about me and my work, because I believe that my work is constantly being informed and influenced by the world around me.
  9. Because once I get to 100 I’ll be quiet for a little while. And….
  10. Because it will be a great birthday gift to me!

Just so you know…. I’m planning something special for the 100th person to like my page, so stay tuned. I’ll have more details to share with you next week.

In the meantime, peace and blessings, and to all my friends and supporters in the US, have a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Photo of the Day: Rainy Day (Bethlehem Roberson).

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Hey everyone, sorry I’m late with today’s post…this weekend was pretty stressful and I didn’t have time (or the energy, quite frankly) to schedule posts for the upcoming week.  So we’ll see how things go.

At any rate, I wanted to share with you this black and white image of a local singer, Bethlehem Roberson, that I took while she was rehearsing one of her songs for last week’s Open Mic.  This image is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  I hope you enjoy it as much I as do.  The rest of the photo set appears here.

Taken August 3, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA

What Inspires Me? The Joy of Getting Out of a Creative Slump.

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Nothing encourages creativity like the chance to fall flat on one’s face.  ~James D. Finley

Hey everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend.  It was extremely hot here in Philadelphia, which made it hard for me to get motivated.  When I get like this, I find that the best way to ease back into my groove is to spend time away from photography and blogging, with people who I care about or just spending time enjoying the world around me (without my camera in tow).  A really good towel and some cool water helps in the case of dealing with the oppressive heat as well.

So I wanted to continue my What Inspires Me series by examining the inevitable question of what happens when you just aren’t inspired enough to be creative.  Let’s be honest.  Sometimes it’s common for creative folks to run into creative slumps.  Have you had this happen to you?

When I used to write grants for a living, some days, when I was on deadline, I would sit in front of your computer screen, turn off all my distractions, close the door, pour a cold beverage, clear my calendar, crack my knuckles, all prepared to pen (or type) that next masterpiece, but nothing flowed from my fingers. My brain was not having it, and I was definitely losing.  Nothing is worse than feeling like your brain is on vacation, and nothing you do or say to yourself will jumpstart the grey matter into doing what it is you need it to do.

Sometimes the same feelings of dread and fear creep up on me even now that I’ve traded in my thinking/writing cap for my camera.  I have a fear of failing, of no one liking or appreciating my work, or worse yet, someone telling me I need to give up and find something else to do, like waiting tables or standing at the deep fryer at McDonald’s.  Perhaps I have obsessive thoughts?  Who knows.

What I do like are lists (it’s a Virgo thing), and when I came across a list of “10 Creativity Killers,” from Crit365 I read it and could totally relate to things like 1.) Self-sabotage;  2.) Excess noise (unnecessary distractions); 3.) Deadlines and pressure; 4.) Burning out; 5.) Multitasking and lack of focus; 6.) Dried up knowledge; 7.) Procrastination;  8.) Thinking about (and obsessing over) the competition; 9.) Listening to miserable people; and, 10.) Financial insecurity.

Go check out the post in its entirety; it’s really good and offers some great, common-sense solutions to obliterate (or at least mitigate) the effects of these “creativity killers.”  These, and many others, can push you over the edge where you will find yourself in a full-blown creative slump.

As I was reflecting on the list and my own experience, I came to the conclusion that there were a couple more creativity killers that needed to be added, particularly from a photography standpoint, along with ways I’ve learned how to work through them.  Tell me what you think about these:

The Weather.

“Bad weather always looks worse through a window.”  ~Author Unknown

There is nothing worse than waking up on a day where I’m really excited about going out and shooting and I hear the weather forecast and/or look out the window…. some days it makes me want to crawl back into bed and try again the next day.  Excessive heat, whiplash-inducing winds, rain that precedes flood-level events, 3-4 feet of snow and extreme cold, all of these things can put a damper on my motivation to go out and shoot.  But I realize that the weather shouldn’t hold me back, and I don’t like the idea of being a wuss, so I out on my big girl panties, lace up my boots, zip up my parka or lather on my sunscreen or whatever, and get out there and do what I have to do anyway.  And after a while, the weather becomes a non-factor, especially when I find that zone of zen-like calm, and the shots come to me like milkshakes drawing boys to the yard.  Besides, I don’t have control over the weather anyway.  Perhaps I was one of those National Geographic photographers in a past life,  I don’t know.  What makes it all worthwhile is going out in 100-degree heat (or extreme cold or whatever) and getting good images and overcoming the overwhelming need to make excuses about things I can’t control.

