To most people, I'm an unknown photographer; in my mind, however, I'm world-renowned for the images I create. Rectifying this dichotomy is the principal purpose of beginning this blog. Starting this online dialogue is The Next Step.
Last week, after 10 long years of wanting and waiting, I took the biggest next step that still needed taking: I finally purchased my first digital SLR. I own two Nikon SLR film cameras, but neither have seen the light of day for at least 5 years. For 10 years now I've been using digital point and shoots, and for the last 4 years they're all I've shot with. They can take damned good pictures, if you work within their limitations. But I hungered for a full size digital SLR. To lessen the financial pain of satisfying that hunger I decided to see what sort of trade-in value my old film SLR's they still held. The answer? Next to nothing. So they're still sitting in the bottom of my closet. Maybe someday I'll have a grandchild with an interest in 'old-school' photography.
Nearly five years ago I first learned of an online community where one could upload one's artwork, photographs and writings for the world to see. I've posted many thousands of photos and pieces of digital artwork during the last four years on deviantART, and I've even had a small number of sales. The recognition has been rewarding, but the site - for me, at least - doesn't generate much revenue. Aside from the dozen or so sales on dA, I did - once, about 10 years ago - have a short article and two photos published in Lighting Dimensions magazine. While the pay was good for the time, it was nowhere near good enough to allow me to quit my day job. As a favor for a neighbor, I also shot portraits of her son. That, too, was lucrative, but I have no desire to shoot portraits for a living either. And the same goes for wedding photography - another potential source of income, but one that would just suck the passion for being creative right out of me.
The major reason I hadn't purchased a digital SLR before now was financial: I wasn't yet at a point where I could justify spending those discretionary monies that were available. There were never enough monies; or, if there were, I could not yet allow them to be allocated discretionally. There were more important and imperative uses for those funds prior to now. Finally, last Sunday I purchased a Canon 5D and a Canon 24-105 mm f/4 IS USM zoom lens. They may prove to be the last camera and lens I will ever need to buy, but somehow I doubt it.
I've been shooting photos for over 30 years now. I believe my work is good enough to stand up to anybody's best. I want to become well known in the world of Art Photography, and this is the reason for starting my blog: It is my Next Step.
Links:
My gallery at deviantART.
Google Map of where I live.
More about the Canon EOS 5D
More about the The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens.
