Diluting the quality of your portfolio
I am always telling my students who are developing their portfolios not to dilute the quality of their portfolio by including mediocre images. It’s better to have fewer images that all have the “wow factor” to make a better overall impression.
That sure is easier said than done though! It’s hard to put aside a whole batch of photos because they are just okay.
I just did that with the photos I made at Palm Canyon, a beautiful canyon with an oasis of palm trees in Palm Springs, California. It was a gorgeous place and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon hike there. But it was afternoon and the light was harsh, and I don’t really like the photos I made there.
Sometimes photos just need a rest and perhaps in the future I’ll find a way of processing them so I like them.
As it is I only really like one of the photos I made that day – the one below.
Today’s Photo – Dried Palm Leaf Abstract
Please click the image to view a larger version.
I think this photo turned out better than the ones that showed the larger scene because it was made in the shade where the lighting was consistent. I like the textures in this image.
My website is back up
By the way, I had a problem with my website on Friday. I was being hammered by bots leaving spam comments on my posts, and my webhost had to limit the resources allocated to my site, which effectively made it completely inaccessible.
To get it back up and running I’ve had to put a “captcha” on my post comments, which means you have enter the code shown in the little image before you can leave a comment.
I hate captchas so I hope this is just a temporary measure and it doesn’t dissuade you from leaving comments because I really like receiving comments and interacting with you on the blog!
Great close up Anne! Did you do anything special with the light? Rgds, Franka
Hi Franka, thank you very much! No, I didn’t do anything with the light except pick a spot in the shade where there was no light breaking through so the lighting was even throughout the frame.
When all else fails, find some shade and get in close! Great detail, composition and color in your photo, Anne. Thanks for sharing.
That’s right Dave, it never fails on a sunny day to find something interesting that is in the shade to photograph. Thanks for your visit and comments.
Anne:
I noticed Quartzsite on your map. I am here now from Napa, Ca. My husband and I also travel in our motorhome. We are not full-timers, but we manage to get around pretty well. We did a year long trip in 2003 & 2004. The best time we’ve had in our 21 yrs. of marriage.
Will you be coming to Quartzsite soon? I would apsolutely love to get out and shot with you. I noticed you post a lot of night photography. I love shooting at night as well. My husband is not into photography any more, so I have to be fast to get anything worth while.
We will be here until this coming Thursday, then it’s back to Vegas. I hope to take a tour of the Grand Canyon while in town.
Look forward to hereing from you!
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, We are in Quartzsite now, but I think we are leaving tomorrow to go to Yuma. We went to the RV show on the weekend but mostly we’ve just been hanging out on the BLM land enjoying the quiet! Where abouts are you?
Apropos of nothing except my own interest, would like to know about your rv rig. We are older Indian Wells (near Palm Springs) & I think sometimes about some photo/ rv excursions during the summer months. I gather you tow a trailer?
Hi Skip, yes we have a 28 foot fifth wheel. It’s a Keystone Cougar and we absolutely love it. It’s on the small end of the fifth wheels but I like it because it is small enough to go into the national parks where there is a 30 foot maximum. But we live in it full time and it’s big enough for us. If you are thinking about RVing, you should check out my husband’s blog where he has tons of information about it: http://loveyourrv.com I hope that helps! I highly recommend it 🙂
Excellent close-up Anne. Love the textures.
Thank you very much Joe!
Anne. I first saw it on my phone and was un-moved. I then took a look at it on my computer and I like it. It is very well done. I have one comment though, in the lower left corner is a small blue item and I find it very distracting. You are such an insperation.
The above mail box through me a curve by not saying “email address
Hi Ron, we’ll I’m glad it looks better on yoru computer than it does on your phone! I don’t see anything blue in the corner, but there is a small white leaf, maybe that’s what it is.
I didn’t notice before that the comments form said “mail” and not “email” so I have fixed that. Thanks for letting me know.
This photo is great! It is something I would love to hang in my house. Like I always say, and will continue to say, you are very talented! keep them coming!
That’s funny you would say that because I didn’t put it in my smugmug gallery because I didn’t think it was the type of image anyone would purchase. I guess I’ll have to rethink that! Thank you very much for your comments Mary!
I think the same can be said for a designers portfolio as well – unless your ego is swollen and everything you create is the best thing ever – you know there are some things you’d rather not put in there.
Very true. Thanks for your visit and comments Devlin!
As one photographer to another I love your honesty. It’s refreshing! I’ve been doing landscapes since 1970 when a client couldn’t pay my consulting bill and gave me a leica camera to satisfy his obligation. One day I picked it up to distract me from a crumbling life filled with trappings, money, and friends based on success. Thank God. I love simplicity and I enjoyed your blog about such an important part of photography. Keep inspiring!
Thank you very much for your wonderful words Paul. I too find that photography helps me focus on the good things in life and distracts my attention away from things that don’t deserve my attention 🙂 I’m glad you have been enjoying the blog.