So why are they coming up now?

I’ve been into photography for the past 6 years, experimenting in everything from digital to film to alternative processes.  I’ve never made it my primary source of income but had thought that I would like to.  I’ve taken thousands, even tens of thousands of photos in that time, from around the U.S. and Europe.  So what’s happening now?

I just don’t feel the motivation anymore.  There’s no desire to go out a shoot.  None.  I’ve tried.  I take my camera everywhere, hoping for that spark.  But maybe that’s the problem.

Maybe I’m forcing it too much.  Should I put the camera down for awhile?  Should I just concentrate on something else for now and maybe that spark will return?

Not only is it extremely frustrating, it’s also a bit depressing.  I know I love it.  And I’m sure I always will.  But right now I feel like putting all my gear up for sale on eBay.

I look around on the ‘net to find inspiration.  And, although I find great images and techniques, I can’t seem to feed off of it.  There’s no creativity.  Just stale, boring bread.

So now what am I to do?

Has anyone felt like this before?  Or is it really time to move on?  What have you done to get yourself out of the funk?

I’d love to just pick up and move to get a different scene.  But I’m afraid that place would dry up as well.

Any thoughts?

(BTW, I’m not quitting….just yet.)

It’s been extremely nice here lately, nice and hot.  This gives us the perfect excuse to get the boats out and do a little racing around.

I don’t currently own one of these cool little things, but I have fun taking pictures anyway!

Last week I went to Denver for a check-up on my back, (I had back surgery a month ago to repair a herniated L5 disk).  My wife and I went down alone without the kids, which was wonderful!  I love my boys, but it’s nice to get away for some “us time” once in awhile.

We met up with an old Army buddy of mine who showed us around.  We went to a British soccer bar and watched the first half of Manchester United play Philadelphia and had a couple nice beers.  We also had lunch at an Old Chicago’s which was outstanding!

But I think the best was going to a concert, and you’ll never guess who was playing!  For starters, Thrill Kill Cult was one of the opening bands.  Then, Lords of Acid!!  Can you believe that?  They haven’t toured in 8 years and we got to see them live!

(Sorry about the quality of the photos, point-and-shoot camera!)

And let me tell you, Tracy Lords can still bring the place down!!

So it was a pretty good trip I’d say.  Oh, and my back is healing just like it should.

So that brings me to the title of this post; In the Army Now?

If you didn’t know already, I served almost 10  years on active duty in the U.S. Army, from 1996 to 2005.  I was medically discharged because of the Essential Tremor I have.

Well, slap me sideways and call me Sally, I’m thinking of going back in.

Have you ever had the feeling that you were meant to do something?  And no matter how hard you fight it or do other things, the feeling never goes away?  That’s what I’m feeling.

I feel like there’s something missing from my life.  It’s hard to explain if you’ve never felt like that and especially if you’ve never served your country.  It’s not about going to war, fighting, or trying to be GI Joe.  It’s about a commitment I made, and failed to deliver.

I know, I served almost 10 years so that should be enough commitment, right?  I don’t think so.

I love photography, I love teaching, but I also love the military.  And I really only need 11-12 years before I could retire.  (Before I turn 50!!)

I don’t know.  My wife isn’t too keen on the idea, which is totally understandable.  But I don’t think she understands exactly how much I love the military and how much I miss it.  It’s eating me up.

I don’t even know if I can medical clearance to get back in, so this might all be for nothing.

What do you think?  Am I wasting my time?  Do you even understand where I’m coming from?

Any and all comments are welcome.  Just try not to be too harsh, O.K.?? 

But I am excited.  The very talented Elena of FindMyArt.com finished the logo for Nate Lawson Photography.  And I love it!

It was a very smooth transaction and Elena knows what she’s doing.  It didn’t take long at all and she had the perfect logo created.  I already feel more professional!

If you’re in need of a new logo for personal use or for your business, I highly recommend her!

Just go check out her portfolio on FindMyArt.com and you’ll understand!

Thanks again Elena!!

But I am excited.  The very talented Elena of FindMyArt.com finished the logo for Nate Lawson Photography.  And I love it!

It was a very smooth transaction and Elena knows what she’s doing.  It didn’t take long at all and she had the perfect logo created.  I already feel more professional!

If you’re in need of a new logo for personal use or for your business, I highly recommend her!

Just go check out her portfolio on FindMyArt.com and you’ll understand!

Thanks again Elena!!

I just had an epiphany this morning.

I realized that I was going about my photo project all wrong.  Man, I can be pretty dense sometimes!

I’m no longer doing alternative processes, (not for my project anyway!).  I’ve concentrated on creating images in the way that I see the world, living with Essential Tremor (E.T.).

Most of the prints are going to be digitally printed, from scanned negatives and digital images.  But they will be created in the vision of E.T.

I feel much more confident now, knowing what I need to do and how to go about doing it.

Sorry for the short little outburst here.  But I needed to let it be known that I’m really not this dense!  (Most of the time.)

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me explain.

I shake.  A lot.  As a photographer that never really mattered, due to image-stabilized lenses and tripods.  Yet, it affects my everyday life.  When I was in the U.S. Army, my platoon sergeant nicknamed me “Shakey”, which wasn’t any big deal.  I knew that I shook and had no problem with it.  But it’s actually the reason why I no longer serve in the military.  (For some reason they don’t like people who shake operating a hand-gun!)

