What are photos worth?
The photograph in question. Incidentally Gursky will not receive a penny from the sale of his image as it was sold from one collector to another. I’ve written before about the value of photography, but finding out that Andreas Gursky’s photograph, “Rhein II” (above) has just been sold for $4.3 million at Christies has caused me [...]
Long Live the Amatuer Photographer
There is a common misconception that the goal of every amateur photographer is to become a “professional”, and earn their living from shooting images. Firstly, let me say that I really don’t like using the work professional when talking about photographers as it tends to put those people on a higher plain than mere [...]
Spring!
After a long, dark and wet winter here in Melbourne the weather is finally starting to change. Days are getting warmer and flowers are starting to bloom. I could harp on for hours here about new beginnings etc, but suffice it to say that this really is a great time of year for making plans [...]
Wrestling with auto focus
Confession: I have trouble with focus. No, I’m not talking about any type of ADHD condition (although that might also be an issue, but beside the point here). I’m talking about the act of making sharp photos. About what seems like the never ending struggle to make the camera’s focus system behave and see what your seeing. There [...]
Matt Brandon and the importance of light
Matt Brandon’s blog is well worth a read I came across this blog post recently by Matt Brandon on his Digital Trekker blog. Matt talks about photographers perception, or misperception, of what is “good light” or “bad light” and this post struck home with me because I often speak to other photographers and come across many [...]
The death of the photographic print?
Warning: half baked rant coming up. This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately and decided to get it written down in a hurry before the thought escapes me. So if it’s a well considered and constructed opinion you’re after, move along, nothing to see here. Traditionally, the end result of the photographic [...]
Sony World Photography Awards announced
The 2011 Sony World Photography awards have just been announced and congratulations to all those shortlisted. Alejandro Chaskielberg was named the overall photographer of the year for his study of an islander community living in the Parana River Delta in Argentina. The winner of the travel photography category was Liz Loh-Taylor who’s emotive series of black and [...]
Why photography is valuable (and why its important)
Whatever we do for a living, be it photography, some other artistic pursuit, or work behind a desk, most of us want to believe what we are doing is important and valuable. To us photographers, our images are important. Mostly because they carry a certain sentimental value. They bring back memories of places we’ve been and serve [...]
Fear and Growth
Many photographers are uncomfortable with promoting themselves, feeling self conscious or thinking that self promotion is the same as bragging. But here’s the thing. Self promotion is not about you. It’s about your clients and your marketplace. You have a product. They need it. You’re actually doing them a favour by providing that product. Keeping [...]
Trophy Hunters
The more I talk with other photographers who travel, the more I realise that there are two types of travel photographers out there. Firstly, the ones who do it first and foremost for the experience. To explore and learn of faraway places and cultures. And the trophy hunters, the ones for whom the travel [...]
International Back Up Your Stuff Day
Technology is our friend. Apparently. I had not one, but two hard drive failures recently. My main drive and a back up drive. Luckily, I have a second back up drive that I keep offsite that I was able to retrieve all of my files from and all that was lost was the time that [...]