Beauty is in The Eye of The Beholder

     Who says a beautiful picture has to come from an expensive camera? Now days photography presents itself at the most random of moments; the best thing is that now with the use of cell phones and photography applications none of the moments that are treasured most have to be missed. The growing interest in photography has gained a whole new social network, Instagram. At any point of the day their may be a chance to capture a kindergartener lost in translation, or possibly an amazing sunset.
     Digita cameras did not become popular until about 10 years ago, and now everyone from elderly to elementary age people are capable of attaining them; yet there is an increased use of cellular devices to take all kinds of pictures. No one really feels the need to buy a camera anymore unless it's professional grade because there is constantly an increase in the performance of cameras on cell phones. Why buy a $700 camera when you can use a smart phone with editing apps such as PicStitch, PhotoBucket, and Photogrid to gain the same effect.
    
From personal experience if I want the  best photo possible I like to use my professional Nikon D5100. It takes the most beautiful pictures of all the other pictures I have taken with previous cmaeras I have owned. There is not one single style that can not be taken on the Nikon D5100. However, in everyday life it is just not convienent to carry around professional grade equipment when all that is wanted is to snap shot a neice or nephew on the train located in Shortpump Mall. So, while I enjoy using a fancy camera I settle for using the one on my phone and take advantage of all the apps available to me. Photo editing apps are amazing thing in deed.

Annie Leibovitz, The Woman Behind the Lens

         What happened that 2nd day of October in the year 1949? An icon is born, a woman who will eventually test the norm and dare to step out in the world of photography. Waterbury, Connecticut is the hometown of world renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz. As a young woman Annie wishes to study painting, and become an artist but while studying at the San Fransico Art Institute she becomes dazzled by the magic that is photography. Once she transfixes into an unrelenting passion of having a camera in her hand Annie is untouchable. Annie is able to coax a beautiful photo out of any camera or object.

         After leaving art school Annie lands a job at Rolling Stone Magazine as a staff photographer. At the tender young age of 23, Annie is promoted to the position of chief photographer, in a short span of two years after applying in 1970. With her amazing and unwilting skill Annie remains at Rolling Stones for 10 years as chief photographer before leaving and electing to take a job at Vanity Fair. Annie enjoys her job with Vanity Fair through the years and in 1998 she begins a job taking photos for the envied VOGUE magazine. With a endowment  for film Leibovitz is able to take some of the most stunning and sometimes controversial photographs of her time. One of her most famous pictures is of John Lennon (nude) and his wife Yoko Ono (clothed) just hours before he was killed.

                                                                                       

         Ms. Leibovitz's talents were recognized in 1991 when a 200 photo collage of hers is put on display at the National Portrait Gallery of Washington, D.C. Her uncanny ability to capture moments that will never be forgotten earned her the right to be the official photographer of the 1996 Olympics in Georgia. Annie Leibovitz truly embodies what it means to be a photographer and always manages to make the most out of every shot captured on her film no matter the subject.

Appreciate Simplicity...

Everyone loves to see a beautiful picture yet never really understands the effort that goes into attaining that image. To have a an amazing photograph not just a picture there has to be substance, the picture needs to have a purpose. One of the most beautiful and classic forms of photography are the black and white images that have been seen for so many years, which are often overshadowed by vividly colored images. Looking at a picture not just for the color but the actual meaning of the picture is what needs to be done; black and white pictures can capture the most intimate of moments while still caring for them so gently. Whether it be a photo of a person, landscape, action, place, or event beauty can always be found in a black and white image. With photography everyone has a ground on which they can connect. "Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph." ~Matt Hardy