But now that I’m an “artist”, it really pisses me off that I can’t seem to do the most simple tasks when it come to creating the art that I want.  I’ve always just brushed off the fact that I had a tremor, tried to ignore it.  But I can’t any longer.

The tremor is getting worse.

The only thing that seems to calm the tremor down is alcohol.  And I’m not about to be “that” guy.  So what am I suppose to do?  I love photography.  I finally know what I was meant to do, yet I’m unable to accomplish what “normal” photographers do, create sharp images.  But is that necessary?

My whole thesis this year is to prove that it doesn’t matter if the image is tack-sharp, as long as the image represents what you’re feeling at that time.  Yet I get so damn frustrated when I can’t produce an image the way I want because I’m shaking too much.

Should I just do it?  Should I just take the image, no matter how sharp it is, just to be able to have an image?  Or should I concentrate on making them as sharp as I can?

I know that if you don’t suffer from any tremor, it may be hard for you to understand.  But for me it’s a question I ask myself every time I press the shutter.  Essential Tremor is not well-known by many people.  Just this month it’s pretty much been determined that the month of March is going to be “National Essential Tremor Awareness Month”.

My ultimate goal is to show the world, one state or country at a time, that Essential Tremor is real.  And that it doesn’t matter if you have the disease, you can still create art.  But I’m still confused.

Should I create art to satisfy myself?  Or should I create art to satisfy the masses?

I’m sorry to put this on you, but I’m so frustrated right now I could scream.  Maybe that would help.

Please pass this along to whoever you think will listen.  Thank you.

As I’ve been doing more and more alternative process photography and doing a lot of research on the web, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are endless “Photographic Possibilities.”

And, ironically, that’s exactly what I got from my loving wife this morning, “Photographic Possibilities; The Expressive Use of Equipment, Ideas, Materials, and Processes” by Robert Hirsch.

I haven’t done a lot of reading from it yet, but I know it’ll be one book close at hand at all times!

I’m sure I’ll be using it along with my Darkroom Cookbook while I do assignments for my independent study photography class.  I can’t wait!!

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I’d also like to take this opportunity to mention another photo blog I came across; Elizabeth Briel.  She does a lot of cyanotypes that are amazing!  That’s another process I’d like to try and I’ll be referring to her site for help.

Thanks for dropping by, and have a great weekend!!

One of the coolest things I’ve found is 2D barcodes.  I’ve seen them before, but never really understood what they were or how to use them.

If you haven’t seen one before, here’s an example:

(This is my contact information.)

So I got to thinking.  (I know, scary!)  I’m tired of the same old 8.5×11 sheets of paper hanging on every bulletin board around.  After awhile you become blind to them and they all start looking alike.

So I wanted someway to stand out, yet still be functionable.

2D barcodes to the rescue!!

We are living in a fast-paced technological world now, when faster and simpler is better.  Now I’m not going to debate on whether this is good or bad.  But you should really take a look at your business plan to see if you’re getting left behind.

I just created a mobile version of my website so that people will be able to view it on their mobile devices.  It’s not pretty and needs some serious work, but it’s there.

And now these 2D barcodes can get the visitor to be engaged, at the same time save time.  If someone sees one of these barcodes on a poster, business card, or even a bumper sticker, they can scan it with their smartphone, (sorry only phones with cameras and internet access can play!), and go directly to the page or video that’s linked to the barcode.

All this while they are still walking down the street!  No need to remember a website, phone number, or contact details.  Brilliant!

I’ve already decided to put one on the back of my business cards that links to more information about myself and my business.  I’m also developing contests, special deals on services, creating tutorials that will only be accessible through one of these barcodes.

So if you’d like to learn more about these, just Google 2D Barcodes.  Or you can visit these sites:

• www.i-nigma.com
• www.snapmaze.com
• www.kaywa.com
• www.neoreader.com
• www.beetagg.com (I use this one)

One other note, you might need to download the free software to your phone before you can scan the barcodes.  But it’s free and simple to use.

So if you see a barcode on one of my sites, make sure you scan it.  You could win something!!

To get you started, scan this barcode for my contact information that you can add to your phone with one click!

NOTE: “Scanning” simply means launching the barcode reader application, which in turn starts your camera.  Then just snap a picture and the application does the rest!

I learned a tremendous amount of information on becoming the best leader I can be, met a lot of great people, and got to tour our great capital.

Being the photographer that I am, I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to capture our great monuments and historic buildings with my camara.

I can honestly tell you that touring the historic sites gave me goosebumps more than once, and actually brought tears to my eyes standing in front of the Wall.  Being prior military myself, that experience was a little overwhelming, to say the least.

When I think of the great leaders and people that have walked in those historic buildings, I get emotional all over again.  If only the walls could talk!

I think it should be mandatory that every American visit our capital, if just for a couple days.  This is where we got started.  These are our roots.  And to look at the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and our Constitution in person is an awesome feeling!

So if you get the chance to visit Washington, D.C. do it!  You won’t regret one moment!