Im not perfect, but I enjoy photography

In 2009, I was about to take a trip to Asia and wanted to take a real camera with me to document my adventure. Before that trip I had relied upon a Canon G10 as my main camera. However, this time I wanted to take a greater camera with more power. I did my research and purchased a Canon T1i with the kit lens. I spent a month in Asia and absolutely loved the pictures I took. I didnt have any idea what I was doing, but it was fun the pictures and loved the pictures I was creating. In the last 3+ years I have learned a lot since that time and seriously upgraded my equipment. Now I have a Canon 5d Mark III with quite a few lenses.

I was invited to a fashion show and placed in the photographer pit. I was very happy that I could be there to take pictures of the show. I was then introduced to the dark side of photography. I was put along side so called professionals who were anything but professional. There was a certain rudeness and hostility in the air. These guys seemed very stressed out and on edge. If you so much as got in the way of their lens, they would snap at you. If you so much as accidentally moved into "their spot", they came at you cold. This was the dark and ugly side of photography that I didnt want to see. To myself photography is fun much like a pick-up basketball game is fun. However, to these guys this most certainly seemed like work and they totally acted as if they were in a workplace they thoroughly did not enjoy. Sometimes I see that same attitude on these websites where someone is jumping all over myself or others for posting up some imperfect pictures. At first, I thought this was more trollish internet style behavior, but then I realized the people doing the profane criticism were probably real photographers like the ones I met at the fashion show. The ones who seem like they take this way too seriously.

So I am far from perfect in my photography, but I learn and try with each picture I take. My goal is not perfection in my photos, but simply to keep enjoying what I want to be a hobby and not a profession.

I created a website about a year or so ago to display my pictures. They also can be found on Flickr and a few other sites. These sites are meant in the spirit of sharing my enjoyment for photography and showing others what I love to do. Every once in a while I will get that angry email telling me how my white balance is off or how I missed a certain focus point,etc. I think one email stated how I simply wasted the models time. Well, I do care about how I take photos and I improve on each shot, but my goal is to have fun first and foremost. Im not here to get each and every shot perfectly correct although I strive to do the best that I can.  I laugh at the wide range of emails I receive, but none of the photos will be taken down as they are mine and proud of each one.

My hope is that I can continue to be happy taking photos throughout my entire life and not ever get disgusted as some others are apparently. I look forward to the next time I can take photos and share them with all. I will be constructing my gallery soon on DPreview and will be expecting the "good job" along with the more profane negative comments as well. No matter, you cant take away the fact that I had fun. I love taking photos, I love my photos and my only hope is that you can appreciate it like I do. I certainly love looking at your photos and certainly appreciate your contributions as well...