What Makes a Photo So Popular?

 

 

     It's always been a bit of a mystery to me as to why some photos seem to have such mass appeal, while others, some of which I think are great, simply do not.  The photo above has been one of my most sought after images for the past two or three years, and it seems to have something special that the general public finds appealing. It's been one of those images that I have to print over and over to meet the demand of buyers.

    In this post, I'd like to discuss why this image has held the position of #1 for so long now. Let's begin by looking at what the image has to offer the viewer. Clearly, the red screen door demands your attention first and foremost. The green plant entering the image from the left and attaching itself to the door adds some interest. The Bluejay, while just a minor figure in the image, still adds some interest and perhaps even a focal point to the photograph. The peeling paint of both the door and the old house provide an interesting texture to the image, while the arched windows in the front door give us another area of interest. The angle of the screen door, which is hanging only by one secure hinge, adds yet another component to the overall impact of this photo. Finally, the shape of the photograph, which is long and narrow, usually printed 20 x 40 inches, replicates the shape of the door itself. All of this makes the photograph an image viewers seem to enjoy.

    I believe it's important to look at our photographs in terms of the various elements within the image. Strong images are made up of many components, and it's those individual pieces that work together to create something special. Photographs are different from "Snapshots", in that they are thoughtful in their preparation. Good photographs need a degree of thoughtful examination before one hits the shutter button. In order to call oneself a photographer, we need to commit to creating images that are thoughtful in their execution, and that take the viewer into their own thoughtful journey. I believe the success to this image "Visiting the Old House" is due to the fact that it takes the viewer on his or her own secret journey. It takes the viewer to a personal memory or a fantasy of a place they wish to be. A good photograph should do just that.........take you on a journey.  Good luck on your own journey toward photographic excellence.

    



Mass Appeal in Your Photos

 

 

 

Selling your photographs, especially if you are attempting to sell them in a fine art market, can be extremely difficult. Trust me on this one, as I have been doing just that for over thirty-five years now. I've seen just about everything one can imagine, when it comes to marketing photography, and I've watched countless photographers fail. The truth is that this is one of the most competitive fields one can find anywhere. It's a tough business that simply is not for everyone, and certainly not for those who think it's going to be easy.

 

Over the years, I've been asked over and over again, "Why don't my photos sell?" "Why do folks flock to some photographers booths, while bypassing others?" "Are my photos just too expensive?" "Why .....Why......Why?"  Well, let's get real here for just a few minutes. Photography is like any other business. Either you have a product that people want, or you don't. Either your price points are targeted correctly for your  audience, or they are not. This is not rocket science, although so many beginners want to make it that way. It's easy to look at your business and rationalize your failure, but the truth is much harder to accept. The question you need to ask yourself is this, " Do I really have a product that appeals to a large audience of buyers, and are my price points going to entice their purchase? " This is a simple question that may need some help in answering, because we all love our own work, and value it accordingly..........a huge mistake. In truth, only the marketplace can answer both segments of that question. Success comes from not loving your own work, but from listening to the buying public. Every successful business understands this basic concept.

 

Granted....you may have incredible photos from your trip to Europe, or you may have eye-popping images from your flower garden, but are they really images that someone else can visualize hanging in their home or office? If the product you are offering to sell is photography, then it has to be images that lots of folks  can see in their special "limited" space. As with most things, quality counts. In this ever-growing field of digital imaging, your images must stand out as something very special. They must say in a very loud and clear voice......"I am Special, and I bet you can't match me with your camera and abilities." Today's marketplace has no room for the "average". If your goal is to sell your photos, then first recognize that you must excel in your efforts. Outstanding images sell themselves, and price is rarely the reason. Set your goals high, be honest with yourself and your abilities, and be prepared for hard work. Simple really........





Looking Beyond the Target Image

 



 

      It seems like the longer I photograph birds, the more I seem to be looking beyond the bird itself. In the earliest years of my career, like so many other photographers, I focused most of my attention on the main subject of the photograph......and for me that meant the bird. However, as the years have quickly passed, I have seen a change in my own work, and that change has been dramatic, and, I believe, very positive.

 

      The photo of the sparrow above is representative of my approach today. While birds remain my primary subject, my images are as much about the habitat and the light as they are the bird. In fact, in many of today's photos, the bird might actually be thought of as a secondary subject. While the image above contains many of the elements required to make a good photo, it's the tiny sparrow that completes the image and gives the photo an interesting focal point. Try to imagine this same photo without the bird, and you will see that the photo could not stand on it's own merits. It needs the bird to complete the composition and bring some sense of relevance to the image.

