Profile Reflections #10

What talent would you most like to have?
Photography, and most other creative endeavors, are about expression and communication. I found it very interesting – though probably not that surprising – that when asked about desired talents, the vast majority of those profiled said they would like to have a talent for music or for languages. Whether it’s expressing emotion or creating through music, or being able to reach others through their native words, there’s something about communicating that seems to be ingrained in the creative personality.

• “If I could be a great novelist, I wouldn’t have to walk around the city on cold days with a camera…” – Paul Politis
• “The ability to compose and play music like Johann Christian Bach.” – Kathleen Connally
• “The ability to be a human jukebox on the piano.” – Aaron Johnson
• “To be able to be fluent in Spanish, German, Japanese and French amongst other languages.” – Ben Willmore
• “That’s easy: something athletic. Maybe the ability to play baseball; any position. But I’m too old for that now anyway. So an athletic talent for a 55 year old guy: maybe ping pong.” - Dave Beckerman
• “The ability to complete surveys a little more easily!” – Andy Smith
• “I’d love to be able to play an instrument well – piano, harp or hammer dulcimer. (But I don’t have the discipline to practice.)” – Jason D. Moore
• “To sing and play like Sting or Bob Marley or Ray Charles. How cool would it be to perform in front of thousands of people and have them sing along with you. Great singers have a gift for making the world happy.” – Doug Stremel
• “I would love it if making music came easier to me and I had started earlier.  There are few joys in life that are better than making music with other people , it is such a synergistic experience.” – Stephen Waterfall
• “Play guitar with out so much effort.” – Mike Palmer
• “Playing a musical instrument – Banjo, Guitar, or Piano – but not all three.” – David Ziser
• “I would LOVE to be able to sing. (my husband would love that too.)” – Jennifer Farley
• “Wish I could sing…” – Derrick Story
• “Singing” – Terry White
• “Being made of liquid metal (mimetic poly-alloy).” – John Nack
• “I would love to be more creative. Creativity is something that is difficult to obtain. Once you think you have it, poof! Gone. Sometimes I like to think that I am a creative person, but other times I realize that I am more innovative than creative.” – Andy Biggs
• “Authenticity.” – Chris Orwig
• “Teleportation” – Tom Moore
• “I always thought it would be really cool to play an instrument. I was so jealous the first time I heard Scott Kelby play the keyboards. What a talented guy.” – Jeff Revell
• “I would love to be able sing.” – Justin Seeley
• “I still wish pokemon were real and I was the ultimate pokemon master.” – Joey Lawrence
• “The ability to play the guitar.” – Lynda Walldez
• “Fluency in many languages.” – David Hobby
• “I’d love to be able to draw what I see.” – Matt Kloskowski
• “Multi-lingual” – Mike McHugh
• “To be able to play classical guitar.” – Clayton Spangler
• “Ability to photograph people without getting all nervous and shy.” – Amy Archer
• “This seems a popular choice, but speaking foreign languages. Because English is widely spoken around the world, we Brits are so lazy when it comes to languages. Wherever we go, we just expect everyone to speak English.” – Mike Holley
• “Two things I can’t decide between: I wish I could play the piano and I’d like to be fluent in sign language.” – Dave Cross
• “Fluency in ALL languages.” – Eduardo Angel & Timothy Campbell
• “To play a musical instrument well….I have been a drummer, a poor banjo and fiddle player, lousy at guitar and even worse at the harmonica and flute! Being talented at any of the aforementioned would be welcomed!” – Jim Larimer
• “I guess it would be cool to be able to make a living of playing poker or something like that. ” – Martin Andreasen
• “I’d like to be able to fly. Is that a talent? Maybe that’s an ability…” – Michael Snell
• “Be able to play music…” – Richard Vanek
• “I would love to speak a few foreign languages.” – Scott Kelby

• “I would like to be able to speak numerous languages fluently.” – Bruce L. Snell

Click here to view a complete list of profiles.

Jan 24, 2008 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: Jeff Revell, Photo, Photography, Scott Kelby | Leave A Comment »

Profile Reflections #8

What inspires you to create?
This time around we look at inspiration, and it’s a little bit different for everyone. Working with others and seeing the work of others recurrs so often in the responses. While we create for ourselves and for clients, we will often take a look around at the world around us or see what others are doing and tweek it to make our images our own. We strive to always get better, we look for the macro in the micro, we have a drive to communicate, to tell stories in pictures. (Items in bold resonate with me as well.)

