Win-Win

I have to admit, reading the Strobist blog has been one of the biggest boosts to my photographic creativity since I picked up a camera. Just this evening I read DH's post about self-generating your own assignments, and how out of that can come some surprising benefits. That, after my most recent post about how shooting for the church has proven to be a good thing.

And now, as it turns out, shooting baseball games yields another surprising benefit.

This afternoon/evening I was shooting Peter's baseball game. I had brought along a couple of lenses and a monopod, and pretty much the whole game I spent shooting. The dad of a couple of the other team members (his two sons are twins) walked up to me after the game and said he's seen my website and likes my shots, and asked me if I'd like to shoot an upcoming track meet. He's the director of the local athletic association chapter, and they have a big meet coming up in a couple of weeks. He'd get me field position, and promote my services, and I get to sell any prints to interested parents who take up the offer. Win/win situation. Cool!

Shooting for the church is a good thing

Lately I've been asked to shoot various ministries and groups at my church. I'd post a link to their website, but right now it's about to go through a major update (for the better, I'd add). But oh, what the heck, it's www.tbbfchurch.org. The church is a synthesis of two former churches that came together with common ideals and common purpose to form a new church. It's called The Bridge Bible Fellowship, and it's really great.

I introduced myself to the new (to me) members of the church staff as a photographer, and offered my services for whatever they would see fit. That has led to many a growing experience photographically, as well as being able to bless the church with what I'm able to do. No money, but I figure at this stage in my photographic "career," it would still be a good thing, shooting in various situations. Professionally, I chalk it up to "paying my dues" as an aspiring creative professional. Of course I've been in graphic design for a lot of years, but making the leap into photography is no small feat.

The most recent shoot was last night. I was asked to shoot the youth choir, which consists of high school and college-age singers and the worship pastor, Steve Lively.

Above is one shot that came from that session. Basic three-light setup with umbrellas, seamless backdrop, nothing else. Used my three JTL 160's; one to camera right as key, camera left as fill, and from the top of the backdrop stand as a hair light, with a barn door. Triggered with my on-board flash on the Nikon D200. No post production - I'm happy to say none was needed.

Mental note: It took longer to set up and tear down than it did to do the shoot. Could I have done the same thing using two SB800 speedlights? Probably. But I figured there might be enough people in the group that depth of field would be an issue, and I wanted everybody to be sharp. So I opted for the more-powerful studio lights. Plus I have three of them, vs. only two SB800s.

Inspiration

I saw the first half of a video on Annie Liebovitz today. I must say, I was inspired. I can identify in myself aspects of her drive to make pictures, but for most of my life I've been afraid to unleash them - to my photographic detriment.

While I disagree with her politics and her social POV (there was a time I would have heartily agreed, but God has had other plans for me), I must admit I'm somewhat (envious? awed? what's the right word?) of her success as an image maker. It's only been in the past few years that I've even begun to let my dreams out of the bag and take a few tentative steps into the light.

That said, I do find the few steps I've been able to take to be immensely rewarding. And yet with each step comes a new challenge.

This is about photography

The last several months have found me struggling through the process of figuring out how my photography fits into my life. I've really tried to leave the process alone and just do what seems right, hoping in the meantime that the direction I'm supposed to take will become clear.

It's been a quiet struggle, mostly in my own mind. Mostly things have been going pretty well on most fronts, so I really can't complain. I've just not seen the progress I had hoped for in gaining financial ground through taking pictures. You know, money for photo gigs. It hasn't been happening.

What HAS been happening, though, is lots and lots of freebie photo gigs for church, which has been a great boon to one aspect of my photographic skills.

Since January, I've taken somewhere around 300 family and individual portraits for our church directory, which will be both in print and on the church website. This has involved going in early to the room set aside for this purpose, setting up a portable studio with lights and backdrop. Then, during about half an hour each Sunday, people line up, get their information updated for the directory, and get their picture taken. It's been a lot of fun, plus I've learned a thing or two about "production-line photography." It goes real fast, people smile, you shoot 'em, maybe two or three shots, show them the pictures, and they go away happy. Some have even bought prints. Because, after all, they are pretty good, if I do say so myself.

The Worship Band

I've also been photographing various classes and ministry scenes in the church, which images will also be considered for use on the website. Different kind of photography than portraits, but equally good at helping me sharpen my skills.

Jericho

The Oldest City in the World

Jericho may be known as the oldest city in the world (Damascus also claims this distinction), but it is also known as the city where the walls came a' tumblin' down. Read Joshua chapter 2 and chapter 6 for the original story of how this happened.

Well, by the time we got there, there really wasn't that much to see. Maybe because the walls fell down over four thousand years ago has something to do with that. Actually, Jericho is a small but fairly modern city today, which happens to contain the ruins of the ancient city of Jericho written about in Joshua. It's more or less on the way from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem, and it's worth going there, just to see the place.

Jericho falls under the jurisdiction of the Palenstinian Authority today (or at least it did in May 2008), and as such, our Jewish guide Mickey could not accompany us. He got off the bus at a roadside stop, and we crossed through a border checkpoint where a Palestinian soldier boarded our bus holding a submachine gun and checked us all over to make sure we weren't going to cause any trouble.

After a short drive into the center of Jericho, which is actually a fairly nice-looking small city, we came to the archaeological site and got off the bus. A brief walk up the hill brought us to the ruins, but there really isn't that much to see. Nonetheless, the sense of history and the connection to the land where the biblical story took place is profound.



After shopping in a nearby Palestinian-style mall, we boarded the bus for Jerusalem, went back through the border checkpoint, and picked up Mickey.

Soon we would be in Jerusalem, the holy city of three major world religions.

Qumron

Hopefully, when you think of Qumron, you think of the Dead Sea Scrolls. That would be correct, as there is a fairly clear account of when and how they were discovered, and exactly where, and by whom.

Again, I've returned to Wikipedia as a source of information on Qumron (alternately spelled Qumran), as well as information on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The one piece of information that stands out in my mind about Qumron is the fact that the scrolls found there confirm and verify the authenticity of the Old Testament portion of the Bible. Prior to their discovery, the oldest known texts were dated from about 900 A.D. The scrolls from Qumron have been dated to the second century B.C., over a thousand years earlier. Almost the entire Old Testament, with the exception of the Book of Esther, have been found there, at least in part, but many texts in whole. Many of the scrolls are now being kept in Jerusalem in the Israel Museum, which we visited a few days later.

Near the Entrance to Qumron


The Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem

Art Auction

I'm honored to be able to donate a large print of one of my photographs to a worthy cause. Over at Shepherding the Nations, they're having a silent art auction as a fundraiser to support indigenous pastors in India. One of my photos of the Dead Sea is featured, and I hope it brings a good price to support the work being done over there.

Update: This and two other framed prints sold for a good price, bringing money for God's work in India. See their website for more information.