September 2020 - Richard Lovaas

 Learning the mechanics of one’s camera is certainly an important facet of photography, comparatively easy to learn but somewhat harder to implement. More elusive is the artistic aspect.  I recall my Art 101 (“bone-head” art for non-art majors) in college.  I remember staring at a blank piece of paper every week and racking my brain deciding how to fill it – and make it sufficiently artistic to show in class and survive the professor’s criticism.  Now, years later, there is another opportunity to develop that difficult artistic aspect in the photographic medium, I.e., the photography club.  Once you learn to objectively evaluate the criticisms (that’s a good word) of others, those offerings become your tools to fashion a better picture.

Now in retirement I discovered I wanted to expand my photographic knowledge and scope beyond Art 101.  With that in mind, I recall our club’s motto: “Become the photographer you want to be.”  I think that’s my favorite mission statement of all time.  Notice that doesn’t say that everyone should strive to win national PSA contests.  It says: decide what you want to do with your photography and then get better at it.  I’m still doing that.

To view my gallery, please click HERE.