• “I just love it. It’s really all I’ve ever known. I never really think anything I do is good enough so I just want to keep trying to make something better.” – Matt Kloskowski
• “Honestly, I do not know. Other than the fact that it is a very satisfying thing to do.” – David Hobby
• “A desire to express myself. Sometimes all it takes is a concept or philosophy.” – Lynda Walldez
• “I take a lot of acid.” – Joey Lawrence
• “Music or television. I usually get that spark of creativity when watching a commercial or if a song happens to strike me the right way.” – Justin Seeley
• “I started shooting in high school and fell in love with the black and white process. To stand in the darkroom and watch the image I shot appear on the paper as it soaked in the developer was almost magical (and I still love the smell of fixer). I just really enjoy looking for items to shoot in creative ways. If you look at my car shots, you’ll never see one of the whole car. Anyone can take a picture of the entire car but that’s all it is. To me, the parts are more interesting than the whole.” – Jeff Revell
• “Other photographers and my daughter Olivia“ - Tom Moore
• “As a kid my mom told me, “there’s no such thing as bad art.” She lied, but that is a truth that I hold onto. It inspires me. It gives me freedom. It reminds me that it is about creativity and process.” – Chris Orwig
• “I have a growing library of coffee table books, and I often refer to them for inspiration. So I have to say work from other photographers.” – Andy Biggs
• “I’d like the world to be a little more beautiful, a little happier, a little more truthful by virtue of my having been here.” – John Nack
• “Seeing something out there and thinking to myself, “I could do that and maybe even better.”” – Terry White
• “I like to have things to show for my efforts. When I was working my way through college, I couldn’t generate enough income as a photographer only, so I mowed lawns too. Believe it or not, I found that work very satisfying because I could stand back and admire my work after I finished working on a yard. Today, I can support myself making pictures and writing, and I find it very satisfying to create new things out of thin air.” – Derrick Story
• “Cinema, tv, web, magazines” – Jennifer Farley
• “Wanting to see what comes out on the other side of an idea.  Something will pop into my head about a certain scene – color, lighting, details, lines, shapes, forms, pose – anything like that.   I’m curious how it will all come together in the finished image.  This process is kind of a private, quiet moment for me – even on a fast moving wedding day shoot. Motion seems to stop as I slowly put the “compositional pieces” together in my mind – almost “Matrix” like. Granted, it’s really fast in “real life”, but I love it when the final image is just the way I saw it in my mind. At that point, the experience is no longer private.- now it’s shared with the client.  For the portrait/wedding shooter, nothing excites your client more than your own excitement for the image you created for them.” – David Ziser
• “Everything!  I met Brandon d’Leo (sculptor from NYC) at a recent shoot.  I was amazed and inspired by his work.  I started seeing sculpture everywhere.  I feel the same way about photography, images are everywhere.  Just look, and bring your camera. ” – Mike Palmer
• “Inspiration comes from a number of sources but probably the biggest is experiencing other creative works – visual as well as performance arts.  Secondly,  sometimes I feel compelled to make a statement about a condition or state that comes to my attention.” – Stephen Waterfall
• “Mostly, other creative people – artists, writers, comedians, entrepreneurs, chefs, directors, designers – the list is way too long. There are so many talented people who have interesting and unique perspectives of the world. I’m mostly inspired by creative people who will try anything and don’t mind if they fail. It’s a cliche, but failure really is the best teacher.” – Doug Stremel
• “Sometimes it can be something as simple as a texture or shape. I really like contrasts in color, texture and light and when I see it I want to figure out how I can bring out the beauty in it.” – Jason D. Moore
• “Desire to keep some sanity!” - Andy Smith
• “At this point – it’s just a way of life. I don’t need inspiration. The camera is with me and if I see something interesting I raise it to my eye – and shoot.” – Dave Beckerman
• “The desire to experience as much beauty as my senses can endure and the desire to learn how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary through the development of my creative vision.” - Ben Willmore
• “Fear of boredom.” – Aaron Johnson
• “A very strong desire to realize my vision, tell a story and leave the world a better place when I go.” - Kathleen Connally
• “I get inspired by anything, often by very minor details or textures. Once something catches my eye, I try to find a way to photograph it that will be interesting. I’m often unsuccessful, but that is the sequence I follow: something attracts my eye for whatever reason, and I try to incorporate it into a composition that is pleasing.” – Paul Politis
• “Seeing other photographer’s images.” – Bruce L. Snell
• “Looking at other photographers’ or graphic designers’ work.” – Scott Kelby
• “The death.” – Richard Vanek
• “It’s pretty much something I just have to do. Just about anything can inspire me.” – Michael Snell
• “I get a lot of inspiration from looking at other photographer’s work and to read interviews. When I am out shooting I can get loads of inspiration from random subjects, the particular light or moods you encounter and observe as a photographer. Sometimes I also get a lot of inspiration from movies or simply listening to my favorite music. It all depends on my mood.” – Martin Andreasen
• “I am inspired by the rich visual tapestry of life I encounter each and every moment. Most often it is the mundane, overlooked scenes and occurences that most people take for granted and never see.” – Jim Larimer
• “There is so much mystery and wonder in the world. We both feel a need to explore these topics.” – Eduardo Angel & Timothy Campbell
• “Seeing the work of others of course, and often long plane rides give me a chance to sit and brainstorm on what would make a cool-looking image.” – Dave Cross
• “Seeing what ordinary people like me can achieve with the ordinary gear I have.” - Mike Holley
• “Light, nature, and everything with subtle beauty. Hearing the shutter clicking inspires me.” – Amy Archer
• “Light – I see light and shadows like some people hear music. It makes me want to be a part of it. I connect to how light and shadow forms shape and textures; and I am driven to capture the images I see running round in my head.” – Clayton Spangler
• “Having a shower.” – Mike McHugh

Thank you all for inspiring me.

Click here to view a complete list of profiles.

Jan 11, 2008 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: Jeff Revell, Photo, Photography, Scott Kelby | Leave A Comment »