Friday's Featured Photographer: Amy Jackson

Amy Jackson began her photographic journey while in high school. Like most of us, she found that taking pictures was a fun way to capture life's moments. Post high school she wanted to pursue drama, but found the local college did not offer drama courses. However, her mother, an artist (painter) herself, suggested that she take a photography class instead. So Jackson registered for a Photography 101 course where she used an all manual SLR camera to learn the basics of shooting black and white photography, composition, and film development in the dark room. It was in 2006, when she bought her first digital camera, that she began to take her photography seriously. With the purchase of the new camera, Jackson found she had a desire to go take pictures all the time and with a wide variety of subjects.

Since then, Jackson has been an active member of Betterphoto.com, several photography groups, and had her work in several juried photography exhibits. She also continues to grow her photography skills by reading photography books, using online tutorials, and watching photography instruction videos.

Jackson currently resides in Newport News, VA with her beloved husband, two beautiful children and four cats. Her children are two of her favored models in her portrait work and portraits of each have won Jackson awards in the past.

Featured Photographer Facts
What/Who got Jackson into photography?

Her interests in photography started in High School and her mother was a great encourager to her

How did Jackson learn photography?
Photography 101 college course

Favorite photographic subjects?
When asked her response was, "I really like to take pictures of almost everything... portraits, events, animals, landscapes, macro photography, and I love being creative in Photoshop. Among my top favorites are photographing my children, sunrises(when I can wake up early enough for them) and sunsets, wildlife, and waterfalls." Sounds like just about everything to us.

Where does Jackson find inspiration?
"And I am inspired and thankful to so many of my talented photographer friends whom have shared equipment, advice, techniques, and constructive criticism! I don't want to leave anyone out! And sometimes just going out to shoot I get inspired by a scene or even a person or silhouette. "

Which artists and photographers have influenced Jackson?
"some of the photographers whom I have had the pleasure to meet and who helped inspire me... Ken Smith, Judy Kennamer, Shawn Jennings, Darren Fisher, Linda Lester, Carla Metzler, Shelly Van Camp and Cathy Barrows. I also like the work of Bryan Peterson, Deborah Sandidge, Zim Zuckerman, Cyn D Valentine, and Jeff Robinson, and Bill Houghton."

Advice for other photographers?
"My best advise to someone starting out in photography is to go out and take lots of pictures while experimenting with settings, read books, watch videos, and join a local photography club. What helped me the most was seeking a critique on my portfolio from a photographer whom I admired. They gave me some honest opinons and help on how to improve my work."

Make sure you check out some of Amy Jackson's work at the following websites:
http://www.photographybyamyjackson.com
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?memberID=127177
And, of course, you could friend her on Facebook where you will get to see some of her amazing portrait work hot off the press.

"A Little Help From My Friends"

To see a larger image of this picture go to http://bit.ly/o6TPdj

"Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends"

Most everyone knows this great classic from the Beatles, "A Little Help From My Friends." The lyrics to the chorus brings out a truth that I have seen over and over again in the world of photography. Most people when they think of a photographer, they think of an individual person who is standing behind a camera snapping pictures. The truth is that often a picture is not conceptualized, created or executed in isolation. There are many more people involved in each picture that is taken.

Every photographer would like to think that at least some of their images are theirs and theirs alone. To some degree, this is true. Thus why we have copyright laws and it is a hot topic among photographers. However, there are several ways that the influence of other people can be seen in a picture. Let us start with the most obvious.

This picture of rusted paraphernalia was one that I took on a recent trip with the local Sunbelt Photography Club. So already, I have five other people involved. I have companions going along with me which encourages me to get out and take the pictures. We end up where this picture was taken because Chuck Ulm knew about some photo opportunities in the little town of Oakfield, Georgia so we deviated from our original path. Once we were in Oakfield, we got to exploring their interesting town center that is replete with old buildings and vignettes of times gone by. While there, we talked with some of the locals who regaled us with stories of their rich history. They shared with us some stories that encouraged us to continue taking pictures that shows the story of Oakfield. I personally talked to four locals so that brings our count up to nine people. At one point, a few of us found ourselves taking pictures inside one of the older buildings that had a collection of old rusted items from the past. My friend, Kathie Entz, is an art teacher, master watercolor painter, and photographer. She noticed how the light was shining into the area casting a beautiful golden hugh and started thinking of beautiful intimate scenes she could create. She put together this collection of items as well as this one. Thankfully, she was sweet enough to allow me to step in and take pictures of the beautiful scene she had arranged.

