How does your photography reflect your vision?

It's been a while since I last added to my supposedly weekly blog, and I must apologize for my tardiness. My life, it seems, as resembled more of a roller-coaster these past couple of months, than a growing, dynamic journey where I can see where I've been, where I've come from and have an idea of where I'm going to. I've been questioning the meaning and purpose of my life and of course, the moment you start comparing yourself to friends, it's not long before you nose-dive into the muck and mire of depression.

My life may not be headlined in National Geographic images or coffee table books, but I food on my table, friends who I value and treasure, 3 incredible children who I'm proud of, a 78-year old mother who keeps me in her prayers (thanks Mom!) on-again/off-again siblings who I hear from occasionally, and given the distance we live from one another, that falls into the category of miracles.

This past week I got an email giving me advance notice about another E-book that photographer and author David DuChemin was releasing. This one is called, The Vision Driven Photographer, Notes on Discovering & Refining Your Vision.

While I love Dave's body of work, his international experiences, what I value most is his from-the-heart writing. In many ways, it's almost as though he and I are sitting down having a drink in his or my living room as he talks about how I can get in touch with my inner self again instead of moping about just how pitiful life is. In other words, this E-book (can be downloaded HERE) is food for the soul.

Dave says that vision matters because

...it is the place we begin, and the road we travel, on the way to our goal - creating compelling photographs that express something we've no other means of expression but through the frame...Learning to discover, and then express, our vision will make better photographs through a more fulfilling creative process.

He establishes the difference between vision, style and technique before giving us concrete examples, suggestions and exercises that will help to tap into or develop our vision. What I find most interesting about this E-book is that while it speaks directly to the photographer, it applies just as well to the watercolour artist as it does to the animator as it does to someone struggling in their marriage. Even though quoted out of context, the words from the Old Testament poet, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (Proverbs 29:18a), remain valid.

I could highly encourage you to purchase and download a copy from of this E-book from pixelatedimage.com and read it at your leisure. It is a $5 investment that you won't regret making. Furthermore, promotional code DRIVEN4 when you checkout, you can have the PDF version of The Vision Driven Photographer for only $4 OR use the code DRIVEN20 to get 20% off when you buy 5 or more PDF ebooks from the Craft & Vision collection. These codes start at 1:00am PST, November 24th, 2010 and expire at 11:59pm PST November 28th, 2010.

One final note, some of you know that I am leading an 11-day safari to Botswana next June. Yesterday I got notice that one seat is now available. If you are interested, or know anyone who is, please contact me. The cost, without airfare to Johannesburg, is close to $3000, a steal especially when everything is included. You will have two professional photographers, one of which is also a wildlife expert, on board to help you master your camera and capture incredible images.

Happy Thanksgiving!