JPG: Stories: Photo Essay: Learning. An Introduction.

Learning. An Introduction.

By Mike Olbinski

21 Oct 2009

I'm new to JPG Magazine and so I felt like introducing myself with my story.

Learning. That seems to be all I'm doing right now. My mind is racing non-stop. I've had a hard time sleeping, I'm restless and moody.

This photography bug has grabbed hold of me big time, but comes with a dark side. Let me start from the beginning.

Weather is one of my favorite things. The summers in Arizona bring forth monsoon thunderstorms complete with giant haboobs, lightning and pouring rain. As far back as I can remember I've loved to take pictures of giant thunderstorms, the mounds of cumulus and the dark skies. I can spend hours watching Doppler radar and most of my friends come to me when they want to know if there is a chance of rain in our future.

This past summer, I realized I could use our little point-and-shoot camera to take continuous shots. Wow, a whole new world was opened to me. From this discovery my sudden passion for photographing lightning was born. That love has resulted in a couple of good photos, but I knew I needed a camera with more features to truly get that perfect shot.

After months of saving and selling, I finally had enough cash for my first DLSR. I purchased a Canon Rebel XSi last week and have barely put it down since. The camera comes with me to work, it comes with me on the ride home, it goes with me when I get take-out and is always close by in the house for those spontaneous moments with the family.

Summer is over and so is the kind of stormy weather I love here in Arizona. Sunrises and sunsets are my passion now...I pray for weather forecasts to include cloudy skies.

My family is my other passion. Since my daughter was born almost a year ago, I've probably taken thousands of pictures of her and my wife. They are my life and the most important things to me in this world.

So why can't I sleep?

Now that I feel this fantastic pull into the world of photography, all I'm doing is reading, looking and pondering. I'm distracted at work. I've poured over hundreds and hundreds of photos here on JPG. I read about ways to enhance photos, better methods to compose scenes and a bazillion other things.

But mostly, I *think* about it all the time. I look for things while out driving. What can I do next? What can I photograph?

The graffiti truck you see in this story is one of those things I spotted and came back later to capture. I loved doing that.

This hobby...this art...has become addicting and fun. However, there is a flip-side to all this newfound love of photography.

Me.

I tend to expect quality from anything I do. Over the course of my life, whenever I pick up a new hobby or passion, I end up being good at it. Not the best of course, that's not what I'm saying. But good enough to earn the respect of friends, family and my wife.

My biggest flaw is expecting that kind of success quickly. Too quickly in most cases. My wife has told me that countless times.

"You've got to have patience, Mike."

I find it very easy to be hard on myself. I'm usually able to see clearly where I'm lacking instead of blindly believing I'm awesome. Some might say that's a good thing, but it's also tough being your own critic.

I'm in that weird place right now. I take pictures, post them for the world to see, and the feedback is not what I expect. I love the weather scenes that I've been capturing for awhile, but when others do not share the same enthusiasm, it can send me into a moody existence.

I don't mind a critical eye or good advice that helps me improve. I crave feedback. But when that turns negative, it hurts. Even worse is no response at all and not knowing why.

Perhaps what I need to work at more than being good is to being content with me. Content with the stuff I want to photograph and not worry if it pleases everyone.

This is something to have fun with and the pressure I put on myself can sometimes take that away.

So that's me. That's where I am right now.

I love this site and the quality of art I see here. The themes and work by everyone inspires me to get better and better.

Now, if you hear of thunderstorms heading towards Phoenix, drop me a line and let me know.

Although...chances are I'll already be out there watching.

Wide world

Lightning explosion

3 responses

Mike North said (22 Oct 2009):
Your Lightning explosion pic is good stuff.
Mike Olbinski said (22 Oct 2009):
Thanks Mike...hoping that's just the beginning.
Dorothy Menosky gave props (23 Oct 2009):
Hello, Nice to meet you.