The point of today’s pictures is….well….I love to share pictures

I think the only subject that can be visually interpreted more ways than a flower, is falling water.   I have included three waterfall pix out of the thousands that I have made.  They were made in Michigan, Wisconsin and Idaho respectfully.

I love birds dearly, but I have to admit that when it comes to wildlife, mammals (and maybe herps)  are what gets me going. Below are three favorite species made in three different states.

Pronghorn, Colorado

Red Fox, Wisconsin

Rocky Mt. Bull Elk, Wyoming

Three North American birds in Wisconsin.

Red-tailed Hawk

Black-crowned Night Heron

Wilson’s Phalarope

There is certainly nothing like sharing the images that we have created, with others.  Whether it might be a 40×60 print on a gallery wall, a full-page in a magazine viewed by thousands, or a picture on a blog that will be viewed by a limited number of people, it validates what we do.  Many photographers pretend that it doesn’t matter, but it does.  The internet has made it possible for everyone to share their pictures.  You can be sure that at least a few people will see every image you share.  The drive becomes to get viewers in big enough numbers, so your photo is seen by a large enough number of people, so that you are not just average.  It is one more way in which modern technology at first makes us seem special, and then when reality sets in, it makes us feel very ordinary. Having 200 people see a picture that you made, once was very nice and now is “exceptionally ordinary“.  Remember that last phrase, as it is the reality of the 21^st Century.

I think you all know that my true passion in sharing pictures was stock photography.  Magazines, books, calendars, greeting cards, post cards and on and on.  The first time I had a (small) picture published in a publication with a circulation of almost a million, I thought I had it made.  The first time that I had a large, featured image printed in a publication of over a million, I was soaring with the eagles.  A million sales means about four million views.  Now I am happy when 300 people view an image of mine on Flickr Photos or maybe this blog.  I think you see why I usually cram too many pictures a single post.  Success is a wonderful thing but be careful of that trip back down.  The refusal to accept receding success is why I so admire the Art Wolfe types.

I think the single most important quality for long-term success in photography is the love of making images.  The greatest photographers do what they do so they can continue to make pictures.  The act of stepping into the field to create images, drives everything else.  The one thing that you should love more than sharing pictures, is creating them.

Think passion!!

That’s it today.  I always appreciate your stopping by,                                                               Wayne

I publish this post after watching television for four hours.  I, like many of you late night/early morning people, have been watching the goings on in a suburban Boston.  My heart goes out to the family of the MIT Police officer who has been killed, and the family of the Transit officer who has been wounded. I shed no tears for the terrorist who has been killed, and will sleep peacefully if his brother receives the same fate.