The sadness is setting in...

The sadness is setting in. The semester is coming to a close. I have been scrambling all weekend, wrapping up little projects here and there. I think I've been so busy that it hadn't occurred to me that I may really never take another class in that building again. I've been there for so long (off and on). I am finishing up my teaching certificate at Lindenwood in the fall. I knew that this semester would be crazy and the only way I would keep my sanity was to get back into the VAB for at least one class. I'm so thankful that I did. This was my first (and probably my only) class with Kate Sanker. I have learned so much from her. This semester, while extremely stressful, has been wonderful and is ending all too quickly. I know it's time to move on from SCC but I have to admit that my heart is breaking a little. If you are thinking about taking classes and you are in the area, I highly recommend St. Charles Community College. Even if you just have some time to kill, walk through the VAB and take a look at the current student work on display.

And if you run into Alison Ouellette-Kirby or Kate Sanker, give them my love and tell them I said thank you for everything. They are truly amazing instructors and inspirational women. I honestly don't know where I would be without them.

Tips on going out on your own

Over the past few weeks I have been seriously considering starting my own small photography business. I'm taking my time and doing it right...and reading and reading and reading. I'm going to take it slow, do as much research as possible, write a business plan, etc. Incase you are considering doing the same thing, here are a few links that I have stumbled on  recently.

http://shannonholden.com/blog/starting-a-photography-business/

http://www.danheller.com/photo-inc.html


I have ordered things from Photographer's Edge in the past and have been very happy with them.
http://www.photographersedge.com/

Writing a Business Plan

http://articles.bplans.com/writing-a-business-plan

When to form an LLC

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Limited-Liability-Company-(LLC)

Why small businesses fail

http://www.imaginginfo.com/print/Studio-Photography/Keeping-Your-Photography-Business-Afloat/3$2024




 There is no guarantee that I will be successful but I'll never know if I never try.....

Gatlinburg, TN

We are headed to Gatlinburg, TN in a couple weeks and I am ecstatic! I can't wait to try out some of my new stuff! A whole week in the Smoky Mountains....I can't wait!!!!! I hope to have some really great stuff when I get back! I will definitely be doing some night photography and trying out some motion blur.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Gatlinburg%2C+TN&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=gatlinburg%2C+tn&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=F50E57AC9BEFD19A2CEB9A9AFA33618BC4D81ABD&selectedIndex=369

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Gatlinburg%2C+TN&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=gatlinburg%2C+tn&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=F50E57AC9BEFD19A2CEB83F7F177E25B0F6026B6&selectedIndex=470

Macro Photography

I'm in the process of buying some new lenses. The top of my "to-buy" list is a macro lens. I'm getting really excited! A lot of my friends in my first few photo classes had macro lenses and I always really enjoyed their work. I can't wait to get started and to try some new things.

 http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/21/25-beautiful-macro-photography-shots-photos/

Next up...Night Photography

I have always been interested in trying night photography but have never made the effort. I always said that I was going to try it and then something came up every night (mainly exhaustion or the rare opportunity to soak up a little couch/TV time with Jeff). My goal for the summer is to not only pursue it but to be great at it by this fall.

I did manage to take a few shots for skull week this semester that were at night. It was my first time trying and I'm pretty proud of them.

                                                                         Copyright Megan K. Heitman

Mustafa Seven

I have been following this man on Instagram for the last few months.  He is absolutely amazing and his work has brought me to tears multiple times. Do yourself a favor and take a look. There aren't even words.....

http://mustafaseven.com/index.php

"It's never too late to be what you might have been"-George Eliot

This quote by George Eliot is one of my favorites, but its not exactly true for me. I spend most of my days wishing that I would have found this passion when I was younger...I flip through National Geographic and day dream about what it would be like to be on assignment. When you are 18, you're invincible. Anything is an option. You can go anywhere, you can do anything. When you are 27, working full-time, STILL going to college full-time (because when you were 18 you had no clue what you wanted to be so you've changed your major 83942390 times), and raising 4 kids......world travel and freelance photography isn't really an option anymore. The mortgage is still due, the electric bill still has to be paid, and you must have a guaranteed paycheck to make sure there is food on the table for your children. Packing up your belongings and jumping on the first plane anywhere is no longer an option for me....but it is a great daydream.

With that being said, I have a rare opportunity to buy some new equipment and make a run at starting a small photography business. I am really torn on what to do. When I first found photography, I immediately fell in love. I knew it would be a life-long hobby and I knew that I would end up taking photos of my friends and family, but I also knew that I did not want to end up shooting photos of newborns and newly engaged couples for the rest of my life.

Knowing that random world travel and taking off on a whim is not plausible anymore, I am hoping that starting this small business (that I promised myself I never would) will allow me to at least visit one place a year that I have never been. It's not exactly what I dreamed of but its something. Better late than never...right, George???

