Just got the updated drone today. Not really enough time to put it through its paces. There’s an enormous library of learning videos they suggest I watch first. It makes sense that I’d need a pilot’s license for this stuff!
One of the first images from the DJI Inspire 1.
We devote an enormous amount of time and effort to improve our craft. To develop our own style. To create art. We put ourselves out there, sometimes in very vulnerable situations.
When I say “we” I mean Creatives – anybody who creates. It could be paintings. Perhaps videos. How about crafts or wood carvings? For me, it’s photography.
And those “vulnerable” situations I mentioned have everything to do with this phenomenon called the interwebs. Internets. The internet folks.
For most Creatives, their art is their main source of income. It’s a business. It’s a job and a career. It was a choice. IT’S NO OK, PEOPLE, TO EXPECT US TO ALWAYS GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE! You don’t expect to walk into your local grocery store/pharmacy/department store and walk out without paying do you? Why is it any different with photography? IT’S NOT. I’ll continue to consider freebies and I’ll make decisions based on my own business model and expectations at the time, but don’t get upset if I come right back at you with a link to purchase a commercial license to use my work.
The experts say that you need to have a web presence these days. A social media presence. Ok. Done. That opens up a can of worms doesn’t it? So how do I keep people from taking my images and sharing them elsewhere? There’s no way you can catch everything. It’s a pretty vulnerable situation indeed. Here’s my thinking:
Like I said, I can’t catch everything. It’s impossible. I have, however, discovered multiple issues where an image of mine is being used (one from my online galleries) and I have no record of it being purchased. That’s stealing people. IT’S NOT OK!
But the latest issue (the impetus behind this post) has really got me heated. Angry. Downright pissed off! And I’ll be addressing the issue with the guilty party. I’m hoping that it’ll be a simple “Oh wow, I’m so sorry.” but I feel this goes beyond “simple.” Who knows, maybe this person will approach me after I post this – we’ll see.
I discovered one of my online gallery images imbedded in a Twitter feed. I have no record of it being purchased. And credit was given to someone else for having created it! WTF?!
I’ve steered clear of watermarks, but perhaps I’m on to something with this one. Maybe you’d like to order a print of this image – the actual image with no watermarks.
Due to extreme temperatures and weather conditions, Spring will be operating on a 2-month delay.
I’m giving up Winter for Lent. Who’s with me?!
No. Not that last supper. I know that’s the end of this season.
I’m talking about the meals that we’ve been receiving for the last couple weeks since I came home from the hospital. What an awesome outreach from my church. We’ve enjoyed some really great meals compliments of the Guardian Angels at First Presbyterian Church.
Last night was the last one and we’re so thankful to all those who brought us a meal in this frigid weather. Thank you.
The flowers in church last Sunday were in my name. It’s was a crazy overwhelming feeling. I’ve always heard them mention that the flowers were in other names, but this time it was me! Thank you.
On another note, it’s weird to hear what people are saying in terms of my recent surgery. On some levels it’s become a bit over-exaggerated. I think, in some circles, I almost died. It’s a bit Ferris Beuller-ish.
I can say, without hesitation, that the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
I’m always curious about what the scene really looks like in photographer’s scenes. Just going through some of my images as I prepare my year-long contract with Getty Images and I came across this one. This is the setup I had for capturing the cover image for Winchester City’s annual calendar.
Capturing the cover
It’s been a week now since my surgery ended and I suppose I’ve made a good bit of progress. And although I’ve been slightly derailed from some of my early season goals, I feel I can easily get back on track. That track will forever be a different track though, now that I’ve faced a fairly significant life event. I know I’ll be much more motivated now to complete goals and to live an even more healthy life than I have been. Let’s face it, there’s always something more healthy we all can do.
I certainly have a changed perspective on various levels. For instance, I have a clearer grasp on how much pain my body can withstand. And this experience has certainly made me more focused on my physical health.
I haven’t had a real camera in my hand in almost two weeks and, believe me, I’m chomping at the bit to get back out there. I promise there will new images soon. Most of my Facebook Page followers have seen some of these images, but I wanted to put them here as well.
But more importantly, I’m focusing on my recovery and am thinking back on all the nursing staff that got me through it all. The care that I received from the nursing staff on the Step Down unit at Winchester Medical Center was just top-notch. What an intensive line of work that can really test one’s patience (ha!). Most of the time I really felt as if I was the only patient on the unit, they were that good.
So my sincerest gratitude goes out to the following nurses on Step Down unit at Winchester Medical Center:
I had never met any of them before and will probably never run into them again, but man it felt good to get the care I needed to get through this.
A thrombosed popliteal aneurysm caused my lower leg to start “dying.”
On the road to recovery.
Cedarmeade Studios 