Finding a source of inspiration is sometimes difficult; much like writers who get "writer's block," we photographers sometimes look at something and, try as we might, we just don't see "The Shot." (Unless, of course, you are out shooting with Flo, Pam, Adrian, Jerry or some of the other great photographers in the Club, then you slap yourself on the forehead and say "duh!" after they see the perfect one!)
I often search the web, and look at other's work in order to come up with a fresh approach. To that end, and to learn more about lighting, I started reading a blog called "The Strobist" a few months ago.
Pretty cool stuff. Oh, you want to know what a "Strobist" is? To borrow from their website, it is about "...learning how to use off-camera flash with your dSLR to take your photos to the next level. [They]... hope you'll find everything you need to know about how to more effectively use your small speedlights. There are more than 800 articles about lighting. Over a million photographers from around the world have learned small-flash lighting techniques from [that] site." I know I have!
There is a small, but growing Strobist group here in Hampton Roads, and their forum is accessible at http://virginiabeachstrobists.myfreeforum.org/
The international Strobist blog is located at http://strobist.blogspot.com/ , and their flickr site is located at http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/
Now, the meat of this little tome. On the Strobist site, dated December 14, there is a video, about 6 minutes long, about a group of Stobists who set up a workshop/class - yes CLASS - in a parking garage in Seattle. Watching the video segment was incredible, but the really awesome part is when they start showing the images themselves!
Folks, if you ever needed inspiration, this is certainly the video to watch!
The video/images show can also be found at http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/12/that-does-it-im-moving-to-seattle.h... and I encourage everyone to see this. Absolutely incredible stuff! I have a thousand new ideas running through my head, and I am spending the next week or so getting a couple of models and a place to shoot. That surge of inspiration hit, and I plan to work with it during 2008!
(Make sure you check out the local Strobist group, a bunch a idea-filled, skilled photographers (well, other than me, I am still learning!) who really want to work hard to take our photos to that next level. Come out and join them, or at least check them out!)
Remember, we do NOT have a meeting on January 1 :), it was moved down to January 8. And the banquet is the 12th, contact Flo Womacks at flotography1@yahoo.com for info and details!
NOW - GO WATCH THAT VIDEO! Here is the link again:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/12/that-does-it-im-moving-to-seattle.h...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Tom