baby steps

Well I'm back after a long weekend in Charlotte, NC, for the Southern Short Course. My feelings are mixed. I am inspired and I am depressed. I saw so many phenomenal images and met so many accomplished photographers... it was kinda like a hot poker being stuck up my butt. "Get off your ass Emily and do something!" On the other hand, I am daunted by the knowledge that I have so far to go. And I'm 25. I always thought I'd be well into my perfect job and perfect life right now but I still feel caught in transition. I'm standing at the subway station of life watching the cars whiz by and I know I want to be on one but I can't seem to get off the platform. It's not bad, on the platform, but I can't wait there forever.

texture

I've been experimenting with texture lately. I think it's important to keep up with the trends happening in wedding/portrait photography, and I'd definitely say texture (among other things) is now trendy. Some of it I like, some of it I don't. I think it fails when it becomes gratuitous - not contributing to the photo's value, but instead becoming a distraction. I guess I'm opposed to texture for the sake of texture. There are, however, some photographers that use it successfully and artfully. Jesh de Rox comes to mind. There's hardly an image this guy doesn't texture the heck out of. And he's made it his signature style. I guess maybe I'm still finding my "style." Right now that seems to be borrowing everyone else's techniques and ideas. So with that said, I'd love some feedback on the texture issue. Is it actually enhancing the image?