I knew I wasn’t very happy anymore. I’d had it with the whole Washington scene. It’s really right about what they say there, “If you want a friend, get a dog”. I was becoming blocked and loosing interest in photography of all things. What I needed to do was fall in love with something, be it new or something rediscovered that truly mattered to me. Then do whatever was necessary to clear out all the underbrush in my life that was getting in the way of what was really important. Get that done and I could get on with my life again. Sounds pretty simple … right?  Well, not exactly. In my case there were a number of things that truly mattered. It took a lot of work and several years to accomplish.

First and foremost it was imperative to change my environment and get out of the DC area. This turned out to be one of the most important things I have ever done, just as moving there in the first place with no money and few prospects was thirty five years earlier.  Moving to Doylestown ended up being a real godsend. Being here opened up everything for me and launched a new creative phase. In short, I was in love! More photographing, establishing new and meaningful relationships, teaching, writing theses entries every week, exhibiting, and most recently founding the Monalog Collective.

What I did was pretty severe.  But I understood what had to be done and how was necessary it was to do it. I have a wonderful wife who is both a partner and best pal.  Thanks for taking this flier with me! My lifestyle has changed dramatically and I have a focus that is much more intense on what really matters … all because I fell in love again.

In this time of Covid-19 I think all of us as photographers and human beings should take a step back and think about what truly matters to us as individuals.  Is there is something lacking or holding you back from doing the work you want to do or from taking the next step to make our work better? If so perhaps you should stop, take a breath and dig deep within yourself to find out what you need to do to fall in love.  It may take some time, but life is a journey. Make the most of it.

Stay safe,

Michael

On Saturday I participated in a virtual conversation with the great photographer Joel Meyerowitz and the International Center for Photography’s Managing Director of Programs David Campany.  Many thanks Susan for bring this to my attention!  Why might you ask would I be interested in hearing Meyerowitz talk, as the bulk of his career has focused on color work, and in recent years he has gone digital? The answer can be found in some of the points he made during the hour plus Zoom discussion.  Here are a few of the most important:

• The heart of defining yourself as an artist is to know who you are.
• “Watchfulness” allows you to put yourself in the proper place for the picture, either through movement in one direction or another, or by speed to get into the proper position to capture the scene.
• Photography is all about description.
• The way to differentiate your work today when everyone is taking pictures is to have an idea about yourself in “your time” and know what is meaningful to you. Otherwise don’t take the picture because you’re merely making a snapshot.
• Find something personal. What do you respond to, not what others may respond to.
• Street photography is about the “absurdity of life”; you need to be curious.
• Develop people skills and communicate with them when you are photographing, as you need to be close in (6-8 feet).
• If you are blocked or have plateaued, have the courage to break through and move on from what you have done (That is why he took up the 8×10).
• Go back to earlier work you did to see what you have overlooked.

Meyerowitz’s thoughts are inspirational and important.  They apply to whatever type of photography you do and whatever tools and medium you use.

Meyerowitz is 82 years old.

He makes photographs every day.

Stay safe,

Michael

You already know how to make a Proper Proof because I told you everything you need to know. But just in case you need a refresher or missed it, check out my previous entries: “Don’t Be a Bozo — Make Proof Sheets!” and “My Photographic Process – Step 3 – Making a Proper Proof Sheet”.

Congratulations!  You have accomplished everything I talked about in “My Step 5 – Develop Film and File in Numbered Archival Sleeve Pages, Stored in Archival Ring Binder Containers”.  Now all you have to do is make your Proper Proof sheets for each set of negatives and put them into a notebook(s).

The key is to mark each proof sheet with the same number as its corresponding roll/set of negatives. Here is how I do it.  I use clear letter size acid free poly sleeves I purchase from Staples (#10525) that come with ring holes and space on the left hand side to note the number and any description you wish to include (e.g., what is contained on the roll and when were the pictures were made).  The nice thing about the sleeves is that you can also store your print “recipe(s)” with them! I keep my notebooks for each film format next to their corresponding three ring archival closed box binders that contain my negatives.  Makes sense to me!

So there you have it … an easy and foolproof method to catalogue all your proof sheets and easily find them when you need to, along with the right negative when you are ready to print!

You know you have some spare time now, so it’s a good time to get organized. Do it once and you will never have to do it again!

Stay safe,

Michael

We were both very young, yet I knew I loved her the day we met.  When it came time to think about college, all signs pointed to RIT and a photographic education.  But in the end I knew I couldn’t give her the life I wanted her to have and I wouldn’t have the life I wanted together with her.  In order to make it work I would have had to become a commercial photographer of some type and that’s not what I wanted. Not the type of photography that interested me. When it came time to think about what to do with my history degree, all signs pointed to law school, but I knew I would have to practice corporate law of some type to have the life together with her I wanted. Not the type of law that interested me.

I took the law school exam but decided to get a Masters degree in International Relations instead. That education took me all over the world and I brought my cameras with me. It was the right decision for me.  I’ve been able to have a meaningful career working on issues I believe in, for who I want to, inside and outside of government. All of this and making the photographs I want to make along the way! I’m one lucky man.

I’ve made the choices I wanted to make and have lived life on my own terms. I’ve never looked back from my life decisions and I have no regrets. I’m thankful that my wife and life partner has supported me all the way, and yes … I still love her!

Most importantly, the choices I’ve made have allowed me to live a photographic life as part of my whole life. I haven’t been concerned with making a living from photography, but rather have focused on making photographs that interest me and thinking about photography simply because I love it all so much.

I think we all need to do whatever we can to live our lives on our own terms. My decisions have worked for me and are only right for me. Every situation is different, but if we are really going to be serious about living a photographic life, we have to examine the other parts of the life we live and the choices we make … and can make.

I didn’t want a little hobby to play with when the mood struck me or when I didn’t have anything better to do … and I don’t want that now. I’m busier than ever with work, I teach, read, have a family I deeply care about, and have a serious passion for music and audiophilia. I live my life on my terms, and part of doing that means that there is always time for my photographic life.

Stay safe and live life on your own terms,

Michael

A couple of months ago I wrote an entry called Don’t Push It, but I have still been thinking about this theme when it comes to getting out there and photographing.  I work for myself … sometimes I put in a lot of hours even during Covid-19. Nevertheless, I am always thinking about photography. Always … even at night.  In fact, the other night I had an interesting dream about my negatives!

Look, I know this is a difficult time for everyone. But even in normal times there can be a lack of motivation, or maybe you get blocked.  You might feel that you absolutely have to get out there no matter what; otherwise you’re not really a photographer after all.  Wrong, wrong, wrong! The great ones do it because they need to, not because they must.  In short, they’re driven to create.

We have to keep thinking, keep fighting through it, especially during this most difficult of times.  Challenge yourself; that’s what I have been doing lately and I have made a lot of pictures. Not because I think I must, but because I need to! I feel driven and that’s good!  I want to document … for myself at a minimum … what my small community has lived through during this tragedy, and it has caused me to approach and see things differently then how I might have before.  I’m trying to build a story, rather than try to hit home runs, and that’s fine. Knowing this, I am satisfied at what I am doing and am getting out there a lot; even in the pouring rain!

Bottom line – don’t waste your precious time … especially now.  If you really care about your work and are truly excited about photography, get out there and do it because you feel you need to, not because you feel you must!

Stay safe,

Michael