Sharing information is educational.  There is a plethora of photography information online but there is nothing like a face-to-face discussion.  I have hundreds of links to special techniques and photography information in general.  I’ve learned a lot from those links and continuously refer to them, especially when my attempts at creating art are leaving me frustrated.  I won’t abandon those links.  What I am suggesting is sharing those links with other photographers and receiving new references and approaches in return.  We never stop learning.  Joining a photography club enhances the experience.

I feel my photography has improved since joining a photography club.  Viewing and discussing the photography of others has me seeing in different ways and offers inspiration for new approaches to old subjects.  Post processing is a large part of the meeting agenda.  With member help, I am digging deeper and deeper into the complexities of Photo Shop.  It also helps to have fellow photographers offer constructive criticism.  Criticism is a sometime stinging but necessary evil for the continued development of an artist. 

My latest photography exhibit was at a local library.  There was a lot of enthusiasm.  The interest in fine art prints was encouraging.  I was asked by the librarian to include a photography discussion as a wrapup to the exhibition.  It was a very informal format, primarily answering questions about photography in general with a lot of questions about which camera to buy.     But the most often asked question was “How can we start a photography club?”   Of course, it was assumed that I would be the organizer.  I have never done that.  I queried the organizers of the two clubs to which I belong.  Their suggestion was “Don’t!  It is way too much work.”  It is a lot of work.  I think, however, that it will be worth the effort.  A labor of love it will be.

Both of the clubs that I have joined are organized around Yahoo Groups.  Since membership is wide-spread, it is an effective communication vehicle; a way to share information and plan meetings and social gatherings.  That’s where I chose to start.  I have the Yahoo Group in place.  Now, spreading the word is top priority.  You can access our Llano Photography Club by clicking this link.  I have asked the librarian to help.   She can post information in the library.  She also has contacts at the local newspapers.  I am putting this information here because the attendees at the photography exhibition took my business card.  Maybe they will browse this website and share their enthusiasm with others; inspiring them to join our club.  Meeting in the library conference room will begin as soon as our online membership reaches a reasonable level of interest; say ten members. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the photography discussion at the library and look forward to meeting a socializing with other photographers in our area.  While we are waiting for that to happen, I hope you will share your desires for club activities — photography walks, safaris, art shows.  We will be learning together frin each other.

I’ve sold photographs.  I’ve been taking and selling pictures since the mid-70s.  The Stars & Stripes and the European edition of TV Guide published nice articles on my photography after I won first place in several categories of the annual HQ USEUCOM (Military Forces, Europe) Photography Contest.  I was nearly overwhelmed with requests for portrait photography. 

I continued to sell photographs and articles to newspapers, magazines and advertising agencies as a motorsports photojournalist through the mid-80s.  It wasn’t until recently, however, that I considered selling photographs as fine art.   It has taken some convincing to transform myself from photographer to artist.  I have some really beautiful images of beautiful things and beautiful places. But, to call my work fine art seems a bit pompous. I certainly did not create the beauty.  Was photographing that beauty creative?  I painted a photograph of Venice in Photoshop Elements.  Does that make it art?

I did a Google search on fine art photography.  Here is what I found in Wikipedia:

Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism and commercial photography. Photojournalism is to promote an editorial point of view. Commercial photography’s main focus being to sell a product or service.
The final creative reason for a fine art photograph is the photograph itself. It is not a means to another end except perhaps to please those besides the photographer who beholds it.

Wikipedia is my most authoratative source of information. I may not be an Ansel Adams but, according to Wikipedia,  I am a fine art photographer.  

I have done a lot of thinking on the subject since taking steps to promote my name in the fine art field. An acquaintance, former editor of Dirt Rider Magazine, sells his images of Motocross Legends as fine art. I have since learned that calendars and fine art prints of these legends sell quite well. And, they are expressly presented as fine art prints. Somehow, that seems to be an oxymoron, calling a calendar fine art.   This classic image of motocross legend David Bailey at the Unadilla MX Track, New Berlin, NY was taken in 1983. When printed on fine art paper using the giclée printing process it is fine art.  Many people have enjoyed them.  It seems the only answer to the question is … beauty is in the mind of the beholder.  I enjoy my art.  Hope you will too.