I Ask You To Think About Something...

A different view of one of the two much photographed and famous Mormon barns in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (click to enlarge)
Nikon D800E, Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 lens @ 70mm; 1/1000th sec. @ f/9; ISO 800

If you are reading this blog with any regularity, I'll make a guess that you are a photographer and probably are serious about your photography.  Thanks for visiting and reading and I hope I've been able to provide some information of interest and value for you.

I am sure you know others who are just as enthusiastic about their photography as you are about yours.  I am sure some friends or family members get as much joy and sense of satisfaction out of their photography as do you.  Additionally, I am sure you didn't learn everything you know about photography on your own.  I bet you asked questions of others, read a lot of good informational material (that someone took the time to research and write and put out there for everyone to read) and maybe even joined a camera club or attended a workshop.

You may also have friends or family that may crave to be better at photography or are struggling to be a better photographer.

The other, more famous of the two much photographed  Mormon barns in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (click to enlarge)Photographers don't often include the small stream that flows through the field in front of the barn.
Nikon D800E, Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 lens @ 62mm; 1/800th sec. @ f/9; ISO 250

Here is what I would ask of you.  I would ask that you take the time to share your knowledge and experience with someone who wants to be a better photographer.  I would ask you to take the time to mentor another who may be struggling and making the same mistakes we all made when starting out.  I would also ask you to take the time to help others in the same way others may have helped you in the past—and maybe at times are still helping you.  It would be a shame for someone who is enthusiastic about photography to give up because they may just not quite understand how to get better.  That is where you can help.

Over my now 46 years in photography, the one thing that rang true when I started and still rings true now is that we, as a photographic community, have never been selfish or self-centered.  We have always been willing to help other photographers learn and achieve the same joy and satisfaction as we experience.  We have shared our knowledge, experience and mistakes in hopes that someone we care about can get better at something they love.

I have found there is just as much satisfaction in helping others be better photographers as there is in going out and making photographs myself.  See that smile on someone's face when he or she shows you their new "best" photograph is very satisfying.

This is the iconic view of the north  Mormon (Moulton) barn in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (click to enlarge)There wasn't much of a sunrise the morning I was there and there was a storm brewing which makes this image
different from all the iconicones you see.  There is a mountain range directly behind me and one has to wait
for the sun to just peak over that mountain range to get any light on the tops of the Tetons.  It only lasts for a very short time.
Nikon D800E, Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 lens @ 62mm; 1/800th sec. @ f/9; ISO 250

This blog started out three years ago with the intent of just sharing some travel narrative and images with friends.  I was encouraged by feedback to continue and share my knowledge.  So I continue and, hopefully, provide information that helps others succeed.

Thank you for doing this.  It is important that we give back and be grateful for what have been given to us by giving to others.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

All content on this blog is © 2013-2016 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.