a digital trading journal
Picture a New You: 6 Fundamentals of Photography That Can Ignite Your Success In Any Field
3 June 2024
Let’s get to the meat and potatoes. You and I are spiritual beings. There, I said it. We possess a unique ability to be able to see something, and then experience it. Some people call that FAITH. From my childhood, I can recall the many vacation bible school and Sunday school lessons on having “FAITH”. But what exactly is FAITH?
Being a student of the Bible, my working definition of Faith is that it is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for; the EVIDENCE of things not SEEN. Not to get too preachy but allow me a few moments to interpret this as I know it to be true. SUBSTANCE is life energy. Some people call it vibrations or others call it: thought. EVIDENCE as it is used in the preceding lines is a visual representation of facts.
Here is where you will be introduced to a theme that will be heavily imparted on the reader in every word of this post: First, we become what we think about. Second, we think in images. Our brains are the most powerful computing systems since the beginning of time. Think about it. The human brain has created the most powerful computing systems since the beginning of time. That’s not just a cute poetic line but it shows the true nature of humans to be wildly creative and extremely ingenious.
The earliest surviving camera photograph is dated back to 1826. Photography as we know it finds it birth around the 1840s. While this writing is intended to impact the future of the culture of photography, those dates are important and interesting to see how far we have come in less than 200 years.
Over the years, Photography has become one of the leading methods of marketing services to the public and the primary resource for displaying our current life happenings to the world through social media platforms. When a certain platform {instagram} was created that solely used images to provide updates, initially I was against it. I was afraid of the space. Didn’t know anything about it and I didn’t want to know.
After all, didn’t this mean as a photographer, I was now competing with every Tina, Joe, and Ansel on the planet? It wasn’t until, I began to recognize the importance that photography plays in our everyday lives that I begin to let go of my unfounded fears and share my images with the world. After all, that is why I create. In my ignorance, I also realized one thing to be true: we all have the ability to create beautiful images because we think in images.
Here is an example of what I mean: Just for a moment, think about your first car. What kind of car was it? Where were you when you got it? How did you feel? What color was it? If you are like the rest of us, all of these details are firmly secured and tucked away in our memory banks ready to be recalled at will. Going out on a limb, my guess is that you have the answer to 75% if not 100% of the previous questions.
Here is my answer: I was in college at Auburn University and my sister, MaeGaine and I were making a routine trip to meet up with my dad in Montgomery, AL for our grocery run. As struggling college students, this trip was made regularly and was very exciting. This time was a little different. When we arrived at a gas station near the local Sam’s Club, my dad was in a different car. I didn’t really think that much of it until I realized that it was a new car and it didn’t have plates.
There she was, my 2006 Oldsmobile Alero, all white, leather seats, sunroof, and 12” chrome wheels. I recall vividly what I was wearing, my favorite loafers that were Johnston and Murphy, a yellow button down and a brown cashmere Polo sweater. {Ok, I must admit the accurate recollection of what I was wearing came from a picture, which definitely shows a thrilled college student on her way to TRUE independence.}
Nice trick, I know. But in reality as this is being typed, I don’t actually have the picture in my hand. It was a moment in time that was frozen and stored in the most powerful computing systems since the beginning of time, my mind. I am quite certain that your mind is capable of great things.
As a photographer of over 10 plus years, I have come to one major conclusion about the craft that I truly love. Photography has a power that is often overlooked but that is hugely appropriate to coloring the way that we experience life. As a young girl, being taller than my peers but having the shyness of a sheep, encouragements of pursing a modeling career often flooded my ears. Considering that older people always knew what was best, I considered it but there was one major issue: I was a “tomboi”. I enjoyed computers, trains, basketball, math and reading. Modeling was not an interest of mine.
My sister was uber creative. Because we are three years apart with her being my senior, anything that she did, I wanted to do. She was and is an amazing artist. I always looked up to her (although, I outgrew her around age 13.lol). She introduced me to art and the idea of drawing and I LOVED IT. As time would have it, my other interests in technology began to grow which ultimately led to my interest in Photography.
Photography was a way to creatively express my love for everything. I would take apart my cameras and put them back together only to find that they would work better than before. One of my earliest memories of a professional photographer was my uncle, Clifford Anderson. “Uncle Cliff” as we affectionally called him, was a smooth brother. Lowkey renaissance man, playing multiple instruments, having the style of movie star and was a charming guy that could light up a room with his laugh.
One summer, Uncle Cliff stayed with us at my mom’s home in Little Rock. My memories include him preparing us Ramen noodles for lunch but always adding his touch that made it taste more like we were at a fancy Asian restaurant.
He would top it off with a boiled egg and chives. My belly was always grateful and did multiple happy dances that summer.
Years later, fast forward to seeing my smooth, suave, charming uncle during his last days. He always encouraged my sister and I to be good and do good. My mom saw to it that I was the benefactor to one of his camera, it shot 110 film. That was one of the days that turned my life around.
Later, after stumbling through a few classes during my time at Auburn University, our Art Department introduced a Photography curriculum that was irresistible. Seeing how my engineering dreams were fading, Photography became a primary interest and the first step towards me pursuing a passion.
While this post will use the language of photography, one need not be a photographer to benefit from the ideas expressed. The language used in this message will reinforce the imagery associated with the ideas.
Tons of posts exist on the idea of improving yourself and having a more successful life. Why should you read? Trust me, this is more than a lesson in Photography. Picturing a New You, is a collection of photography related fundamentals that can ignite a new level of success. This is an attempt to use what knowledge the author has of photography and translate that information into a practical way of approaching a new you. A better image of yourself.
Self image is the governing factor to everything we achieve in our life. The image you hold of yourself is what is true.
We will tackle the following themes: Viewfinder, Exposure, Cropping, Editing, Deleting, and Developing. These are major themes in photography that can be applied to your journey to success.
Let’s get after it. Picturing a new you yet?
PHOTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS:
ViewFinder:
What are you focusing on?
What has your immediate attention?
What is your frame of reference?
Exposure:
How OverExposure can help you?
How to expose your hidden talents?
How to expose beliefs that don’t serve you?
Cropping:
How to eliminate unnecessary elements?
How to frame your future?
How to crop people out elegantly?
Editing:
How to select the best images?
How to color and manipulate images?
How to use the right software?
Deleting:
How removing old images frees up space?
How to delete toxic relationships?
How to delete sentimental images?
Developing
How/ Why to develop a new self image?
How to develop new thoughts?
How to develop your talents?
VIEWFINDER:
Where Energy Goes, Energy Grows
The viewfinder of the camera is the small screen that will show the frame the photographer is focusing on. It allows you to preview the image before you take it. In the good ole days, photographers didn’t have the luxury of previewing the images. They would snap and hope like hell that their settings were correct and everything would come out according to the way that they planned.
Since we are much more advanced in our picture taking devices, allow me to share with you one of the most important concepts you will find in this book, what you focus on will physically manifest itself in your reality. Whatever image you frame your “viewfinder” on, will develop that image in your outer world.
Recently, I purchased a longboard after months of research and endless Youtube videos on how to use one. A longboard is basically a longer version of a traditional skateboard that requires less movement, so this was perfect for me. The day came where I made a bold declaration and said, “I am going to purchase my longboard!” with conviction and confidence.
After walking into a local skate shop, I quickly realized how all the Youtube Videos I had absorbed didn’t exactly prepare me for being able to know exactly what I wanted and how I was going to communicate that with the store rep. “How can I help you?” she said. “I getting a longboard today, who can help me get my skate on?” I replied in good humor. She advised me that she was the only one working and she would be able to help me out.
I told the young lady that I was looking for at least a 42” board. We looked at all the different options they had and I got to test out a few only to remember that my skateboarding days were in the distant past. After nearly running into the display, I asked her, “Which one would you pick?” She showed me what would soon be my personal manifestation of freedom to skate where I pleased.
Of course, not to spoil the story but I bought it and was off to find some brand new skate shoes so that I could really get my longboard career off to a fantastic start. Unfortunately, the neighboring shoe store didn’t have my size, 12 which is apparently the most common shoe size for men, so I went home empty handed.
As I drove around with my new board in my passenger seat, my eyes filled with excitement and urgency of finding the perfect park to test out my new friend. But here I am, with a new board that I had been putting off for months and this weird feeling came over me, “What if I fall?” I calmed myself and said everything will be ok, if you fall you will get up and it won’t hurt you.
We arrived at a small park. There were guys playing sand volleyball and a group of young
I realized one interesting thing: I had given a lot of energy to the idea of falling. Funny how our minds work.
EXPOSURE:
Everything Comes to the Light
CROPPING:
Elegantly cutting excess
EDITING:
Don’t skip steps in the process
DELETING:
Doesn’t Serve=Don’t Deserve
DEVELOPING:
Picturing a New You
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