Photography

Photography is something that everyone can do with a minimum of effort. The more you put into it, the greater the reward. Anyone can take great photos. Really.

One of the best things about landscapes is that you can shoot them wherever you are. There's no need to travel to exotic locations or national parks to get world class images. Your landscapes will not only look better, they will look different by shooting close to home.

Creativity

Creativity is something that we all have. It might be how you cook or how you dress. You exercise your creativity everyday when you dress, cook, decorate, etc. It's not difficult to channel that energy into your photography.

History

For many years, I earned a living as an editorial, food, fashion and illustrative photographer. Many would see it as a dream job and it was, for a few years. Change is part or creative growth and I moved away from photography and into designing.

Design and photography are alike in many ways. If you can do one, you can easily learn the other. The same rules apply to both professions, you just apply them a little differently.

When I stopped shooting for a living, I didn't touch my cameras for over a dozen years. Why? I had lost all interest in shooting as a recreational pursuit. I associated photography with work and the last thing I wanted to do away from work was work some more.

It's amazing how taking a break from something you once loved can recharge your enthusiasm and passion for it. I think that the break has actually made me a better photographer. The fun factor is back in it.

Although almost everything shot today is digital, not much has changed since I left photography. The learning curve with film was much steeper than it is today with digital.

There are some amazing images being created today by amateur photographers who are virtual babes in the woods. What would have taken years to learn is being learned in months. I see many landscapes today that rival and exceed in quality and creativity the work being produced by long time professionals.

The Pictures

I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We're situated in the middle of a large, flat and almost featureless prairie. We're also a four hour drive from the mountains unlike our lucky neighbors to the south. As a result, most of my photos are taken on the prairies and not in the beautiful national parks. Upwards of eighty percent of these images were taken within a twenty minute drive of Edmonton's city limits and a few were actually taken inside the city.

The Business

I thought it would be a good idea to try and recover some of the costs of photo equipment by submitting my photos for stock licensing, so I applied to a couple of stock photo agencies and was accepted.

If you thought that photos of the prairies would have little commercial interest, you'd be wrong. Many of the prairie scenes you see here have been used for cd covers, books, pharmaceutical companies, computer game advertisements, firearms companies, tobacco, auto parts manufacturers, trade shows and even as fine art prints for corporate offices.

I like what one rep from a major stock agency told me when discussing what kind of images they wanted. That unless your landscapes are so exquisite and stunning, your work will sit in a pool of hundreds of thousands of similar images, most likely never to be seen or sold.

They were looking for work that stood out from the rest. There's that concept of "different" again.

The Equipment

Equipment. A vital but highly over rated piece of the photo puzzle. What brand? What lenses? What filters? It's not as important as you'd think.
I think analogies are a great way to convey ideas, so here goes.

The last time you looked at a beautiful painting or heard a piece of music that lifted your spirit, were you asking yourself what kind paper the artist used for his watercolors or what brand of guitar was playing that riff? Probably not.

Check out most photo blogs and you'll find yourself reading more about cameras and lenses than photography. Check out the blogger's photos and you'll understand why. They're in love with acquiring equipment not creating images.

My love affair with cameras ended many years ago. Use one at work everyday and you'll find the novelty wears off. Fast. Cameras are tools. That's all they are. Get good tools and learn how to use them.

The latest and greatest filter isn't going to make you a better photographer. Neither is the latest camera body. Get a decent camera body and lens. That's it. The only one who usually benefits from all these extra photo gadgets and filters is the manufacturer or vendor.

The End

I hope you enjoy the photos. I've enjoyed taking them. Landscape photography can be a life long, rewarding pastime.

If you have any comments or questions regarding these photos or the website, drop me an email via the contact webpage. I'll be happy to get back to you.

Happy shooting,

Dan