Hedgerow

"All that we are is a result of what we have thought."
- Buddha

Prize Every Time

Prize Every Time, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

The other day when I was going for lunch with my daughter in the city, we had to park downtown where they have parking meters. I had dug around and found a handful of change, and so had my daughter. Not really knowing how much I needed. I put in a few quarters and had more than enough time. But I still had a handful of change and so did my daughter. So she put some in the next meter. And then as we walked to the restaurant we just put in a quarter here and there wherever we saw the time was running low or had expired.

You know who benefited the most? Me. Try doing something random sometime and see how it makes you feel. You'll be surprised at how much it can lift your own spirits.

Busy Busy

Busy Busy, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Starting today the summer craziness begins. Off to the city for a doctors appointment, and (if I get ready soon enough) lunch at the fabulous Red Star restaurant. We ate there father's day and I loved the sweet and sour fish. I want to try it again!

Sunday I am off to Calgary to deliver prints to the Stampede and then I'm in Olds for a few days for Fibre Week. Wednesday I'm back to Calgary for the opening of the art show. Then Saturday I'm off to Edmonton for the weekend for a family event. Thursday back to Edmonton............and so on, and so on. Posting will most likely become erratic.

People Are Friendlier In Summer

People Are Friendlier In Summer, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Have you ever noticed people are friendlier in summer? At least up here where winter occupies close to 9 months of the year. Summer brings about a dramatic positive change in people. I wonder if people living in hot climates are friendlier in winter when the weather is milder.

Two Many Irons

Two Many Irons, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

This is one of my personal favorites from the branding. When I am at art shows, people tend to ask about my use of Photoshop and assume all my images are heavily Photoshopped. I don't know what most people would deem heavily Photoshopped, but many of my images I don't consider heavily edited.

This particular has had more work than most, but all I did was use 2 of my hand painted textures as layers, a color adjustment, and a curves adjustment. Yesterday's image of the strawflower is just a texture layer. The majority of my adjustments are done in the raw conversion these days. Is that considered Photoshopping or not?

On the weekend I met another photographer whose work I instantly fell in love with. Jonathan Luckhurst. He said he uses a medium format camera and does his own printing. I asked about the softness of his images and he replied that this look is achieved while printing and the negatives are all very sharp and detailed.

So why the bias on the use of Photoshop? I've often said that many of my digital techniques are capable of being done with film. It's much easier for me, personally, to work with digital because I have a high sensitivity to all chemicals (and I don't have a suitable space for a darkroom), but I think one of these days I'm going to reproduce some of these images with film just to prove a point.

Center Of The Universe

Center Of The Universe, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

I invite you to view my Facebook Page. As long as my Internet service keeps working okay, I'll be starting to use Facebook more to update my goings on. If you're interested become a fan of my page.

Wilt

Wilt, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

I've often said life is all about attitude. Your reality is unique to you because you create it yourself through how you perceive the world. Winston Churchill said: "You create your own universe as you go along".

In one of my artists statements I wrote: "Where one person sees a landscape of great beauty and abundant natural resources, another might see a prison of bogs and bush. When one person describes where they live they paint a picture of paradise, but that same location can be painted as a bleak ‘no man’s land’ by the other person. Their visions of reality will be completely different, as will their dreams for the future."

Life is all about attitude and thoughts. Think you can't and you certainly can't. Think you can and you will. If you think the universe is out to piss you off, it will. If you think you are lucky good fortune will rain down on you. (And I certainly know how lucky I am!)

I've presented some negative thoughts about the world in the blog recently, and it's not about believing the whole world is going to hell. It's about believing that if the wrongs are understood; and if enough people can see what's broken, an effort will be made to make it right again. It's about believing in the power to overcome the adversities that we see in our own universes.

A Fine Day

A Fine Day, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there.

The Leaf Hopper

"He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack,

For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back."

- Oliver Goldsmith

Further to Thursday's post on what is wrong with society today.......

