No formula exists for making fine art. It is the elusive quality that makes the work of art rare and consequential. However, certain important elements can be explored. One is the idea of commitment. For the Fine Art photographer, there must first be the commitment to being an artist. Then we have the commitment to photography as the means of expression. There is commitment to a particular set of choices available to the photographer—subject matter, equipment, lighting, film, printing, location and so on. Eventually, there is hyper-commitment to each and every element in every frame a photographer chooses to expose. This is the time when the artist trusts himself so thoroughly that he has cast aside any need for outside approval.

I encourage my students to commit. When a student has very little idea how to begin this process, I will ask him or her to commit to anything! Making specific choices does not limit the artist, but frees him to fully develop his gifts. My students rapidly discover if their choices are incompatible with their real passions. In this case, they usually lose interest in the area of their commitment. This can lead to a certain soul-searching that draws the artist closer to his or her natural calling, closer to an instinctive realization that more and more specific commitments are ‘right’ for that individual.

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This is a series of articles by professional photographer, educator and author Rob Goldman.  All articles are the property of Mr. Goldman and may not be reprinted without express, written permission.

The following images were taken by members of Long Island Photo Gallery in the spirit of their personal commitment to Fine Art Photography.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD with many initiatives that were announce with our first blog post.

Here is one that is moving forward rapidly ……

We have hired a painter to come into our design office over Labor Day weekend.  The end result will be to have freshly painted walls so that our LIPG members can have a place to display their printed work. But wait, THERE’S MORE! I spoke with our landlord this week and he will be painting the entire upstairs hallway where our office is located and will allow LIPG Members to display their printed work along this space!  But wait, THERE’S EVEN MORE! He has also given us the opportunity to display our prints THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING! : ))

This is HUGE!!  Not only has Long Island Photo Gallery given its members the unique opportunity to have their work displayed digitally with a revenue option, but are also offering its members the opportunity to have their printed work displayed in a gallery type setting.  Your work.  Your name.  Your opportunity to be seen as an artist.

If you are not a member of Long Island Photo Gallery, don’t be shy.  Our annual dues are just $35.  Click here to learn more or to join our community.

Our members will be the first to see our gallery while attending our 1st Annual LIPG Member meeting on 9/30/09. If you would like to have your prints hanging in the gallery, please contact Joanne Henig at service@longislandphotogallery.com before August 31, 2009.

Long Island Photo Gallery – “A photography community offering its members opportunity.”

Well, there were only a handful of us, but we had fun and we took lots and lots of great pictures last night at the 1st EVER Long Island Photo Gallery Photography Field Trip.  We are moving forward!

Location?  Fire Island’s Cedar Beach & Boat Basin.

Although the weather was threatening and reports were for thunderstorms, the sun came out (along with the mosquitos) and we walked around with our equipment and took in some of the best that Long Island has to offer.

The ocean was calm.  The volleyball courts were packed.  And it was dinner time at the boat basin with all the BBQ’s fired up and serving up the good stuff.  We’ll do another Fire Island field trip in the spring.  See more images from this field trip on our Fan Page on FaceBook.

Now it’s time to turn our Long Island attention inland.  To the east.  To the farms and the vineyards.

Join us for our NEXT successful field trip to Fink’s Country Farm.  Click HERE for details.

So, I was reading last months issue of one of my many photography magazine subscriptions and there was this whole review about the “latest and greatest” camera lenses that were new to the market.  This type of reading always catches my eye because I’m such a sucker for the “latest and greatest” anything.  And just days before that article landed on my desk I was commenting to myself about how my current lens just wasn’t cutting it.  The images are not as sharp as I would like them to be and I spend too much time in Photoshop adjusting “things”.  ”Things” that a “great piece of glass” should do.

What’s a photographer to do?  GO SHOPPING!  I shopped around for what I believed will be the next lens to take up residence in my camera bag.  I found the one I wanted.  I bookmarked it in my browser.  I was ready to buy it.  But when I went back the following day to my bookmark the lens had gone up in price by $350!  I guess I’ll stick with the lens I have for now.

But wait!  There is a way to have your lens and use it too.  A fellow photography friend of mine reminded me that there are companies that provide all types of camera lenses for rental use.  That’s right!  Rent not buy.  For a 90% cheaper price tag than purchasing, you can rent, use and test lenses for your camera in the convenience of your own home or studio.  When you’re done with it or the rental term has come to an end just send it back.  This trial and error process will save you thousands of dollars on NEW camera lenses.

A few of the better online companies are LensRentals.com, RentGlass.com, ZipLens.com, and BorrowLenses.com.

Do your research.  For example, if you are in a hurry it may be important to know where they ship from (East or West Coast).  But no matter where you rent from, read the rental agreements and damage and insurance policies carefully.

Happy shooting!