CITY ESCAPES
Nature Photography, LLC
Newsletter
September, 2012
When Being a Professional Photographer Gets in the Way
This month’s topic may seem odd coming from a company dedicated to professional photography. Nonetheless, it is a subject that we, and the people who know us, have to contend with fairly regularly. Though it is by no means a heavy, serious topic, I am nonetheless hoping that by discussing it, a few awkward moments can be alleviated.
So what is this mysterious subject? Simply put: show us your pictures – with pride! I cannot tell you how frequently I hear apologies and self-deprecating comments from others who know what I do for a living, especially when it comes time to show their vacation photos, those adorable pictures of their children, etc. Almost always now, such exhibitions, when they happen at all, are preceded by embarrassed or uncomfortable drops of the eyes, a slight shuffling, and the aforementioned apologies at the photos’ supposed lack of quality – even though some of them are simply breathtaking. Most disturbing, though, is the drop of the smile that occurs when people who are excited about sharing their experiences suddenly become afraid that they will be judged harshly by the professional in the room. This is so completely unnecessary.
First of all, let me remind you that I take snapshots, too – just like everyone else. Secondly, I take a lot of photos, and only the best are seen by the wider public. Thirdly, though people are usually aware that my gear is on a more professional level than what most of them shoot, they forget that I don’t expect them to have the same gear. And that they do not need to apologize for the gear they do have. Significantly, they also forget that having better gear does not guarantee better photos. I have seen some truly amazing photos taken with camera phones and little point-and-shoot cameras, and some horribly bad photos taken with extremely expensive cameras. What the photographer sees is still the principal feature of photography.
The most important aspect that seems to be lost, though, is that I am not judging anyone’s photographic prowess, except to occasionally be blown away by a particularly stunning image or a unique vantage point. When people share photos, be it neighbors swapping vacation photos or professionals in galleries, what they are really doing is sharing experiences. Stories are being told in pictures. Events and moments in time that the photographer deemed worth capturing are being displayed. When people shrink away from sharing their photos with me because I take pictures for a living, what they are in fact saying is that they think I will judge their experiences and the things they value to not be worth my time, or worse, that I will greet them with disdain. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am honored when people allow me to share these moments with them. I want to see the buildings and street scenes that caught their eye, the view from their campsite and the funny mushroom peeking out from a rotting log. I want to see their children giggling and their seven-foot-long sticks for roasting marshmallows. I want to see the world through their eyes.
I also hear comments that belie a belief that I will find their vacation destinations mundane and boring, given some of the places to which I have been fortunate enough to travel. Again, not true. Being a “world traveler” does not automatically strip me of my ability to appreciate experiences had closer to home. Moreover, destinations further afield are not necessarily better, more fun, or more interesting than those right down the road. They are simply different. There are so many beautiful, fascinating, and delightful places in the world that I would be exceptionally arrogant to think that only those I have visited are worthwhile. I’m not that full of myself. Even people who have been to those far-flung places I have visited will have a different experience from mine, and I am bound to learn something new from listening to tales of their adventures, and seeing their photographs. I want to see places through the eyes of others, notice what they notice, hear their stories. People sharing their experiences with me broadens my horizons, helps me to see the world in new ways, allows me to see things I hadn’t noticed before.
The bottom line: please, show me your pictures! And do it with pride, for I am not judging you – I am learning from you!
Free Entrance into the National Parks
On Saturday, September 29, many national parks will be celebrating National Public Lands Day by waiving their admission fees for the day. If you are looking for an inexpensive (or free!) outing, this is a great day to explore the wonder that is the American National Parks system. If September 29 doesn’t work for your schedule, keep in mind that there are four other occasions throughout the year when admission fees are waived, including an entire week in April for, not surprisingly, National Park Week. And, as the National Park Service reminds us, of the 397 national parks, 264 never charge admission fees. So take advantage of the bounty that is the national park system – it has so much to offer.
For a list of participating parks, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm.
For a schedule of fee-free days, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
September’s Monthly Specials
Get 10% off of unframed, 8x12 prints of “Windows to Ancient Wisdom – Bull Elephant” and / or “Acacia Sunset” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns.
September’s Fun Facts
September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day. Given how much I adore elephants, I could hardly pass on the opportunity to have a Fun Facts dedicated to the giant pachyderms.
· Despite the mental images we all grew up with of elephants chowing down on them, elephants don’t like peanuts. They don’t eat them in the wild, nor are they typically fed peanuts in captivity.
· The height of an elephant at the shoulder can be estimated from a front footprint. It is roughly the circumference of the foot times two.
· Elephants can’t jump.
· Asian elephants can hold up to 2.5 gallons of water in their trunks, while African elephants can hold a whopping four gallons.
· Elephants don’t need much sleep. They snooze only about two hours a day.
· An elephant’s trunk has over 100,000 muscles in six major muscle groups. No wonder it’s so dexterous!
If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com
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CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC
www.cityescapesphotography.com
509-396-5154
