AGO Photography » Learning

2011 Year In Review

Alan Olson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:03:35 +0000

2011 is almost over and I thought I would take a couple of minutes to reflect on this blog.

The Minnesota Photo Project was DOA. Only hit 17 weeks total. Total fail on my end.

2011 was a year of loss and transition. After being laid off for almost eight months, I was fortunate to get a new and better job. While I had a lot of free time during the job hunt, I rarely shot. Combination of laziness and lack of desire for photography.

Even with not shooting much, I probably learned more this year than in prior ones. Whether it was due to looking at more photographs, reading more books and blogs, or being more deliberate when I was actually out shooting (or some combination), I felt I was being stretched with what I can do (or thought I could do).

So what’s in store for 2012? More photo projects! I spent a good part of the holiday rediscovering the joy of photography and I’ve been inspired to shoot more and to stretch myself creatively. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.

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Thoughts on Teaching

Alan Olson — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:56:05 +0000

I was fortunate to be asked to teach a class on photography at our local bookstore in town; Reading Frenzy Book Shop. I didn’t want to have a class in which we talked about technical details or gear-related questions (although we managed to cover those questions anyway) so I focused on helping them discover and pursue their photographic vision. Some thoughts:

We had a great class of 13 photographers ranging in experience of a few months to 40 years. It was exciting to see them light up when talking about photography and vision.
I had planned on a 30 minute talk, 60 minutes to go shoot, with a 15 minute discussion after. The discussion and questions by the group were so good that we didn’t even get out to shoot, except for 10 minutes at the very end.
Since we didn’t get out to shoot, the entire class wanted to have another workshop which would be hand’s on. I hadn’t planned on multiple workshops but apparently there is a demand in the area for this. Looking at the end of September for the next class.
We hit on the holy trinity of arguments: film vs. digital, Canon vs. Nikon, and Mac vs. PC. Nobody got hurt and it was all in fun.
I forgot how much I enjoyed teaching. I did quite a bit with my old job (and now will do so will my new job!) but it’s been awhile. It’s always good to share some information, encourage someone and then get out of their way.
Teaching the class motivated me to take better photographs. I need to be more intentional about shooting more.

All in all, it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to seeing where this leads to.

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The Next Project

Alan Olson — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:47:58 +0000

After finishing up the 52 Week Photo Project, I had a little downtime to try to figure out what I was going to do next (besides updating the site, etc.). I thought about a 365 project but the odds of getting to January 15th let alone the entire year was almost zero so I tossed the idea out (major kudos to those photographers who can knock out a 365 project!).

I’ve started reading through Stuart Sipahigil’s Close to Home: Finding Great Photographs in Your Own Backyard ebook from Craft and Vision and was inspired to do a 52-week project that focuses on where I live; Zimmerman, MN. The project will mostly be in and around the Zimmerman area but will also include various locations throughout Minnesota in order to provide a sampling of the people and places I encounter in 2011.

I’m excited to see what I can turn up this year by focusing only on Minnesota and more specifically, the Zimmerman area rather than the six states I shot in last year. I think it will force me to have a more focused approach on what I’m looking at, which is a good progression on continuing to learn my craft.

{If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to check out the ebooks on the Craft and Vision site. They offer a wealth of information for a bargain price. Well worth it, in my opinion.}

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First Being the Best

Alan Olson — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:49 +0000

I’ve noticed a theme of sorts recently where the first photograph I’ve taken of a subject (mostly buildings or landscapes) has been the closest to what my vision was of it. Several times I’ve gotten out of my car, made my composition and that was it, one and done.

It didn’t matter if I had taken my time and shot a dozen or more after the fact of the same subject making various adjustments for the sky, composition, whatever, the first one ended up being the best. Now, it doesn’t happen often but several times within the last ten days it has happened and the experience has been both exciting and frustrating to go through. Exciting in the sense that once in awhile I feel like I know what I’m doing yet frustrating in knowing that it is fleeting.

Finding your vision can be a maddening journey.

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52 Week Project: Week 25

Alan Olson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:33:20 +0000

I took this picture out our bedroom window during sunset last week. Is it a remarkable picture? Not really. Technically brilliant? Nope (didn’t compose the shot to not include part of our house on the right nor did I crop it out). I do like the color and how it lights the bottom of the cloud though.

So what makes this picture part of the 52 Week Project? I just finished up Donald Miller’s book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Words and this quote from page 58 floored me:

“What I’m saying is I think life is so staggering and we’ve gotten used to it. We all are spoiled children no longer inspired with the gifts we’re given – it’s just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving in over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral.” (pg. 58)

How many shots have I passed up because it’s “just another sunset” or “just another sunrise” or “a nighttime picture of the moon and the stars over one of the lakes in BWCA last year because I was too lazy to get out the tripod I had dragged around with me for four days?”

I’m getting a headache thinking of the photographs I’ve passed up for pathetic excuses.

Exposure: 1/60 sec, Aperture: f/10.0, Focal Length: 28mm, ISO 200

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52 Week Project: Week 24

Alan Olson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:31:22 +0000

I took this last week at The Crossing’s Thrill and Move Conference. I hadn’t really planned on shooting much but when I the afternoon session off from serving, I started firing away and didn’t stop until the CF card was nearly full. This ended up being my favorite picture of the day. I have a few thoughts on shooting the conference that I’ll share later this week. It was a challenging and learning experience (both the conference and the photography).

Exposure: 1/60 sec, Aperture: f/2.0, Focal Length: 50mm, ISO 800

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Learning New Things and Findng Vision

Alan Olson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:42:43 +0000

Up to this point, photography has been a hobby that I’ve enjoyed a great deal. I’ve learned a little, made a few good images (or so was told) and even made a little money on the side. Recently though, I’ve been wondering and thinking “Is this it?” Shoot a few pictures of the kids, family, nature, whatever and then store it on a hard drive or show a few images on this blog (or heaven forbid, actually use Flickr)? Is that photography? It seems like it should be so much more.

I’ve started reading Visioneering by Andy Stanley as well as the Craft & Vision books written by David duChemin and have really started to look at what I feel are some visions for me in photography. Right now I’m in the investigating phase and am trying to be very patience and not be hasty about jumping into to anything too soon (as is my habit). In addition, I’ve been reading Light:Science & Magic and have just got involved in a new site that has some amazing potential on helping me (and others) learn about photography and to shoot better (more on that later ). Knowledge wise, I feel I’ve learned more in the past month then in the prior couple of years.

I’m not sure where this will end up but I’ve dusted off some lenses I haven’t used in awhile and will be running through some “assignments” from the various books I’m reading in order to gain more experience and to start seeing things a bit differently then in the past. I’m hoping to post a few more images here in addition to the 52 Week Project.

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