Letter From The Editor – October

So, are you already annoyed with stores littered in Halloween decorations and candy as much as I am? I knew I liked you for a reason!

It’s sickening when, during my trip to Target (the same one Michelle Obama shops at, apparently – maybe she was also shopping for Missoni like I was), I’m already overwhelmed with black and orange everything, jack o’ lanterns and bats strewn about, and witches making appearances outside of Broadway and The Wizard of Oz. It’s much like what happens immediately after Halloween: the utter avoidance of Thanksgiving and directly moving on to celebrate Christmas (Hallmark and other corporations must be vegan).

All of this completely disrupts my ability to enjoy my favorite time of the year: fall. The season is truly delightful in so many ways – the pleasant reds, yellows, and oranges that take over the trees, the smell of campfires in the air, warm apple cider and delicious autumn-inspired dishes and stews. But black cats and scandalous costumes aren’t the only thing that ruin this time of year for me. Nay, the worst part comes from the lack of inspired photography.

Don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love the changing leaves, but why do people always take the same image of changing leaves? Look guys, fall is about more than just leaves changing color. It’s the apple and pumpkin picking, the return of football (well, for us in The States), all of the Octoberfest beers (for us who can drink), Daylight Savings Time and getting to sleep an extra hour, curling up under a Snuggie and reading a book with some hot cocoa. All of these things should be inspiring some amazing photos, but all that results are images of trees changing colors. My plea to anyone who is going to take on the task of taking such a photo: put some creativity into it.

This isn’t some attempt to be snarky; simply a way to point out that everything looks more appealing from a different point of view that the viewer isn’t expecting. How can you look at a tree in a different manner that would look more appealing than straight-on? Just like there is more than one way to skin a cat, there are more way to capture an image. And just because everyone else has taken a picture of the turning colors of leaves doesn’t mean you’re no longer allowed to – do it in a different, unexpected perspective. You may even impress yourself (and me) with the results!

Speaking of impressing me, you should send me your unique images of fall foliage. Electronic mail those bad boys to me at patrick@fuelyourphotography.com or tweet them to @fuelphotography so I can get some motivation to shoot my own, too!

Speaking of impressing me, did you know we’re hosting a contest here at Fuel Your Photography? No?! What, do you live under a rock?! Check out this awesomeness: we have partnered up with the fantastic folks at 500px.com to give you a free account to the winner of our monthly contests! Plus, you’ll get featured in our Indie Spotlight columns, where we will highlight your magnificent portfolio! As photographers, we all love some exposure (sorry – I couldn’t resist), so why not give it a shot (sorry – I couldn’t resist)? Take a look at our contest page here and submit your best work!

Last month, I was fortunate enough to introduce to you some fantastic new writers, such as Chris Gronde, Ugo Cei, and Andrea Ream Ellwood, and the extremely popular rolling technique Takahiro Yamamoto introduced, as well as a wonderful guest post from advertising agent Majd Elias. October is not any different. We’ve got an upcoming post from the multi-talented Alice Kung, who has got a phenomenal read for you all coming soon! However, it doesn’t stop there. We’ve got a few openings left on our team and are always looking to expand. If you’re interested in adding to our unique and talented team, send an electronic letter to me at patrick@fuelyourphotography.com and I’ll be glad to see what you’ve got!

As the colors of autumn arrive and the cool, crisp air sweeps across your face, remember that that photo of the leaf you’re about to take would look really cool from a different perspective – give it a try! Perhaps my voice will ring in your ears as this happens. (for those who are unsure of what that may sound like, it sounds less like Dennis Haysbert and more like Paul Reubens – if that doesn’t motivate you to try a new photo, I don’t know what will!)

Until next time,

- Patrick
Your Fearless Leader