Back in 2011, Brian and I took a trip to Africa. Let me just tell you...it was the most epic trip of all epic trips! We traveled around Tanzania and Uganda, going on safari from dawn til dusk, boating amongst hippo, taking a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti, witnessing the great wildebeest migration, visiting a Masai village, tracking mountain gorillas, and just generally falling in love with Africa. It was also on this trip that Brian pulled out a little blue box (You all know the one!...with the satin white bow!) and proposed on the Serengeti. The proposal of my dreams!
I was going through my photos the other day (all 1000+ of them), looking for potentials to blow up, mat and frame, and hang in our house. Here are the photos I have it narrowed down to. Which ones do you think I should enlarge and hang?
I've also been chewing over the possibility of opening an Etsy shop with some of my photos. I'm really on the fence though. I by no means want to be one of those people who, simply because they have a fancy camera, declare themselves a photographer. I'll be the first to admit I'm no photographer. But Etsy has a wide range of skill ranges and I thought maybe people may be interested in a few of my shots. What do you think? It's hard to look at my work objectively so I need honest outside opinions.
All photos via Me
OK the 5th one down looks like a painting! You have to do something with that one! I really like the composition of the one above it, and while I'm not crazy about the composition of the first one, (mainly because of the left side blending with two other zebras) I'm def drawn to it. LOVE the little birdies. It's a beautiful glimpse into nature. SO jealous that you actually took these in person! A safari in Africa has been on my list of places to go for a while now!
ReplyDeleteWow! that sounds like one amazing holiday!!!! You lucky thing :D for the holiday and for the blue box ;) hehe!!! These photos are amazing!! I would love to see more of them :D
ReplyDeleteI have a big zebra canvas in my room (cough ikea cough cough) hehe, but yours is amazing I love the birds having a wee chat on his back lol
I do love the cheetah one where they are looking out over the plains, but also the female lions thats a great photo and the one in the background just looks gorgeous!! :)
whta one are you going to choose!! its a hard one for sure!! hehe
Jen xxx
Kecia, these are ALL gorgeous. And so meaningful, seeing as how you took them in person. If I were you, I'd frame every one of them! But, since that might be a little much, my vote is for 1,2,4 and 6 or 8. It would be a good blend of both black and white and colored shots and displays a variety of the animals you saw. Or, you could always do a stunning display of just a selection of the black and white ones. They are all so great, you really can't go wrong. I particularly like the first one myself - the little birds hitching a ride is so neat. And, I'm partial to monkeys, so that little guy sitting in that tree - with his sweet little shy face - is also a fave.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Etsy goes, I say, "Why not?" You won't know until you try how good it could be. There may be a big demand for photos like yours. And if not, well, you tried. Can't hurt anything to try! Just make sure to keep your prices reasonable. While there are some good deals on Etsy, some of the prices on there are just exorbitant (*speaking from the point of view of a mama-to-be who refuses to pay $600 or more for crib bedding, be it custom made or not - I'll learn to sew before I'll pay that much!)
Wow,,, AMAZING PHOTOS,, and to think you got to view and shoot these pics.. I LOVE them all.. I also love the Zebra with the birdies, but love the monkey too,, however, know you,, I would have to vote for the Cheetah close up.. You know what I mean :) And the Etsy shop would be a good avenue to let others enjoy some of your work even though, you say, it is not professional,, looks great to most of us peeping in. Great Work... and Congrats to you and the Mister...
ReplyDeleteOk, lady. Here's my (honest photographer) opinion. I have had a lot of experience shooting (maybe not so epic amazingness as yours) some pretty great things/people/landscapes. I work hard to claim to be even an amateur photographer. Part of me does it that way because I love photography so much. It's my get away. My art. My way of interpreting things that I love and care about. With your pictures (other than the monkey one, I'm not a huge monkey fan. I know, I'm crazy), I sense the amazing adventure and emotions that are captured in your pictures. That, to me, is a sure sign that you are not just a fancy camera. I know a lot of people who claim to be a photographer and have a big, fancy camera, but when you look at the work they produce, it's flat. It's not enjoyable to pick apart or even view for long periods of time. You've got an eye for balance and composition that many "fancy" photogs will never have. So, go for it, girl! I've often contemplate doing the same thing, but I worry about taking something that I'm passionate about and turning it into something business related that could change the way I feel about it. I'll tell you my favorites now: The water buffalo! By far my fav in relation to emotion and composition. Second to that one: both of the cheetahs and the zebra. I would vote for doing them all black and white. I love the emotion it brings out in the subject (who would have known that deep down inside I'm such an emotional creature?!) Whatever you do, keep practicing! You've got some talent there just waiting to be explored!
ReplyDeleteMuch Love,
Trissta
PS What is your big fancy camera of choice??? :) Also, lenses! I need to know lenses!
THe photos are FANTASTIC! You are far too modest....Etsy would welcome you!Love 1, 4 and 5 but only singled them out because I too am currently researching a tri of B & W photos for a wall in my home! These are a perfect set!
ReplyDeletex KL
That sounds like an amazing trip and you definitely have the photos to prove it! I LOVE the zebra and agree with the previous commenter that the 5th one down looks like a painting!
ReplyDeleteI totally think you should open up a shop. There's some good stuff here!
ReplyDeleteAmazing shots! Official photographer status or not, there's no disputing a great eye. The top zebra image and 4th cheetah image .. and the wildebeest too... would be amazing enlarged and printed. So beautiful! I say definitely go for it re: etsy your images are even better than so many that I've seen on the site, and it would be wonderful to share these and your work!
ReplyDelete(some more great wildlife photography inspiration - my favourite - look up photographer Nick Brandt)