A few weeks ago Frédéric Verhelst (Papafrezzo) asked me if I would mind having a go at Member in Spotlight.  My first reaction was why me; what can I offer, I don't have a distinctive style and most of my pictures end up in the rejected pile, but then I thought no it would be good to have a bumbling amateur in the spotlight ;-)

So here I am.

I am 60 years young, or will be in May this year and retired from IBM two years ago after 36 years man and boy.  Photography for me has followed the usual route; a Pentax ME Super for family and holiday snaps when the kids were young, (I have two girls and a boy, now all in their twenties), a long gap during work, house decorating and running daily life. 

Then a couple of years before I retired I bought a Nikon with a view to teach myself how to use a camera properly so that it could become a retirement catalyst.  Its job would be to get my wife and I out of the house, (at the time I didn't care if the pictures were any good or not as long as it did its job of getting us out and about).  Anyway to cut a long story short at about this time I joined 1x which is when things really started to kick off. 

I am now a frustrated, grumpy and sometimes elated amateur, depending on whether my latest picture has been selected or not, [at the moment I am frustrated :-)].

But I love 1x for one reason in that it continually requires me to up my game.  I am sure some of my early shots would now not be selected, there is so much good talent on this site with both new and existing members upping their game that I sometimes struggle to keep up.  But then that is what keeps me going....trying to keep up.

One of my other choices in taking up photography as a hobby would be that after the initial outlay, I bought a D700 and lenses out of my retirement pot, (please don't tell my wife), that any new equipment would have to be earned.  Like any hobby you don't need anything extra you want that something extra.  So far I have broken even.

So enough of an introduction.  Please feel free to ask any question you like and have a look around my homepage (chrisdixon.1x.com) which you will find is a random collection of pictures, including some of my favourite rejections ;-)

Let the questions begin

Already a very good intro here Chris - I will now think and come back with some questions.........

Hi Chris well done for stepping up. Lots of similarities in to how you came to start afresh with photography to my approach but I wonder.

What are you doing to up your game as you say? Are you doing any projects are you adding any learning experiences in the classroom or just doing it the hard way through experimentation & making mistakes?

Chris, Your portfolio shows a lovely mix of pre-visualized, pre-planned work and what I think is more spur-of-the-moment photography. I have walked around with you, so I think I am correct in assessing you as someone who also enjoys catching a surprise moment. Is this so? - do you like and enjoy the serendipitous moments that it can bring? For your set up pictures - where do you draw inspiration from? What I like is to read how you are enjoying the hobby in your retirement - one of these years this will be me Go well, Colmar

Gerry,

thanks for Question #1...good question well put.

I would like to think that I am doing projects and adding learning experiences but the reality is I'm doing it the hard way, less experimentation and more by mistakes ;-)

That said I do have some thoughts on a project.  It would be a "Series" based on the lyrics of a song, "America" by Simon and Garfunkel would be an obvious choice but then I would have to go to the States to "Look at the cars on the New Jersey turnpike"

My biggest problem in trying to up my game is that I am still at the stage where I can see a picture in my head but still struggle to capture it as an image, I need to spend more time learning how to capture/manipulate light to get the effect I am after.  So the reality is I am still a photo opportunist working on the Law of averages.  For example I have just come back from two weeks in India; 2,500 snaps and so far two rejections so only 2,498 to go :-)

Cheers Chris 

Hi Chris,

Colmar,

thanks for your question.

I think as I said in my reply to Gerry that the reality is I am a photo opportunist but would rather not be. 

For example the oil and water shots were only planned in that I set up to do something but then it is down to luck.  Sifting through hundreds of bubble shots trying to see if any have the potential for an image.  "Asteriod Belt is a classic example of this.  I had one shot where the bubbles screamed asteroids at me but then I had to play and create the planet background.  The shot took two sessions and quite a bit of photoshop.  So on one hand it was luck but then working at creating a planned visualisation.


I think this does sum me up....I need to spend less time on 1x and more out and about catching the moment :-)

Cheers Chris

PS we must sort out a London calling that you can make.  You approach to Street Photography and interacting with people has taught me a lot.

Hey, Chris...it's good to see grownups, or almost grownups, in the spotlight...oh to be 59 again!  

Yes indeed we must - my Visa-situation is likely to change for the better this year, in that I will simply be able to fly from here to the UK. We've lived in Switzerland long enough now, to be considered "natives".
Very wise words from an "Elderly gentleman" - words that apply to this, somewhat younger photographer.

Wolfgang,

thanks for the question.

The most accurate answer is trial and error but with a lot of help from my friends.

I have a bit of a problem with photographic books...I get a bit bored after the f/this and f/that bits but I have found one that is good - "The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaun".

Most of my "skill" (if you can call it that) is...and I know this is going to sound sycophantic but it is 1x and the people I have met here.

I have attended most of the London and Scotland calling sessions we have had over the years.  I was really nervous at the first one I went to in London....meeting people like Mal Smart, Petra Oldeman, Andre du Plessis, Gerard Sexton, Colmar Wocke, Ricky Siegers, Andrew Thatcher, etc. made me quiver in my boots.  Then guess what they turned out to be great beer drinking image makers not a bunch of camera geeks and I had a great time. I would strongly recommend a day or two with John Parminter if you want to do landscape.  My two Scotland shots are as a result of being with him and others in Glencoe for a weekend....I just tried to adsorb all I could, I suppose you could say I'm a bit of a sponge.

The other learning I have done is through Critique...

have a read of some of the comments/suggestions here http://1x.com/#!/forum/photo-critique/26174 and you will see how I managed to work and re-work "street photographer" before it was accepted.

The only other approach I have is based on the quote ?Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.? ? Henri Cartier-Bresson, I like to think that I must nearly be there ;-)

Harrumph!  Oh...that's right..you're referring to Chris, who might, after all, be a gentleman although he isn't in the least elderly.

Careful now King....you will make me blush....but thank you I am honoured.  It's one that I have often pondered.  When I was young my farther used to do a lot of what I would now call cheesy nude photography and I would come down stairs to find them drying all over the lounge floor.  Being a young lad, in my formative years, I did spend a lot of time reviewing their artistic merits ;-) .....but I digress. 

You do however have a very valid point in that it is down to the photographer to make a Fine Art Nude image worthy of publication.  I will ask the boss and if she says its OK I will start soliciting young ladies;-)

As a complete digression it reminds me of the old joke...
Artist to model "Do you mind if I paint you in the nude",
"No" she says

So he takes his cloths off

....perhaps we should start a retirees section?

I think there would be a substantial membership...and I think it's a good idea!  I nominate you to be president of the club.

Sorry too young

Let me know some good dates for you and I will start another "London Calling"

So am I ! 

Marie-Claude,

thank you very much.  My homepage is a way I have of getting over rejections....I can put up the pictures I like but I am waiting for the new Homepage to be produced so that I can have a bit of a tidy up :-)

Hi Chris,

sorry it has taken a while for me to come up with questions, but here I am.  I went through your entire homepage and I have to say you have quite a lot of areas covered.

A couple of questions:

1. Out of the different styles/genres you cover on your homepage, do you have a particular one that you enjoy most?

2. Like you I am amateur and I pretty much understand myself also as a 'generalist' photographer - I like to explore a variety of topics/motifs, but I sometimes wonder if this is actually contraproductive to my 'development' - obviously if you concentrate on one genre only, let's say portraiture - it will be easier to develop a style, to better much better with composition and lighting, etc. rather than shooting a large variety of odds and sods.  Do you have at times wondered/thought about this?

3. I find your approach that your photography has to pay for additional equipment admirable and very ambitious. How do you make it work and what are the main sources of income if you don't mind me asking?  There is a lot of discussion in the photography world that selling prints of your photos has become so much more difficult and I am wondering how you do?  Do you market yourself? How do you direct people to your homepage?
Or have you broken even because you haven't bought anything had?  :-)

Cheers,
Guido

Guido,

many thanks for your questions....

That's a difficult one because as you have seen from my homepage I don't have a particular style, yet.  The reason I say yet is that it is something that I would like to strive for.  Something that can be recognised as my own.  Some examples on 1x would be Andre du Plessis, Codrin Lupei, Ursula Abresch, Ben Goossens, to name but a few.

