Daily Archives: January 8, 2015

 

 

Step up to the Mike,  By Bill Fortney

 

 

Jack Graham, Scott Kelby, and Matt Kloskowski all did 2014 retrospectives and I enjoyed each of them!  I started to do one and then came up with another idea.  I would like to first ask myself, and you the most important photographic questions of 2014, (or any previous year for that matter!)  Did you grow?  Did you grow technically?  Did you grow visually?  Did you grow aesthetically?  Before I attempt to answer that let me share portfolios from three dear friends who certainly did so in all the above categories!

 

 

Before I feature more photographers, let me start with these three!  I’ve known Jack Graham for almost 30 years and our photographic friendship and personal friendship goes back all that time.  I first met Jack at a GAPW event, (Great American Photography Weekends), featuring the late Galen Rowell.  Immediately,  Jack was on of those people you meet that you really like and want to get to know better.  Through the years we have remained in touch and when I retired from Nikon in the summer of 2013 he asked me to teach workshops with him, and I did.  I’ve genuinely enjoyed teaching with Jack and just hanging out with him!  He rarely mentions it, but when we met he was a very successful professional musician, a trumpet player.  He was good enough to have done performances live, on stage with the likes of Frank Sinatra and many other stars of that era!

 

I met Scott and Matt when I first went to work of Nikon in the early 2000’s  I think around 2002 or 2003.  I talked my boss, Bill Pekala, into what we use to call a weasel deal, a fond monicker for getting the company to send us on a trip to mostly have fun!  It turned out to be money well spent for Nikon and I!  I met Scott and Matt at the Salt Lake City airport and drove them on a 5 day trip through the golden circle (Bryce Canyon, Zion, the Grand Canyon, and other great red rock parks)! Both were in the beginning stages of a great interest in photography, and I tried to show them the ropes, so as to speak! Please don’t misread that I am taking any credit whatsoever for their meteoric rise as shooters, no, I just had some fun with them, and gave them some pointers.  The best part was we became really fast friends and that friendship has grown over the past decade!  My points that even though Jack was already a good shooter when we got to know each other, He, Matt and Scott have really “grown” and their work shows it!

 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two other very dear friends who continue to shock me with their work!  Jim Begley and Jim Haverstock are not only two of my best friends, they are truly gifted shooters and in 2014, it continued to be proven!  More than the photography, and both are wonderful photographers, it is their fellowship!  Both Jim B and Jim H. are two to finest Christian men I know, and they always lift me up when we get me together, which thankfully, we often do!  Here are just a few of their incredible stock pile of fantastic images!

 

 

 

So lastly what are my accomplishments of 2014?  Let’s see, I love the Lord more than ever, and I’m more thankful for all He has done for me.  I am more madly in love with Sherelene than I ever thought possible!  Now that I am retired, (Ha ha!) I am enjoying more quality time with my family and my grandchildren.  I finally got started only long desired eBook writing journey (as of next week),  it will be a total of 12 eBooks and I’ve sold or given away a couple of thousand!  I am having a blast writing, shooting, praying, sharing His Love, and being on this side of the grass!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim