Do the Unexpected

Saturday Ambassador

I am an industrial photographer: I shoot architecture, mining and manufacturing operations, transportation, products, industrial equipment and such. This is what I love and where my greatest talents reside.

Spark Plug, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2011, Composite Photograph

 

However, I believe that it is imperative for a photographer to explore avenues other than their selected genre, as well, to build skills and learn the techniques inherent to different areas. In accordance, I often photograph nature, travel, even portraiture.

 

 Wasp-7, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2012, Photograph

 

One of the most educational opportunities you can seek is to shoot a wedding or two (I’ve shot three, to date). They are fast-paced (when you are the photographer and need to be in three places at once), and the couple has every right to expect that you will capture all the pertinent aspects. You need to shoot details, such as the rings, cake, flowers, the bride’s dress and shoes, et cetera. You must capture arrivals, the ceremony and the reception, as well as formal portraits of the couple, the wedding party and the family members. Be prepared to work all day and into the night, starve (because, although they’ll offer you food, you won’t have time to eat) and spend the next week editing the images.

 

Biggs Wedding, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2013

 

Shooting outside the scope of your professional aspirations can be an enlightening and exciting experience. Do the unexpected to broaden your horizons and do it well. Strive for excellence in everything you do.

 

~Saturday Ambassador

 

Making the Most of Holiday Visits

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Now that the holiday season is upon us, it seems like the perfect time to talk about shooting what has become one of my favorite subjects: kids!  While child photography was not that appealing to me when I started pursuing my degree, I happened to use some toddlers as subjects in classes early on in the program.  It was more fun than I expected, and now child and family photography has become a regular part of my life.  With nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and friends’ children around for holiday get-togethers, it is a great time to take advantage of having little ones in front of your camera to find out if you enjoy it as well.  That said, there are some important things to remember when shooting a child session.  I hope this list of “do” and “don’t” tips encourages you to make the most of holiday visits, taking the opportunity to learn and expand your portfolio while also enjoying time with family and friends.  

1. DO start your session where the child feels comfortable.  This image was shot in the family’s home in a room with a solid wall color and comfortable blanket on which the baby was able to play:

2. DON’T be afraid to head outside.  Starting in a child’s home allows the child to become comfortable with you and your camera, but outdoor images bring variety in backdrops and encourage the child to explore new surroundings.  You'll be amazed at the sweet expressions a child makes when she touches soft grass (little Addison, right, couldn't get enough!).

3. DO ensure the temperature is warm.  Babies get cold quickly!

4. DON'T flash light in a baby's eyes.  If you have to use a flash, bounce it away from the baby to brighten the room.  It is best to avoid flashes altogether, opting for an LED panel or continuous lights to supplement the ambient light if needed.

5. DO allow time for plenty of breaks.  Babies and young children have short attention spans and will likely need a snack break before they get frustrated.

6. DON’T put down your camera.  Breaks from posing may make for great opportunities for lifestyle images!   

7. DO ask for a parent or family member to help you get the child’s attention.  Interesting sounds and facial expressions are key to getting a great expression, and that can be hard to pull off with a camera in front of your eye.  Having a helper right behind you is a necessity.

8. DON’T allow more than one person to help you get the child’s attention, though.  Having too many people making crazy sounds and jumping around behind you is confusing to the child, not to mention distracting to you as photographer!  If you find ten people making monkey noises behind you (this happened to me), pause and politely single out one person to take on the role of "attention getter."  It's best, of course, to do this at the start of the session.

9. DO remember to capture the details.  Parents want to remember all the traits that make their child unique, and will appreciate that you see beauty in the small things.

10. DO have fun!  If you enjoy the session, so will the child. 

Do you have any other suggestions for a successful child or baby session?  Leave a comment with tips that have helped you!

-Friday Ambassador

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I apologize for not posting this week, but like you, I am spending Thanksgiving with my loved ones.  I will be back next week, and I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. <3
















Images courtesy of Encyclopædia Britannica Online, Image quest, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

 http://quest.eb.com.ai.libproxy.edmc.edu/search?page=1&localizeSearchMetaData=false&resultsPerPage=15&subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=thanksgiving+cards

T-Minus One Day 'Til Turkey Day!

