This week in Florida has been a wonderful break from the snow, ice and freezing temps of Kentucky, but for me it has been much, much more.  First it has been the activity I enjoy most in life, just hanging out with my bride.  Sherelene is not only my wife, my confident, and love of my life, she is also my best friend.  I’m always on stage, that has been my life, entertaining and teaching others, and I love it, but it is also work.  When I’m with Sherelene I’m just myself and she knows me to well for me to try and impress her, shockingly she loves me for who I am, and that works for me!!!!  So this has been week of relaxing, and slowly preparing for the “big” March trip and the rest of the year of workshops and appearances.  I wanted to share how I prepare for workshops, lectures and going out to be with the folks I’m honored to spend time with.

 

Number One:  Get the focus off myself.  My purpose is to help others.  Help them learn, help them relax, help them enjoy the process of the event.  I can’t make a workshop or seminar about me.  I need to focus my energy on reading their responses, and meeting their needs.  What people think about me is not important, what is important is delivering what they paid for, and need.  If I do that then their response to me will be positive, which is great, just not what is most important.

 

Number Two:  As the Boys Scout Manual says:  Be Prepared!  I would never go to do a seminar like the one in Peoria, or a workshop like the two with Jack Graham out west without intense preparation.  Jack is a professional and he will be prepared!   In the next 16 workshops for the rest of the year, Jim Begley and Snake, Bill Pekala and Fred Sisson are all pros, they will be prepared!  I owe the guests nothing more than being on top of my game, it involves planning, study, consideration of the group coming, and more study.  The audience or attendees can’t learn if they are not relaxed and at ease, and they can’t feel that if I seem to be at a loss as to what I’m doing!!  I must be prepared!

 

Number Three:  I must be truly, genuinely, enthusiastic about being with them!  You can’t fake truly being excited to be with people, you either are or you would rather be somewhere else.  When you get to that point, it’s time to do something else.  People deserve a great experience and you can’t deliver it, if you are not having a great experience yourself!  I once knew a great photographer that was wonderful shooter and filled with incredible knowledge, but he hated hanging out with people, he would have rather been alone, I can’t imagine being that miserable, and conducting workshops!  The best leaders I know, can’t wait to get there and get started!!!

 

Number Four:  Research your locations and know what you are going to do!!!  Photographic success and great workshop experiences depend on being logistically prepared.  Where are your going to take them?  What will the light be like?  What will the conditions be like?  What will the subject matter be like?  Will the flowers be blooming?  Will the fall leaves have turned?  How will conditions; (wind – cold – rain – snow – road conditions etc, etc.) affect the shoot? You have to know!

 

Number Five:  Are  your ready to roll with the punches?  Things “will” go wrong.  Even the best planned event will offer up surpises!!  Can you make lemonade our of lemons?  If you can’t, it’s going to be a tough life as a workshop provider!

 

Number Six:  Be sure you are “most” concerned about your Guests, and their needs! If you are not truly first and foremost focused on the attendees, you will fail.  Running workshops can’t be letting others pay for your trip to place you want to shoot!  Do it before an after they arrive and leave, or use shooting to demonstrate how to do it in the field!  NEVER keep shooting when someone needs  your help!  It’s better to miss a shot, than let someone down that paid for your help!

 

Number Seven:  Have Fun!  If you a re not having fun, no one else will either.  A good leader, leads by example.  you can’t fake it, if you are having a blast it’s likely your guests will too!

 

Number Eight:  Trust God with it all.  If I am doing it as unto Him, I need His help to do all the things I mentioned above and more!  My most important purpose is to show people they are loved, that God loves them, that He truly cares for them and that they are safe in His arms.  Those attendees that have told me that the workshop they attended changed, their lives, fulfill my greatest prayer and hope!  All the Glory goes to Him!

 

This week I’ve been getting into the right mindset to really do all the above, and resting up so I can keep up the pace for a year!   I want to to be the be the best I can be!  My guest are counting on it!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Do you like the photographic pun in the lead image.  The hot air ballon is getting filled to be ready to fly, just like I get filled with hot air to run workshops!!!!

Ha!!

 

 

 

Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found over 200 dead
crows near greater Boston recently,

 

 

 

And there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu.

 

A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to
everyone’s relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT

Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts.

