Shutter Sisters

fragile moments of exposure

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Dr. Robert Nix always wore bow ties to class.  Long and lean, he moved with confidence and grace – the gentleman of the fine art department. I loved his class. He taught me how to make photographic images through a pinhole in a box made of wood. Under his direction and encouragement that semester, my love of photography blossomed. He retired a year later. It’s hard to imagine that was nearly twenty years ago.

Last Friday we reconnected. I had been looking forward to this visit so much and anticipated grand visions of our exchange.  I sent a link to a slideshow of my best images to him prior to my visit in hopes of a thorough critique.  I visualized us sitting side-by-side at the computer screen where he (clad in his bow tie) would be pointing and talking and instructing, and I would be listening and taking detailed notes…and…we’d talk about aperture settings and shutter speeds and tricks for tweaking light… and as a result, his aging photography student would find her focus.

But I got so much more – immersing myself in his home for just a few short hours. I met his talented and loving wife, Harriett – a painter and collector of antique dolls and art. I studied sepia-toned portraits of his parents and his parents’ parents on the sideboard. We admired his endless stacks of National Geographics and his rare collection of Daguerreotypes and tintypes on the wall. At my insistence, he shared some of his own amazing black and white framed prints packed neatly in boxes below the pool table, down in the basement.  I marveled over the texture of his wooded landscape bromoil print and his explanation of this early photographic process. We ventured into his woodworking studio where he demonstrated his circular wood sculpting saw before he gave me a precious blond bowl carved from pear wood. And then he showed me his new Singer in the spare bedroom and introduced me to the art of making bow ties.

Yes, we did sit side-by-side at his computer screen and he did share a very thoughtful critique of my images, but this experience paled in comparison to what he had shared with me that day.  Looking back, I realize that I had come to his door in search of confidence. And as we neared the conclusion of our time together, his parting advice gave me just that:

“You’ve got a great eye. A good heart. And you believe in what you’re doing. You don’t need anything else.”

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Where do you turn for advice? or confidence in your art? Tell us about someone who has influenced your path or share an image that makes you feel proud of yourself.

Comments

  1. I get my encouragement from a photographer I admire. She took pictures of my children a few years ago, that were to become my favorites for years. She just recently did a family session for us, and replaced the other images with a whole new set of favorites. Her style of photography is the style I strive for myself. Her ability to make a session fun and capture amazing, real images is a gift. She has taken it upon herself not only to patiently and thoughtfully answer my questions, but to encourage me as well. Her name is Lynsey Peterson.

    You can see her work here……
    http://www.lynseypeterson.com/

  2. I wish I had a mentor to study with and learn from. My husband coached me on the technicals of photography, and I read a few books when I started out but other than that, I’m pretty much self-taught through experience. I get my inspiration from all you wonderful photographers out there and my confidence from readers who comment on my website as well as from family and friends.

    I particularly like this one photo I took a year ago, when I was still in the beginning stages of learning how to make photographs. In the past, I hardly dabbled in post processing and learning all the ins and outs took a while. I like this image because it’s pretty much SOOC and yet I think it’s a good photo. I want to help others who are starting out in digital photography and this photo reminds me of those beginning stages.

    http://www.dolcepics.com/dailypic/the-life/

  3. You’re so lucky to have someone in your life that inspires and encourages. I’ve never found a single mentor. My support and inspiration has come from yoga teachings and teachers who have taught me that it’s about the journey..and not the destination…and that the prize is in the regular daily practice of truly seeing what you are looking at.

    Here is one recent favorite. I’ve walked by this house countless times before. Never did I think of looking in the windows:

    http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=415

    Love the image you’ve posted. So simple..fragile…beautiful.

  4. i would say that my biggest supporters are my friends. they comment on my blog and send me lovely emails telling me they like my photos. sometimes they’ll send me something out of the blue that comes just when i need it the most — without them even knowing i needed to hear something positive.

    i would love to take a class, have a mentor, but that’s just not in the cards right now.

  5. This is a beautiful entry. Sadly, I have no one. I have longed for a writing mentor my whole life, and now I would love a photographer mentor too.

  7. sadly, i also don’t have a mentor when it comes to photography but i get inspiration from so many people around me, those i know personally and those that i "meet" online, like you guys. i feel so motivated each time i browse through my favorite photography sites and blogs that sometimes i forget i don’t have a mentor.

  8. I don’t know many other photographers, other than online. I’m surrounded by lawyers!

    What keeps me going & what supports me are those unexpected compliments. When someone comes into my office to discuss something, starts talking, then suddenly stops, captured by one of my images. That’s the biggest compliment I can get. I figure I can work on the technical details. If I can get that reaction, then I must be doing something right.

    http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2559962060/

  9. That was beautiful. Great post. It really made me feel right about what I do. I do not really have a photographic mentor, but my family and friends greatly encourage me. They all saw my "talents" a long time before I did. My parents say they knew since I was very little and my husband says he knew about 13 years ago when we met.It is also very encouraging when strangers offer praise and when friends honestly compare improvements of my photos then and now.