Ah yes, the much needed 4-day weekend.  At least that's the thought process my employer has.  See I have Thursday and Friday off this week.  Just like the Art Institute Employees have off this week.  Just like the students have off this week.  Awesome!  I can relax and spend time with my family, right?  Wrong.

Desterro - Rebeca Saray

The Lady in Red - Rebeca Saray

Just because I am not required to log into the classroom on Thursday and Friday this week doesn't mean I can rest on my laurels.  Because of the change in due dates I now have 3 assignments due on Saturday and Sunday.  I mean I could wait to do it all until Saturday.  That would be cool.  2 papers at 1,000 words each and a full photo shoot (that could take up to 3 hours to shoot - not including editing time).  So I guess I don't really get a long weekend, huh?

Nope.  Ya sure don't.  In all my time at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division, the most hectic time of year is the time between now and 15 January.  You will need to juggle holiday, time with family, classroom expectations, writing papers, organizing photoshoots (remember models want to spend time with their families too), opening gifts, shoveling snow, and the list goes on and on.  The bottom line is it's the BUSIEST time of year, so get your time management skills sharpened up because you are going to need them.

For me this year will be really tough.  I am taking, arguably the two most difficult classes that I have had to date, at the same time.  Both are classes that I am retaking for one reason or another (no worries Wednesday Fans, none were for failed classes) so I already know what is expected in both classes, and it's a lot of work all crammed into the holiday season.  So if I miss a week or two this term of blogging you'll know why.  

Well, back to work for me.  Trying to get ahead of the game and get some of those thousand word papers done early.



Works Cited

Saray, Rebeca. "Desterro." Phlearn. Phlearn, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://phlearn.com/ 
     weekend-photography-inspiration-xxxiv>. 

- - -. "The Lady in Red." Phlearn. Phlearn, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://phlearn.com/ 
     weekend-photography-inspiration-xxxiv>. 

It's Beginning to look a lot like...Time to get Holiday Shots!

Good Morning and Welcome to another Terrific Tuesday!

Yes, it is getting close to that time of the year, the chill is in the air, powdery stuff coming down in some northern states (Sorry, I live in Texas!), and with that comes the time to start taking images that we have to wait several seasons to take.

So, it is nice and cold, get out there anyway and take some images!  With the weather changing almost daily, we will have opportunities to take images of snow, different types of landscapes, ice sculptures, loved one in the snow, snow fights, etc...  This is the time of the year to go bananas and get outside to see the challenges that the season might present to us.  Don't forget the Christmas lights, decorations, as some people like to indulge in the planning, preparation and setting up of decorating lights, but remember if you take images of personal properties, ask for permission.  Once you get the permission, go ahead and take the images and share them with the owner, there you go, a Christmas gift that they will enjoy!  This week is also Thanksgiving, a time for reflection for some, football for others, but always picture opportunities for photographers, have at it and have some fun!

Before you go out, there are some things that you need to remember:

1.  Check your camera, read the manual and check the temperature limits!  Some cameras are sensitive and will not work efficiently on certain lower temperatures.
2.  Protect your equipment from the cold and the moisture.
3.  Protect yourself from the cold and moisture.
4.  Check weather forecast, check your vehicle, always be safe!
5.  Have fun, fun, fun!

So go ahead and start taking images out there in the cold weather, show us the beautiful areas that surround and inspire your wonderful winter wonderland images.

Take the images while you can, every season is going to be different.  As a photographer we are challenged and inspired to practice, and doing it in the snow provide different challenges.

Have fun and until next time, this is your Tuesday Ambassador wishing you a great Thanksgiving and a fantastic holiday season!

Ethics in Photography and Photojournalism

Good Morning and Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to touch base on a few things that I had to research in my last class which was Intro to Photojournalism. This will be a slightly longer blog than usual, but I think that it touches on some very good points.

The subject of ethics in photography has been a long standing issue; there have been instances of fraud that have been documented back to when Lincoln was President.  In the last decade, with the introduction of Photoshop and other photo editing programs this has become an easier task for people who want to bend the truth and give a totally distorted view on a certain event or situation.

