The Time Has Come to Say Goodbye...

...to Blogger.

After working with the new blog on the WordPress site,I've decided my time with here with Blogger is finished. The WordPress interface has taken some getting used to, but all in all, I'm liking it much better.

Accordingly, this will be my final post on this blog.

The biggest difference for readers is how WordPress blogs are 'followed'. Basically, a subscription to the WordPress blog will be necessary. It's quite simple, and is more or less the same as 'following' is here. Simply click on the 'Subscribe' button, follow one or two verification steps, and you're in.

Thanks again to everyone for all of your support during my time on Blogger!

Please change your bookmarks to: http://billballardphotography.wordpress.com/

I look forward to seeing you there!

Turn the Page...

After reviewing my blog posts for 2010, I was almost at the point of thinking I could simply cut and paste my blog entry from the end of 2009. After all, little has changed.

I still don’t make resolutions. As I wrote in my last 2009 entry:

I forge ahead in life, trying to recall lessons learned before making the same mistake again. Or, I apply knowledge gained during the passing year to make things better in the coming year. Harnessing the processes of wanting to do better, be smarter, wiser, and to do one’s best in everything one does is, at least for me, the best way to go. I see it as more natural, more instinctive.

And so it goes for 2011.

I would have to say that I did experience some worthy achievements in 2010, at least where photography is concerned. I began using all natural light and relatively unstructured environments (at least when compared with the often sterile setting of the studio) for my sessions. In the process, I believe I did some of the best work I’ve done in a decade or more. I resolutely ended my relationship with film, insofar as to accept that my days of working with it and in the darkroom were at an end. Some may not understand how or why I would count that as a worthy achievement. Trust me it is.

Thus, I look forward to 2011 and to the new hope for creative inspiration that it brings. I hope you’ll stay with me, and tell your friends. The more, the merrier.

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And so comes the time where I extend a personal “thank-you” to those that follow and read this blog. Your interest and support of my work is appreciated more than you’ll ever know. If you’re a reader, please become a follower so I know you’re here. If you don’t want to be a ‘formal-follower’, please drop me a line to say hi.

For a variety of reasons, I’m looking at moving this blog to WordPress. Chief among them are the fact I’ve always been bothered by the Content Advisory page Blogger/Google require for any blog containing nudity, regardless of intent. So, after talking some with my web persona and reviewing other WordPress blogs, I’ve decided to give it a go. In fact, today’s entry will be published at the WordPress blog in duplicate. The WordPress URL is:

http://www.billballardphotography.wordpress.com

I’m still working through the administrative processes and such with the site. So far though, I like it. Take a look and tell me what you think. If it looks good enough, and the responses are positive enough, then I will begin 2011 entries on the WordPress blog. Regardless, I'm planning to leave this blog here, as it is.

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2010!

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Here is one from the last West Hall Street session of 2010.

'Tis the Season...

I wanted to write a quick and simple note to say ‘thank you’ for supporting and following my work through the few words and images I’m able to share on this blog. Your interest is appreciated more than you know.

The last entry indicated I would be absent from here until early next year. Once again, as they always seem to do, things have changed. An unexpected opportunity has arisen and I intend to use it to my best advantage. I’ll be back on my photographic feet soon. As always, please stay tuned.

I wanted to include an appropriate image for the season, but I don’t really have any pictures I can associate with Christmas or the holidays in general. Instead, I picked one that stands uniquely apart from the remainder of my work.

For me, it’s a simple and quiet image. And although it’s not very ‘Christmassy’, I hope you enjoy it as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

I’ll see you all soon.

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.