[Leica] What do you do with your Images?

["Gib Robinson" <robinson@sfsu.edu>]

"Ken Lee" <kenphoto@home.com> wrote:

> I guess the title says it all. What do you do with your images when they
are
> not taken specifically for someone else?  I am thinking of selling my
Leica
> Ms because I am just not using them.  I think the real reason I am not
> taking many pictures is I don't know what to do with the result.
> A little background.. I am 57, and have been taking pictures since I was
12.
> Looking back, except for pictures taken for a specific purpose, whether it
> was the high school yearbook or someone's wedding, the slides are just
filed
> or the negs may never be printed.
> I guess I need a reason to take the pictures, and thought maybe you folks
> could help me find one.

Personally, I have found lots of reasons to photograph. Often, the reasons
come to me. People ask me to take photos at events or weddings. I
photographed a wedding this past Saturday, God help me. For weddings, I
insist that they hire a pro and I take candids to supplement the work of the
pro.

I take photos at the school where our daughter goes -- slides for an auction
dinner, photos of school plays, etc. I also just finished a project for the
UC Berkeley (Cal) varsity crews because our niece rows in the varsity boat.
It was great fun. I shot photos from a launch during practice sessions and
from a bridge over their home race course. My photos currently run in the
Cal Crew media guide and on the cover. It's enjoyable work and the crew
teams get photos they can take to their families. I learn what to do (and
not do).

When I do projects, I try to stick with organizations that clearly can't
afford professional photographers. If they've used pros in the past, I tend
to stay away; but many organizations can't afford to hire a pro. If the
politics or intentions of the organization are ones I agree with, I'll try
to help.  Next up for me is an African-American dance group in San
Francisco's Western Addition. It's run by a former faculty colleague of
mine.

I've actually thought of setting up a website to help non profit
organizations contact amateur photographers to provide documentation for
projects or photos for fund raising. Personally, I imagine doing projects
for environmental groups in other countries, as well working with local
groups in my neighborhood.

I don't know how the pros on this list would feel about a website that would
help link non-profits with amateur photographers around the world, but
personally, I think amateurs could be extremely helpful and might, in the
long run, generate business for pros in areas where there is currently no
pro work. I'd love to get some feedback about that idea.

- --Gib