Don Rutledge

photo by: Ken Touchton

Listen to Don’t talk here:

There are three types of photographers

Snap Shooter
Gimmick Shooter
The fullness of Photography Shooter

The Snap Shooter enjoys taking pictures. The Gimmick Shooter uses tricks to keep your interest. Finally, the Fullness of Photography shooter uses his eyes, brain, and heart to shoot.
Don got those three elements from Ernest Haas.

The Fullness of Photography Shooter I will call the concerned photographer. They identify where people are in this world.

Now all of us can drift away from being concerned. Photographers use excuses. Many photographers use reasons like lack of time to dominate situations.

The concerned photographer listens and looks. They put it all together and stand flat-footed in this world. We are tuned into the moments in the zone and can anticipate those peak moments.

1) We need to learn to turn handicaps into advantages.

SIDE NOTE

I used to travel with Don doing stories for the Black Star photo agency. These would be features that he could take at his own pace. Later I understood how this was Don’s way of training himself to have muscle memory when he had to rush.

Don pointed out that all photos are taken at a fraction of a second, so it isn’t a lack of time–it is a lack of discipline we lack in these times of having to work quickly.

2) We complain about photo editors who don’t understand. To update this a bit, it is anyone you are shooting for today.

Our problem is often our ego. We think we are a great photographer. So we often say or want to speak to our clients if you only gave me a chance. “This is where a picture is worth a thousand words,” says Don, with the audience laughter following.

Don’s advice is to shoot the photo the way you want to and show it to them when they crop it poorly. Then, talk to them about what you were trying to say.

IMPORTANT!!!!!! Don said you would probably not be heard the first or second time. But you are educating people over time.

I watched and wrote about how long it took Don to turn around organizations in my thesis. Here are links to it.

Bottom line Don is telling us we need to prepare for some “Show and Tell.”

Next, Don warns us to have our Egos and Abilities in check with each other. We need to know our abilities and not have our egos way out and in front.

Now Don also mentions that being a part of an institution like LOOK Magazine helps a photographer. It will open doors for you and give you a budget to work with. However, there is a downside to an institution for a creative. You will find that they want to stop you and make you fit their system.

Just know that being a creative photographer and wanting to change the world sometimes will take time, time for you to educate those around you about the work you are producing. You must be able to articulate your vision to help them see it.