For an Amateur Photog, I think I ended 2015 in the best possible way...

[Adzman808]

.....I had a shot published (in a magazine) for the first time

The back story:

They approached me via Flickr asking to use one of my images.

I agreed out of vanity.

Well my copy of the magazine arrived yesterday.

It's a really high quality, 'coffee table' type thing with some very nice, very 'art house' pictures in it.

Thumbing through, trying to find my contribution I wondered if they'd made some sort of mistake, confused me for some one else...

....or surely my little snap would be just that, a thumb nail sized thing on the index page...

But no there it was, admittedly towards the back, but a double page spread.. With my name and everything!

I set myself some 'improvement based' goals in 2015, which I did feel I'd achieved, but being published was never a consideration!

As you might imagine I really am chuffed. Sure for you gals and guys who are Pros, yeah I know big deal.

But it's a special thing for me, I've been mucking about with a camera for over 20 years, been on digital since 2000. Never ever made it to Flickr explore for example... Haven't even done that well in the CiC mini comps!

But this is cool for me, they approached me, they selected one of my 'arty shots' I wasn't just in the right place at the time (don't get me wrong, I love reportage)

I'm a "bit" of a pretentious bugger, and I saw something I liked, and photographed in a way I thought looked good, then someone else came along and liked what I had made and wanted it.

Can there be a happier feeling for a amatuer?

I'm not expecting it to happen again anytime soon, so please excuse me while I live in the moment!

EDIT:

*ahem*

here's the shot

Watch It. by Adam, on Flickr

[Mike Buckley]

A two-page spread! Wow! Such a great way to end the year (or begin it or have it happen during the middle). Congratulations!

I don't suppose I can convince you to share the image with us. Or maybe you thought you had done that in your first sentence.

[Shadowman]

Nice way to start the year, congrats.

[RobFellows]

Hey Adam,

Just checked out your Flickr page and I reckon there are a few more print worthy ones amongst them. Some very impressive "arty" images, keep it up.

[Adzman808]

Hey Adam,

Just checked out your Flickr page and I reckon there are a few more print worthy ones amongst them. Some very impressive "arty" images, keep it up.

Thank you so much Rob,

That's quite a compliment, I'm not sure I could pick my own print worthy ones, just my own favs, and that changes over time!

I am quite pretentious (and likely sometimes sound like a bellend) I kinda see my best work as like a firework

People look at it and say aaah or oooh, it holds their attention for a moment, then it's gone and they want a different firework

I have another nickname for myself, "the downstairs toilet photographer" because one time a lady at work asked for one of my shots to get printed and framed for her home. All chuffed I asked, wow thanks a lot Tina, so where are you going to hang it? Her answer made me think, yeah that's about my level!!!

I use words like "mood" or "arty" to describe my preferred look, but I'm not convinced this is correct... (Also I use words like amatuer and clichéd which might be closer to the mark )

But although a spider or watch macro or a shot of the cat (or ten) often makes its way into my Flickr stream, I make no apologies for the fact that I want to make pictures with a strong and pretty aesthetic

To be published* as such and to be complimented as such is a real proud moment for me, so thank you again


*for example it would have been slightly less pleasing if the magazine had just wanted one of the macros of a watch, rather than a "arty" composition based on watch reflections in a window

[Mike Buckley]

"the downstairs toilet photographer"

My sister-in-law has one of my prints hanging above her downstairs toilet. The women probably never see it but the men do at least when they pee. Better yet, they have to look at it quite awhile. It's not often that people look at one of my photos for a long time, so I'll take it.

[tbob]

I checked out your Flickr pages Your artistic vision is unique and brilliant. I think you have every reason to be recognized.

As for hanging in a bathroom, my wife has two pieces by her favourite local artist (not me I am afraid) hanging in our en suite. Something she looks at at least twice a day. Bit of a compliment really.

[IzzieK]

Aww...you have every right to feel the way you did (and do)...it is an achievement. You have it, flaunt it. I surely do not mind. I am glad for you...keep at it and keep telling yourself that you are good and you will, if you haven't felt you are yet. Hope you get more published images this year then next year you can start charging for 2017...at least we get to know you through your images before you really get too famous...

