I have had a camera in my hand ever since I can remember, at first, trying to capture the moment with simple snapshots. Gradually those snapshots started becoming more sophisticated and my work was no longer a picture a person, or group in front of a giant building where you had to look closely to identify the people in the picture.
As time passed, my love grew stronger. I wanted to create, as opposed to just taking a picture. However, the response from family and friends was, Why would you take a picture of that. Although I did not realize it at the time, I guess I was on the right track. The less they understood, the more I liked what I did and subsequently became bored traveling with others and preferring to travel and go out by myself in order to sit for hours to capture a picture the way I wanted it to be.
I read, I looked, I learned on my own. I studied the works of different artists and tried to develop my own style. This is not something you learn in overnight, or in a one-day seminar. It takes time and patience. It means throwing away a lot of pictures and becoming your own worst critic. If you cannot criticize your own work, or accept criticism from others, then, my friend, you will never learn.
Having headed my own companies and being in the corporate world, I never had the time to pursue my photography the way I wanted. Well, I now have the time to follow my passion. However, if you think I am still not learning, you are sadly mistaken. One never stops learning. If you do not learn something new every day, or couple of days, then you are wasting your life.
I held off going digital for a long time, not because I did not understand it, but because when digital was first getting started the quality was not there. When it came to blowing up images into larger prints, you still had finer resolution in film. As things progressed in the 21st century, that too has changed. What you learn and is, today, is obsolete in six months. Today, what you are able to do digitally, with everyday software is unbelievable.
I may sound elitist, but photography is no longer just snapping a picture, it is knowing, when, how and why to snap that picture. Yet, that is only the beginning. Once you have achieved step one, the next step is knowing what to do with it.
I hope you enjoy my simple work.
Bearj B, Mahwah, NJ
Sorry to add the following, but unfortunately it is necessary. Please keep in mind that all of my work is copyright bearjb and may not be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or downloaded in any way, shape, or form. All rights are reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution without my written permission is strictly prohibited.
Bearj B Photo Art joined Pixels.com Licensing on March 28th, 2019.
