`LET YOUR PASSION GUIDE YOU`

Your photography. Call it passion, love, desire; call it compulsion. If you love doing something, you'll put 100% of yourself into it.

How do you tell if you love doing something? Take a day and make a test by once every hour asking yourself, "What are my thoughts centering on at this moment?" Exclude, of course, the basic homo sapiens' survival and perpetuation of the species drives (food, sex, etc.).

If you find that your mind consistently wanders to thoughts of gardening, aviation, fishing, or whatever it

"Take photographic advantage of your passion..."

is that you enjoy doing when you get the chance, you're investing yourself in that interest big-time.

Take advantage of it. Become a mini-expert in that field. The time you have for it may not equal what you put to your current occupation, but in the future, your abiding interest may become your livelihood.

In one of my seminars, during the image critique section, a photographer submitted several photographs of insects. My response to him was to say they were very excellent shots, but specializing in insects was going to be a tough row to hoe. Calls for insects were few and the competition would be fierce because there were 14 photographers in the nation known to be specialists in insects, and they had a lock on the marketing opportunities.

His response: "There's going to be 15 pretty soon."

Apogee's Stock Shots columnist Rohn Engh, is Director of PhotoSource International and Publisher of PhotoStockNotes.

That conversation was about ten years ago. I've often wondered if he persisted with his specialty area. If he did, a ten-year build up of photos in one specialized area makes for a strong collection. Once he is "discovered," he'll become known for having the kind of photo bank that photo researchers are grateful to have as a resource.

It's always enjoyable to be in the presence of someone who loves what they're doing. The enthusiasm rubs off.

Don't be timid about your stock photography. If you love it, dive in. Sure, there'll be rejection slips and the nitty gritty work that often accompanies anything that is worth accomplishing. And you might have to drive a taxi for awhile to make ends meet. Keep in mind that actor Alan Ladd was a bartender, Rock Hudson drove a truck, and Harrison Ford was a carpenter, until they "made it" in their chosen field.

If wild horses can't pull you away from your stock photography, persist. We'll cheer you on, and the world will be watching for your credit line in national circulation. -RE

Contact Rohn at: Pine Lake Farm, Osceola, WI 54020 USA Email: info@photosource.com

Fax: 1-715-248-7394

Web site: http://www.photosource.com