january 2007 - Professional Photographer Magazine

‘‘
another person’s thought process, the more
full your perspective becomes.
Looking at changing work over the years,
it occurred to me that people measure image
quality by image content. They don’t care so
much about grain structure and resolution.
They judge you by the images you capture. I
tell my students all the time: It’s not what’s make things technically better, not adding
in your hands that takes the picture; it’s what’s in needless effects just because we can.
inside you. As Einstein said, “Imagination is We shouldn’t abandon the roots of good por-
more important than knowledge.”
traiture, just embellish it with what technology
offers. With that in mind, there are four ele-
What do you think are the most significant ments that contribute to a good portrait: One,
artistic developments in photography over technique. If you’re a professional photographer,
the past five or six years? Will they endure you must be a good technician. Two, aesthetics.
or become passing fads?
You should spend enough time immersing
We’ve gone through the period of doing things yourself in the art of photography that you can
because you can. It was like bad sci-fi movies create images on a higher plane. You want to
—all effects and no plot. It should be a matter make something more than a collection of good
of using digital tools to make better images, to technical elements. Three, the personal element.
’’
You need to be able to bring yourself into your
work. And four, spiritual. It could be your relationship
to a higher power, nature, mankind
—whatever you feel spiritually connected to.
It’s what really polishes your apples. Slow down
and pay attention to the creative process so
you’ll be able to bring in the spiritual element.
What three critical lessons would you convey
to today’s professional photographers?
First, concentrate on research and development.
Read Professional Photographer magazine.
Go to Imaging USA. Attend industry events
It’s not what’s in your hands that takes
the picture; it’s what’s inside you.
January 2007 • Professional Photographer • 83