7 is a supposedly a very lucky number!

FROM THE LEADER of our merry band of photogs:  KATE!

"Stan’s Seven Deadly ?’s Here are a few brain teasers that were presented to me by one of my professors. Feel free to expand upon these questions in your journal if you need some ideas to get the ball rolling..."

Stan is the photography mentor of K.M. Sanker....

•What is your personal definition of photography?

dgh replies: for me it is the science and technical aspects of using a device to create in an artistic manner something.... on a medium of choice [film, digital, etc.].  Capturing a moment in time, nay a decisive moment!, a location, a view point... showing  the light, the mood, and the soul of the subject so that the viewer can be given the pleasure of that moment.... without having been there.

•What is the difference between a snapshot & a photograph?

dgh replies:  for me a snap shot is the result of taking a photo for the sake of capturing the subject matter at a specific moment without thought or effort to render that capture in either a technically competent or artistic manner. Snapshot is more for the sake of the event...It happened and this is the proof.

For me "A photograph" is my attempt at artistic effort, a result of skill, execution of thought and actions, which result in an output that has visible emotion built within its frame work.

•What is a cliché?

dgh replies:  to me a cliché is a scene that depicts subject matter engaged in an activity or position or pose or appears in a manner which the general public has either been taught or fooled or falsely perceives that this is how that SHOULD be given the subject and circumstances.  It can be either for good or bad reason, can be favorable or unfavorable, but it is the concept of expectations being met by the parties involved.  The message being sent is weak and does not present itself as a dynamic force due to its overused approach of sending such message.  The end result being the opposite of a fresh and new approach on a theme or presentation of a subject matter.  Relationships shown are typical, expected, a sense of NORM. 

Name 20

1.     Boy and his dog

2.     Girl and her cat

3.     Mother with her baby

4.     Father playing ball with son

5.     Girl playing with her dolls

6.     Boy playing in dirt /mud

7.     Strong man on the beach flexing his muscle

8.     Person with glasses reading a book

9.     Keystone cop routine, the bumbling actions of policemen

10. Woman with flowers

11. Cook or chef with a large knife or cleaver

12. Auto mechanic with grease on his face

13. Poor people shown as obviously dirty, poorly dressed with bad teeth

14. Clowns with balloons

15. College professor with seersucker jacket with elbow patches and smoking a pipe

16. Curvy model in a tight small bikini draped over a shiny vehicle at an auto show [yes heard that in class, but classic!]

17. American Indians shown in a head dress and historic outfit

18. Italian American dressed in silk striped suit and slicked back hair [Mafioso style]

19. Fast cars with RED paint  [where did I park my Ferrari?]

20. Teachers asking for a list of twenty things went nineteen would have done quite well, thank you very much!

•What is the most important thing in your life?

dgh replies:  tough to decide between family and health, as each feeds off and to each other.  Wife, kids, grandkids, and all of our health to maintain and support our being and existence and happiness.

•What is your greatest strength/weakness?

dgh replies:  in general, my strength is my passion for my beliefs and ability to plan, implement and manage things.  This is also a huge weakness as I tend to apply these concepts to things others have no desire to see brought under such control and direction.  My tendency to be specific and detailed can be both favorable and frustrating...for two very different reasons.

•What is your greatest strength/weakness as a photographer?

dgh replies:  Strength:  I have been a student of photography for a long time, I have either tried it or thought about it or bought it at one time. 

Weakness:  I do not get any where near enough practice shooting and establishing “muscle reflex” in terms of photography as well as I wish I had.  I desire more consistency of attention to detail when shooting, I KNOW what should be done much of the time, I must find a way to DO WHAT I KNOW more of the time.

•Where would you like to be as a photographer?

dgh replies:  As a viable professional Photog owning and operating his own studio for portraits and fine art black and white production.  The output from this would be a place that people would want to come to and seek out my services again and again.

•What is keeping you from getting there?

dgh replies:  FAME and Fortune?    

MONEY!  I  believe I need a studio to truly succeed, I have rented space before and got a taste, and loved it [STUDIO 314 in downtown area, rented space as part of the resident artist program in 2011 from October to the end of December, shooting with many models of all shapes, sizes, ages and back grounds.]  The continuation of a rental program was not practical as they changed their pricing and policies that made it less than cost effective after Dec. 31, 2011

•Complete the following sentence until you run out of things to say:

"If I could make a set of photographs, they would.............."

dgh replies:   … they would”…..BE  Portraits, for sure, and most likely Black and White as this is my true passion.  And possibly with a constant theme of some sort though this is NOT in my head as to what that might be at this time.  I just love taking pictures of people, capturing in their eyes and face, which they might be to the rest of the world.  Allowing the viewers to share with them who they are, at least from a photo’s point of view.