mrclay2000's photostream  

100,000 Flickr hits as of Sept 3, 2008.
150,000 Flickr hits as of March 11, 2009.
200,000 Flickr hits as of Sept 24, 2009.
250,000 Flickr hits as of June 14, 2010.
300,000 Flickr hits as of March 3, 2011.

I've been through two photographic periods in my life, the film period (Minolta 35mm, 1994-2003) and the digital period (Minolta, now Nikon, 2003 to present). I'm still riding the wave of the second period and enjoying the results. With the new f/1.8 lens for the Nikon, I'm itching to try stuff not possible before. I'm already quite impressed at its versatility in low light.

My preferences for any photo include filling the frame, either with the subject entirely but usually with a subdued background. The subject should rise out of that background and contrast with it (generally). I hate white sky pictures, black sky pictures, and splotchy shadows and sunlit spots on portraits. I look at my work and regard it as "run of the mill." I'd say about 1 in 100 is really good, but I go by formulas too much, finding it difficult to break from the pattern but also not wishing to get convoluted or unrealistic with the results. I tend to like gritty, heartfelt and isolated portraits versus everything else. All the same, I'd rather be in moose or grizzly bear country with snowclad peaks surrounding waiting on that chance encounter. I'd rather photograph a bull moose in the wild than work with a beautiful model at a photo shoot to be honest. Problem is you can't manufacture such shots -- you can with a model. When I was in Rome in 1996 I realized how much I wanted to try to photograph people. I didn't get that chance until 2004 once I exhausted my wife's family.

Most of the people on my stream are Internet-based models, generally locals from my metro area but sometimes from outlying towns etc. I am generally the one at fault regarding posing, since I coach from top to toe when working with anyone. My releases permit me to use their photos publicly for three years, after which I have to take their photos on Flickr to private status.

I primarily use Flickr for photo storage but I like comments and visitors BUT. . .if you add me as a contact and you have no photos and/or you frequent nothing but the porn groups you will be blocked. The word "cum" or "pussy" in your group titles will get you blocked, all other groups you frequent notwithstanding. Derogatory comments will get you blocked. Having 3,000+ contacts will likely get you blocked (my photos won't be missed). If you add 50 of my photos as favorites in one sitting I get nervous, and the above is possible also. Criticism good or bad is fine with me; "I hate this" and "I love this" are equally pointless though. Do not request me to add you as a friend or contact hoping for nude pictures of any of my models. What you see here is what I have. I also have a model release with each of my models that prohibits my degrading them in any manner, so I'm careful with the titles I use and in which groups I place them. If the said groups become cauldrons of pornography I pull the photographs from those groups. On the same note I am periodically banned from groups where my photos meet the criteria because I have blocked the administrators of those "beauty" or "fashion" groups because of their private tastes.

I do not miss membership in any pool that bans me. I have even blocked the member who allowed me to be co-administrator of his group. Anyway, I stick to my Flickr convictions.