Below is a link to some of my photos and photoshop images. I don't really do anything with my photos yet, although I've been taking them for some years, other than use some of them as reference for painting.
I am wondering if it is worth pursuing this photography and graphics thing ? (and yes I will continure to paint as well, I make a good living from painting).
Also any ideas about what I could do with them in the medium term, keeping in mind that I've put in a fairly wide cross section here.. I haven't settled down to a favourite area as yet. This is partly why I need to find out if any particular subject is working best. A Calendar has been suggested to me, but I wouldn't know which sort of category to use.. nature studies / surrealist graphics or whatever.. although seedpods and buds are an obsession.
I'd appreciate your thoughts, thank you. Lizzie :o)
http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee306...
There are two pages, I think the second page has the better images. I guess I should explain myself a bit better. I'm a very successful surreallist painter http://www.notthetate.co.uk/lizzie , I make a lucrative living out of it.
I'm not wanting to make a living out of photography, but I do love it, and I want to improve and be successful at it. I would like to do "something" with it,such as a calendar or whatever, it's in my nature to want to improve and focus in on whatever I am best at.
I think focus is my main problem in photography, in that I can't find a particular subject area to concentrate on.
I really appreciate your help so far, I need to hear about the weak areas etc. Thank you :o) ginger plant was the only one tempted me to investigate, the colour i like the lighting i dont,
you art is very excellent, your photography........its goodish, theres something there but many elements are not (same as me), your technique on the art on your art site in excellent, these images its not,
the first page of images is weak, depends how you ask, you know as an artist only show your best - i never show my best........if your an aspiring fotog show it all,
rambling i should be asleep actually done some "photography" this week.....instead of being a businessman..........
a They look fine to me, but I know nothing about composition structure etc....
My girlfriend is very adroit on the subject, I am curious to see what she thinks. Yes very nice. I'd say you need some work before becoming a full time photographer. But You should Definitely pursue it if you love it. You should start off by making a web site. but only post Slightly Cropped pictures so You can always prove that they are yours.
i like the guy holding the water. Go with that as a focus. People or people holding water LOL j/k.
Good luck The nature photos are very beautiful... definitely the ones standing out in the group.
If you want to try and sell the assembled images, your Photoshop work would need to get much better first. At the moment, the pieces don't quite fit together - contrasts, lights etc. don't match and the assembly is very obvious.
I'd definitely say the plant and landscape pictures are a way to go. It's tough to make very good money with that type of picture - not much appeal for advertising (which is where the easier money is), but you can try to find a poster manufacturer interested in using your work... or assemble a stock database. Many of your landscape pics have the potential to go on somebodies wall - especially if you use your Photoshop to enhance them. You could even consider changing a whole group to black and white and putting it out as a series.
The seedpods and buds are the best pictures - great colors, beautiful compositions. Definitely the way to go.
I would not invest too much time with the surrealistic graphics - there isn't nearly as much money potential there than with your other work. I'd continue doing it on the side.
One good idea might be to take all your nature photos and put together an online portfolio (not just a photobucket one... a real website) that you can send to prospective sponsors.
It'll give you a good starting point and allow you to market your images in a professional manner Hi Lizzie, the one that seems the most powerful is the whalinga. It says a lot with very little. I could see it as the eye catching image for an environmental impact campaign.
I think everyone that shoots falls into the homeless person trap. Meaning, we are fascinated by the subject and tend to overlook the composition of the background. It is interesting that he does crossword puzzles. Maybe you could re-shoot since he's in your area. Capture him doing his morning crosswords! Just a thought.
The buds are really nice. You could maybe pitch the image to a company that specializes in seminars for self-help. The symbolism will be appreciated.
The baby one seemed a CD cover for an alt-rock band in 1994 though I feel the bread (potato face?) is timeless!
On the calendar idea, how about shooting a sequence of your homeless friend and buds together in a series. Do the buds open? Does he finish the crossword? etc. Pitch to a non-profit org like Alzheimer's. I dunno...just keep doing it and best of luck!!
Jane :) I'm not a professional. You need to study more. I bet you know which ones to keep. These are not on a par with the paintings I have seen on your site,except one or two. Lizzie,
As far as lighting and focus these are very nice. My only comment would be that you tend to center all of your subjects. Take a look through some other photographers websites and you will notice that most of there subject follow whats known as the "Rule of Thirds" Meaning that the main subject or point of interest usually falls about one-third of the way horizontally and/or vertically within the frame. This makes for a more appealing photo and its one of the first things I teach when it comes to photography. Its the easiest thing to change and makes the most difference right away. I am a professional photographer, for whateever that maybe worth. I do some artistic photography and my favorite photography is the photo with a message. To me everything has to have a purpose. My favorite photo out of everything you have on display is ltdedduckhuntingseason.jpg and I do like another that resemebles a hornet's nest with faces and other things of interest.
I think you should pursue something in this areaa but make it something with a message. Make it worthwhile. Make it say something so as to have part or yourself live on long after you're gone.
Hope that helps. Feel free to ask me anything anytime. | 