D:15 A Lesson Learned

I was recently asked by a local game store for a donation. They were doing a big release for the new game "Halo 3: ODST", and they were looking for giveaway prizes. I didn't imagine that the majority of the "gamer" crowd would be looking for portraits, but it was an inexpensive way to try tapping into a new market.

I decided to attend the midnight release, hoping to get a good shot of the crowd. What I learned was that these gamers are incredibly dedicated to their craft. There was a trivia contest involving everything Halo, and the detailed knowledge of these people was amazing. Hours before the game could even be purchased, these warriors of the game consoles showed up in droves. With a line running outside and around the building, they waited. It's a unique community of folks, to say the least.

It got me thinking about how we photographers approach our craft. What if we all approached photography like these gamers? Some of us already do, absorbing every bit of information we can get our hands on. Others just pick up the camera every now & then, never really pushing the boundaries of creativity.

I challenge each and every one of you to approach something in your life with the same level of passion. Dive into it, wrap it around you like a warm blanket on a cool Fall night. See where it takes you.

Manual: Page 150 - Custom Setting 19: Flash Mode
I have been wanting to try some low-key photos lately, so I decided to brush up on my flash modes. I guess we'll find out in the next week what comes of it!

Images: Scott Kelby - What a master of lighting! He gives me the inspiration to experiment with different lighting techniques for hours on end.