 

However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying
colors of paints appeared on the bird’s beaks and claws.

 

By analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of
the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed
by an impact with a car.

 

MTA then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if
there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills
versus Car kills.

 

He very quickly concluded the cause: When crows eat road kill,
they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn
Of impending danger.

 

They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout
“Cah”, not a single one could shout “Truck.”

 

 

Smile, the Iranians will soon have the bomb!  The Democrats are idiots…..  I’m sorry, but I’ve had it with this politics at such a critical time.  I had to tell a joke, I’m FED up!!!!

 

 

Blessings,

 

 

the pilgrim

 

I’m a proud grandfather of 6 great grandchildren, and I love them all, but one is unique, special, and one dang good fisherman!  Benjamin Luke Fortney is my oldest grandson, son of Scott and Diane Fortney, Scott is my oldest son.  I love Hannah, my oldest grand daughter, but her story comes later!  Today I want to share about Ben!

 

It probably all started when many years ago the Florida Fortney’s visited us in Kentucky and Scott took Ben fishing at a local stream, the image below says it all, from that day on Ben was a fisherman!

 

Ben has gone on to learn a great deal about fishing and living in North Florida he has the perfect playground to practice his craft.  Ben is a bait fisherman, bait caster, fly fisherman (ties his own beautiful flies!), bass fisherman, fishes with plugs, spinners, worms, and is an avid shore fisherman.  He has landed single fish that their weight exceeds my life time accumulative weight of fish caught!!!

 

Ben’s list of fish varieties that he has studied and caught is just about the contents of  any good fish book out there.

 

His next big category is a hammerhead shark.  You must catch and release them, and I know he will, but his goal is at least a 10 footer.  No doubt I’ll get a iPhone image soon showing that catch!

 

His room is decorated with a bewildering assortment of rods, reels and fishing lures and he proudly displays some of his great great grandfathers classic wooden plugs and some of the fish his great great grandfather and  great grandfather caught and had mounted.

 

      Ben is shown to the left holding his latest reel acquisition, a deep sea rod and reel made just of the    big fish he is going after this spring.  Ben is a great young man, a good student and real man of his word.   I’m proud to call him my grandson, and I sure wish he would teach me to fish!!!!

 

Being a grandfather is an awesome treasure and great responsibility!  I try to spend as much time as        I can with my grand children and pass on some of the life lessons I’ve learned over the past half                century plus 19 years.  Fortunately for me my grandchildren still listen and I truly enjoy their company!  Now if Ben could just help me catch a 12 pound bass!!!  

 

I’m blessed,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

I apologize for the image quality, all iPhone 4s  wish I had used my Fuji X100T!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spoke to the Orlando Camera Club a few years ago and it was a frightening experience!  This is one of the best and most talented camera clubs in America, and in fact has been named so on several occasions!!!  To stand in front of this group and share is a daunting affair!  One of the bonuses of getting to know that group is that I get their email newsletter, and it always contains some great images and information.  This article by Simon Bray, a terrific shooter, was of real interest to me and I thought I would share it with you.  I tried in vain to reach Simon and Wayne Bennett and both were out of pocket, but knowing this club they are dedicated to educating others and I’m sure Simon would welcome my reprinting his article, if not, my future posts will be from prison!

 

 

We often hear the phrase ‘less is more’, and this couldn’t be more apt than when appreciating minimalism. When executed well, minimalist photography can be an extremely simple but dramatic way to capture images. But how should we interpret, understand and execute minimalism within our own work

 

Step 1. Understand Minimalism

Minimalism is a style employed by many 20th Century artists, using a minimum amount of components such as colour, shape, line and texture. Within the art world it is considered an extremely subjective concept, leaving interpretation and meaning up to the viewers perception of the work.

Some appreciate the openness of this idea, embracing the freedom of interpretation, where others despise the lack of direction or subject matter. For photographers, this is less of an issue, as more often than not, a photo remains a real-life moment captured on film. Despite this, we can employ some of the techniques of minimalism to enhance the impact of our work.

 

Step 2. Keep It Simple

When understanding how to achieve minimalism, the rule is to keep it simple. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring or uninteresting. Try to pick a striking and engaging subject that will catch the eye. The subject has to be the strongest element of the shot, even though it may not take up the majority of the frame.