 

Not That Tired (loynon07) Tags: notes quotes tired emotionsLack of Sleep and Other Health Challenges.  There’s a myth going around that highly creative people are like Energizer Bunnies and can produce quality work on demand.  We can burn the candle at both ends, on little sleep, no exercise and a diet of candy bars, Red Bull and cigarettes.  What a bunch of crock.  Insomnia, poor eating habits and a lack of exercise are creative killers that will sap the life force from your brain and your spirit.  The solution:  Make it a point to get a good night’s sleep (every night); make sure to eat better and drink water, and try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise at least 3 days a week, if it’s nothing more than walking at a brisk pace.  Not only will you begin to feel better and have more stamina, but your brain will thank you in the form of generating new ideas for how to take whatever you do to a new level.  I struggle with insomnia from time to time, but since I began taking charge of my physical well-being I’m pleased to report that my bouts of insomnia have plummeted, and my stamina has improved tremendously to the point where I can walk around for 8-10 hours on days when I go out shooting.  My joints don’t ache and all of my senses are on full power, which is important for creative expression. I can’t stress the importance of taking care of your health enough.

Camera Envy.  Ken Rockwell said, “Your equipment DOES NOT affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time and effort you can spend creating great images. The right equipment just makes it easier, faster or more convenient for you to get the results you need.”  Your Camera Does Not Matter, 2005

 

This is in a way, related to the creativity killer of “thinking about the competition,” but for me, it goes deeper than that.  I bought my first DSLR camera last year thinking I was the ish, and I quickly found out that my little camera wasn’t much compared to the higher end prosumer models (and let’s not even talk about the models the pros use).  And let’s not even go into discussing lenses and the other requisite bells and whistles that a lot of photogs like to brag about in different corners of the Internet.  When I slip into camera envy mode, I have to remind myself that my camera situation is not that bad, and I should really appreciate what I have.  One of my sisters in photography wrote a really good post that speaks to this very issue.  

So, in the face of occasional bouts of camera envy, I have learned, with a little self-love talk and listening to people I trust, that it’s not about the camera I use, it’s really about my ability to see the world in ways that other people can’t.  Furthermore, it’s about appreciating my talents and recognizing that I’m very blessed to have a chance to do what I love.  Many people just don’t have that opportunity.

Nothing is worse that facing down a “creativity killer” and losing to the point where you find yourself in a deep creative slump.  Sometimes the loss is temporary and steps can be taken to turn a loss into a win with a little work and encouragement.  Slumps do come to an end you know.

There is no greater feeling than staring a creativity killer in the face and telling it that, although it may bend us, take us out the game for a moment, it will never break us down to the point where we lose all desire to be in the game at all.  The bottom line is that if we really love our creative selves, we will find inspiration in the most unlikely of places to overcome any creative killer sent to destroy our spirit.

Keep being inspired, and if you’re so inclined, leave me a comment or a private message on your strategies for overcoming creative slumps.

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Photo of the Day: Pursed Lips (At Engine #11).

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Taken April 2, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA

 

Image backstory: I was photographing a segment of this stunning 2008 mural by Carl Willis Humphrey, and the woman walked into the frame as I pressed the shutter button.  I didn’t really think anything of it until I got home and began editing the image in Lightroom…and I noticed that she had the same expression as the woman in the mural!  Anyway, I really liked the irony inherent in this photo…

For more information on the mural photographed and a fascinating historical overview of the fire station on which the mural is painted go here and here.

Photo of the Day: Zuri, Andy and Some MickeyD’s.

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Taken April 7, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA

Backstory:  While in Love Park the other day, I was watching this young couple sitting by the garish pink pond.  They looked like they were in their own little world, and I’ll be honest: They had my rapt attention.  It’s very rare to see young couples all boo’d up anymore.  Anyway, after talking to and photographing a couple of other people , I made my way over to the Love sculpture, and took a few photos, including the one above.

Not too long after I walked over, the couple gets up and comes over, and asks me if I can take a photo under the Love sculpture using with what I’m guessing was her cameraphone.  So after I took a few for her, I asked them if it would be alrite to take their photo for my series, and they agreed!! I added a portrait of this couple, Zuri and Andy (thank you), to the Portraits of Philadelphia series.  Check it out!

Photo of the Day: Taking a Coffee Break.

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Taken April 2, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA (click for full-sized image)

After spending some time in Germantown, I ventured south to Center City and to Philadelphia’s famed South Street, under the guise of looking for some camera equipment (a 50 mm lens for my Nikon). 

Well, of course, I couldn’t resist the urge to snap a few photos, including the one above of the two gentlemen sitting outside of what I believe to be The Bean Cafe. 

They both seemed to be enjoying their coffee and their view of the throngs of people walking past.  One was puffing away on a cigar, as well.    And neither seemed to be a bit surprised by me snapping a photo of them. 

I’m gonna enjoy this summer.

For more of my Philadelphia Chronicles, go check out and LIKE the PWTP Facebook Fan Page.

Photo: In My ‘Hood (On the Corner)

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© 2010 Mom of Three Photography, all rights reserved

 

I can’t remember the order in which I took this and the late practice photos. 

I watched the young man with the football jersey and the young man on the bike under the street lamp and remembered the days when we used to hang out under our street lamp after dark…hoping our parents wouldn’t call us inside for the night.

Sadly, things have changed. 

At any rate, I retouched both to give them that nostalgic feel. 

Sometimes I wish I could go back to being 15 or 16 again.  Whoever said being grown was the ish was sadly mistaken.