I suppose if I am drawn to anything in particular it would be one of the following:-

- Landscape, but that means getting up in the morning ;-)

- Portraiture because I would love to be able to capture a person such that it has meaning to a viewer beyond being a picture of a person and finally

- Creative Edit because it would allow me to have more control in creating an image more like those that I see in my head. But then I would have to improve my photoshop skills :-)I don't find this counter productive.  Being an amateur with no particular style my approach is to keep trying different things in the hope that one day something will click that will allow me to develop that much sort after style.  I do enjoy setting myself a challenge by only taking one lens with me so that for a day I am forced to try and capture shots within specific limitations.  It does help make me look at things differently based on what lens I have that day.Yes I have been able to buy stuff.  My first "commission" was for my local Dentist, they had just redecorated the Surgery and the walls were blank.  The dentist and I spent all of my appointment looking at my web site.  In the end they ordered 17 large framed prints.

The best I have had so far though is an unsolicited email from a publishing company in Spain they wanted to buy this one http://1x.com/#!/photo/39643 which after we had agreed the price turned out like this http://www.megustaleer.com/ficha/GR46323/lunes-amargo

In addition I have put myself out as a Wedding Photographer (snapper) with some success but I hate it

So my main sources of income are varied....as a person I am just a bit cheeky and never miss an opportunity to sell a picture or two by just talking to people.  (I once sold a couple of pictures to the owners of a restaurant just by talking to them, or did they buy them just to get ride of me?).

In all since I have retired (nearly two years now) I think I have sold nearly 5,000 dollars worth of pictures.  Now that is not all profit but it does mean that I have been able to buy some bits and pieces. The most important thing for me is that my approach gives me an incentive....Like any hobby I always want that something extra....I don't need it but want it....so it gets me up in the morning :-)

Hope that answers your questions and thanks for the interest

Cheers Chris

Thanks for answering all my qestions!
I am very impressed Chris - keep on going!

Guido

Who has been telling you that this is important, Chris?You're a likeable guy...you know that?There's more than one way (i.e., Photoshop) to get images out of one's head and into public view.

....the man in my head holding up the pictures :-)

But on a more serious note it is what I have read, or thought I have read and fits in with an optimistic view that one day I could be good and my work recognised the way the you can spot a Rembrant, or Van Gogh a mile away.  A pipe dream I know but one that I love to live.Thank you kind sir....but not everyone says that, particularly if I'm pushing a picture ;-)
One at the moment would be a bit like a fly by of Jupiter or Saturn....I can see that to make it I would need to layer different Oil and water shots with some water painting of some sort.

Another one that I have mentioned previously is a series to go with the words from America by Simon and Garfunkel

"Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together"
"I've got some real estate here in my bag"
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America

"Kathy," I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now"
It took me four days to hitch hike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America

Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said "Be careful his bow tie is really a camera"

"Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field

"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all gone to look for America

I can see an individual image for each line.  It may be a bit clichéd but apart from flying out to New Jersey and Pittsburgh it does give me something pictorial to think about. You may have guessed by now that I am one of those people who thinks in pictures, not words.

Cheers Chris

You picked a good example, Chris in Paula Simon's song.  And I think the same way you do.

Or you could be the Susan Boyle of photography and go from obscurity to superstardom overnight.  What an inspiring story hers is.

Given the choice of the two...I prefer the first....it is more under my control and less the whim of some curator somewhere :-0.... dear me was that a dig at 1x ;-)

Hi Chris

Peter,

thanks for looking through my homepage and your questions which I will try and answer in turn.....Over the time I have been on 1x I have submitted 15 pictures to Critique and generally found the input very helpful.  Now days I tend to accept a rejection and move on.  This is on the basis that selection is a subjective process by the curators and I am happy to accept that although it may be a good picture it may not fit the style of 1x.  I accept that the curators do a good job and choose the images they think are best for 1x....if I didn't like it I would not still be here :-)

Having said that there are times when I will submit to Critique because I feel that the image has 1x potential but this is not that often.  For example of the 90 or so pictures I have had rejected I have submitted 15 to Critique.  Of these two of them have been selected as a result of making the changes suggested.