The first documented case of fraud occurred around 1860, with a photograph of President Lincoln. “This nearly iconic portrait (in the form of a lithograph) of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is a composite of Lincoln’s head and the Southern politician John Calhoun’s body.”  (Four & Six). This is just one example.

Then there is another example is of General Ulysses S. Grant, this photo composite was apparently done circa, 1864. “This print (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division) appears to be of General Ulysses S. Grant in front of his troops at City Point, Virginia, during the American Civil War. Some very nice detective work by researchers at the Library of Congress revealed that this print is a composite of three separate prints: (1) the head in this photo is taken from a portrait of Grant; (2) the horse and body are those of Major General Alexander M. McCook; and (3) the background is of Confederate prisoners captured at the battle of Fisher’s Hill, VA.” (Four and six).

But in recent years the news services all over the world have been caught printing and circulating fraudulent photos. Ethics and morals go hand in hand, when a news agency enhances or uses a photo out of context it constitutes fraud. Reuters has come under fire with others like U.S New and World Report for misrepresenting images.

“The recent discovery that the Reuters news agency released a digitally manipulated photograph as an authentic image of the bombing in Beirut has drawn attention to the important topic of bias in the media. But lost in the frenzy over one particular image is an even more devastating fact: that over the last week Reuters has been caught red-handed in an astonishing variety of journalistic frauds in the photo coverage of the war in Lebanon.” (Zombietime.com)  In the images s how by this blog, Reuters used the same woman in different areas, on different dates claiming devastation to her home.  When the truth came out, the images were just recirculated with a new caption, this is fraud and creates mistrust in the people that are printing or circulating the images.  Below are a few of the images of the same woman.

      

Again if you have any comments or questions please feel free to ask.

Enjoy Your Sunday and Photograph Something Everyday!

Sunday Ambassador~ Wayne

References:

Four and Six, . "Photo Tampering throughout History." www.fourandsix.com. Four and Six.com, n.d. Web. 5 Sep 2013. <http://www.fourandsix.com/photo-tampering-history/>.

Four and Six, . "Photo Tampering throughout History." www.fourandsix.com. Four and Six.com, n.d. Web. 5 Sep 2013. <http://www.fourandsix.com/storage/photo-tampering-history/c1860-Lincoln.jpg>.

Four and Six, . "Photo Tampering throughout History." www.fourandsix.com. Four and Six.com, n.d. Web. 5 Sep 2013. <http://www.fourandsix.com/storage/photo-tampering-history/c1864-Grant.jpg>.

Zombietime.com, . "The Reuters Photo Scandal: A taxonomy of Fraud." Zombietime.com. Zombietime.com, 2006. Web. 5 Sep. 2013. <http://www.zombietime.com/reuters_photo_fraud/>.

Ambient Light Photography

Saturday Ambassador

Ambient light refers to the light which exists normally in a scene, such as natural sunlight or light fixtures used to illuminate a room's interior in the course of everyday living. Often, we add artificial light to a scene to make it appear more "natural", such as using strobes to imitate sunlight. This is a very effective technique, and many scenes would be quite unremarkable without it.

Architectural Exterior, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2013

This architectural exterior was shot at dusk, but two powerful tungsten lights were applied to the front of the structure to enhance the impression that the light is from the setting sun.

What happens, however, when the subject is too large or too far away to light artificially? You still have a number of options:

1.    Wait for the sun to come out.

 

 Schneider National Carriers Advertisement, Alda, Nebraska, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2012

 

 

2.    Create a long exposure to maximize the existing light.

Truck on Vail Pass, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2011

3.    Find interesting subjects that produce their own light.

ASARCO Ray Mine, Winkelman, Arizona, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2013

Be creative and bold in your efforts, try new things at every opportunity, push your limits and have fun doing it!

 

~Saturday Ambassador

Log Locations on the Go!

Location will make or break every shoot, so creating a location file is a vital for any photographer who likes to get out of the studio.  Having a go-to file of location ideas for any given situation will impress your clients, whether they need an idea for wedding party photos or a commercial product shoot.

