Lost in Scotland. Get yours at flagrantdisregard.com/flickr

Old enough to get into trouble and old enough to stay out of trouble.

Okay I guess this is where I put my own testimony to photography. I've been asked to join several groups that rank and score pictures. I don't like that. I was never one to play king of the hill because I felt there was never any real winner. I hate competition but everything is competitive I guess in life now. I think it hinders others who don't know what they are doing from complete enjoyment of the art form. As someone once told me about writing, just write, just write. So just take photos. Don't 'sweat the small stuff', it will come with patience and time.

I have been taking photographs for 33 years now, ever since I was given my first camera at the ripe young age of 9. I have more classes under my belt in the art and other creative mediums than my other course work because I love to create. Many of you budding young photographers out there and elders of the form that use this as your bread and butter may not like what I have to say, but I have to say it. I have photoshop, I have fireworks, I have other programs that I can use to manipulate and enhance photographs. But I've come to realize over the last few decades that it isn't about enhancement.



We go through life using photography as a tool to record. To capture moments that might not come again. It is not about just capture; it's about your own unique journey through life. Understanding yourself by seeing yourself in the frame of reference. It is not just about the outward journey but the inward journey itself. I want it real, raw, authentic. Some would say you can't capture authenticity. I believe you can but it means leaving things in their natural state.

I've sold prints; I've made good money on my photography. It has helped me to buy equipment and programs. I could use it now to get the decent upgrades I despartely want. But I have to ask myself why? What is so important?

I think that in our modern digital age (the foci of my research) we are loosing so much by artifical enhancement. We are not looking at what we are capturing. We are not listening to the 'silent' voices that might be expressed. We have confined and narrowed the bands, stiffled the true aspect of photography because we are so worried about f-stop, aperature, speed, lighting, etc. Photography is supposed to be fun.

I can see the point of enhancement but I also see the need to get back to the roots of what photography really is. A way to understand our global world through a lens. A way of understanding ourselves as a part of that global world.


Where I've been so far:


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Lost in Scotland's favorite photos from other Flickr members (741)

  • Passing snow storm- NW Sutherland by Bruiach/ Colin Campbell
  • Assynt Winter Afternoon by Bruiach/ Colin Campbell
  • Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond and Hello Where did you come from? by Alan Weir
  • Scotland by Moyan_Brenn
  • Castle In The Snow by mike_pratt1957
  • Invermark Castle in Glen Esk by Monodoug
  • Walking the dogs in Ethie woods by Monodoug
  • Time's flying.......... by Nicolas Valentin
  • Sauchie Tower by jerry_lee_fan
  • Warp Factor (Digital Art) by David Alexander Elder by David Alexander Elder
  • Beach Rebounding (Digital Art) by David Alexander Elder by David Alexander Elder
  • Edinburgh Castle (Digital Art) by David Alexander Elder by David Alexander Elder
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Testimonials (3)

  • view profile

    gmdgeek says:

    "I think that you nailed it right on the head - I am just not getting into photography seriously and everywhere I look more then 50% of the pictures have been so "doctor'd" with photo software that we are loosing what photograph really represents. Great comments "Lost in Scotland" and great pictures."

    27th February, 2008

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    Derek... says:

    "Enhancement, Equipment, Etc Etc... lol : ) I used to head off on holiday with one bag for me...and two bag for my Nikon...lenses, flahes, filters, tripod etc etc...and pay a fortune afterwards for lousy prints ("gloss finish is extra") I've got a semi-recent Nikon...but most of my Pics here are taken with my Phone YEAH! :)
    Forget about the Technical stuff...It's all Greek to me : )
    Just take shots of everything, anything, and if you like it, then the chances are that someone, somewhere will like it, love it as well...
    I love your snaps.
    Show us more : ) x"

    16th July, 2007

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    _Bonnie_ says:

    "Though I've never met Lost in Scotland personally, she has changed my life in so many beautiful ways. I began by reading her profile, which served as a wake-up call to me about photography. I was worried that I needed more equipment, a better computer, more software; and while these things are nice to have - Lost in Scotland puts it all into perspective. Photography is about seeing and experiencing, being transformed, and thus inspiring others to undertake their own journey of transformation. What I've learned from Lost in Scotland is that photography is innately an interior process. The grand technology can come later, but it alone cannot suffice.

    I first stumbled across Lost in Scotland in a search for pictures of Scotland, a land that I would dearly love to visit or better yet call my home; and I urge you to look through her Scotland pictures - I feel I know the land better for this experience. But the pictures are just the beginning.

    Lost in Scotland is someone with a deeply inquisitive mind, who is not afraid to say what she thinks. Moreover, she has the courage to reveal the inner workings of her mind by exposing her learning journals in her set on writing. Her journals are a joy to behold; such honesty is rare to find. Her intellectual curiosity and her love of life are inspiring, encouraging and uplifting. Lost in Scotland, should we ever meet in person, the first round's on me!"

    29th August, 2006

Joined:
September 2005
Hometown:
Pennsylvania
I am:
Female and Single
Occupation:
Writer, Photographer, PhD student
Website:
I took a walk through life