Some will agree and some will disagree on the title of today's post. But, this past week, I have given a lot of thought and consideration to that very topic. In fact, I have researched about fifty websites that use the hot new trend of vectors to promote their products. In fact, their products are not only produced in vector software, they are vector soft ware. For many years, I have fought the battle of not using the Abobe product called photoshop. There are those who swear by it to the end. There are those that preach that it is the new norm, while others contend that graphic arts would not be possible without it. When the diehards of newer generations start hammering it hard that 'you should at least try it', those are the first ones that get scratched off the list of followers. Cold? No, not really.
You see, I'm one of those old guys what actually have been by a linotype operator's side in a hot press room when the heat came from the melting lead as a line-o-type was actually making a line slug of type. Before it was set in place, blocked with wood and key locked in a galley, it was tampered down so it was even when the type face struck the paper. You want a vector---now, that's a vector. I'm not opposed to change. Never have been. The world changes every minute of every hour of every day. Some of us know that. For those that don't--all I can say is get cracken!! Playing catchup is a momma dog.
I've known some old AP (Associate Press) reporters over the years when they were still popping M2 flash cubes in their hot shoe. I even learned to never carry a battery and an M2 in your pocket either. Now that will tell you where the phrase hot shoe came from. To this day I still have a scar on my leg were a loose M2 in my pocket made connection with the battery and the flash went off in my jeans pocket. Never-the-less that is also where I learned to never touch your image post production or otherwise. Those were the days when an image meant something. It captured history. Imperfections and all. Well, there it is--that word--imperfection. There is nothing to be ashamed about with imperfections. Some historic images are more known for the imperfections than the subject matter itself. While the subject matter is key, it was only years later that someone actually got to looking more close at an image for imperfections and discovered one. Gee whiz, even engravers at the United State Postal Service and the United States Mint have made blunders. Try buying one of those blunders today. If you can, I hope you have a big bank account, 'cause it is gonna set you back a buck or two when you have to add additional zeros at the end of that number they give you.
Most of my images have imperfections. Some are accidental, some are planned, some are accidental while planning. It makes no difference. Imperfections are just that--imperfects. However, over the years, those imperfections have become a source of successful images that sell world wide. I look for them when I am shooting and my followers who purchase my work do the same. I even have one gentleman in the UK (United Kingdom--England) that e-mails me from time-to-time asking what unusual finds have I found recently? Of course, the best place to find them is in distressed wood or metal, or murial paint runs or drips. But, there are certainly many more.
The niche that I have settled into is the niche of imperfections and that translates into textures over vectors all day long. I am using up all the textures that I can find at an alarming rate. That tells me that photogs have not done a very good job at providing textures in fear that they would not make a sale or that someone would not recognize their work if they only shot textures. My advise to them is this: Keep thinking that way, because I have all the work that I can do keeping up with finding new textures to meet the demand.
You see, I'm one of those old guys what actually have been by a linotype operator's side in a hot press room when the heat came from the melting lead as a line-o-type was actually making a line slug of type. Before it was set in place, blocked with wood and key locked in a galley, it was tampered down so it was even when the type face struck the paper. You want a vector---now, that's a vector. I'm not opposed to change. Never have been. The world changes every minute of every hour of every day. Some of us know that. For those that don't--all I can say is get cracken!! Playing catchup is a momma dog.
I've known some old AP (Associate Press) reporters over the years when they were still popping M2 flash cubes in their hot shoe. I even learned to never carry a battery and an M2 in your pocket either. Now that will tell you where the phrase hot shoe came from. To this day I still have a scar on my leg were a loose M2 in my pocket made connection with the battery and the flash went off in my jeans pocket. Never-the-less that is also where I learned to never touch your image post production or otherwise. Those were the days when an image meant something. It captured history. Imperfections and all. Well, there it is--that word--imperfection. There is nothing to be ashamed about with imperfections. Some historic images are more known for the imperfections than the subject matter itself. While the subject matter is key, it was only years later that someone actually got to looking more close at an image for imperfections and discovered one. Gee whiz, even engravers at the United State Postal Service and the United States Mint have made blunders. Try buying one of those blunders today. If you can, I hope you have a big bank account, 'cause it is gonna set you back a buck or two when you have to add additional zeros at the end of that number they give you.
Most of my images have imperfections. Some are accidental, some are planned, some are accidental while planning. It makes no difference. Imperfections are just that--imperfects. However, over the years, those imperfections have become a source of successful images that sell world wide. I look for them when I am shooting and my followers who purchase my work do the same. I even have one gentleman in the UK (United Kingdom--England) that e-mails me from time-to-time asking what unusual finds have I found recently? Of course, the best place to find them is in distressed wood or metal, or murial paint runs or drips. But, there are certainly many more.
The niche that I have settled into is the niche of imperfections and that translates into textures over vectors all day long. I am using up all the textures that I can find at an alarming rate. That tells me that photogs have not done a very good job at providing textures in fear that they would not make a sale or that someone would not recognize their work if they only shot textures. My advise to them is this: Keep thinking that way, because I have all the work that I can do keeping up with finding new textures to meet the demand.
check out the shop. It's updated and ready for the Christmas season already.
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| The awards tree. It is a rather interesting tree. Most seem to be ribbons won at marathons and half marathons, but as you see, there is a garder from someones wedding and a few more things that are interesting reads. Many items have hung there for years--and held up rather astonishingly. |