Before you take your shot, take a moment to consider what you are going to include in your shot, but also what you are going to leave out. The space around a subject will accentuate it’s prominence, so look to zoom in or crop out any distractions.

 

Step 3. Composition

Achieving a strong compositional element to a minimalist photo is absolutely key in enhancing the impact of the shot. Like I mentioned in Step 2, what you leave out is just as important as what you leave in, so take some time to consider the structure of the subject and the space within which it is placed.

The “rule of thirds” applies here and will help when deciding how to frame your subject. Strong composition can also incorporate square structures and line, which we will come to later on, but keep an eye out for strong shapes and lines which might lend themselves to a minimalist shot.

Be sure to focus in on the subject, and if possible, select a depth of field that will make the subject stand out, this will draw the eye into the shot and enhance impact.

 

Step 4. Complimentary Colour

The use of colour in minimalist photography is highly evident and it is an extremely useful tool when it comes to capturing an eye catching yet simple shot. What many minimalist photos lack in subject matter they make up for in colour and in this case, the brighter the better!

Try to use the available light to bring out the colours within the scene. Many shots work based around a single colour, including both the subject and the background, but this can be difficult to find, so keep an eye out for either colours that compliment each other, or a combination of contrasting colours.

 

Step 5. Strong Line

In a similar way to the use of colour in minimalist photography, the effectiveness of line within a shot can be vital in adding to the image when subject matter is limited. As I mentioned before, strong horizontal or vertical lines lend themselves to strong composition, as they will give a solid structure to the image.

The old adage of using line to draw the eye into the shot is also relevant here. Consider where the line is leading, for example from the centre of the image leading away to the edge, or from a corner into the centre, with regard to what you want to the viewer to take away from the image.

 

Step 6. Getting All Touchy Feely

Like a lot of minimalist art, some minimalist shots are based purely on texture and colour, yet they grab your attention even without any distinct subject matter. For this, you need not only an engaging surface, but also the means to capture it in an interesting way.

Consider whether there is any direction to the texture and whether that line can be used effectively in a compositional sense. Try to use light to enhance the texture, to bring out the contrast and look to capture the image so the viewer could almost feel what they are seeing.

 

Step 7. Keep Your Eyes Open

Once you have spent some time studying minimalist examples, you’ll begin to appreciate the examples of minimalism that surround you each and every day. When you’re out and about, keep your eyes open for spaces and blocks of colour, interesting subjects that stand alone and clean lines. Look up, look down, keep searching and you will be rewarded.

A good place to start might be within geometric shapes found within architecture, which often include a whole wall of re-occurring pattern that can be exploited as a minimalist photo.

 

Step 8. Process

Processing minimalist shots should be reasonably simple, as having captured your shot, you should have a good notion of what you want to produce-something simple but dramatic. Something you might want to consider is experimenting with the more surreal images, using an artistic viewpoint to create an image that may be unrecognisable from it’s original state but functions instead as a piece of art.

However, you may also want to stay true to life and simply process your image with a focus on bringing out the subject and enhancing the lines and colour within the shot.

 

Step 9. Tell the Story

Many minimalist photos are eye catching, featuring simple lines, appealing colours and could be considered an artistic expression, but once you’ve mastered capturing appealing images; it’s time to take on a greater challenge. Can you tell a story through a photo shot in a minimalist style? Is it possible to convey a scene or event using reduced subject matter, colours and shapes?

To achieve this, you may well need to incorporate some interest from light, people or movement, but next time you’re out shooting an event, once you’ve got all the shots you need, try summing up the event in one shot using as little subject matter as possible, you might surprise yourself!

 

Step 10. Get Creative

So hopefully now you have a basic understanding of minimalist photography and have a few techniques and tips to help you on your way with capturing your own minimalist images. As I said before, keep your eye out for possible shots and remember to keep it simple, the more eye catching the better.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. Minimalism can be a very subjective topic, so what you appreciate, others may not, but get out there, see what you can find and get snapping!

 

 

Thanks Simon, great information!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

Early morning shoot Sanibel Island, inspired by Simon!

 

 

…..and this is for my dear brother Homer, after the sweet note he left me, yesterday, this is the sign at the Sanibel Island Visitor Center