  10. I love the photo you shared!

    Well, I don’t have a mentor, but I share my love for photography with my son. It’s so cool to share our photos, talk cameras and camera equipment. He’s taking photography in college and shares things he learns in his classes.He has a good eye, and his photographs inspire me.

    Here is a photograph he shared with the readers of my blog for a black and white challenge:

    http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/02/15/black-and-white-challenge/

  11. That was a beautiful story. I don’t have a current mentor but I do credit my artistic path in life to my high school art teacher. She was sweet, encouraging, and excited about my interest in art. Thanks Mrs. Snarr!

  12. what a wonderful story. it stirred up memories of the men that have so deeply influenced me in my photo journey. one was a teacher at the university and the other, my mentor, gave me my first job as a paid photographer long before i actually considered myself a photographer. the roles they played in my life have been significant.
    thanks stephanie for giving us a peek into that sacred day.

  13. I get encouragement from friends, family and blog friends. I wish I had a mentor that could give me good technical critiques, though. I often see more of the flaws in my photographs than what is right about them. I yearn to do things more creatively, though. I love photographs that evoke emotion, and would much rather concentrate on that type of work. I’m not a big fan of smiling at the camera.

    The other week at work I had someone come in my office and saw my photos of my kids. He asked if I was a photographer…and I said yes. That is a hard thing to say. I look at people like Annie Leibovitz and Mary Ellen Mark…and they are photographers. They know how to get "more" out of people and think outside of the box with such creativity.

    I wish I had more time to devote to photography…willing subjects would be helpful, too. 😉

  14. I don’t know what to write here just yet besides a compliment for a wonderful story you’ve shared with us. Incredible! What a wise and wonderful man you’ve had the privelege to share time with and learn from. Thank you.

  16. Beautiful story, and mentors are well worth remembering.

    For myself, honestly, if I named just one teacher I would be excluding so many others. I feel very blessed that every day there is something, or someone who has provided an inspiration to improve….. and there’s a long way to go!

    Here is a simple photo that I have recently posted: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixxel_dust

  17. I ended up being the only person taking pictures at my friend’s daughter’s dance recital because when they announced no flash photography, everyone groaned. luckily, thanks to some great books and photography blogs (my mentors), i knew enough to raise the ISO and decrease the shutter speed and was able to capture some really nice (albeit grainy) shots

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleydano/2567300869/

  18. **Where do you turn for advice? or confidence in your art? Tell us about someone who has influenced your path**

    I am inspired daily by a group of Ladies that are fellow Members of a Digital Creative Team I’m on. They are a constant boost to my confidence. I know that I can ask them a question and they’ll give me honest, heartfelt advice and/or opinions. I no longer think of them as friends, but as long distance Family Members.

    I really enjoyed reading your story and love what your Mentor said to you. Those words ought to be written on a wall that you see every day 🙂

    Thank you for sharing your story and your beautiful Photos.

    Michelle

  20. recently, i took my first photography class and have been honored by having one of my images from the class printed in the new workshop catalog right beside my friend’s photo. in my evaluation of the class, i wrote about how invaluable the experience was… what a great foundation it’s given me for photography… how motivated and excited i grew through the experience… how my instructor’s teaching was filled with knowledge, encouragement, and support… i loved being in a classroom setting discussing and listening to others talk about something i was so passionate about. i wrote about all this in more depth in my last blog post… http://wordpaintings.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/more-exciting-news/ and the photo to go with it… http://www.flickr.com/photos/msquid/2513796467/

    🙂

  21. During a photo session with Tara Whitney and my family this past weekend, she gave me positive feedback on my images (I had sent her my Flickr link so she could get an idea of who were are as a family before the session). Such a small thing, but so huge for me because of how much I adore and admire her style. It gives me confidence to keep pushing myself! 😀

  23. You. It’s you I look to for guidance and advice and I thank you. Great post. I’m glad to know you were able to connect with Dr. Nix.

  24. Amazing. You’ve made a cracked egg a work of art.

    Honestly, it was Tracey Clark who most recently motivated me to dust off my neglected creativity, and she is to blame for my photography hunger. Tracey truly inspires me along many facets of life.

    My 27 yo son, an artist, is definitely one of my art heroes.

  26. I met a young photojournalist here who, while not a mentor (too young and cute – wouldn’t be good for my marriage:), is certainly an inspiration because his work is so fabulous.

    This website encourages me! The occasional comment from others who see my pictures helps a lot too. I’m early in the learning process though but am loving it. Thanks!