focus, composition and living as an intentional being

A while back a friend who is a fellow photographer and I were talking, and eventually the topic turned to people's preconceived notions about what makes a good photograph, and thereby a good photographer, and at some point I mentioned how I have repeatedly produced pictures that were well recieved and when people asked about them one of the most common questions is "oh wow what camera did you use, what lens, software, etc" and to their dismay I frequently reveal that an image was made with a little point and shoot like my Nikon Cool pics or Canon Power Shot, and some even with a cellphone, the secret more often than not is in the composition, intention, and focus or as my friend so eloquently put it " the magic is in the magician not in the wand" you can have all of the latest equipment with all of the bells and whistles and the latest software for editing but if you do not have a sense of composition and some intention behind your image chances are more likely that what you produce will only be sub par, and nobody wants that as their reputation, you have to look at your subject and decide what is going to be the best way to present what you have to say with this image because if there is no intent behind it you are one step closer to having pictures that resemble what you find on those disposable cameras that are handed out at weddings. Admittedly sometimes you do not have time to sit and think before you take a picture because sometimes things just happen in the moment and you know that you have to capture that picture but you don't have time to set it up, the more you think with your camera and plan out your photos before you take them the better you get at thinking on the fly and being able to capture that image that you just happened upon and the more likely you will be able to capture it with intention because intention is what you need behind your pictures that is what draws people to them not what kind of camera you have what's editing software you use what tripod you use, none of these it is your vision your intention, the reason you took the picture in the first place

NATO Summit photos

the need for attention

The need for attention has never been greater, attention to our surroundings, the needs and suffering of others, the acts of social injustice, it is up to us to change the world, we are the heros we have been waiting for, we just need to  have  the courage to take action, until we take that first step nothing will change. We, collectively have the power to render a sustainable world, but to do so will take trust, and willingness to work at it, nothing worth doing ever comes easy...this is worth doing, it is worth the effort, the sweat, the late nights and early mornings, the short lunch and tireless toil. That is part of building a better world, a better life, this is what I am working towards, and I would be honored if you joined me. For me it is through artistic endeavors, photography, film, painting, writing, and music, that is my skill set, what can you contribute to a better world that is possible?

street photographer

Wandering the streets of Chicago with a camera I can revisit the moments previously  only recorded to my minds eye, once it is loaded to my computer I can highlight and bring its voice to the forefront, direct attention where it is needed, affect change, and if I do it right just maybe change the world even if only in a small way, I use photo editing in such a way as to heighten the drama in a photo, so I can break down the walls of indifference we erect as a safety mechanism,  the society we live in has become so desensitized to other people's suffering that when we encounter other people's misfortunes we reply with a shrug of the shoulders as if to say "bummer dude, not my problem" we are losing our humanity to indifference,  it takes an added skill to get through this wall we build, to break the layers of ice on our hearts and rekindle the fire of brotherhood and empathy, this is what I am striving for, not just pretty pictures but something that will move people to action,  a call to arms, but not to fight eachother but rather to hold, and rebuild eachother, we are all comrades, it is our birthright as sentient beings, we are losing  vital contact with eachother in this world of commerce, war, and indifference, the saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, with my camera...I am trying to talk to you.