Need something to do but want to be productive? Revisit your old files and take a fresh look at them. Perhaps you missed an interesting image or, it just wasn’t edited right. Here are three images that I shot in 2012 back in Kansas, where I grew up. 
This one I particularly like. I missed originally that it was sitting in a pocket of light shining through the trees. Once I started working on the file I also saw the subtle pink and magenta tone sitting in the low laying clouds. 
I was stoked. I’ve shot thousands of images from Kansas over the years and many views get a repeated look. Different times of the year, different times of the day. You never know where that special light will occur, or if it’s already in your images. Revisit….
My website: www.zwink.com Techy stuff: post production in Adobe Lightroom 5.
I just spent the week going thru my Hawaii archives….and I came across a folder from a trip back home a couple years ago. Not sure where it is exactly, sometimes I just drive. As a documentary photographer I’m drawn to places like this, to get a glimpse into our past. I think then I’m partially a historian.
But in my day to day life I promote myself as a architectural and corporate photographer. Can I do both? Not if I want the big boys to take me serious. This was a concept I struggled with mighty in the past. I was trained as a photojournalist. As such you had to learned to be good in several specialties. The more diverse, the more value you were to the editorial brand. I took pride in being able to venture into unknown situations and produce, it’s what we did.
As a “commercial” photographer the more you specialize, the more value you bring to the table, the more you can charge. The perception is that your image as a specialist will bring more value to their product, brand and reputation. It isn’t always who is the best image maker, who is perceived as such.
In my financial portfolio, I diversify, as a business owner I’m an Architectural Photographer (and don’t tell anyone, a darn good documentary, travel and corporate one also).
My work: http://www.zwink.com My editorial archives: http://www.bigstudioz.com
I have done a lot of aerials for clients the last several years. But as clients tightened their budgets the number of aerial assignments drastically decreased. As an alternative we invested in a DJI Phantom Vision + and are in the early stages of testing. They are several potential issue ranging from the paranoid uninformed public, insurance and future FAA regulations. The plus side is being able to achieve lower level views than from a $650 per hour helicopter, work within tighter budgets and product creative imagery. The times are changing but change can be fun.
More of my work is at: www.zwink.com
“Get yourself in the picture. Nothing is worse than a vacation with no shots of the family photographer. Get in the picture by using a tripod (or a steady surface such as a wall or a car hood) and the camera’s self-timer to make sure you’re included in the family memories.”
Borrowed quote from a Nikon site…..good advise.
More of my work at: WWW.Zwink.com
I have been a member of ASMP ever since I opened my own photography business. It gave me a sense of community, I belonged. When you have your own business, it is you against the world. Whether you survive or prosper is up to you and only you. But does it need to be that way? When you belong to a group you immediately improve your chance to be successful. Groups like ASMP or APA have education, business and advocacy programs.
Meet people that share a common link. Network and you might find new opportunities at the least you will meet people you can talk ideas or point you in a right direction.
Asmp has over 7,000 members and growing. As our industry has evolved, so has Asmp. The local chapter has a wide range of programming. I know, I’m the new Program Chair along with Matt Janecek. Come take a look. Our next meeting is at San Diego City College and features internationally renown photographer Vincent Versace.
If you like what you see then join us, and “Belong”.
My work is displayed at www.zwink.com, Interested in Asmp visit www.asmp.org or locally www.asmp-sd.org
We have migrated the blog over to a new location. We will probably change the theme again to be more in line with our old one soon. The blogging will continue though. Thanks for visiting, tell your friends and please come back.
