Joining the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) --- More Than a Stepping Stone

Recently I joined the ASMP as an Emerging Associate Member, a sub-category of Associate. This is a one-year-only category serving as a transition for photographers who are starting out or are assistants. After one year, my category is automatically changed to Associate, though, the benefits are the same. Some of these benefits include: resources for business including the ASMP Business Bible, Insurance Programs (health & equipment), The Society's magazine, published five times a year which presents news and features and is free to all members and affiliates, the Newslines page which features member activities, competition and exhibition opportunities, updates on the legal and business environment, and finally but not limited to, access to competitions, workshops, forums, and discounts on equipment.

As an emerging photographer, these resources are invaluable and the learning curve flattened allowing for accelerated growth in the industry. I started attending local ASMP meetings in Asheville, NC about a year ago. The best part about that was getting to know more experienced photographers, gaining feedback on my work, and suggestions on steps to move further in this ever-changing and competitive field. We even produced a show for our City Hall, exhibiting works throughout the Mayor's office and had a second one recently.

As we all know, there is a lot of talent out there and we all understand photography at some level due to the vast accessibility of the tools required to make photographs and the heavy saturation of images in today's visual world. I am depending on ASMP as a guide to turning my passion into my profession, while making like-minded friends along the way.


--Here are some photographs of mine that are displayed in the current City Hall show on The River Arts District, both in Asheville, NC.

Curve Studios

Gabrielle's Door

Look Up

Alwin Wagener

Ariel Photography & Networking

So one night a while back I met a guy who said he worked for a real estate company who was in need of an ariel photographer. "Lots of hours shooting real estate, as long as you don't mind traveling and hanging out of an airplane in a harness", he said and "perfect!", said I. Being very enthused about the project and as he promised to call the next day, I forgot to get his information after giving him my card. Well, no call with a lesson learned for us all, ALWAYS get the other persons info no matter how promising the scenario. For him, here's an example of my ariel work of Twelve Apostles, from South Australia's coast, taken in the springtime of 2004...I'm your man, holla!

Corporate Installation Art: Selina's Naturally

Here is a large format photographic series I made a while back, before my last trip to Vietnam. The client was Selina's Naturally and they were celebrating their new branding (formerly Celtic Sea Salt Company).

All diverse images, complemented by key words, phrases, and hand-painted shapes (taken from new branding), this project was very challenging throughout but rewarding in the end.

WNC Magazine: Artist Profile = Josh Copus - potter

I shot this Sunday for the June issue, here's an image preview---

Fine Art Photography - Commission - Phil Mechanic Studios

Two photographs printed on canvas, stretched to 45"x36" frame, finished with black painted sides, painted embellishments on surface, and UVLS protection. The complete piece is one of a kind and will not be replicated. This serves two purposes: gives the recipient a unique piece of art and pushes me to make more collectable images.

Day in the Life --- Asheville --- April 18 - 19

BlackBerry Crash --- Ideas

So my BlackBerry crashed, lacking the most recent operating system, I was forced to reinstall while swiping the data clean. Most all info was backed up (contacts, emails, etc.), except for memos. Many writings from my trip to Vietnam were lost, including a number of little poems. Here is one recollected:


Ideas


Ideas are like oxygen and we all have to breathe,

We breathe to achieve and further our lives in degrees,

To posses would be silly and the act to bully,

Our work output contrarily is owned completely,

Shared and sold to everyone's benefit merrily,

As long as we breathe, aka, give and receive,

We should all be quite happy.

Consulting for Devi Jewels

I've been consulting a bit for Merlin of Devi Jewels, with the goal of setting up a digital workflow to suit his needs, photographing handcrafted traditional yoga malas. Here is an example of what we were able to come up with.

Georgi Bora: MEMESIS --- Art Opening --- April 4

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-- Robert Frost

the long road

From March 27-30 I was in Turner's Falls, MA checking out the Hallmark Institute of Photography, known for its accelerated and highly intense 10 month professional photographer's certificate program. There I met some wonderful people including faculty, teachers, students, and various other folks in the community. This small, picaresque town, in my experience, revolves around this school with no one with a negative remark about it. For me, immediately impressed of the top-notch facilities and knowledgeable staff, it became not a question of whether this is a good school and well worth the money, but more of a question of whether this school is right for me, facilitates the work I want to pursue, and in the end makes me happy. Today, April 9th, I have decided that I will not be attending there in September and will continue upon the long road, in pursuing my dreams of growing as an picture maker, story teller, and documentarian of the world around me and my reaction to it, all the while sustaining a successful business to provide clients with effective imagery.