The Cathedral

History shows that man has shown great respect to the source of our universe, by building beautiful places to worship while honoring its purpose. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah Ga is no exception. As I was walking up towards the Cathedral, I caught a glimpse of the sun just above it. It gave me a feeling of a new day or a new start. A knowing that something much greater gives light to any darkness experienced.

David is a NC based photographer. Please subscribe.

Passing By

Attracted to images of the grand landscape, I find many of my images are of the countryside. I can't help it; it's what I enjoy experiencing. I love images that give me the quiet, peaceful essence of freedom. Sometimes when looking at grand landscape images I can feel my mind literally expand with an emotional attachment to my childhood.

I can't remember the location of this image. I do know I was in the back of a van shooting out the window riding along about 70mph. It's not easy shooting from a moving vehicle and I can tell you spray and pray doesn't get you many usable images. I have to concentrate on what is ahead of me when riding and be prepared to capture the image just at the most opportune time. When I do, it's exciting to me because the window of success is very narrow as I enjoy the challenge.

The concentration needed to capture a usable frame is tremendous. After about 5 hours, fatigue sits in, and my performance drops. Then I have to contend with watching potentially great images "Passing By".

****Note to readers****
I'm making some changes. Starting today I'll be making my About Fine Art Photography blog simply a picture blog with short essays. The Fine Art Photography Experience blog will have more insight, informative and inspirational information.


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Reflectons of The Moment

Yates Mill evening light was offering a nice display on the pond. The ghostly fog lifting from the water gave presence to the light catching my attention. All was still at that very moment. The entire view was parallel,  two instances at the same moment.

Creatives have what I call three moments of thought. The Past, Present, the Future. A painter could create using what they've seen in the past or what the want to see in the future. The interesting thing about photographers is we crop the present. Allowing every element in the photo to tell the story.

Being able to see the moment is a practice of being in the moment. Some Fine Art Photographers  are masters of "taking chaos and creating order" as Ansel Adams would say. This artist will engulf the moment. They can't be thinking about the bills, kids, the future or the past.

As a Fine Art Landscape photographer, I know that if I"m not int he correct state of mind, I am unable to see. So I practice getting in the flow per se' before I feel I'm ready to go into the field.

If you ever get raddled or having anxiety when shooting, take three deep breaths and get focused with "Reflections of The Present".


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Off the Beaten Trail

When attempting to get to your destination you can stay on the paved road where the road is smooth but often crowded. When we decide to take a different road, we can experience, something fresh and rewarding.  Making the decision to take a different road can gain you new opportunities for growth. The Missouri dirt road in this image is straight but has hills to conquer.

I saw a video about the Magnum photographers the other day. Magnum, the world's most prestigious photographic agency was having their annual meeting discussing potential membership. There was concerned because the applicants were copying current members ideas thinking this type of content would potentially offer membership. The veteran members were pleading for something entirely fresh, never seen before perspectives.

Surrounding yourself with great photographers is a great idea. But only with regards to discovering things that work for you uniquely. Beyond having a community of friends, a photographer that can carve a niche of their own, from a fresh perspective when creating a body of work will have a greater impact.

I've written a lot lately about finding your personal vision. Today what I'm trying to drive home is, think of every project as an opportunity to uniquely make a statement.  Find ways to stir your creativity. Spend time with a community of other photographers. Read books that inspire you to try something entirely different.

Whatever you decide, for your personal inspiration you'll always see new things in different ways if you get "Off the Beaten Trail."

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Charred

It's interesting to see historical events remind us of who we are. Our resilience and our ability to rebuild while focusing on what we want. Savannah GA has buildings that represent the people's endurance with the ability to make beauty out of tragedy. This image speaks perseverance, and humanity.

Sometimes we feel like we're spending too much of our time putting out fires instead of being productive. Photographers being the artsy types often have difficulty keeping focused on what the they want.

If life keeps sparking fires, maybe it's time to investigate how they are getting started. I'll give you a hint, "never look outside of yourself". Pay attention to what your paying attention to. Then ask yourself the question "why is that thought so important to me." If what you're thinking has nothing to do with making you happy and your goals, don't think about it. You should focus on what you want, not what you don't want, and the universe will deliver.

Artistic professions are considered one of the most difficult ways to make a living. I believe the successful artist enjoys the process of creating art so much they don't even think about if it will ever sell or not. They are focusing on what makes them happy, and the universe delivers.

Remember a fire starts from a spark. Once you stop the sparks, the fires will stop and you won't get "Charred".


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