Daily Archives: February 25, 2014

 

We all love to hear that someone likes our work.  Some time ago I came to an understanding that the person you most need to please or impress is yourself.  If you are happy with your work or at least happy with your progress, you are on the right track!  Having said that, it still feels good when someone else brags about our work.  When I was at the very beginning of my career, as a photographer, one of my photographic heroes, and inspirations was Jay Maisel.  Jay was one of the most successful commercial photographers in New York.  The graphic quality and the choice of and use of color was his works hallmark!!  I, like many others of our era, tried desperately to see and capture images in his style!  Many years later, I  met Jay and we became better acquainted with each other.  A decade ago at a Nikon meeting, where Jay was our guest presenter, I had the chance to give him a copy of my first America From 500 Feet book as a way of saying thank you for all the inspiration, over the years.

 

The next morning as I got off the elevator, Jay was getting off the opposite elevator and greeted me with, “have you had breakfast?”  I told him I hadn’t and he invited me to eat breakfast with him.  If that were the end of the story it would have been great, breakfast with the legend Jay Maisel.  During breakfast Jay said, “Bill, last night I stayed up until I had looked at every image in your book, and read a number of the stories, and I only have one thing to say to you, Fudge you!!”  (only he didn’t say fudge!!)  If you know Jay you know what his favorite expletive is.   I was not sure what he meant, but he smiled and said, “Bill, what I’m saying is that was a brilliant concept, and I wish I had thought of it first, but even if I had, I’m not sure I could have done it as much justice as you did!  Thank you for a book I will treasure it!  You need to be very proud of your’s and your son’s work!!”

 

I told Jay, and I meant it, I would not need anyone to brag on my work ever again, that such a high compliment coming from him had fulfilled my need for praise!   Since then Jay and I have gotten to be better friends and I still greatly admire his approach to photography.  When I went over to Christiansted today I wanted to try and see and capture like he does.  I will let you be the judge if I was successful, but I had a blast pretending I was Jay for just a day!!

 

 

 

 

I really enjoyed the X-T1 today and the clear view through that big EVF!  It made composing and planning so much easier!  Once again I went sans tripod and shot everything hand held, and with the help of higher shutter speeds got some tack sharp images!!  I’ll leave you today with a couple of just travel shots, things that interested me but wouldn’t live up to the vision of Jay!!!!

 

 

The last shot was just a little whimsey, made me chuckle, hope you like it!

 

I did find the boat I had hoped to find and that will get featured tomorrow!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim