dmacmillan wrote:
I expressed a stylistic preference which is well represented by your work.
When I was a professional photographer, I took plenty of traditional portraits of my boys dressed in their Sunday finest. However, photos of their childhood that adorn our walls are FPJ - the first bike ride,running down the soccer field, building forts in the back yard out of packing pallets, etc.
I'm a big fan of the work of Eugene Smith, Jacques Henri Lartigue, HCB and others in the photojournalistic vein. On FB, I'm drawn to the work of Chuck Canerino and all those who contribute too the FPJ thread. I'm also a fan of Bob Dein (deinfaces).
I also like to travel abroad to get a broader understanding of the lives of those who live in other parts of the world. It's something I wish more Americans would do. Spending two hours off the cruise ship shopping at a port of call doesn't count. I've traveled to Nicaragua, traveling to the mountains of the north to help a farmer build bean arbors and a pig pen. My wife goes on a medical mission to Honduras annually, taking with her graduate students. When we visited Scotland, we lodged on farms. Our hosts were mostly empty nesters who rented out a room to earn extra income. We made many friends, an experience we wouldn't have had sleeping in a chain hotel. ...Show more →
I couldn't agree more and thanks for dropping some names! I'll check them out, maybe I'll get some ideas and enjoy some great work.
I love traveling on trips like this and to me it is so much more rewarding and meaningful (for me). It's also work! By the time I get back I need a break from my vacation lol. i'l tell ya, the Hmong women here absolutely put me to shame in the mountains! There were days I was hurting and I'm only 35! But I love it and it really does open your eyes and make you see things differently and puts things into a different perspective. To spend time with people who live in a dirt floor bamboo shack that you can literally see right through with no running water or power!?I And to think they are happy, probably happier than most of the people you and me know? It certainly makes you think about things and what's really important. I don't knock the cruises and sitting on a resort/beach sipping drinks type of vacations though. If that is what makes someone happy and recharges them, then more power to them...it's just not for me.
aero_ub wrote:
[. I don't knock the cruises and sitting on a resort/beach sipping drinks type of vacations though. If that is what makes someone happy and recharges them, then more power to them...it's just not for me.
Ken
I'm tempted to say "whatever floats your boat", but I'll refrain. I'm not knocking cruises per se, I'd love to do an Alaska cruise, I was just drawing a distinction between thinking you've seen another culture when all you've done is haggle with a market vendor over a souvenir compared to immersing yourself in the country.
On one of his trips to Nicaragua, a family that lived in the mountains 45 minutes from the nearest village invited my son to spend the night as their guest. He was honored and agreed. They had a hammock in a smaller room of their dirt floored house. Doug was awoken at 4:00 a.m. by a rooster standing on his chest and crowing to beat the band!
I apologize - bad manners on my part. I did greatly enjoy this series - the photos are beautiful. A friend of mine just got back from Vietnam and I've been enjoying his photos also - looks like an amazing place full of amazing people.
aero_ub wrote:
A little surprised by this Lisa. You take the time to look at these photos and read all of the comments and you chose to pick out one comment and make a confrontational post? You are an intelligent and talented woman, I'm sure in reality you know what he means and I'm also pretty sure it wasn't meant to be an insult to anyone (you). These aren't set up shots, they aren't posed, no makeup, no wardrobe, and no fancy PP editing to fix blemishes etc...it's a completely different type of photography and I can see how some might like it because it's a little different than the style/type posted more often. It's more PJ that I attempt to make nice shots out of. I'm an engineer by trade, not a pro photographer by any means, I'm not trying to sell services, videos or actions, I have no ulterior motives other than trying to share something that I really enjoy and means something to me. This is strictly a hobby for me. I really enjoy your photography and follow you here and on FB. I would have been much more interested and appreciative of your opinion on the shots instead of on an innocent comment to them.
Thank you everyone for the comments and I'm glad so many people enjoyed the pictures! I WILL put together a second post with another group of shots. Maybe not quite up to the same level overall, but when I get a little more time than I have right now, I'll post another group! Maybe on the weekend.
You have done an excellent job capturing these moments! While viewing your photos and reading the responses, your replies tell me you not only have that 'Eye' to see whats going on around you, ( if I read your profile correct) , you are wise beyond your years. Excellent job all around.
