My Journey So Far

For those who have known me from the beginning of this journey, you already know what you are about to read :)  I would like still like to share my story of the last two years as a recap and to catch up new friends.  My photographic journey started about two years ago when my youngest son took a digital photography class.  As a way to support and create a bond between us, I started taking pictures too with my cell phone's 2.0 megapixel camera.  Below is one of those pictures :)  That's my son Ryan walking on the bridge.  He is also the one that taught me a few things he learned about editing with GIMP which I used to edit the photo. If you are looking for a free photo editor to download, GIMP is excellent.

The Journey

I was fortunate to have people in all facets of my life who told me I have an "eye" for photography and that I should do something with it.  I would like to thank my step-mother (Mom) and my Dad in particular for supporting me and gifting me an actual camera as a Christmas present so that I could continue to explore this new hobby. It was a sweet little purple FinePix Z37, a "point and shoot", but still a very good camera.  Below is a picture I took from a helicopter in St Louis using the FinePix Z37. I did a cinematic editing on it.

St Louis

You can tell my earlier work because I would initial the bottom right hand corner. After having the letters cut off when it came to printing, I decided that practice was not a good idea. Mom liked the results I was getting from the FinePix Z37 so much that she was my first sale! Here it is:

The Dancers by Jonathan Borofsky, Denver, Colorado

 As a form of payment and to upgrade me to keep me pursing this, she presented me with the next upgrade, a Fuji FinePix S1800.  Dad helped by doing the research for the camera and did an amazing job. There were a lot more settings available on this camera and it took better quality photos leaving me less to do in post processing. Below is one of my favorite photos from this camera and one that I've had the opportunity to sell.

Light the way home

Between this camera and the previously mentioned one I had put together a decent collection of photos.  Enough to put a gallery of them on my Nook so that I would have a virtual gallery with me everywhere I went.  Then an interesting thing happened shortly after. I went to see my friends at Globally Sound one day because I had printed a couple of photos I was planning on giving as a wedding present and wanted Janelle's opinion since she had an art background.  She wasn't much help because she liked all the choices so much :)  She also took the opportunity to mention like so many other supporters before her that I should do something with this gift that I had been given and share it with others.  When I told her that I wouldn't know how to do that she said "I do" and offered me a spot in the following (this) year's summer spot of Art on the Town as a solo show.  My first reaction? "I don't think I'm ready, but I will definately think about it".  After all I had only been doing this for a year by this point.  After talking to my support team of family, friends, and the people I get to work with/for, I knew what I had to do.  Their advice included "If you don't you will always wonder what could have happened".  A very good point and one I could not ignore.  Below is one of the photos I showed to Janelle that day.

Plumeria

Because my son needed a new camera (be careful when walking next to a river, just saying) and I felt like it was time to graduate to the next level of camera to get ready for my show, I purchased a Sony NEX-3 and gave my son the Fujifilm S1800 a year ago.  Very similar in quality to a DSLR, I chose this camera because it was easier to take it with me on "photowalks" which is what I like to think is my style.  I go on walks and take pictures of what I see.  Depending on where I take my photowalk, it can be urban or nature.  For the country pictures, its kind of the same concept only its on a drive instead.  The photo below was taken by the side of the road from a rental car on a trip I took with my husband to Door County.  I took it with my Sony NEX-3. 

Hay Wagon

Anyway, I digress.  Let me get back to my story.  I know its long, but I have two years of history and a lot has happened in these two years :)  In March of 2011 I created a Facebook page as a place to post photos and reach people using social media.  The page is now at over 400 likes with people from all over the world!  A couple of opportunities also happened that spring and summer. The first (after much prodding) was a contest where I ended up being in the top 15 out of 200 entries in a contest done by the Fox Valley Symphony.  The Light the Way home photo above was that entry. Another opportunity was to provide a photo for a silent auction held during the Jersey Boys Cabaret at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, WI.  The cabaret and the silent auction was a fundraiser for Broadway Cares and for the Center; and it ended up doing better than anticipated due to a bidding war. Below is the photo that I provided for the silent auction taken with the Sony NEX-3.  I wanted to up the value so the print is the only one of its kind outside of artist proofs. I was in my tinted monochrome stage then.

Jefferson Park on a foggy day in blue

Then in October the church I was baptized in asked me to provide photos of the church for a website that another church member was putting together.  As a way to give back and because I've always thought that God has been guiding me throughout this process (I have an amazing story to share with you later), I took the photos and donated the files to the church.  Below is one of the interior shots:

Interior of Bethel Evangelical Church

The next thing that happened was I met my new friend Karen of KP Jewelers.  I was looking at one of the MICHE shells and was joking around saying that I would have to sell some pictures to my step-mom so that I could get a new shell.  She picked up on that right away.... "pictures?  I have lots of wall space for some pictures!" I just happened to have my Nook with me with its virtual gallery and she picked out a couple of photos including the "Snow on the Fox" one shown below. I thought she was talking about her home, but it turned out that she was moving into a store of her own (she had been sharing the space with the hairdressers of Avenue Hair Design) and had need of some art  for its walls to provide a homey boutique feel.  She enjoyed her prints so much, we ended up decorating her entire store solely with my work!  

Snow on the Fox

Well, that's my story so far...I currently have my work showing in a permant location and a solo show in August.  I also am doing the product photography, Facebook page, and blog for KP Jewelers which I love doing because I get to mesh two of my favorite things.  I would like to thank Karen for this and for an advertising opportunity just in time for my show.  She is mentioning me in her Color Mailer advertisement because my prints are a free gift to the first 100 customers that have the mailer in hand.  Look for it if you live in the area, each print is a different picture from my black and white collection.  The earlier you get there, the more choices you will have! :)  This will be going out the first week of May.   Below is my most recent product photos of Karen's one of a kind pieces.

<><><>

Brass and 18K Gold Bracelet

I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you to those family, friends, coworkers, and fans of my page who have supported me so far on this journey.  It means so much to me that you were there to provide advice, to lift me up when I had doubts, and to share in my excitement when I had progress.

I would also like to thank those who have purchased my prints so far, it helps make me feel like my work has some value to it :). 

                                                                                 1931 Chevy Hood Ornament

I especially want to thank my Mom and Dad for supporting me right from the very beginning and for providing me with my first cameras and my husband for taking me on long drives for those country shots and for giving me my newest camera complete with a telephoto lens, A Nikon D3100 when I had my first big sale. I did a test run with it in March, this photo was taken while standing on the Onedia Street bridge.

                                                                                 Along a Rocky Shore

And lastly but not at all least, I want to thank God for giving me this talent and finding such a unique way of discovering that it was there, even though I was over 40.

As far as the future goes?  Well, I have my show in August and I'm photographying two weddings as gifts to the brides and to to build my portfolio.  It's also an excellent opportunity to see if wedding photography is something I would want to do.   Although I have sold a few pieces of artwork, I don't considered myself a professional because I don't do this as a living.  I have a fantastic job that I love with people that I love to work with/for.  But I will call myself a semi-professional.  And who knows?  God has put me on this journey and only he knows where it will end up.  I'm just along for the ride.

                                                                              The Long and Winding Road