On my list

At the beginning of the semester I told myself I was going to primarily shoot portraiture. It has always made me uncomfortable for some reason and I've managed to avoid it for years. I'm happy with what I have accomplished. I am really quite proud of my portraits. Over the past few months I have also been compiling images of things that I would like to attempt and things that inspire me. Here are a couple examples


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=photography&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=2472B56C7BD4F833E1955C3A0C5B41C2A26F0AB8&selectedIndex=100



http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=photography&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=BF4CDD8EF1C43697CB7E2571EA340BF68BB5CA3C&selectedIndex=36

Helen Levitt

Helen Levitt is another photographer who can take a completely ordinary situation and make it extraordinary. She can take something so plain and make it so intriguing. Some of her photos are heart wrenching but some of them evoke feelings that I haven't felt and memories that I haven't recalled in so very long. Ahhh childhood..... :)



   http://leclownlyrique.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/helen-levitt-1940.jpg

Tina Modotti

There is something about hands....I'm obsessed with them. It's usually one of the first things I notice about a person. Oddly enough, I am just now realizing that I've never photographed anyone's hands before. I can't believe that it never occurred to me. You can tell so much about a person by their hands. Tina Modotti has several photographs of hands, they were the first photos of hers that caught my eye. Definitely have to keep this in mind for my portrait assignment.

http://beppesassa.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/mani20di20operaio20messico2019274.jpg

Minor White

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I didn't know who Minor White was. I've definitely heard the name before but was not familiar with his work. It is absolutely incredible.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTlJ55k0m_4zg3h4KCUb9hpP2SClpye_Whcs-iB1c4DvTdeaKFPWnRyGtANoClnf8RxcsWNSUbAHQ7ymG_WN_vvGh54JrA2S7MxLPwAn1qdazYX9nKnFJfKkKciHh4i5oZCaI6bSKqX65/s1600/MinorwhiteBeginnings.jpg

W. Eugene Smith

How can something be so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time? Many of his photos cause this reaction in me. You can literally feel the pain that the woman on the left is experiencing.


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=w.+Eugene+Smith&qpvt=w.+Eugene+Smith&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=2200A10FF542395D8FC19ABD88713FB8B6262CB9&selectedIndex=101

Nickolas Muray

In the weeks before the semester began I decided I was going to make myself shoot more things out of my comfort zone. I believe I even mentioned to my instructor that I intended on forcing myself to work on portraits. I don't know why they make me so uncomfortable to shoot but they do. I am hoping that this new assignment will force me out of my comfort zone a little more.

The portraiture of Nickolas Muray is absolutely beautiful and inspiring to me. It is definitely worth looking into if you have the time. http://nickolasmuray.com/portraiture

Robert Frank

"My photographs are not planned or composed in advance and I do not anticipate that the onlooker will share my viewpoint. However, I feel that if my photograph leaves an image on his mind--something has been accomplished."-Robert Frank

There is something to be said for being ordinary. Robert Frank saw that and made the ordinary extraordinary.

http://www.atgetphotography.com/Images/Photos/RobertFrank/frank16.jpg

Arthur Rothstein

"Photography is a universal language, transcending the boundaries of race, politics, and nationality." - Arthur Rothstein

I think we have all been asked the question "If you could do it over, what would you do differently?" Well, if I could do it over (and know that I would still end up with the people I have in my life right now) I would take off after graduation day and refuse to come home until I had seen (and photographed) it all.

Arthur Rothstein's photographs made that question pop into my head for some reason. They made me want to jump in the car and drive without knowing where I was headed. Just drive.

http://arthurrothsteinarchive.com/uploads/3/0/0/1/3001267/7577129_orig.jpg

A little too cocky....

Guess who had a little to much confidence at the beginning of the semester??? That would be this lady! I have always managed to get things done no matter how big they were and how little time I had. This semester is the first time in my life that I am failing at getting things done. I have officially reached my limit and bitten off more than I can chew. For some unknown reason, I thought raising 4 kids and going to school full-time wasn't keeping me busy enough so I got a full-time job too. The only thing that seems to be suffering this semester (besides ME) is my photography and its killing me.

I fell into photography on accident and I really believe it saved me. I found it at one of the lowest points in my life and continued to run to the darkroom every time my "regular" life began to overwhelm me. As I have gotten older though, the days have seemed to get shorter and there isn't even enough time to be overwhelmed. I couldn't tell you the last time I worked in a darkroom (and I have one in my basement).

I know there is a way to do it all. There has to be. When you have a schedule this hectic, its a matter of trial and error to figure out the most efficient way to get it all done. The beginning of this semester has definitely been an error. I think I have mastered it over the last week (but I've thought that before).  I can only go up from here right????