Little something, for you fellow artists, to think on as you start out a new year.. This is a bit of an excerpt from a conversation I had with a fellow photographer (if you can count me as one even).
Daniel: The single greatest thing a photographer can do to improve their portrait work is learn how to communicate with their subject and make them comfortable enough to let their personalities shine through their images. There is no photoshop or camera and lens trick that separates a good from a great photographer. It has everything to do with how you relate, talk to and allow your subject to just be themselves.
Myself: well said… and that’s a hard thing to be “taught”.. but you totally have it.
Daniel: I’m never truly happy with my work I always think a better job could have been done… ocupational hazzard but, after talking with other photographers who want to learn I always find it frustrating to find that they think there is some special secret that they need to learn to take great pictures of someone. There isn’t…. It’s all about your level of interaction and you’re right it can’t really be taught. Improved upon… Yes… Taught… Absolutly not….
Myself: never truly being happy, or feeling you could do better is largely part of being a real artist.. because art is largely about expressing a deep need/desire/feeling that really can’t be captured by man (whatever the medium), because it’s not placed there by man. And it is naive to think there is some special secret, some formula to make someone an (awesome) artist, that’s our society for you, always looking for a determined “quick fix”.
I agree with you, it can be improved upon, but not taught, a lot has to do with experience, but most has to do with your natural personality and how well you know yourself.
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And now some images.. Shot at the arboretum yesterday.. I trekked around with Luna for about 2 hours just enjoying nature. That’s how I felt to celebrate the final day of 2009. Check out her blog for a couple different images. (click to see larger image)
Played with texture a bit with this last one. I like it quite a bit. But if you really want to be blown away by some talent.. check out Daniel’s Site .. and for more current work check out his blog
Take care, and a wonderful new year to you all
AKG Inspiration 
you went b&w, why for, may i ask? wonderful convo, you both it it on the head.
Just fit the mood.. there wasn’t a lot of color going on that day anyway.. was a very gray day, so I thought it was rather fitting. I could see the bird shot in color, but not the tree, too much monotone going on even in a color shot.