These are :- http://1x.com/#!/forum/photo-critique/26174 and http://1x.com/#!/forum/photo-critique/23492This one is a bit harder to answer.  The best way I can do this is by saying that since I have been playing with the camera more I have become accustomed to looking and seeing.  I may get attracted by a shape, a colour or something that is happening more and more is the light.  My wife has commented that now I look at flowers in a way that I never did before.....I am still useless at naming flowers but find different ways to look at them.  So mostly I wait for good opportunities.  The exception to this being the landscapes from Scotland where a group of us, from 1x went out specifically to take pictures so they were planned events.

My oil and water shots were planned in that I set up to do some shots but then it is down to luck and spotting that an image has potential to work on as I did with Asteroid Belt and Sunrise.

I think for me the bottom line is I keep taking pictures and trying to improve.  If you saw some of my early 1x rejections I think you would say that I have come a long way but like most on this site still want to improve and learn more.

I hope these answer your questions and wish you luck in all of your pursuits (Photography and other genres of art(15 years ago active in oil painting) ,ski mountaineering,skiing, mountain biking,cycling, hiking,,travelling and many other outdoor activities).....you make me tired just reading the list ;-)

Cheers Chris

Oh for Heaven's sake!

Well, you weren't invited, as I recall. 

Hillbillys can join if they want to :-)

Hi Chris 

Hi Chris,The main intention for the spotlight series is to get to know the person behind the pictures or the forum posts, so and as you are one of the regular contributors here both submitting images to the screening process and here on the forum, it was not such a coincidence your name ended up on the list.I have heard from many people that wedding photography is very stressful and exhausting. Is that also the reason why you hate it? Do you do weddings together with a second photographer, or all by your own? Any tips or tricks you've learned?

Frédéric,

thanks for putting me up for Member in Spotlight I have had a great week so far.  Answering some of the questions has made me have to think more about "why I take pictures" which I would now recommend to everyone.  Every now and again it is good to revisit your motivations...I have found myself becoming re-invigorated. 

Now onto your specific questions.....
The short answer is Yes and No.  There are times when I feel that I have the tick in the box in Oil and Water for example but it is such a fun and sometimes random exercise that I know I will have another try.  Until, if ever, I find that certain style I will always try different things and submit those that I think are worth while.  From a personal point of view one of the things that I have got out of being in the "Spotlight" is I would like to develop a list of projects or themes and work at those and improve my learning and focus that way.  I am still very much an opportunistic amateur :-)Based on the number of my early rejections I must have joined just as 1x was getting more popular and harder to get images selected :-)

Just after I bought my first Nikon I started looking around at interesting/useful web sites....for example I had a play with Nikonians but soon got bored then I found a reference to 1x on Ken Rockwell's site, had a quick look and was just blown away.  I recognised straight away that 1x was going to be a place to stretch me and make me learn.

Strongest memories are twofold, the first is how helpful people were online. 

I could not have got my first picture published, Flower Arranging, with out a lot of help and support from Phyllis Clarke.  Her responses to my mail and chats were just the sort of help I needed to work through getting it accepted and then you should have seen the size of the grin on my face. 

The second most memorable and still continuing is the regular London Scotland Calling meetings we have.  As I have said in one of my earlier responses I was a bit nervous about the first London Calling....meeting people like Mal Smart, Petra Oldeman, Gerard (Gerry) Sexton, Andre du Plessis, and others is enough to worry anyone ;-)  Then guess what, to my surprise they are all lovely people with a common goal in life; taking and making great images.  A bit of me was worried that I was going to meet a group of camera geeks but none of that, we have a coffee, chat, maybe take some pictures, have a beer or two and more chat, maybe take some more pictures and then have another beer or two and even more chat :-)  It really has done me the power of good meeting and learning from them.  In fact I will be seeing some of them this weekend including Ricky Siegers who will be over from Holland.You are correct....I suppose its one of those strange things but you take what is on your doorstep for granted although I did do a large 10 foot panorama of a local harbour for the one of my commissions.  You have given me some food for thought....I need to get out more :-)The stress is self inflicted.  I work on my own and therefore have to try and be everywhere at once to try and make sure that I get "that shot" of the bride and groom....once I have that one everything else is secondary.  If they have the "one shot" that makes their day and makes them look as they expect to be, happy and in love, then the rest of the shots nearly don't matter.  Any tips....yeah "don't do it" :-) I will now only do it for friends who realise that I am on my own, I am not insured and that if all goes wrong tough...I'm not going to invite everyone back the next weekend to have another go !!It has been a pleasure and I'm glad you like some of my India shots....four "not published" so far but another in screening so maybe fifth time lucky.

