So let me start this post right out by apologizing for neglecting it for such a long time! The holidays are over, so I can't use that as an excuse any more. But I hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday season. And as this picture suggests, last night was a wonderful New Year's party thrown by my friend Laurie Excell and her husband Frank. For all of us, it's the highlight of the year! I mention this because Laurie's images literally leave me breathless, and inspire me to continually strive to be a better photographer.
So I sat down this morning, the first day of 2012, and started going through my own archives to look again at what makes me enjoy being a photographer, and post some work I've never shared here before. So much of the time I'm behind the camera doing lighting workshops in the studio, or teaching digital photography to my client dentists. I love doing all that very much, but I overlook some opportunities to just get out, look, and shoot. So that's going to be my New Year's resolution: do more, shoot more, look more, enjoy more. Plus: give credit to the photographers in my life who inspire me everyday.
Laurie, of course, is just wonderful; as a photographer, an artist, a person. She conducts workshops all around the world and is the Photo Equipment Advice Desk Guru for NAPP. We used to work together many years ago at Pro Photo Supply in Portland, and would often bring in photos to share with each other and critique. You can't imagine how much I miss that. I highly recommend you follow her blog:
www.laurieexcell.com/blog.
My friend/mentor/studio partner Whitney Stevens is also a cherished source of inspiration. Her studio work -- portraits, maternity, boudoir, children -- is extraordinary; her lighting and posing is so fluid and immediate it can't help but take away your breath. And then, of course, the photography challenges she gives us: remember Red? When you give yourself and others a challenge to step outside your comfort zone to find new ways to see things and create images, you're going to be better at your craft.
And my brother Jim Hutt, a supremely talented photographer who supports his habit with a private practice in psychology -- although those two things seem oddly, and happily, synergistic. Hardly a week goes by that I don't open up my email and see something new from him. His wanderings around the San Francisco bay area, near his home: the scenery, the people, the wildlife; all of them focus sharply in his eyes and camera, and make images that simply dance.
This will be another resolution: I will seek out the work of other photographers where ever I can, and take pleasure in sharing in the vision and energy of my many talented colleagues. I'm looking forward to keeping this one!
And as always, I welcome you to send me your own images to share here. Not to critique, not to analyze, not to judge; just to enjoy.
May 2012 be a year you find new, exciting, crazy, confusing, challenging, exciting, questioning, provoking, wistful, and beautiful images. And that they bring you joy.
toodles!
dhuttphoto@comcast.net
Whitney is a source of inspiration to me as well. When I first met her she was a young, spunky twit with a K1000! Eleven plus years later she has become an amazing photographer who understands the moment is more important than anything. She is my colleague, my confident, my love and the mother of my child(ren?). I look forward to 2012, another great year with a great lady.
ReplyDeleteOK, so check it out--I have images posted on the same blog as Laurie Excell, Whitney Stevens and Dave Hutt? You gotta be kidding me!! It doesn't get get any better than that! To be included in that company in 2011 is truly a humbling honor. To all of you, know this: When I look at your work, I learn from your work. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHOW SWEET! Thanks to my Honey for the wonderful comment he left for me. And thanks to Dave for the kind words. Lets make this year awesome huh? Heres to some upcoming photo wars!
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