I am blessed to be making my living doing something I am passionate about. Being a photographer is a wonderful lifestyle, and having the respect of my peers and clients brings me great satisfaction. It is over 20 years since I photographed my first pro assignment. One important lesson I’ve learned is the difference between the art of photography, and the business of it. While many photographers are driven by the need to create artistic works, that artistry is not always what drives a successful business. Developing and maintaining a successful business requires a significant amount of time and energy performing tasks unrelated to the creation of art. Marketing, accounting, networking, customer relations … all the things that must be done to grow the business consume much more time than the creation of beautiful images, the art that the business revolves around.
As my photography business grew, there was increasingly less time to devote to other artistic ventures that I am also passionate about. Since I was young I have been creating art. Though I never pursued other media with the same intensity and focus as photography, when time and impulses allowed, I would draw, paint, or write. Well, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had the time to dedicate to such practices, but today I was going through a closet (for something I can’t even remember now) and came upon one of my portfolios of pastels. I got caught up in reminiscing while viewing some of the works inside, a bit saddened by my inability to dedicate time to creating art outside of the business of photography. I decided to post one of my pastels to give a glimpse at another side of me rarely seen by my fellow photographers.
I created this work in 2003 while a member of the Art Students League of Denver. I’ve worked primarily in pencil, charcoal, and acrylic, so I dedicated my time at ASLD working strictly in pastels to explore color in a new medium. I came to enjoy pastels because of their immediacy and availability. Pastels were a nice transition for me, being similar to charcoals.
Anyone well acquainted with art might easily recognize this particular piece. It is my own reproduction of Edgar Degas’ Dancer Adjusting Her Slipper created using both Sennelier and Rembrandt Soft Pastels on pastel paper, sized about 20×24. The original, created sometime between 1880-85 and housed in a private collection, was one of hundreds of dance works by Degas. At the time I created this reproduction much of my photography was dance related, and my love for dance naturally extended to my fine art efforts. Who better to turn to for inspiration than Edgar Degas?
While I love photography and the life it allows me to enjoy, I wish it allowed me time to pursue other creative exercises. I especially want to work in oils, and perhaps dabble again in acrylics. One of my favorite living artists, Stephen Quiller of Colorado, creates gorgeous acrylic paintings. He has also written one of the most excellent, practical books available on color theory and mixing, titled “Color Choices”.
Perhaps it’s time for me to re-evaluate how I do my business of photography, not at all to be less committed to it, but to have time to pursue these other passions that enrich my life beyond the demands of running a business that, while an artistic venture at its core, still proves to be more about business than art.
Pictured is my very own tantalizing bottle, which was prominently displayed at the very entryway of the local World Market. Their price is especially affordable, for those of you still waiting to make a purchase. Why you would be waiting is beyond me, and spare me the drivel that Beaujolais is not your thing! I am not normally enticed by young, fruity red wines, preferring a robust Cabernet or spicy Chianti. One of my favorite wines of all, the Antinori Tignanello, is a deep, rich, saucy Italian red with profound finish. My first encounter with it was enchanting! But, for wine lovers the world over, the introduction of the new Beaujolais comes after much anticipation and bottles are released and uncorked with great joy and fanfare. For those of you unfamiliar with this rich tradition, every year, at one minute past midnight on the third Thursday of November (which is today), the race begins all around the world to be the first to serve the new wine from a harvest completed only a short time ago, usually in Septmeber. This years harvest is expected to be as good as last years. George Duboeuf states, “The few grapes I have tried were astonishingly sugary, flowery, and very tasty.” And after tastings from the first pressings, he goes on to say, “In the mouth, the first vats tasted are very pleasant with the great flavor of fresh grapes, bursting with red fruits.” 