When I first started pursuing my photography degree, I kept a Word document with location ideas but failed to update it regularly.  Deciding to get with the times, I searched for the perfect iPhone app to track locations while out and about and have included reviews for the three best below.  For each review, I have added the location "Sauganash Trail" to show how it looks in the app.

#1 ShootLocal

Cost: Free!

Pros:

• Has a familiar social media-style stream to share location images from photographers and videographers around the globe.
• Search nearby for tagged locations.
• Create “hunts” for the ideal location with the help of others on ShootLocal.
• Use tags to easily find the right location and save new locations for later.
• Add multiple photos for each location.

Cons:

• Some people load general images like “shots from the Chicago area” that clutter up the stream when searching nearby.
• You need to input the address or search for the location in the map instead of using geo-tagging.
• It doesn't appear that a great deal of users take advantage of the "hunt" feature, but that could change as more people join the community.

Summary: A great-looking app to connect with local photographers and share locations, and it’s hard to beat the price!

#2 Map-a-Pic

Cost: $4.99 for full version.

Pros:

• Use simple geo-tagging to map pictures when you take them, or map images you’ve taken in the past.
• Lite version allows you to try it before you buy it.
• Includes sunrise, sunset, and golden hour data for any given location.
• Android version available.
• Add multiple photos for each location.

Cons:

• Premium version has a high cost.
• Not as sleek in appearance as ShootLocal.
• Lacks a social media aspect, which means the only locations you'll see are your own and two default locations.

Summary: The golden hour feature is something the other apps lack, though I'd suggest buying The Photographer's Ephemeris for more detailed lighting information if that's your only reason for purchasing Map-a-Pic.

#3 PocketScout

Cost: $2.99

Pros:

• A feature allows you to get directions from your current location to any saved PocketScout location.
• Another feature shows you the time the scouting images were taken and the direction in which you were faced.
• Custom GPS coordinates can be entered for precise locations.
• Ability to share location entries via email.
• Ability to export locations to a CSV file.

Cons:

• Instead of inputting an address, the app requires coordinates (this makes for precise locations as mentioned above, but can also be a pain to enter after the fact).
•  Only one image can be added at a time, which can be tedious.
• Appearance is nothing special.
• Lacks a social media aspect, so again you will only see your own location and two default locations.
• Android version still in development.

Summary: The exporting and sharing features would be useful when working in a team, but various elements make navigation and location entry a bit tedious.

Bottom Line

The free application, ShootLocal, is the most interesting and versatile.  The ability to interact with other photographers is a huge benefit, and it could be a blast to participate in location hunts.  It might even get you shooting more for the fun of it!  With more users, the app will continue to improve and I can see the developers realizing they could easily charge for it since it is among the best - download it while it’s free!  Its intuitive design and ease of navigation were the first elements to hook me, but the social aspect truly elevates it above the other apps tested.  With such a versatile app available for free, there is no reason to spend your hard-earned money on something else.  Whatever you decide, having a location file in your pocket will allow you to easily add and reference new backdrops for your photographic needs.

References:

Digital Surgeons, LLC. "Location Scouting App for Photographers | ShootLocal." Location Scouting App for Photographers | ShootLocal. ShootLocal, 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. 

Sea To Software, LLC. "Map-A-Pic | Location Scouting and Note-Taking App For Photographers." MapAPic. Map-A-Pic, 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. 

"The Photographer's Ephemeris - It's All About the Light." The Photographer's Ephemeris. Crookneck Consulting LLC, 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

Watts, Danno. "PocketScout | Snap. Save. Share. Location Scouting On Your IPhone Made Simple!" PocketScout App. PocketScout, 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. 

Are You Ready??

Do you ENJOY being a photographer?  Seems like a silly question, right? Well, you would be surprised.  Photography is one of those professions that you really have to love to stick it out.   A quote attributed to Confucius states, “Chose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.”  Wise words, though I question them having come from Confucius….

