Synchronicity and JPG- A Thank You Letter
By Mike Melnotte
17 Apr 2009
It seems that some things were just meant to work out the way they do.
I had never heard of JPG magazine before a few weeks ago. I never stopped to browse through the many photography publications that are out there when at the bookstore. It didn't seem to be something I had a pressing need to explore.
However... despite my apparent indifference, I would find myself lingering over the cameras ads in the Sunday papers. I would point out to my wife a beautiful photo I came across in a magazine or online. The interest in capturing a picturesque or funny or memorable moment that I had as a teenager with my Canon T50 was still alive and looking for a way to get out.
Then along came the photo and JPG.
In playing with the settings of my point and shoot Sony W80, I managed to get a b/w shot of my son, shaded in the afternoon light through the front door. It looked and felt like what I thought was a more "professional" looking photograph. "Hey, did I really do that?" was my reaction and the pride in doing so was immense.
It was only a day or so later when using the Stumbleupon.com site that I randomly came across JPG magazine. What I found was the perfect medium for a novice like me to share a bit of myself and see a world of talent from amateurs and pros alike. I posted my son's picture and drew encouragement from the views and comments. I was encouraged enough to ask, "What else can I do with this little camera?"
I felt the macro and B/W settings gave some of the better results and I set out to find some worthy ideas for a few themes. My wife would catch me heading upstairs with one of her new candles for a shot or angled around our sleeping dog for a close-up. It didn't take long before she would see me looking at something with my head cocked to the side or a glazed-over expression and say, "You're thinking about some kind of photo aren't you?" I guess it was that obvious.
My thanks to my wife are endless, by the way. She has gone from tolerating my newly found, mildly obsessive ways to helping me with ideas, input, being a hand model, and generally supportive with the purchase of my Nikon D60 (I haven't even mentioned to her all the lenses I'd like to have- everybody stay quiet on that one). If only I could have captured the look on her face as she quietly stuck Lemonhead candy on me for the Lemonhead theme!
Anyway... my thanks go out to everyone associated with JPG Magazine for the creative embers they have stoked. It's given me the confidence to do more than just take a few snapshots. I also go through the day looking more closely at the world around me for what would make a cool picture. It's the whole stop and smell the roses thing. And for that I say "Thank you".
5 responses
-
Spectre Photo gave props (20 Apr 2009):
That's wonderful!! Love your work..keep it up!
-
Rey mos said (18 May 2009):
Welcome to our world of images. I signed up last year and no activity but this month when I received an email that JPG resumed its circulation, without hesitation I reactivated my account and posted my travel photos. The good thing really in JPG website is that, " what you see is what you get" which means that the photos are real (not much of manipulations). Thus, our photos especially taken during our travels will inspire others to travel or even visit these places that we took thoses images in the past. My aim of having shared my photos in JPG is to have the feeling from others that they were there when I took those pictures, and vice-versa. All the best. Rey
-
Devin Hayes gave props (4 Jun 2009):
Great story.. Welcome to JPG!!
-
Susan Littlefield gave props (4 Jun 2009):
What a nice story, and a terrific introduction to JPG. Serendipitous happenstance leads to voila!! I'm voting yes!!
-
peggy gardner gave props (14 Oct 2009):
what a brown noser....j/k lovely story...excellent images...patient wife.
