Be sure to enjoy the moment and don't get bogged down in processing or editing!
Article rating: 9.13
Life’s too short to not enjoy every moment. This is one of the reasons I’m often seen with a camera in my hand or I’m doing something related to photography. When I’m behind a camera or optimizing RAW files on my Mac, I’m happy. But with the happiness comes the reality of deadlines, articles to write, motels to book, bills to pay, etc. That’s where the “job” comes into effect. So when I feel the “job” becoming a job, I think about the words I promised myself when I decided to leave the security of my teaching profession and turn pro: “Never let the choice you’ve made become a job and always have fun.”
Having fun is exactly what I’m doing right now. I’m sitting pool side on a long overdue family vacation. The palm tress are blowing in the breeze of a mostly cloudy afternoon. A pina colada is in my near future. The smell of the Caribbean permeates the off shore winds. I’m working as I write this article! While it’s obvious that I’d like to “work” under these conditions every day, the reality is clear. The point I want to share is regardless of what you’re doing photographically, where you’re doing it, why or how it’s happening, if you let the task always be a job, find a way to have some fun.
If you find the photographic task becomes a burden, do something out of the normal realm. Create a shot you know will be pitiful and look at the LCD. Find a way to make it worse. Change the white balance to something bizarre, open the shutter to two seconds or more and move the camera. Do something that allows a smile to appear on your face when you view the result. Make the shot that lets you relax as you let down your guard and relieve the pressure of the job. At that point, get serious once again - chances are you’ll be in a better frame of mind. Have that fun to keep you relaxed.
Don’t restrict yourself to utilizing the above tactic solely for times you’re struggling. Use it even when things are going well. In the first shot that accompanies this article, I made it when my son and I took a long weekend trip to Goblin Valley in Utah. The look I created started as a straight shot of him and I having “fun.” Down the road I continued on the fun path while sitting in front of the computer. I tweaked the Hue and Saturation sliders to produce the effect. Very easy and a lot of fun. In the second shot made on one of my nature photo tours to Monument Valley, I made a fun “group shot” of the participants focusing on our shadows. In the final photo, I created a fun “self portrait” of my first hot air balloon ride. Moral of the article - regardless of the hand you’re dealt or what you’re doing, Don’t Forget To Have Some Fun.
To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my new book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy.