Alpine, (Thursday Ambassador) ©MOKOPhoto 2013

So.  In reality, professional photographers don’t go out, buy a camera, and make money.  It just doesn't work that way. Unless you are very lucky.  A majority of photographers invest a lot of time and money into becoming a professional in the field.  As students, we understand this probably better than anyone.  Asking yourself “do I REALLY enjoy being a photographer,” probably won’t answer the question.  The questions one could ask are, “am I prepared to spend a majority of my time and money investing in my future within this field?” or “am I ready for the rejections and the denials from potential employers and being told that my work, ‘just isn’t what they are looking for’?” 

Matthew, (Thursday Ambassador) ©MOKOPhoto 2013

Sometimes it can be a long hard road. As students, every spare dollar we have is invested into our equipment, always improving and upgrading.  Every spare minute we are shooting. I understand both of these well.  As someone who works full-time,  literally ALL of my “spare” time is spent shooting for assignments.  When bills are paid, I calculate what I can spare for my latest equipment goal. 

So I ask again.  Do you ENJOY being a photographer?  And I include, are you READY to be a photographer?  The road is hard, but if you ENJOY being a photographer, at least you will enjoy the scenery along the way.  

Nice Boots, You Suck, Nice Boots: Revisited

This was the first post I created for the Student Ambassador Blog.  It was the first one, because I felt very strongly about it.  And somewhere between then (June 17, 2013) and Today (November 20, 2013) I have lost my way.  I was getting complacent in my comments and critiques to classmates and recently I lost points for not being very thorough in a critique...  What I lost those easy free points I was beginning to take for granted?  Well needless to say the past couple of weeks my classmates have been getting 3-5 paragraphs of honest, gritty, real critiques from me.  Why?  Because they deserve the truth (even when it's not pleasant).  It's how we grow and evolve as artists.  So please read and heed  my original blog post below:

Guard Inspection

Good morning fellow students.  It's Wednesday and it seems like a good day to  talk about critiquing your peers.  Many years ago, when I was in the military, I was asked to give a briefing to our Captain as a dry run before briefing the Colonel.  When I finished my 15 minutes of talking about our facility the Captain had some words of advice for me.  He started out his advice by reminding himself of the phrase 'Nice Boots, You Suck, Nice Boots'. 

Put quite simply, this format works very well here at the Art Institute when critiquing your peers.


Step 1 (Nice Boots):  Say something positive and specific about your classmate's work.  Don't be vague.  For example: 

"Jane,  I really enjoyed the series of images you posted for this assignment.  I think the expressions that you captured on the faces of your subjects in images 2, 4, and 7 really tell us a lot about their character."

Step 2 (You Suck):  This is where you offer areas of improvement and ask questions to clarify intent.  Be nice, but don't be afraid to tell someone where they could do better. 

"In images 3, 5, and 6 it seems like your images were a little underexposed.  I think if your exposure had been about 2/3 of a stop brighter you would really bring out the colors and the contrast that the rest of your series already has.  In these three images the skin tones all seem a little off color as well.  Did you do something different with the white balance in these?

Step 3 (Nice Boots):  End on a positive note

"Overall I think you have done a really good job on this series of images and with some minor tweaks this set is a knock-out!"


Remember, its through these critiques that we gain valuable, outside perspective on our work.

Works Cited:

Guard Inspection. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Encyclopædia Britannica,
     n.d. Web. 19 November 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_882269>.

Gymnastics, Photography & Me...What a Mess!

Good Morning Terrific Tuesday Readers!

So last week I was invited to come over and take some pictures of one of my co-workers granddaughter who is part of a local gymnastic team.  I said "sure, why not!" after all, I have years of studies with the Art Institute and I felt really good about being invited, almost as a tryout to be their official photographer.  What a deal, ah?  So, I packed my equipment, and headed to the gym and to tell you the truth...it was a nightmare!!!

I have never been to the gym before (first mistake) and had no idea what the lighting set up was going to be.  I arrived expecting to take some action shots and what they really wanted was posing type shooting (I didn't have my strobe set).  Parents didn't know I was coming as everything was done through a middle person (big mistake).  Only two of the 14 team members knew that I was coming, and they didn't know it was going to be on that specific day.  On top of everything, the gym lights were not all turned on at the same time (since they were not expecting me) and it was a lighting chaos for me.