Hearing stories of the things my 22 year old daughter has to go through with people and friends today makes me believe there are few people left in this world that have any morals, or have been taught to respect other people....to be compassionate, caring and considerate of others; whether they are friends, family, colleagues, or complete strangers.

Are the people who cast aside a good friend as easily as they toss out the garbage, confident there will be a steady line of replacements available? Or do they think they can chose to call that person a friend only when it's convenient to them? Do they ever think if they kick a friend enough a day will come when they can't whistle them back?

Friends are gifts that need to be treated with as much love and consideration as you would show a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. There are a ton of quotes on the preciousness of a true friend.

"Greater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his life for his friends."

-The Holy Bible: John

"Be slow in choosing a friend, Slower in changing."
- Benjamin Franklin

"Friends are the family you make for yourself."
- Eustache Descamps

"If you want an accounting of your worth, count your friends."
- Merry Browne

And probably one of my favorites....
"A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails"
- Pioneer Girls Leaders' Handbook

What is the point of trying to save the environment if the people in it are toxic themselves? What is the point of fighting wars with foreign countries when the true enemy lives in our own backyard? How can we save the world when we can't even save ourselves?

Wagon Ride

Wagon Ride, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

I don't know how many times I've made comments about needing to learn the rules so you can know how to break them. I've always believed that part of the formula for creativity comes from having a good foundation of technical knowledge about whatever art you are creating. These ideas apply as much in photography as they do in textiles, painting, or whatever.

When you have a good knowledge of the technical rules of your art you will be able to anticipate the effects of breaking those rules. Without that knowledge everything you produce will be hit or miss. Either a happy accident or a complete failure. And when you are producing work by happy accident your chances of being able to reproduce a given effect are minimal.

The image posted today is achieved by a deliberate strong over-exposure which produced a very graphic effect. Why would I chose to create such an image? There are a couple of things this over-exposure achieves in the image. The first is that it obliterates the background, so you can't see the urban area this photo was taken in. It hides any details allowing the viewer to focus on the basic elements of the scene in an unattached manner.

It is what it is. People on a wagon ride. There are no sentimental feelings to the image. Much like the horses and driver, there is no emotion or excitement.

Steady Rain

Steady Rain, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Yesterday a 92 year old woman was attacked and beaten in broad daylight as she left a mall in Calgary by 2 females (can't call them women or ladies, because they are animals). The females were trying to grab the lady's purse but she had the strap wrapped around her wrist. When the attackers weren't able to easily grab the purse they pushed the lady to the ground where they punched and kicked her.

There was also a report on the news last night about a family from (I think) California that had it all. Self employed making lots of money and able to afford the American dream and all the toys. Now they are struggling to stay afloat, but were talking about how much happier they were as a family. About how instead of running frantically through life trying to make more and more money, they were forced to go back to a simpler lifestyle.

They were growing their own garden, cooking and eating meals at home together as a family. And doing more family oriented activities to both, survive and entertain themselves. The family went on to say how much happier they were. This is no surprise. I have known from a young age that the families who didn't have a lot of money and had to work harder to survive were also the happiest.

Wake up people! We as a society need to get over our greed and singular focus on getting ahead at all costs. What is wrong with the world? What is happening to our young people that they have no problem committing such violent crimes? What is wrong with parents and society in general, that such people are being raised in our society today?

My 84 year old mother in law frequents the same mall where this attack occurred. It could have easily been her attacked. Do those animals who attacked a 92 year old woman have no mother? No grandmother? How can they live with themselves?

Someone commented on my blog post about roadside memorials that victims play 50% of the crime. I'm sorry - there is not an ounce of my body that can accept that way of thinking. There is not an ounce of my being that will believe this 92 year old woman was in any way responsible for being attacked.

The Clown With The Candy

The Clown With The Candy, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Maybe I'll use this image to advertise my Candy Store - Eye candy that is.

If you have some spare time I would welcome your comments on this online shop. Tell me what you think of the design, layout, image presentation, prices.....or whatever else you'd like to comment on. What was your first impression?

Something For Nothing

I know I said more work, less Internet this morning, but part of the work was getting these B&W ACR presets uploaded to Lulu.

I've got 12 different B&W presets packaged in one file. These are the presets I have been using with my infrared, Lensbaby, and western heritage images for the past month or two. Most of these images are processed with the preset and nothing else, so it's instant gratification. The cost of the package is $12.50.



Note: If you came here looking for my Twitter free offer it's now expired. Sorry to say that no one took advantage of the offer.

Prairie Stars

Prairie Stars, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

More work less Internet today.

Like A Willie Nelson Song

So this year was my first time trying my hand at moving pictures at the rodeo. Operating a video camera is quite a bit different than using a stills camera. Just because you might be good at one, doesn't mean you will naturally be good at the other. I put together a short little slideshow combining my stills and moving images for the rodeo's website. (There is a larger, 640x480px version available on YouTube. )

I am so used to viewing the world through a viewfinder than to suddenly have to use an LCD screen to follow your subject is foreign to me. I kept wanting to close one eye and stick the video camera right up to my face. Consequently I sometimes had trouble following the subject. However it was a nice change and I quite enjoyed my hand at filming.

There have been countless times when we've said that we should have a video camera around. Mostly they have been moments when the dog or wildlife have been doing really hilarious things. Unlike stills photography though, the subjects available for video is quite limited. I mean, a video of flowers would be pretty darn boring wouldn't it? So I really wouldn't expect to see a lot of video from me in the future.

Lariat

Lariat, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Once again I'm feeling like a silly girl. One of the biggest expenses in preparing my work for galleries and doing exhibitions is the framing. So anything to help cut expenses without sacrificing quality is most welcomed. I knew that cutting my own mats could save me some money but I never really looked into it because I thought it would be difficult to do; or would be something that I'd screw up and end up costing me more money.

Well I messed up on the mat opening size of a recent order, and I didn't have time to order more custom mats, so it was either find some precut ones or do it myself. My opening size was not a standard size.

The other things that had me resisting the idea of cutting my own were the price of the cutters and the time factor. But yesterday I decided I had no other options and bought a mat cutter. I got hope and read the instructions and about 10 minutes later had 2 perfectly cut mats and was feeling silly for not doing this earlier.

As a price comparison I was paying $12 for a 16x20" acid-free mat. A 32x40" piece of acid-free mat board costs $18. I can get 4+ mats out of that. I say 4 plus because the opening size can then be reused to cut a smaller sized mat. I am saving a minimum of $7.50 on every mat. But in reality I'm probably saving much more than that because of the potential to use the mat openings.

By the time I've cut 18 mats the cutter will have paid for itself too. And I'll probably have those 18 mats cuts by the end of the month. BTW, this post has nothing to do with the image, except that I'll be printing and matting some of these branding photos!

The Surveryor

The Surveryor, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Storm Season

I have been a weather watcher with Environment Canada for 21 years (tweeted it was 20 years but then found it's actually 21). The summer season is thunderstorm season and if there are storms in the forecast you can find me keeping a close eye on the sky.

We had our first major thunderstorm yesterday. More are expected over the weekend. I am usually pretty careful to get off the computer and unplug them when the storms approach, to avoid frying the computers. Tornadoes are a very real threat with many of these storms. We have had them touch down just a mile up the road from us, and over the years I've reported several funnel clouds and other events that later turned into tornadoes.

I always think that I should probably store my image files off-site, just in case something should ever happen to our home. If we ever got hit by a tornado or had a fire, at least my livelihood wouldn't be completely lost. I have a 'fire box' with our essentials that is ready to grab at a moments notice, but there could be times when you don't get that moments notice.

