I’m a very lucky person to live where I do. Doylestown is a wonderful small town that still does things like have annual donated book sales at the library hosted by incredibly friendly people. I got up early on Saturday morning so I could get at least part of my normal walk in and get a good spot in line at the library early before the doors opened at 9:15.  My next door neighbors who volunteer there had given me some good intelligence, so I was able to make a quick bee line to the very back of the room … and there they were! Usually I get a couple of nice photography books, but this year I hit the motherlode!

Once the books were in my line of sight I had to move FAST! The herd of other buyers was right on my tail, so I grabbed everything that looked interesting. And why not for only two bucks a book!  I got about ten or so, and a bunch of biographies and historical stuff apropos for the strange time we are living in.

The volunteers couldn’t have been more helpful, and soon five large bags of books were loaded into the car. The problem I have is I am running out of space in my library, so after examining my haul I had to move a bunch of biographies, autobiographies and other books about photography down to my work room, which is now running out of book space too. @#$%^&IO*!

I suppose running out of book space is not one of the worst problems one who loves photography books can have. For now I’m OK, but there will be a time, and I fear it’s fast approaching!

So what’s the point of all this other than to brag about my great haul? I’ve written a number of times about the value of having a great photo library. But I know quality books can be expensive, even when buying used. Over the years I’ve lucked out and found many great books at library sales and thrift stores. Today’s stash included several once very expensive books I’m now proud to own.  I can’t think of a better and more cost effective way to get your library going. And in the end if some of what you find isn’t your cup of tea after all, then donate back and let someone else enjoy them!

So start looking around where you live for these cheapo buying opportunities. You might be pleasantly surprised about what you find!

Stay well,

Michael

In the last two of my Basic Guide to Photographic Bliss and Making Better Pictures Periodic Musings I’ve discussed the learning opportunities that come from owning photo books and visiting museums and galleries to study paintings. It’s also essential see photo exhibits!

Last year, for example, I went to a lot of shows. Some were better than others, but I learned something from each one. Highlights included Vivian Maier, Robert Frank and Todd Webb and … no kidding … Paul McCartney!

Go to as many shows as you can. Why? Simple. You will be inspired by the works of the masters and learn many things. And now for something really interesting … when you go to photo galleries, you may well discover your work is as good or better than much of what’s being shown. That’s right. And not surprising at all, given the perceived need by galleries to show what is new and “hot”. Making this discovery should inspire you to press on and do even better work!

One of the greatest sources of information concerning photo exhibits, calls for shows and much much more is The Photo Review Newsletter. You can learn more about it at https://photoreview.org

Stay well,

Michael

Last time I talked about building a photographic library and looking at books. Now I want to talk about paintings. I’ve written here many times that we as photographers can learn a great deal from looking at paintings.  That’s right … paintings … most of which are in beautiful color!  I know, the vast number of paintings are not monochromatic (however there was a very nice black and white watercolors), so as black and white photographers, what’s the point?

Just to be clear, I’m no expert on paintings and those who have painted them, but I love to go to exhibits.  I’m lucky enough to live a few minutes away from the Michener Museum of Art here in Doylestown and I go there often.  I also have an easy drive to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and have become a frequent visitor.  I even go to New York, Boston and Washington, DC to see shows. The reason for all my visits to view the work of great painters is simple. As a photographer, I can learn a lot about light and composition from viewing great paintings. But that’s not all. I also learn a lot about presentation (horizontal vs. vertical), subject matter and perspective of view (think normal vs. wide angle or telephoto lenses).

A number of years ago I saw a wonderful exhibit of the great Bucks County painter Daniel Garber at the Michener. Garber has one of the most incredible senses of light I have ever seen and I have often taken students to the museum to see many of his wonderful paintings that are in its permanent collection. Why? Because as beginning photographers they can learn a lot about all the things I mentioned above!  But here’s the thing … you really need to actually go to see the paintings! You cannot get the full appreciation of the sense of light unless you are standing in front of their work!

Ok, so what about looking at exhibits of color photographs? Nah … not the same.  I feel differently about color paintings than I do about color photographs. Paintings seem to have a depth and luminosity that color photographs lack … especially digitally created ones.