So what did I do (I wanted to run away), I just took a deep breath and convinced everyone that it was going to be test shot for me to decide if I wanted to come back.  The rest of the evening went as smoothly as I could have expected and some of the parents asked me for my business card because they liked how I handled the team.

So what do I want you to remember from my experience? 

1.  Do all planning with the point of contact, that could be the manager, the client, or whomever wants the job done, they are the ones that will give you the information you need to be better prepared.
2.  Scout the area and see what it looks like and what equipment you can use to include the props in the area.  I think that scouting is taught in the first two years, (I got overconfident!).
3.  Test your equipment and if needed, bring extra such as batteries, lenses and cleaning materials.
4.  If an unexpected situation arises, by all means keep your cool!
5.  If possible, be ready for any lighting situation.  I couldn't use flash because it was distracting to them and I had to go to 6400 ISO in order to get some action pictures, but the flip side was that the images were grainy.

I am glad to say that I have been invited to come back and get the other type pictures they wanted to begin with.  But...it was a lesson learned!  Check out some of the images around this page, they are all from that shooting.

Hope you all have a great Tuesday!

Your Tuesday Ambassador.

Photojournalism with a Twist and a Vape

Good Morning Everyone and Happy Sunday,  I know its  been a while since my last blog, but my current class of Intro to Photojournalism and some other obligations have been putting me through the ringer. Today's blog won't be a  long one and I apologize about that, but I wanted to share with everyone some things I have been working on. Within the last two months I had quit smoking, thanks a few wonderful people in my life. This opened up a whole new area to photograph. Its called Vaping or e-cigs... Call it what you want it saved my life and thousands of others.

I had the opportunity to attended a Vape meet at Liberty Vapor in Phoenixville, PA as part of my photojournalism class and Vapor myself, I found that everywhere in the vaping community there are people willing to help enhance your own personal creativity. Below are some of the photos that I took for my final assignment.

You can check out Liberty Vapor at www.Libertyvapor.net if you dont live in the Phoenixville area or stop in they would love to help you take that next step.

Photos by Wayne Salat

Photos by Wayne Salat

Photos by Wayne Salat

Photos by Wayne Salat

Photos by Wayne Salat

Again if you have any comments or questions please feel free to ask.

Enjoy Your Sunday and Photograph Something Everyday!

Sunday Ambassador~ Wayne

A Photographic Challenge

Saturday Ambassador

Looking for an interesting challenge for your photographic skills? Consider abstraction:

 

Abstract, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2013, Digital composite

 

You can create it, as in the digital composite above, with Photoshop's blending modes, effects and a bit of imagination. Or, you can find it:

 

 

Industrial Abstract, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2013, Digital photograph

 

Either way, learning to see abstraction is a very good artistic exercise and will expand your horizons as a photographer. Knowing what the subject is surpasses the point of such art; abstraction is in the approach, an intentional effort of the part of the photographer to display only certain characteristics or qualities of the subject.

 

If anyone would like to delve into the art of abstraction, email small JPEG files to ambassadorsaturday@gmail.com and I'd be pleased to display them in my next post. Please include your name with the image if you'd like credit for it.

 

~Saturday Ambassador

 

 



 

Photography and Community

It is a pleasure to begin my time as a student ambassador!  Your former Friday ambassador has transitioned to life after graduation, so I’ll be taking the reins for a while.  As we graduate you will be introduced to new student voices, each with a unique point-of-view. I live in the vibrant city of Chicago with my husband and our overly affectionate dog, Dublin (pictured left).  Dubs will be sitting on my lap on my office chair as I write my posts.  If he loses physical contact with his humans, he is one unhappy pup.   He’s a little spoiled but I greatly benefit from this relationship during the winter when he is my 37-pound heat blanket.

My love for dogs leads me to my topic this week.  When I first began pursuing my photography degree, I was approached by an acquaintance at the law firm where I worked.  She wanted to know if I would be willing to take photographs of an adoptable dog for a local rescue.  Since that day, she and her husband have started their own rescue and I have loved photographing the dogs that they save.  We have also become great friends; I shot their maternity session, newborn session, and countless portraits of their baby girl.  What began as a way to improve my photography skills and help out a friend has led to paid portrait sessions, events, and even weddings!  Not only have I grown as a photographer because of this relationship, but I have also been part of an amazing journey as the new rescue was formed and dogs that I fell in love with got adopted into wonderful homes.

