Soul Snatcher

Doesn’t that sound like an awesome title for a movie? Maybe a B-grade sci-fi flick in which D-list Ian Ziering has to outrun a soul snatching shaman before his wife dies. Or did they already make a movie like that? Either way, the superstition still stands that if you snap a photo of someone, you steal their soul.

That being said, I love stealing souls. Beautiful, creative souls.

I’m taking a break from Graphic Design and concentrating on building my Photography portfolio. The principles are essentially the same — composition, color, execution — but the medium and the processes are entirely different. I love the interaction and fluidity that photography brings with it. I’m the type of director that works with the model/actor to create something organic, that way it’s not just my vision, but something they have contributed to as well, increasing their value.

While mistakes in graphic design can be costly — select a wrong pantone color and you’ll wind up paying for another 4-color proof — digital photography has the benefits of trial and error. As many as your memory card and/or your model will allow. Off-camera lighting can be a scary thing, though. It would behoove you to pay close attention to the helpful hints and tips at Strobist and studying Flickr streams for inspiration and “reverse engineer” the lighting schemes.

As I stated earlier, one of the rewarding things about photography is the interaction between photographers and model(s). Where once before I was emailing clients, tediously bantering over revisions and corrections to a website, I am now out in the field, capturing images and satisfying the model and myself with no one asking for a correction or a revision. The gratification is much more instantaneous as well. Websites can drag on for months; A photoshoot is 2-4 hours.

My dilemma now is getting the word on the street about my newfound passion. If I thought competing with the umpteen million designers in Hawaii was difficult, getting noticed in a sea of photographers is equally as tough. I’m still trying to find my niche, but I think I’ve got a style that’s snowballing.

I’ve got a period photo shoot tomorrow that I’m excited about: 1950’s greasers. I’ve even arranged a hot rod to be in the background. It’s gonna be awesome!