What This Blog Is and What It Isn’t
Hey there, welcome. I’m Michael Kelly, and I am really glad you are here.
I’ve created this blog as a space to share stories, thoughts, and lessons from my journey in photography. Whether you are just starting out in photography or have been shooting for many years, my hope is that you’ll find something useful, inspiring or maybe a little entertaining along the way.
I am 66 years old and have been creating images for about 40 years. I like to think of myself as a decent photographer and I’ve enjoyed this journey chasing light immensely. The quest to always get better has been a catalyst and to this day I learn something new every time I go shoot a composition. I try new techniques and will never be satisfied that I have achieved all I can with my photography.
I’ve been to Art School and graduated from the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver, Colorado. I’ve assisted some of the top name commercial photographers in Los Angeles, California and that experience was priceless in learning the business of photography from the bottom up. I truly learned the most by being an assistant and having to hit the ground running to get work by showing these professionals that I was eager to learn and dedicated to becoming the best I could be. It wasn’t easy and there were times I questioned my decision to become a photographer in the first place. I stuck to it and earned the respect of these pros and became a valued part of their team and business. From loading Hasselblad film backs to setting up lighting to building elaborate sets in the studio I learned what goes into making great images and the hard, long hours that these people put in. My years assisting gave me a firm understanding of the business and formed a foundation for my work ethic and a path to move forward. I feel blessed to have worked with such great people and learned during the film days. Fast forward to today and the digital world that has replaced most film shooters, although some folks still shoot film and create beautiful images doing so.
So, What Is This Blog?
It’s a place for real talk about photography and how we communicate through our images and visualizations.
That means I’ll be writing about:
MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE
I shoot older Nikon bodies and use an assortment of older Nikkor glass and a few newer lenses I’ve accumulated over the years. I don’t believe you need the newest gear in your bag to create compelling artwork you’ll be proud to share.
POST-PROCESSING WITH A PURPOSE
I am a firm believer in shooting RAW files and using editing tools such as Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom and Photoshop and others to enhance my vision for a photograph and create artwork that I love and feel joy in sharing. I don’t edit for flashy effects or the latest craze, I edit my images to fulfill my artistic vision and creativity in a way that is my style. There is nothing wrong with being a Purist and never editing your images, but I enjoy the hands-on approach to creating my art and bringing an image to life in an amazing way and with my unique style.
GROWTH AND LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE
We try things and sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t. There is no greater teacher in photography than experience. We simply do not grow as photographer’s if everything we try works out perfectly. Through trial and error and making mistakes we hone our skills and reach new levels of technical advancement and creative thought. I will share my successes and my failures in this blog and break down what went right and what went wrong. Perfection is a lofty goal… one that I have never achieved. My work has evolved through making mistakes and being critical to them and adopting ways to improve my workflow in shooting and editing my images. By studying and experimentation I have grown better and more comfortable behind the camera and in the digital darkroom. It takes time and dedication to achieve our goals with our artwork.
IT’S ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY AS CONNECTION
More than anything, this blog is about connection- connection with the land through landscapes, with memories through moments, and with each other through shared stories. Whether I am in a beautiful setting or just in my back yard with my camera in hand, I’m always chasing that sense of meaning and presence. I hope that comes through here.
WHAT THIS BLOG ISN’T
THIS WILL NOT BE A NEW GEAR REVIEW
I am not here to sell you the newest and most expensive camera or lens. I will talk about the gear I use and why I use it. I may suggest cheaper alternatives to spending thousands on the latest equipment.
IT’S NOT ABOUT CHASING TRENDS
Images do not need to be “Instagram Perfect”. This blog is about real moments, real places and real growth.
IT’S NOT A ONE-WAY STREET
I’m hoping this becomes a conversation. I want to hear from you about what you are learning, what you struggle with or are curious about. I want this blog to be our connection to learn from our shared passion for the process of creating compelling art from our photography.
I will be interested to see where this blog goes and the connections we can share as human beings and as creative photographers. I hope you will join me on this journey and feel free to express your thoughts and views on our discussions. Everyone is welcome here.
Thank you, Michael