Anyhow I wanted to give you some interesting storm information:

1. Tornadoes are not always visible from a distance. Most people assume a tornado can always be seen by a funnel cloud, but, in fact, a funnel cloud is not necessary for a tornado to occur. A funnel cloud is formed from the condensation or dust, which may not occur or be obvious.
2. Today's sophisticated weather predicting can't predict a tornado. Doppler radar can record precipitation and wind patterns, and satellite imagery can show the height of clouds. Both of these can be used to indicate the severity of a storm, but a tornado warning can only be accurately issued after being reported by eyewitness accounts. This is why weather watchers are such an important part of the weather warning program.
3. Tornadoes do not necessarily make any noise. Many people have the false impression that you can hear a tornado coming with a roaring sound like a train or airplane. Any sounds that may occur are caused by the damage to buildings and trees, or from hail and rain.
   
4. It is not windy near the tornado. A tornado usually forms where the storms updraft is. There will up be an light upflow wind prior to the storm, then the air will usually become calm when the main updraft is overhead. Once the storm passes overhead there will be a cooler outflow wind. The wind can also be used to tell which side of the storm you are on. If the winds are blowing away from the storm you are on the backside. If they are blowing towards the storm you are in front of it.
   

Fitting In

Fitting In, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

You know those 4 free weekends I mentioned having between now and the middle of September? This is one of them, and we've now got plans. And one of the other free ones in July is now occupied too. So we're down to 2. You want to know the really sad part? We're already starting to book into next summer!

Really, I don't think it's good to be that busy. We have a golf tournament coming up then end of the month and we haven't even been to the driving range yet. What about just sitting outside on a beautiful evening having a game of boccie and drinking lemonade? How do we fit it all in?

Every Tree Has It's Day

Every Tree Has It's Day, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

My garden is planted and hopefully, despite the late snow and frost, on it's way to providing us with some fresh summer eating. I always forget from year to year what varieties I've planted, so with my apologies to readers, I'm going to record that information here for the future. (I should probably just keep a journal.....but a blog and a journal are more than I'd keep up with.)

From MacKenzie Seeds:
Custard White Zucchini
Tendersweet Long Hybrid Carrot
Amaranth Edible White Leaf
Vegetable Marrow Long White
Mr. Big Pea
Armenian Cucumber

Gelato Red Mesembryanthemum, Lavatera Silvercup, Delphinium Pacific Giants, Cosmos Early Senstation, Blue Fescue Grass.

In my little planter in the sunroom I have planted Cilantro, Watercress, and Lemon Grass.

My bedding plants got touched by frost, and I'm not sure if they'll come back or not. I'm hoping I can go to the greenhouse this weekend and get a few more; and also a tomato plant or two.

Grazing Lease

Grazing Lease, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

The other day Kelly over at Red & The Peanut asked what it felt like to be there for the image High Ground. It is weird timing that she asked that.

I had just finished writing and deleting a post that day about how I feel at certain times. Specifically my post was about how on Saturday I had driven to my sisters farm and at how incredibly beautiful the scenery between my place and hers was; and I was reflecting on my opportunity to photograph the branding, and that I'd be photographing the rodeo the next day.

I had written about my love of western living and how much I thought it was a privilege to have some aspects of my life the same as my ancestors who came to Canada during it's infancy. I had written of how I am proud of my western heritage; and that I hope someday my daughter will also feel a similar pride in her heritage. I had written about how, despite our horrible weather, we live in such an incredible area of the world that finding inspiration and photographs to make is never difficult.

There are hundreds of photos that could be made in the hour long drive from my house to my sisters. There are thousands more in the 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive from my house to my dads farm on the prairies.

I've written countless posts of a similar nature but always end up deleting them because I think they are too boring, too personal, or just too sappy. When I see scenes like High Ground, or Grazing Lease (as shown here) the feelings I have are almost overwhelming - hard to describe.

It is at once an incredible sense of how lucky I am to be able to witness such beauty. There is a sense of nostalgia thinking about the generations past that have also witnessed this exact same beauty over the centuries. There is a sense of sadness at the uncertainty of whether or not future generations will have the freedom to see the same scene - or if the scene will exist at all. There is a sense of strength at the power of nature. A sense of urgency in recording this living history before its gone for good.