Happy New Year.

[Donald]

Can there be a happier feeling for a amatuer?

Not any that I can think of.

That's brilliant. Well done.

[Ndukes]

This is a great and very original composition. The more I look at it, the more I see. Publication aside, it's a great piece. But it was published, and you now have a substantial audience - enjoy the moment.

Onwards and upwards, Adam.

[Adzman808]

I checked out your Flickr pages Your artistic vision is unique and brilliant. I think you have every reason to be recognized.

As for hanging in a bathroom, my wife has two pieces by her favourite local artist (not me I am afraid) hanging in our en suite. Something she looks at at least twice a day. Bit of a compliment really.

Thank you very much, I doubt unique (but I'll take that compliment), it's ultimately a nice thing to happen becuase as an amatuer you only work to your own brief, so when it harmonises with someone elses, its a nice feeling of convergence, that fact that I have slightly more than a passing interest in wrist watches, and that issue of the magazine is all about Rolex is also a nice bit of convergence!

[Adzman808]

Aww...you have every right to feel the way you did (and do)...it is an achievement. You have it, flaunt it. I surely do not mind. I am glad for you...keep at it and keep telling yourself that you are good and you will, if you haven't felt you are yet. Hope you get more published images this year then next year you can start charging for 2017...at least we get to know you through your images before you really get too famous...

Happy New Year.

Thanks very much Izzie, happy new year to you too!

When pushed, I describe myself as competent! If I'm ever to get more images published, I suspect that I'd have to start actively promoting myself some how....

And tonque in cheek as I type this last bit....

But seeing as most photogs don't get famous until they're dead, I'm quite happy to leave that one for a while

[Adzman808]

Not any that I can think of.

That's brilliant. Well done.

Thank you very much Donald, I don't want to repeat myself in every thank you reply I type, but for sure I see this very much as an affirmation moment, that the things I like too shoot have some merit

[Adzman808]

This is a great and very original composition. The more I look at it, the more I see. Publication aside, it's a great piece. But it was published, and you now have a substantial audience - enjoy the moment.

Onwards and upwards, Adam.

Thank you very much Neville, for sure my work is all about how/what I see, way more than it is technical ability, and I'm certainly enjoying the moment! (Which in honesty probably won't be repeated anytime soon!)

[Adzman808]

Reading back through my replies, I should definitely turn pro.... I seem to have terrible trouble spelling the word amatuer .

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Congrats. That is a huge milestone. Time to re-evaluate your own view on your position on the photographer spectrum? I am not a huge one for the amateur/professional distinction. Not everyone one wants to make money from the work they produce. But "published" is unequivocal mark of approval. Exhibition next?

[bnnrcn]

Congratulations Adam, that is an excellent image indeed

[Adzman808]

Congrats. That is a huge milestone. Time to re-evaluate your own view on your position on the photographer spectrum? I am not a huge one for the amateur/professional distinction. Not everyone one wants to make money from the work they produce. But "published" is unequivocal mark of approval. Exhibition next?

Thank you very much Max,

I 100% agree RE this distinction between amateur and pro, it's not necessarily a skill based differential, nor is it one (as you say) based on the desire to earn money..

In fact, I notice that a lot of the Pros that have some fame, seem to have a lot of workshop, ebooks, and PP tutorial products available alongside prints and commissions, so it would seem to be a pro one doesn't necessarily earn a living exclusively from photography.

In terms of evaluating myself... well it's tricky...

The best thing about this experience is also the worst... Namely it's particularly satisfying to have a publication approach you out of the blue and ask to use your work, no portfolio, no cold calling, no networking. But equally of course it makes the experience somewhat hard to repeat, because you have no portfolio, contacts or network...

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Time to capitalise on the success and build a portfolio and start to push your work? Could it be the impetus you need?

[Adzman808]

Time to capitalise on the success and build a portfolio and start to push your work? Could it be the impetus you need?

Well yes very much, if only for the reason to not try, is to not live!

I've just very much been on the "home grown artist, plodding around in his back garden" trip and now there's a glimpse of a wider world beyond the garden gate and I'm unsure of the path to carve out...

Personal curation is tricky, but if you can't do it, who else will - but the push part is a mystery to me!