Cheers Chris

Yes, I have had the same experience. Many of the questions make you reflect. We're all blind for certain things, partly because of being in the midst of it all. Often it takes others to help you see the obvious.

What's your favourite cigar and why cigars and not a pipe? I have a good Meershaum that might tempt you.

JP

Perhaps a last question: how is it to work for Big Blue, the third-largest technology company with almost half a million employees?

I'm tempted....lets plan a Lake District Calling

It had changed over the years...I joined in 1973 when the computing power of a mobile phone took up two stories of an office block.

Towards the end of my career I was involved in Outsourcing.  Now India has more IBM employees than the USA but don't lets start a debate about the ethics of Offshoring :-)

You plan, I'll attend.......

I've just changed jobs and am offshore now so I don't really want to organise it but will make every attempt to attend if something is set up.

:-)

Hi Chris,
Nice to have you here:-)
I think, you have the right mentality about rejected or published.
The most important is, that YOU enjoy photography, published here or not and that you accept you can still learn.
Seen your site and many of them, I liked to have made myself.

I'm 66, had an artistic education and art job, 42 years photography and 20 years PS experience, have+- 35% acceptance rate... as a curator we have  also our part of rejections.
Also convinced that the photos I made long time ago wouldn't make a change here.   
I still learn at my age, which make it interesting IMO and 1x is the right place for it.

As everything has been photographed, those with a special mood, POV, subject, composition and/or concept will make more change IMO. The way of difference could be:  point at the left, when everybody point at the right side.
Go out shooting when most others find shelter for the rain or are behind TV, etc...

The use of Critique Forum makes a lot of and sense and is unique on photo sites.
If an image as potency, it will make more change after corrections :-)!!

Best, Ben

Ben,

thanks for your comments.  I particularly like
mine is about 11% so I have a way to go.  You have set me a challenge :-)

Let me have some good dates for you (OEMail) and I'll see what I can do. We will need a good local guide :-)

Hi Chris... from my point of view, your photo: "Street Photographer" is a Master piece. http://1x.com/#!/photo/39643/portfolio/13752/latest-additions

Sorry for joining late but I wanted to pass by and let you know that I've been enjoying reading you very much, Chris :) Thanks for putting yourself in the spotlight !

Hi Chris,

Paul,

steady on it may go to my head ;-)

It is an example of a picture that would not have made it without the help of people on 1x.  Gerard (Gerry) Sexton was the model and both he and Andre du Plessis helped me to make it what it is.  "Critique" played a large part in its creation (http://1x.com/#!/forum/photo-critique/26174).

Cheers Chris

Nicolas,

thanks a lot. After my initial concerns about "why me, etc" i have really enjoyed the experience

Cheers Chris

Phyllis,

thanks for joining in and your kind compliments. I have always appreciated the help you have given me over the years, especially with my first published image "Flower Arranging". It is this helpfulness that I have found from a lot of people here that keeps me loyal to 1x
Housework ;-) my wife still works and I am in charge :-)....I now have a diploma in using the Hoover but failed the Washing Machine exam....I still put the wrong clothes in at the wrong temperature :-0

On a more serious note I think I was born for retirement which I put down to the preparation I did in getting ready for the "Big Change". Photography was and still is what gets me up in the morning :-) although I am now getting ready to become a Grandfather !!

Off to see some of the 1x team at the weekend Ricky Siegers is over from Holland so we have planned a little London get together....any good snaps I will post on my Homepage

Cheers Chris

Hi Chris. 

Hi Chris

Andre,

what can I say but thank you....you and your work has been an inspiration.....if only I could do my B&W like you do.

I think it may have to be the "Full Monty" tomorrow

Cheers Chris

Suresh,

many thanks for your kind words.  Glad you like "flower arranging". It was inspired by this http://www.artforall.co.uk/cca-tho_UMMAGUMMA.htm strange where you can sometimes get ideas for images!!

It would have been great if we could have met up we got to know some really nice people on our travels