There is also this sense that if I could just make the rest of the world see and understand what I see and feel that maybe, just maybe, the world could focus its energies on what is right. And we, as people, could learn to be more tolerant and forgiving, and be at peace with each other. There are a lot of aspects of the world that are broken. When I take a photograph, there is a tiny wish inside that it could act like a band-aid to help fix what is broken.

Those cowboy codes I posted yesterday play into that. Although at first these mantras seem very idealistic and old fashioned, don't you think they still apply today? They aren't taught and they certainly aren't practiced, but how much more pleasant a world would it be if they were?

As an artist, that is how I feel. (And once again I'm tempted to delete this thinking it is TMI - but I won't!)

La Petite Fille

La Petite Fille, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

This image presented itself in the briefest of moments. One that, had I been looking the other direction, would have been missed. It is the type of image I've been wanting to make for a long time.....children in classic, timeless settings.

I am hopelessly shy and approaching people on the streets to ask permission to photograph them or their children is not something I've been able to overcome yet. Just photographing people candidly in public was a huge step for me, because I hate being the center of attention. But the minute you put a large camera around your neck you are watched carefully. People's first instinct is that you are a media person or journalist and they want to know what the story is.

Being an artist is exactly the wrong career choice for someone that hates the spotlight, but I know that I am not the only artist that has been shy and uncomfortable being the center of attention. There comes a point in time when the art itself becomes more important than your own comfort, so you learn to deal with it.

My images are now being represented by First Light, so I'm in a position where I'll have to get model releases for images with recognizable people. This scares me, but I know I'll have to do it. I'm starting with the cowboys featured in the branding images. I should have had forms ready when I was there, but I didn't. So now I'm having to spend extra time tracking down names and addresses.

I wonder how other stock photographers approach casual strangers on the street to get them to sign releases. What do they have to offer the person in return?

Rodeo

Gene Autry's Cowboy Code
1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nations laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.



Hopalong Cassidy's Creed for American Boys and Girls
1. The highest badge of honor a person can wear is honesty. Be truthful at all times.
2. Your parents are the best friends you have. Listen to them and obey their instructions.
3. If you want to be respected, you must respect others. Show good manners in every way.
4. Only through hard work and study can you succeed. Don't be lazy.
5. Your good deeds always come to light. So don't boast or be a show-off.
6. If you waste time or money today, you will regret it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways.
7. Many animals are good and loyal companions. Be friendly and kind to them.
8. A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be neat and clean.
9. Our country's laws are made for your protection. Observe them carefully.
10. Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate than you. Be glad and proud you are an American.



The Lone Ranger Creed
1. I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.
2. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.
3. That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.
4. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.
5. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.
6. That "this government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live always.
7. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
8. That sooner or later...somewhere...somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.
9. That all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever.
10. I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

Interesting thoughts. Substitute your religious deity and country, and these could very much still apply. Or should still apply.

High Ground

High Ground, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Horses on a high ridge with storm clouds in the background makes a fine western art image.

This photograph was originally taken in color but B&W suits the subject better, I think. I used one of my B&W Presets in Adobe Camera Raw to process this image. I enhanced the contrast in just the clouds in Photoshop.

Shell Shocked

Shell Shocked, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

I think most of us are feeling a little shell shocked this morning. It's rodeo weekend, and just like every year, the first weekend of June is known for being wet. But this year is a first.

We woke up this morning to several inches of snow on the ground. This is the first time in the 23 years I've live here that we've had snow on the ground in June. It's a new, all time weather low. It has snowed every month of the year before, but usually all that meant is that there was some white stuff mixed in with rain for a brief period. Never enough to accumulate and stick to the ground.

Thursday I was in the city with bare feet sandals, short sleeves and no coat taking pictures of the blossoming trees. Yesterday I was cooped up inside working on slideshows while it rained outside. Hoping today would be a bit warmer for me to go photograph some of the rodeo.

