Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do

A few weeks ago I had the job of photographing a friends twin girls for an updating of their casting portfolios. Oh, the fun we had!

Photography is one of my passions beyond paint and an area that I am trying SO hard to get better in. Like painting, photography is a constant learning curve and a practicing of concepts. It's all about learning to see a moment worth capturing, finding the best light and utilising the correct settings on the camera to hold it in time. I've finally taken the step into RAW formatting... Yeah! I have no idea why I was so scared of switching from jpeg to RAW, but I'm so glad I have finally done it... now, I need to do an editing course. See, the learning curve never ends!

Over the last 5 months, I have been quietly beavering away in my spare time late at night, at an online photography course through 'The Photography Institute'. It's been good. The first few assignments were incredibly challenging on the ol'brain cells, as they pushed the technical side of photography that I have never even thought about before - grey cards, calibrating, lighting, raw processing, white balance, to name but a few areas. It has pushed me and taken me from self-taught hobbyist to ...well, slightly more taught hobbyist!

My latest assignment is to question where I ultimately see my photographic journey taking me. It is an interesting thought, that has had me mulling over where and how my art and photography combine and which one will be the bigger focus in years to come.

Travel is the issue here - painting is just not quite as portable as photography! For the plein air painter there certainly is some portability, but even then, it has its drawbacks - easel, palettes, brushes, paints...mess....wind, rain....weirdo's invading your personal space whilst you are in the throes of painting. I've heard of many artists who have had to pack up and run from both wildlife and lowlife!

Thank goodness travel with a camera is a little more discreet and safe! The practise I am putting in now, with my girls still at school and life very much ensconced in the suburbs, will eventually be used for travel...and writing about travel hopefully!

One area I need a lot of practise in though, is street photography. It takes guts to wander foreign markets and streets and openly take people shots. I find it very confronting and invasive, but would so like the courage to try it more often.

Imagine getting a photo like this one (above) with a child of another culture and language?

But right here, right now, its practise, practise, practise with my kids and any I can borrow!! I want to get to the point where I am confident to set up a photo shoot with kids I don't know for a photo session or painting commission and to visualise a painting idea and have the photography skills to capture it.

Miss L and Miss V were the perfect models for my first non family photo shoot! I am thrilled with the outcome. (My camera is an Olympus OM-D5 if you are wondering! The perfect travel camera.)

I used the following image for my last photography assignment....

The tutor was "VERY impressed" with this photo!!!

Hey! I impressed myself ...LOL!!! So, as we approach the school holidays once more, I have nearly finished the 'Sock it to Sarcoma' painting. See last weeks post for the story behind the image (Wordpress was a little quiet on the sharing front last week...I think many of you may have missed it??! I only got one like which is really odd? I know this blog is tiny but not that tiny!) Anyway, have a read, its been my most important painting to date. http://mymiasart.com/2013/04/07/sock-it-to-sarcoma It's beautiful and I will share the final image next week. I've poured my heart into it but it certainly has been a case of speed painting to make sure it was finished before the busy school holidays. 10 days for a 30x40 inch canvas, start to finish.... Remember, 'Dreams dont work unless you do'! Mia x