Our count is currently at nine people, but there were other people involved in the making of this picture that often go unnoticed. One of the phrases you will hear me quoting often is that to take great pictures one has to look at great pictures. The more you look at other people's pictures the more they influence your own way of seeing and doing photography. I am sure that in this picture there is at least one or more artist's whose work influenced Kathie so she would have an idea how great a pile of rusted stuff would look in the right light. To be generous to our head count, I will only add one more person to the number though I am sure many other artist's influenced Kathie's ability to see this photographic opportunity. We also have to take into account that there are photographers whose work influenced how I composed the picture in my camera. I can think of two sources off the top of my head. Bryan Peterson's book "Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography" is one of them. Another resource that has influenced my creative vision is the magazine "COLOR for Collectors of Fine Photography". So that adds at least two more to our count though technically the magazine is the work of several people. I will keep it simple and put our count at twelve people.

The last area to consider would be all those people that have invested in me as a photographer over the years. So we add into the mix, my mother who taught me to see the beauty around me, my father who allowed me to be his photography companion, and my husband who has provided me the equipment. Then you have to include some of my photography mentors, Donna Eaton and the Carolina Nature Photographers Association that taught me how to get my camera to capture the picture I wanted and then how to process it so it would be art instead of a snapshot. And, make no mistake, if it was not for God giving me the talent, skills, and opportunity to take this picture, it never would have happened.

In total, it took at least 18 people to create this one image. This just adds credence to the scripture in Proverbs 11:14 that says "many advisers make victory sure." So with that I send out a special thank you to my "many advisers." I could not do it without you!

Friday's Featured Photographer: Iris Greenwell

Iris Greenwell is originally from Panama City, Panama. She was raised on a farm by parents who taught her to love and explore the world around her. Greenwell is a wonderful landscape and nature photographer who has come from a land that I consider ideal for photography. Yet, fate and circumstances would bring her to the very region I view as lacking most photogenic characteristics especially in the area of nature photography. She currently resides in Ardmore, Oklahoma, less than two hours from where I grew up. Greenwell, being the amazing woman and photographer that she is has created an impressive portfolio of work that shows the beauty that is there for all to see.

I have yet to show my family Greenwell's work for fear that they will use it in their attempts to talk me into moving closer to home. Her portfolio debunks my argument that the region is ugly

and lacking in photographic opportunities.

Greenwell currently teaches photography classes at Southern Oklahoma Technology Center in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and leads some workshops. In her teaching, she believes it is important to keep her focus on helping students create their own photographic vision while learning their camera. She also does some freelance work, including selling 'Translucid Dandelion' to ABC for use in their 2011 season of "Desperate Housewives".

Featured Photographer Facts
What/Who got Greenwell into photography?
A mixture of things. Parents that encouraged a love of nature. Mother who enjoyed photography, especially family pictures. Taking a few online classes and finding she enjoys landscape and nature photography.

How did Greenwell learn photography?
Self taught with a few online classes 6 years ago

Favorite photographic subjects?
Landscapes and nature

Where does Greenwell find inspiration?
Trees, waterfalls, and open views

Which artists and photographers have influenced Greenwell?
"Since I use filters to bring colors, I think I got my influence from photographers like (Elliot) Porter, (David) Muench and (Galen) Rowell." She is also inspired by the paintings of Albert Bierstadt.

Advice for other photographers?
"For new photographers, I like to encourage them to learn their camera setting and functions well. It is important to define your style of photography choosing a subject so you do not become confused. For example, if you like landscapes, become the best landscape photographer you can be."

Make sure you check out the breadth of Greenwell's work at the following websites:
Nature and Landscapes at http://iris-greenwell.artistwebsites.com/
Child portrait work at http://irisgreenwell.smugmug.com/
Iris Greenwell's Photography Blog at http://irisgreenwell.blogspot.com/

As always, I encourage you to friend Greenwell on Facebook so you can see her frequent posts of her latest work. Plus, she is just an all around nice person to have as a friend.

*This picture of Greenwell is not mine, it is Greenwell's. Please respect her copyrights.*

Friday's Featured Photographer: Jim Young

The saying goes: In order to take good pictures, make sure you are looking at great pictures.

This weeks featured photographer, Jim Young has a body of work that is diverse, technically top notch, and pleasing to the eye. Young was a photographer that I met through the Carolina Nature Photographer's Association shortly before I left Charlotte, North Carolina. The CNPA of Charlotte seems to attract its fair share of great photographers and I would count Young as one of those greats.

Take a few minutes to browse through his galleries. I am personally enamored by his nature photography, but as I said, his work is diverse so I am sure you will find your own favorites.

Young's Website

http://bit.ly/oUUe8u

If you like what you see, make sure you drop him a line to let him know. You can contact him by going to the bottom of his webpage and clicking on "contact" and it will bring up an email form. Also, don't forget to friend him on Facebook so you can see all the great stuff he adds on a regular basis.

*This picture of Young is not mine, it is Young's. Please respect his copyrights.*