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I was a professional photographer for 16 years, starting my career in photojournalism and eventually shifting to commercial advertising. At times it was a struggle, and I finally quit for a full time job and steady paycheck from corporate America. What I actually gave up was running a photo business, not photography. It was an agonizing decision but ultimately a good idea, especially considering the radical changes in the business over the past 10 years.
Sometimes I miss the flexibility of a self-employed life, which usually just means it’s time to pick up the camera, take a walk and see if there is anything to see.
I sometimes publish additional images from my portfolio as well as new work when time and inspiration allow. Visit again to learn if either has crept into my life.
I live in Longmont, Colorado, a community of about 85,000 about 17 miles north of Boulder. It’s a pleasant place, “normal” in fact, not hip like Boulder. Many Longmont residents despise Boulder and prefer the small town feel of this formerly agricultural community. I like them both, for different reasons.
Over the past five years, my main digital cameras have been a Minolta Dimage 7 and a point-and-shoot Canon Powershot 540. Both have served me well. I love the feel of the Minolta, with many adjustments available through buttons on the outside of the body, much more like a film camera. It handles fast and you don’t have to dig into menus and sub-menus, and expand to settings and . . .
The little Canon is easy to use and has done an outstanding job for a stuff-it-in-my-pocket-and-take-it-everywhere picture machine.
But I finally bought a digital SLR with funds saved from selling some of my film gear, garage sale proceeds and other odd sources. It’s a Nikon D-40 with an 18-55 zoom, and I’m thrilled with it.
Most of the disadvantages of the digital cameras I’m familiar with are gone, especially shutter lag and autofocus hunt. The autofocus is way better than expected. The D-40 has put a gleam back in my shooting eye.