 

      Color also plays a vital role in this image. With only small amounts of color, it is still the patches of color that pull us into the image. Without the hues of green and red, the image would die. The muted colors of the sparrow and rocks desperately need the greens and warm reds to make the photo visually interesting.

 

      I think all photographers can profit by looking beyond their target image. Before I click the shutter, I believe it's important to have a close examination of the entire frame. Does the frame contain what you envision for the final image? Does the image need to be expanded or perhaps tightened? Is there enough content to the photo to make it interesting for the viewer? Can you see the final print in the viewfinder? So many questions need to be answered before we make the shot final. Maybe we all just need to slow down and think about the image before us. I believe doing so will result in real and meaningful growth. What do you think?



Photographing Hummingbirds

The Gardens Are Once Again.......Buzzing with Hummers

 

 

 



      Every Spring, sometime during the first week of April, my resident hummingbirds return to my gardens. This year they made their first appearance on the 7th of April, and now three weeks later, the gardens are buzzing with activity. As a pro bird photographer, this time of year marks the beginning of a busy season to come. As the flowers in the gardens mature and begin flowering, the hummers numbers continue to increase, and my job truly takes on a new excitement.

 

      Needless to say, hummingbirds present a challenge. Not only are they tiny, but they move like little rockets being launched into space. The are extremely territorial, which simply means they don't play well together. Those with hummingbird feeders will certainly understand what I mean. Sharing space with others is not something they are likely to do.  Instead, generally one dominate bird will lay claim to all of the feeders and attack any other bird wishing to feed. Nobody actually gets harmed, but the fighting can be intense. This makes photographing the species very difficult, and it brings a real challenge to my work as a photographer.

 

      Fortunately, with the onset of digital cameras, this task has been made somewhat easier. Todays' new high end digital bodies permit the use of very high iso settings, which in turn allow the photographer to use extremely high shutter speeds. This combination of higher iso's and lightning fast shutter speeds is now making it possible to capture images that were not possible just a few years ago. I routinely set my Canon 5D mkII to iso 1600, and my shutter speed to a minimum of 1500th to even a 4000th of a sec.. Using AServo focus on my Canon makes it easier to track these speed demons as they shoot past my lens. While not all of today's new cameras offer this kind of speed, many new SLR bodies routinely include all of the features needed.

 

      One last thing. It's easy to get lost in the moment and forget about the importance of composition, when shooting hummingbirds. Their speed sometimes overwhelms us, and we just want to capture a clear image. The real challenge, of course, is capturing an image that also tells a story. Even photos of hummingbirds should give the viewer a sense of place and time. The photo should share with the viewer something about the species and his behavior within his environment. Digital photography has increased our chances for success, but it's still in the hands of the photographer to create a meaningful photograph. Challenge yourself. Make the effort to excel, and good luck.

The Last Gift of Winter

 

 

 

       For several years now, I have dreamed of finding the perfect snow, on the perfect day, and filled with the perfect light. In my mind, I visualized the powdered snow covering everything in sight, and then discovering a flock of Cardinals fluttering about in  some playful game of tag. I saw myself capturing their beauty again and again as I fired off countless frames, all of which would exhibit the perfect exposure, resulting in an award winning print.

 

     Well, it almost happened as I had hoped, but the "flock" never appeared. Only one beautiful red Cardinal decided to join me on this day, but I soon realized that I only needed one to make my dream come true. Cardinals and snow are a natural combination for any photographer, but catching them in the right place, with just the right kind of snowfall is a trick that eludes so many of us. On this day, a day that I had not really planned to do photography, all of the elements came together and I managed to grab the gear and work the scene until I felt I had the shot I wanted. After nearly and hour of tracking through the newly fallen snow, I found my Cardinal posing on the top of a fence post calling to his mate. His singular spot of red made the shot complete, and his willingness to sit motionless for several minutes made my task a joy. It is times like this that I simply say thank you, and then go on my way, knowing I have just witnessed a magical moment in time. Some would say I am blessed. 

Osprey......It's like they pose for me.

