What? Time For a Break? Again?

I know, I know. I’ve done this before.

But this time is different. This break is not out of frustration (actually it is – sort of) or because I feel blocked or stale in the work. Hardly. I’ve reached the point where there are literally not enough hours in the day. If I don’t make choices now, they will very likely be made and forced upon me. So, I’m choosing to try this again in order to head off the less desirable choices at the pass.

I’m not planning any further updates here until the early portion of 2011. My website rebuild has also been placed on hold as I’ve had no time to do image edits for the galleries.

So what’s happening? If you really want to know, read on; if not, check back in February of 2011. I’ll be somewhat caught up by then.

This decision is not pegged to one single event, but to a tangled web of stuff. Being self-employed is the biggest part of it and basically, this is a decision of economics and balance. Ask any artist and you’ll know the markets ain’t what they used to be. The risk of speculating new work in the present market conditions is too much for me to even consider. In fact, if I treated photography as a pure business enterprise I would’ve shut it down years ago. While the circumstances I now find myself in are not born of frustration, they are certainly a cause of frustration – and stress.

It goes without saying that for me, photography is much, much more than a pure business venture. It also goes without saying the economy can’t be ignored. After years of putting my art ahead of so much else, I can see the rendering is coming due and that’s a problem. To continue to keep photography at the top of my ‘to do’ list simply isn’t viable or realistic.

Today’s image is one from this past summer; two wonderful, beautiful ladies looking out into the world, hopeful. I will be back, with new and good work, but it’s not gonna be for a while. Check in from time to time, but don’t expect new stuff to appear. Above all else, don’t stand waiting around. I’m sure you’ve got plenty to do as well.

In the meantime, please feel free to drop me a line and stay in touch. I wish each and everyone out there a happy and safe holiday season – and let’s all hope for a more prosperous and balanced year in 2011.

Sustainability...

Once again, I’ve not much new to report. Lisa is still quite run-down. She finished her antibiotics this morning but really isn’t feeling any better. As for me, I’m definitely better than she is, but still feeling the effects of this crap. This stuff, whatever it is or was, has been no fun.

For better or worse, the day job has had me on the road much of the past week. Sometimes, it seems as if one must decide to ‘no longer be sick’ and typically, I feel better when I get active and on with things. The side effect of course, is fatigue. Still, I believe this is why I may be doing a little better. Yesterday, still miserable with congestion and cough, Lisa accused me of feeling better on purpose.

My hopes of moving ahead quickly with image edits and post work aren’t being realized, though I am making some progress here and there. I’m meeting with the web designer later today to see what progress she’s made, but it admittedly won’t be much as I’ve not been able to get material to her.

Thanksgiving will not be a big holiday this year for us. I’m hopeful to take advantage of the break it will bring and get some things done with photography. Until then, here are two more from this past summer’s sessions.

To all of my friends and family, Happy Thanksgiving.

Two Flu into the Cukoo's Nest...

If this entry’s title isn’t clear, suffice to say it’s been yet another trying week. Both Lisa and I have been fighting the flu.

Actually, the fight was short-lived. Taking hold over the weekend, the flu had us both beaten down by mid-week. Now, after several doses of antibiotics and various legally prescribed narcotics to block the endless coughing and permit snatches of sleep to occur, we seem to be gaining the upper hand. Or at least I do. Lisa’s still having a rough go of it.

Needless to say, not much has happened since my reappearance here last week. I’m hopeful the coming days will be better, as I’m weary of the sofa and television, paperback novels, and canned soups. The bright spot is I’ve managed to scheme and plan. Time will tell where that may take me.

In the meantime, here’s a smidge more of this past summer’s work.

Seven Weeks…

It’s been that long since I posted anything here…pictures or words.

That’s far too long to be gone. My apologies to all.

While I can’t say I accomplished much during that time, I can say they weren’t seven weeks filled with idle nothingness. I’ve actually been quite busy; however, it’s been ‘day job’ busy and not ‘photographic’ busy. I did manage to get a couple of new sessions shot and on the books, both with new models. And I’ve worked on my website updates too.

I've also begun the restorative dental work to repair the cracked molar I mentioned in the last entry. I won't even go into how much fun that is. I'm grateful to have a dentist that not only has an excellent chair-side manor, but an appreciation for my work. Two of my prints hang in his home.

Mostly, its mountains of post work I need to do, to put the finishing touches on this past summer’s work, and to get images in my gallery and on my website. Rest assured, more new work will be forthcoming. In the meantime, here are three new ones; two from recent October sessions with two new models and one bodyscape from an August session with models Michelle and Sarah.

Enjoy and keep in touch.