Finding a way to contribute your skills to improve your community is a great way to get you out shooting!  It can bring you valuable business connections, create lasting friendships, and provide a sense of fulfillment.  Most importantly, it will keep you connected to what is really important - using what you learn to make the world better.


During your photographic career you will inevitably be approached with requests to provide your services for free.  While it would be wonderful to be able to say yes to every request, you still need to pay your bills and have a life.  Keep a list of student photographers who may need the experience, and your referral can make both the organization and the student very happy!  So, how can you offer your skills to your community?  If you are not sure where to start, try brainstorming topics that you care deeply about.  Would you like to help a child struggling with cancer?  Check out The Gold Hope Project, an organization that matches photographer with families to capture beautiful portraits and make the children feel like rock stars!  Think of national organizations with local offices, like Veterans Affairs, The Boys and Girls Club, or the Red Cross.  It's likely they hold events and could use a great photographer to help document them.  If you want to help animals, I can guarantee your local animal shelter and rescue groups would love to have beautiful images to help showcase each animal's characteristics, like Bear's goofy smile above.

Whatever your passion, you will feel amazing when you use your skills to better your community, and you will meet incredible people (and dogs?) along the way.

-Your Friday Ambassador

References:
"The Gold Hope Project - Home." The Gold Hope Project. The Gold Hope Project, 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. 

Networking, Forums and Clubs, OH MY!

Hello everyone! I am your new Thursday Ambassador.    It is a pleasure to meet you all, and I am honored to be here.  I am going to share some of my photos, though this post is geared toward networking and meeting other photographers.

Joining groups and getting involved in your field of study can be one of the best moves a photography student can make.  Networking, clubs, online forums are just a few of the ways you can really make your presence known, and get your name out.  You can also gain valuable inside information into the market, and learn about new and old techniques (and maybe share your own).  Getting involved in your career and meeting like-minded people will be very important for your photography career.

Google+ is a great place to start, especially with the Photography Student Professional Network.  In fact I highly recommend that you start here, since this online community is specifically for the Art Institutes online students. Here we can connect with faculty and other students, and post our work, if we care to.  There is a wealth of information specifically geared toward AI students, and everyone is very welcoming (I found from experience).

Connections is another AI-based platform to connect with other students and faculty.  Connections has chat rooms, and groups to join, based on your career path, be it graphics design or photography, or one of the many other majors AI offers.  

PhotographyTalk is a great place to meet photographers from all over the world.   This is another social-networking platform, with the exception that this one is solely for photographers.  There are different groups, and blogs, and if you don't see a blog or forum you are looking for, you can create your own.

The Photography Forum by SLR Lounge has contests photographers can enter, tutorials for different programs, and threads where you can post your work and have it critiqued by other photographers, outside of school.  The articles are awesome and very informative (especially for college students who are still learning).

Nothing beats joining a local photography club in your area for getting connected with local photographers.  Running a search using your preferred search engine should lead you in their direction, if there are any where you are.  I was surprised to find that there is a club in Carson City, NV, a few miles from where I live.

Below I have included links to all the websites I mentioned above, aside from a search engine. (This is my first post, so I am not certain I submitted the links correctly.  If they don't work, you can copy and paste them.)

http://www.photographytalk.com/

https://plus.google.com/

http://www.slrlounge.com/forums/forum.php

*http://aiconnect.thecampuscommon.com/

*I am not certain if the link to Connections will work. You have to be signed into the Campus Common to access it.  If the link doesn’t work, simply sign into the Common, hover over the tab that says “Campus Life”. In the drop-down menu click on “Get Connected”, and when the screen refreshes, click the button that says “Get Connected”.   If you have any problems opening Connections from there, you will probably need to disable your pop-up blocker. 

Happy Thursday, everyone!  I hope everyone has a great day!