Among the places we photographed yesterday was on a private farm outside of Navasota called Allen Farm. At one time it was a small settlement. As the settlement died, one of the land owners bought some of the buildings and moved them onto his property. The buildings have been preserved by the family as a private undertaking. Brad Stafford, the City Manager in Navasota arranged for us to get access to the property.
Among the buildings is the old Allen Farm depot. Whenever I have an opportunity to do train related photos I always try to get photographs to share with my brother, a retired Burlington Northern switchman. Dale loves trains and train memorabilia. So yesterday morning I was trying very hard to get a photo or two that he would enjoy. Of course, I understand that what I find an interesting railroad photograph and what my brother would find an interesting railroad photograph are at the opposite corners of a sphere, but I try anyway.
Then yesterday evening my sister-in-law called to invite me to attend Easter Services with them. They are in Houston and my niece’s husband will be preaching. Unfortunately, I stayed up late processing photographs and overslept.
More photographs from this photoshoot can be found at Wildflowers and Navasota Too.
Addendum 4/12: In October NWHPC will be doing the Portfolio Review. This photoshoot was not intended to be a “portfolio” but in all aspects, with the exception of an artist statement, it is. Therefore I would like to share what I consider a simple way to create a portfolio—shoot something that you truly love, something to which you have a strong emotional attachment, and shoot it from your heart the way you see it. That is all that it takes to create a portfolio. To illustrate that simple point I have decided to write an artist statement and insert it into this thread.
“Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when it comes to creating art is the surest route to failure.” –Gary Woodard, 2012, and I am unanimous on that to quote Miss Slocombe.
All it takes to create a portfolio is to be true to yourself—everything else will fall in place. Yesterday, I completed my portfolio for this year’s Portfolio Review. But then looking at my last few blog posts I realized that almost anyone of them could be a portfolio. That prompted me to do an artists statement for this thread and I may add an artist statement to one or more of the others. Actually, I may do that to many of the future posts when I have photographed something that I feel a true connection to—which truthfully implies that much too often I shoot things that do not hold that necessary emotional connection. Anyway, for the present time that is my thinking.
All it takes to create a portfolio is to be true to yourself—everything else will fall in place. Yesterday, I completed my portfolio for this year’s Portfolio Review. But then looking at my last few blog posts I realized that almost anyone of them could be a portfolio. That prompted me to do an artists statement for this thread and I may add an artist statement to one or more of the others. Actually, I may do that to many of the future posts when I have photographed something that I feel a true connection to—which truthfully implies that much too often I shoot things that do not hold that necessary emotional connection. Anyway, for the present time that is my thinking.
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| The Artist Statement |
another great photo day!!
ReplyDeleteJan, yes it was and for me the depot was something special. As you know Portfolio Review (they changed the name this year) will be coming up in October. This was not intended to be a "portfolio" but in almost all aspects, less the artist statement, it is. Since Woodard has a tendency to be overbearingly educational I have decided to use this thread to illustrate some of my thoughts on shooting a portfolio. Therefore I am doing an addendum. You are now the first person that I have invited to view the artist statement. Hope you enjoy it.
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