Over the past few months I have been absorbed in my efforts to improve my photography and I’m almost done with my Advanced Diploma in Photography. Focusing on self improvement can be very time consuming, to the extent where socializing with family in friends takes a back seat.
For me its is a worthwhile pursuit and I trust I will be able to tell and share better stories around the table or over a few pints of beer. Photography allows you the opportunity to have a very different perspective of everyday life.
I constantly question myself, what am I going to do with the new improved skill, knowledge and the hundreds of photographs I have taken?
Voila!, in trying to respond to this nagging question, it came to me that I should avail my work to the world to appreciate and the rest will take care of itself.
Recognition of my work is more important than the money to be made by marketing and selling it. By getting people to buy prints of my work, even at a marginal cost, is an indication that it is being appreciated and valued.
In looking for avenues just to get my work out there, I started entering photography contests, presenting my work to galleries and I was pleasantly surprised by the results, although I have only been at this for a month or two.
Below is a snapshot of the exposure I have been receiving on a very reputable online photo platform, 500px.com, since I have joined in early March 2018:
- Number of photos in my portfolio = 65
- Number of Likes (Affections) = 4203
- Number views = 24,726
- Number of fellow members / photographers following my Portfolio = 163
I’m also presenting my work on various platforms such as:
(click on URL’s above to visit my portfolios)
Super Proud !!
Earlier this week I received an email that had me over the moon, informing me that one of my photos have been selected to be part of an Landscape Photo Exhibition at a Gallery in Athens, Greece from the 1st to 14th June 2018. Below is the photo selected by the curators to be exhibited.
I have also started processing my photos into photo art and the objective is to market them to a Worldwide audience. The very first website that I found to be excellent in terms of functionality in presenting artists / photographers’ work and products is FineArtAmerica.com (click on the link to get a taste of what my Worldwide store will be like).
The shipping costs from the US makes the above online store an unattractive option for potential South African buyers. I’m currently exploring opportunities on how I could use local printing capabilities to avail my work at more reasonable cost to those who are interested in getting Canvas and/or Framed Prints of my work. To stay updated please ensure you follow my blog.
I will strongly recommend to anyone who is passionate about a past time, vocation or any hobby they wish to pursuit, to do it with passion and determination. Be sure what it is you wish to achieve in this pursuit and constantly “sharpen your saw” to ensure your satisfaction and the attainment of the results you wish for yourself.
It would be very interesting to get comments from other novice and experienced photographers on how they best use their hobby and skills for personal enrichment and fulfilment. Please feel free to leave your comments below.
#RayZa_Photography
Next Blog: My Photographic Trip to Golden Gate National Park, Clarens & Lesotho, The Mountain Kingdom.
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I have been trying a number of photographic online platforms.
Off I went to a Nature Reserve close-by to where I live and decided to put my skills to the test. I was amazed by the quality of the photos and decided that I will look for opportunities to include aerial photos in all my future projects.
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