GOOD NEWS

Yesterday was kind of a rollercoaster kind of day. I've been trying to push myself into shooting more personal projects without worrying too much about getting paid. I asked a young girl to help me out by modeling for me, we barely know each other and I was super nervous about it. I had something in mind but at the end I ended up getting super nervous. It didn't turn out as I expected but I ended up liking some photos anyways, and I'm happy I forced myself because any type of photoshoot is a new learning experience, no matter how short it is and no matter if the amount of photos you get is big or small.

I was very close to cancel it because just some minutes before leaving home I got an e-mail from the University's Newspaper to which I applied to work at as a photographer or cartoonist and it said to call to the office. Of course I was super nervous, I wanted to throw up. I called and what happened was that I got the two jobs I applied for, now I'm the University's Newspaper photographer and cartoonist. It's a big responsibility! I was so happy and scared at the same time, I started to feel extremely anxious considering that I was already anxious about the photoshoot.Still, I decided to get it over with and I guess nerves took over me to some point that I couldn't focus properly. Anyways, I'm happy about how things are developing and hopefully everything will be better soon.

The beginning of this year was rocky but good overall because I had a job last semester but it didn't turn out to be as good as I thought it was going to be, the good thing was that I had a good paid and I was able to save for my new camera. Prices ended up getting low at the University so I was able to keep some of my money for personal expenses. In short, I'll be able to upgrade my photography gear this year and that makes me very happy. Last year I didn't think I was going to be able to do so, I didn't even think I was going to be able to buy a full frame camera, but apparently things work out if you get over some demons. 

ORIGINAL

I've been struggling lately of who I am as an aspiring photographer. At times I want to work on conceptual photography and other times I just want to focus on what's real. I think these difficulties come from trying to find my own style and producing original things, but, what is original these days? I previously talked about smoke bombs but there are also other elements considered, again, original but they are really not. I'm really not going to make up a huge list and bash every element in it, but what I want to say is that in concepts like "surreal", "fashion", and "conceptual", many of us believe we're going to find what we're looking for. 

A very dear professor once told me and the class that nothing is original anymore and he's right. Everything is made up different things, nothing is unique in it's entirety, but I think we can be considered original and stand out among the croud by taking all these repeated elements and make them our own. With this I don't know if I'm trying to justify my constant blocks, my lack of activity, and selfconsciousness but that's what I have. I've felt immense in real topics, real events, and documentary photography, but I still need to find my muse. 

Coming up with enough courage to leave behind the feelings that stop me from doing what I love is really hard. I guess I'm very hard on other people which automatically makes me insecure. It's true that anything negative you put out there comes back at you with much more power and it is now when I understand it. I'm such a negative person and getting rid of all the negativity in my is going to be hard work; I really don't know where to start. 

But oh well. I'll leave you (to whoever reads this) some photos I took last month. I really enjoyed being there even though I wasn't familiar with the musician's work. His name is Celso Piña and he's very talented. He came to our city to tribute a very dear musician from our community who passed away some years ago. My boyfriend and I went to the event just to get out of routine. I'm so glad we did it and I'm so glad that even though I was afraid of being in such a crowded place with a camera I took it with me anyways.

INTERESTING WAYS OF NARRATIVE

There is something very romantic about diptychs. When used appropiately they can tell a story or just function as a complement for a plain photograph. For years I've seen this form of composition in many photos and I've always had this attraction towards them. I believe it is a very refreshing for of narrative for photography as popular as it is though. I think many people use them without thinking of the elements involved but those cases are not relevant, what's relevant is the beautiful stories told by talented artists who manage to amaze us with their photographic and compositional 

skills.

Night by rooze

diptych by andrewpershin

Take me home by Roinja

street beat VI by anzya91

I found these examples amazing because some of them have the goal to present contrast, texture, narrative, and continuity, but always a connection in between the photos. I think it's a very refreshing way to communicate a message and a concept. 