But it isn't....so I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

And on the subject of slideshows.....I can't seem to burn DVD's on my computer anymore. They burn, but the quality is awful - they skip, the sound is scratchy, and they are just generally choppy. I spent a couple hours looking online but couldn't come up with any solutions. Anyone experience this problem before?

The Cowboy & The Calf

The Cowboy & The Calf, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

I like taking care of things. For years we had sheep here on the farm, and before that a flock of Angora goats. Springtime was lambing time, and the world stopped while you tended to the animals. It's the one thing I still miss about not having any livestock anymore.

Getting up in the middle of the night to go outside and check for lambing ewes. Sometimes there would be one lambing and you'd pick a quiet spot in the corral to sit and wait. In the dark there wasn't much to do but gaze at the stars and listen to the world around you. The squeaky peep peeping of the Boreal owls, the faint and gentle bleats of ewes and lambs, the distant call of a pack of coyotes.....

Every now and then the animal terrorist groups will take fire at ranchers or farmers. There isn't anyone in the world that cares about animals quite the same as these people do. It's their livelihood and raising strong healthy animals is their main concern. You really couldn't devote your life to raising livestock if you didn't have a genuine love for the animals.

Other People's Lives

I've been having a bit of a moral "hmmm" lately; and thought I would pose a question for you (not that anyone actually ever answers the questions I ask here!).

Does a drunk driver that's involved in a serious accident; and then subsequently dies of his injuries deserve to have a roadside memorial? What if his victims also die?

A couple of weeks ago a drunk driver ran, head on, into an ambulance. Inside the ambulance was an RCMP officer that had been exposed to meth in the line of duty. The officer (correction: It was the ambulance driver that was seriously injured) paramedic and the drunk were both seriously injured. The drunk has now died. No word on how the other victim is doing. (Update: he is still in a Calgary hospital facing a long recovery. Local Story). But some friends were telling us that when they were going to town the other day the family of the drunk were placing a roadside memorial. They went on to say the family were crying and hugging the cross.

I have absolutely no respect whatsoever for drunk drivers and think that anyone who does so should have their license revoked without any questions; possibly for good. Anyone who kills someone while driving drunk should be charged with homicide. So there is this part of me that would like to see the memorial removed. The drunk does not deserve that honor. (Really I think those memorials are stupid to begin with, but that's for another post.) The drunk does not deserved to be remembered in such a public way.

But what about being compassionate for the family? This was somebody's love one. Family have the right to grieve and mourn, but in a case like this, shouldn't it be in more private fashion? If it was your dad, uncle, son, brother that had caused such a serious accident and had died himself, would you want to remember those actions through a roadside memorial that you would have to drive past every time you left town?

I can't image the memorial for a drunk driver standing beside the memorial of his (or her) victim(s).

Wade

Wade, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

I love these birds! This is a Greater Yellowlegs. We have Lesser Yellowlegs in our pond at home. Sometimes the bigger ones are here too, but this guy was found at a nearby lake. I haven't actually even been out to our pond for a week or two. I want to leave the nesting ducks alone, but I'm betting it's almost time for them to have babies. Maybe I'll see if I can quietly check on them today.

I've been having a couple different conversations with people about the business aspects of an art career with such topics as marketing and pricing. Daniel Sroka pointed out a blog post by Lisa Call on pricing and the reasons she raised hers.

This has really got me thinking about my prices and whether or not they are realistic for a long term viable art career. Here are some things that need to be taken into consideration when pricing your fine art photography:

• Cost of equipment (without it you aren't even getting out the door on this one! Don't forget that equipment breaks down and needs to be replaced occassionally.)
• Time spent capturing the image
• Cost to capture image (and we're not talking $8000 to take that family vacation to China where you also took pictures, but we are talking the gas to drive to your local lake, or horticultural park, or wherever you go to take the majority of your images)
• Time spent processing the image. (You should not charge less than minimum wage for your time in all aspects of your art. Here in Alberta that is $8.80 an hour - make no apologies if you charge more than minimum wage.)
• Cost of print. (If you print yourself don't forget to add in a labor charge, equipment costs and maintenance, inks, paper, shipping expenses for supplies, etc. If you use a printer, don't forget shipping charges.)
• Cost of any presentation. (Things like matting, framing, packaging.)
• Advertising expenses. (If you are advertising online, don't forget your time to list products on your website or wherever you advertise, as well as server costs.)
• Commissions, dues, and fees (include anything you pay to a third party as part of your business. I belong to three professional arts organizations which all require yearly dues. Galleries typically charge a 50% commission.)

The field of photography is huge. The number of people trying to sell prints is even huger. The price points of so called 'fine art prints' is wide, with a large pile of photographers charging $5, $10, $15, or $20 for prints. But there are the professionals out there who are making a real living at fine art photography. They are not charging $5 or even $20 for a print. It's more like $300 for that same small size; or $1000 or more for that bigger one.

Yes, you may be able to get a print done at Costco for $2.00, but when you sell it for $10 are you really making a profit when you consider the things I've outlined above? I doubt it. $10 doesn't even cover my time to list the print online and blog about it! At $10 are you going to have a viable long term business? I doubt it. Are you going to make it hard to be taken seriously as an artist should you decide to pursue photography as a real career later? Probably.

I do intend to spend the rest of my life doing this, so I've got to make it viable for me to do so. Yes, photography is a passion. Yes, I love what I do. Yes, I'll always be an artist of some form or fashion, no matter what. I've spent 15 or more years working as an artist and not really making anything at it. Financially, our family would have been much better off if I'd gone and flipped burgers at the local hamburger joint for those 15 years!

So fair warning, my prices are probably going to increase again in the next year.

Idyllic Afternoon

Idyllic Afternoon, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

Photography is so often associated with journalism and I think that's a good thing that every photographer should remember. Even if you are a portrait photographer, a nature photographer, or whatever category you might fall under, you are probably trying to tell a story through your pictures. I think that is one of the things most often forgotten when people take a picture; what is the story you want to tell.

If you ask yourself this question before you take a picture it may just influence your decisions on composition, exposure settings, and even how the image is later processed. For example, when I saw this barn my feelings were of how peaceful and simple country life is. How quiet and relaxing it is to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban chaos.

I had many angles I could have photographed this barn from. I could have chosen to include the whole barn or focused on any individual architectural detail. I chose to show the side of the barn where the trees were forming shadows because those shadows, to me, speak of the quietness....of being able to hear the wind. I wanted a wide enough view you could recognize the building as a barn, but without the distraction of a competing background. I chose the composition of the three windows because of the simplicity and balance.

What do you think? Now that you know the story I was trying to convey, does it work? Was I successful? What would you have done differently? Do you ask yourself what the story you want to tell is before you take a photograph?

The Set Up

The Set Up, originally uploaded by Uncommon Depth.

It comes every year right on time. You can practically set your watch by it. We get a week or two of really nice weather in May, and you just start thinking maybe summer is here, and then June comes along....you're thrown right back into the crappy weather Alberta is so well known for. We go from basking in the heat and sunshine to frosty, cold grey skies. Soon the rains will start and stay for the entire month until we're all so waterlogged and grumpy we seriously consider trading in our cars for boats.

June is locally referred to as Monsoon Season. The rains will probably start on Friday because, just like every year, Friday marks the start of the local rodeo. Well......technically the rodeo starts on Wednesday night with chuckwagon racing. But the rodeo, as in the CPRA events, don't start until Friday evening. Maybe this year things will be different. Maybe it will be like a couple years ago and instead of the cold monsoon rains, we'll get afternoon thunderstorms.

At least then there is some heat between the storms and I don't have to wear mittens while trying to photograph some of the events. Although I wouldn't wish for the hail we had that year that caused so much damage. We had both our vehicles at the rodeo that year, and they both suffered damage from the egg sized hail stones.