I am not much good at answering questions – but I can ponder.  Read of my pondering at the bottom of the page after you enjoy these photos by Bob and Bill!

Spains and Hazletts at the original  “Cheers” in Boston, MA

09 01 2019 Hazlett

09 01 2019 Hazlett

Old North Bridge, Concord, MA

09 01 2019 Hazlett

Old Union Oyster House established 1826 in Boston, MA. Had to eat here!

09 01 2019 Hazlett

Concord, MA

“embattled farmer stood … fired the shot heard round the world.”

09 01 2019 Hazlett

Concord, MA

“embattled farmer stood … fired the shot heard round the world.”

09 01 2019 Hazlett

Thought you might appreciate these that I just took today.

Bill White

09 01 2019 Bill White

09 01 2019 Bill White

Abraham Lincoln is quoted to having said something like this:  “I could not sleep when I got on the hunt for an understanding, I focused until I had caught it. This was a passion with me.”

NOW, MY PONDERING!

Someone ask me “How can I teach myself to become a better photographer and have fun doing it?”

So, I studied. Passion and niche are two terms that kept cropping up. 

Author Maria Brophy says “It’s okay to photograph a lot of different things. But if you want to create photos that are applauded by others, you have to focus on just one area at a time.  When you focus in one area that you have a passion for and consistently work on it, you get better and better at it. Eventually, you become the go-to person in that area.”

These three people did that – look them up on the web:

Anne Geddes: Photographs tiny babies placed in flowers and plants.

Thomas Kinkaide: Painter of little cottages in bucolic settings.

Clark Little: Photographs the shore-break of waves in Hawaii.

Ask yourself:

What do I really feel passionate about? (People, places, things) 

What is one thing that sets my photos apart from others? (Style, theme) 

What photo project did I do in the past that I really, really enjoyed, and that easily flowed out of me and my camera?

Why was it so easy for me? (The people, medium, project, or what?) Where do I WANT to focus my time and efforts? (Not “should” but “want”) 

EXAMPLE: If you wrote that you love photographing island flowers against a uniform color background and your live on Drummond Island.  Your niche would be that of a Drummond Island flower photographer. Soon, you would be ask publish photos of Island flowers in local news papers and tourist brochures. Soon you could be the go-to person for flower photography on the Island  –  you followed your passion and found your photographic niche.

Oh well, you can see I really pondered the question: “How can I teach myself to become a better photographer and have fun doing it?”

You may want to ponder what I wrote. Then ponder the photos that Club members post here. Do you think any of them focus on a passion for a specific niche?  Do you know who most likely took the photo before you look at the name?

As you swing thru life – follow your passion and niche!