Final thought … go and look at paintings … lots of paintings, but my favorites by far are the works of the impressionist masters. I’m a sucker for them. You want to learn about light … more importantly the feeling of light and composition related to light  … go see impressionist art!!

Stay well,

Michael

Fred Picker talked about the value of buying prints and that’s a wonderful idea, but it can be pretty expensive. I really wish I could own prints of the all the greats I admire. Unfortunately I’m not independently wealthy so I do the next best thing. I buy books, and own lot of them. While I do own some prints by photographers I admire, I am very proud of the library of monographs I have built over the years.

So let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Every serious photographer should have a library of wonderful books. We all have different tastes and there are enough quality books out there to satisfy all of them. I gaze at their contents to enjoy myself, to be inspired and most of all to learn. Ok, so what’s to learn?  Well for starters how about light, composition, where to stand when making a photograph and technique. And then about the tools used to get the job done and why they were chosen. This can be incredibly helpful to those just starting out, to those who are confused or have lost their way, and to those that want to sharpen their seeing and craft. Oh, and by the way, as recently reported, after seeing several wonderful videos about Don McCullin that featured his use of the Mamiya Universal medium format rangefinder camera and subsequent purchases of his wonderful landscape books, I decided to buy one for myself, along with a few lenses to go with it.  I absolutely love the camera and when I need it, it is helping me to make the kinds of pictures I want to make!

So, if you don’t have a library, start one! And if you have one, see if there are any holes in it that need to be filled. But most important of all, enjoy these gems, learn from them, and be inspired to create your own special art! A far better investment than that uber wide angle or big honker telephoto you really don’t need, but want, so you can finally fill that empty compartment in your camera bag.

You’ll be a better photographer for it!

Stay well,

Michael

A Basic Guide to Photographic Bliss and Making Better Pictures … A Series of Periodic Musings …  #2 Adopting a Two Hour Plan

 A couple of months ago I posted the first entry of my humble Basic Guide to Photographic Bliss and Making Better Pictures … A Series of Periodic Musings. Without further ado, here’s my second installment. That’s right baby, were talking about the Two Hour plan! I’ve written about it a number of times, starting with an entire entry to the topic. To say this epiphany has had a tremendous impact on my photography would be an understatement; it has liberated me in a way that has been surprising!  Here’s what I wrote:

Two Hours

 That’s the name of the new focus I have established for myself, and I am suggesting it might be one for you as well.  So what do I mean by Two Hours?  Glad you asked. Looking out for and discovering things of obvious and potential photographic interest that are within two hours of where I live. That sounds pretty vague but I actually think it’s a stroke of genius.  I can always be on the lookout for interesting and even bizarre and other out of the ordinary events to checkout. Or I can learn about things that are important to those I live near me and hang out with them. And guess what – it takes a lot of pressure off me concerning what to be photographing.  Now I’m surrounded by all sorts of opportunities!

All of the sudden local news and nearby events become more worthy of note.  For example, over the past few months I have attended several protest events here in Doylestown organized and made up mostly of high school students (my faith in the young has been rekindled!), attended the annual Peace Festival put on by a local Quaker school here in Bucks County about 10 minutes from where I live (I felt like I stepped back into the Sixties), visited Ocean Grove NJ, a small community on the Jersey Shore founded by Methodist clergymen in 1869, and mingled with some strange rangers at the annual Zombie Walk held in Asbury Park.

So you might say I am pretty lucky to live where I do and that I have an unfair competitive advantage – Bucks County, Philadelphia, the Delaware River, New York City, the Jersey Shore, the Poconos … I could go on.  Yes it’s great, and I love living here, but I don’t think I am better off than anyone else. I truly believe that there’s always fertile opportunity wherever one might be if you’re open to it.

None of this means I have dispensed with specific projects. Far from it!  A benefit of the Two Hour plan is that with enough outings and results new themes demanding additional focus may emerge.

I never thought about this idea before, despite it being so utterly simple and obvious.  Now that I’ve had this news flash I feel much looser, less pressured, and yes, somewhat liberated. When I am out and about I feel more creative and have even more fun.  Consider the Two Hour plan for yourself. You might get similar benefits!

Stay well,

Michael