 

 

 

      For the past several years, I've been fortunate to have a pair of Osprey nesting near my home. This same pair of birds has returned year after year to this nesting sight, and it seems like every year they become more accepting of me and my camera. It's as though we have come to know each other in a way that allows us to trust and respect the other. The pair of birds have been kind to me, in that they have allowed me countless photo ops, and done so without fear or expectations. I feel a kindred spirit with these birds, and I have a deep respect for them and how they lead their lives. They dedicate themselves to their family, and they are relentless in their pursuit of food for their young. Without any concern for weather conditions, they find a way to provide for their chicks. Hard working doesn't really seem to describe the intensity of their daily struggle. We all could learn so much from the example of these birds. Perhaps they serve to teach us all about what really matters in life. 

A Quiet Cove on the Potomac.....

 

 

 

 

       In March of 2012 I found myself staying with a friend at his home in the Northern Neck of Virginia. I had done a wildlife art show in the area, and he was kind enough to host me for the week. I decided to leave before dawn, and see if I could find something interesting to shoot at sunrise. My drive took me along the Potomac River heading north toward my next stop in Baltimore. The road is an historic route through a beautiful section of the Virginia countryside.

      Along the way, and shortly before dawn, I came across a sign that pointed the way to George Washington's birthplace, which has now been turned into a national historic park. Although still dark, the sky was just beginning to get light, and so I decided to pull in and check it out. Even though I had arrived long before anyone else who might work there, I decided to park and do some exploring. Just behind the visitors center was a quiet little bay that meandered out into the Potomac River. I climbed down a steep slope to the shoreline and began walking toward the river.

      As the sun was starting  to rise across the bay, the cove began to light up and reveal itself to me. Looking first at the rising sun, I quickly noticed this motionless heron standing before me in the shallows of the water looking to find a fish for his breakfast. I had not bothered to carry a telephoto lens with me, so I had to frame a composition that would lend itself to my 24 - 105 lens. I knew I only had seconds to frame my shot before the sun would break the horizon and the heron would decide to fly away. I set the camera to aperture priority mode, the lens to F16 and took the shot. Knowing that the lighting was going to be tough, I shot the image in RAW, as it would give me the best latitude in post-processing the image. All in all, I am pretty pleased with it, and I feel blessed to have shared this moment with the heron. Too bad every morning can't begin this way for everyone. I hope you enjoy the image. 

Using Fog to Create Depth in Your Photos

 

 

 

 

       Waking up to a foggy morning is a wonderful way for a photographer to start the day. Nothing creates a "mood" quite like a misty fog  just after sunrise. It can be just the ticket for an otherwise boring photograph.

 

      Fog has a way of layering a photo. Depending upon the placement of subject elements within the photo, it's actually possible to achieve an almost 3D effect. In the case of the Sandhill Cranes above, the photo appears to have three very distinct layers. The background of trees sits deep into the fog, while the bird on the far right appears to sit in the middle of the fog. The two birds in the foreground, because of their sharp focus and lack of filtering from the fog, appear to lay on a plane that extends beyond the rest of the image. As you study the image, you need to assess just how important a role the fog has played in making this image work. Imagine the same image without the fog, and you have an image that might very well never see itself made into a print. The fog seems to battle for a place in this photo.........perhaps even the real focal point of the entire image.

 

      The next time you see fog in your area, I suggest you get out and experiment with what role it can play in your images. If you want to add some  depth to your landscapes, your flower photos, your macro images, or whatever else you like to shoot, then don't let the fog escape your lens. Good Luck.

       

Composition and Light

 

 

 

 

 

       Unlike most bird photographers, I'm not really interested in capturing a "portrait" of a bird. I think that kind of photo is fine to perhaps illustrate a bird ID guide, but it falls way short of stretching the boundaries of fine art imaging. My goal has always been to capture images that look more like a painting than they do a simple bird photograph.

       As I have mentioned so often in this blog, "Photography is about composition and light." Truly meaningful images need to demonstrate the use of both if they are to achieve any success in the field of art. Snapshots are just that.......quick snapped images with little thought or planning. Fine art photographs require thought and skill, and I think a special kind of eye. The artist eye is one that sees within a subject a sense of space and time. The artist looks at light and how it plays with the subject. He or she makes decisions based upon a visual composition, and how the light source reacts to that composition. The artist looks for lines and curves within the composition and how they add to or subtract from the impact of the image. The artist/photographer restrains from the "snap" of the shutter until the compositional elements resolve themselves in his or her eye. The magic moment comes only after all of the artistic details have been worked through in the viewfinder. At that single moment, an image is born........and with luck and skill........a work of art.