ABOUT RETURNS AND FORESTS

Nah, I'm coming back to this blog. I decided I'll keep this to post personal insights and personal photography, the other one will be related to client work mostly. Maybe at some point it'll be a fusion... I don't know, I'm confused. Anyway, I decided to embrace what I started and I started this to let out some things related to the photography field. Now, what I'm about to say now is not to crush anyone or to make bad comments about other people's work, but I've been wondering, what is it so interesting about people being photographed in the woods? I mean, seriously. Probably when it first came out it was an interesting setting for photoshoots, and I still think it's interesting for lifestyle photography since you have to focus most of the time in the person not the location (but of course you can also take full advantage of location to make the photos more interesting), but for artistic photography, I feel it's kind of dead now, unless the photographer offers something else than a girl spacing out as if she's having a spiritual encounter with Jesus H. Christ, and smoke bombs. 

Of course I'm not innocent; for some time I wanted to live or travel somewhere near the woods to emulate the same photos I'm talking about now, but after seing so many of these elements, over and over again, I find it very annoying, why? Because I feel many people are more excited about their setting engaging the viewer rather than the model or the photograph itself. I think being in the woods and having tons of smoke bombs should be used as a prop not as the main subject, and there are many ways to use them for your advantage. 

The dreamer by tyler_mcgown

Tyler's photo is a good example of how you can use these elements to make your photo more interesting rather than letting the environment and props take over it. 

Untitled by single moment

Compared to this example where there is a lot going on, the smoke bomb seems to serve no purpose other than being a distraction from an already confusing composition. It seems as if the smoke is coming from the girl's behind; again, very distracting.

For photos without a purpose, without a concept, a smoke bomb can go terribly wrong. Of course it might be appealing at the beginning since it offers an ~enigmatic~ ambience, but other than that, putting smoke bombs in your shot will not make the photo better... if not, they can only make it worse. I really don't want to be mean, again, I'm not innocent from being curious about trying to experiment with smoke bombs but if I ever do it, I'll try to use it as a prop instead of making it my focus, unless I want to do a study on smoke or gas.

So my final thoughts are:
1) Smoke bombs will not make your photo amazing.
2) Being in the woods will not make your photo instantly magical.
3) Never place your smoke bomb near someone's ass because, well, you know what happens.
4) If you happen to have smoke bombs and a forest nearby, use your props and location to your advantage, don't let these take over your photograph. Don't abuse of your elements.

CHANGE

Hello! I'll be moving to this blog!
New Blog

JUANMA & FRIDA

Today I got the opportunity to shoot with two beautiful young friends. I had it planned for a couple of weeks ago but everything ended up being in the same day. I felt happy with myself because for once I felt I controlled the photoshoot. Most of the time I tell whether it is my clients or people I want to photograph "DO WHATEVER YOU WANT" but now I felt more confident to tell them what to do, which makes me feel more comfortable and also they feel relieved for not having to figure out what to do next. Still, I need more practice but I'm glad with the results; I'm very, very happy.

SOME WORK

I wish my absence had something to do with having a lot of work but the truth is I have been lazy, very lazy. These are some shots from a client session I had yesterday. They were very nice, a little bit serious, but it was okay. I was very nervous though, it's been months since I had a paid photoshoot and felt all the pressure. It ended pretty quickly but the truth is, I had a hard time because I really tried to take them out of their comfort zone, that being, posing in front of the camera to smile. The younger brother was very helpful, that is why in some photos they look relaxed; that's what I was looking for, I loved the kid.

I'm waiting for my client to confirm these 20 photos I chose from the session because I need to print them and order the photobook, so I can start preparing the photobundle I'll give to her. I'm so nervous.

I've had other people asking for my photography services but when I tell them my prices they never reply back. The thing is, in my city the photography business is a terrible competition. While I might not be the best photographer in town, I feel that my prices are reasonable for the quality I offer, but there are other people who charge less but obviously offer lower quality services. Which is okay, I much rather have clients who really want to pay me for what I do, than people who are just feeling like I'm the only photographer they can pay. It's hard, but I hope that little by little I can start putting my work out there for people to see. I've had brides contacting me for their weddings and when I tell them I charge 500 dlls, they back off. I don't know, I seriously feel that, while I'm not super cheap, I'm not charging that much, but hey, that's okay I guess.