#59 The evolution of my photography

My interest in photography has taken a long and interesting path. Some might consider I have gone backwards with my photography rather than progressed, but that’s not how I see it – it is a journey of continuous exploration and learning, experimentation and practice.

Portrait of a dragon - Camera Olympus C760

This Eastern Water Dragon lived in my fern garden

for 18 months, providing me with a great subject for

photography and observation (February 2007)

A few years ago, I decided to stop selling my images. This has allowed me the freedom to photograph the subjects I am attracted to, and in the manner that please me, rather than concentrate on that which my particular market wished to purchase. As a result, my photography is now more rewarding than it has ever been.

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My husband gave me my first SLR camera (a Practika) for my 21st birthday. As my children came along, I had beautiful and challenging subjects on which to practice technique and develop skills. I have never participated in classes or instruction – I simply read, experimented and practiced.

Somewhere along the track I upgraded to a Canon, and when I decided to take a course in freelance writing, I upgraded my Canon to a newer Canon model. I sold images (transparency film), accompanying my written text, and gained a lot of satisfaction (and some financial gain) when my text and images appeared in print.

I became disillusioned with submitting unsolicited work, but didn’t have the marketing or business skills to find markets for my work before it was produced. This stumbling block, along with a high standard of morals, restricted my sales and opportunities. I was well established with 8 magazines - one went out of business; one openly displayed a lack of respect for the environment in the tone of many of its stories, so I refused to continue to write/photograph for them; one illegally insisted it owned my photos, so I no longer submitted material to them; one paid an insulting pittance, so I dropped it out of pride; one repeatedly praised my work, but held it unpublished for an unacceptable period of time; one made one serious publishing blunder after another, so I dropped them to save my reputation; one took 6 months to pay for published material – and the list goes on. Yes, I became seriously disillusioned.

I didn't need the hassles, so I began concentrating on photography for fun and education, rather than for profit.

Praying mantis in my garden (April 2009)

Camera - Olympus C760

I've taken a liking to portraiture - not people pictures, but creature pictures. I guess it's obvious that I like to get up close and personal with my nature subjects - I find some fascinating subjects, with intriguing detail, and my 'cheap' little 'point-and-shoot' digital doesn't do a bad job. I believe that a mediocre camera in capable hands can be more effective than a you-beaut expensive camera in the wrong hands.

I have an entry level SLR digital (Canon 300), but I have yet to master it.

This is one image from my Canon 300D that I'm

reasonably pleased with - Garden Wolf Spider

And this is another - Chiloglottis species orchid

They certainly won't win any awards, but they show the detail I need in order to search out identifications, and to show other interested people. But there is so little depth of field to work with when up-close photos are required, that the subject needs to remain perfectly still to obtain that 1.5mm of sharp focus. I'll keep practicing!

I will also continue to rely on my little Olympus; although it has a macro function, I have not managed to master it, so I don't use it. Of course there are situations and subjects that my compact camera doesn't handle well, which is disappointing and frustrating - at these times I scold myself for not persevering with my SLR.

Winged insect (most likely a species of crane fly - Family Tipulidae) catches tiny cicada

Olympus C760 - October 2007

Now, this fungus is a subject I could have given

significantly more justice to if I had had my

Canon SLR with me - these are the times I

give myself a good rap over the knuckles.

The purpose of my photography at the moment is to study aspects of nature, and to share these images and all I have learned about the subjects, on the internet via my blogs - I wish to raise awareness of the value and beauty of nature we live amongst. For the time being, my photography is serving my purposes, but I have much to learn and accomplish when time and inclination allows. I am having fun with my photography.