MergeImagery.com

Back!

Melissa — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:10:36 +0000

It’s been forever and a day since I’ve updated this blog. But I’m finally get to a point where I can update regularly again. I will be moving things around in preparation for my new photography and website portfolios, but here in the next few weeks I think I’ll finally have everything all sorted out! :)

Pumpkin Patch

Melissa — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 02:14:20 +0000

I drove up to Kansas City this weekend to visit my parents and we took my niece and nephews to the pumpkin patch. There was a lot to do and we didn’t get to everything, but the kids had fun and I think we’re planning on going back again next year.

Here’s a few shots I got while we were out. It was really windy and cloudy that day as well.

Reading: Photo Box

Melissa — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:37:17 +0000

PHOTO:BOX by Roberto Koch
“PHOTO:BOX presents a collection of 250 photographs by 200 of the world’s most prominent photographers, ranging from legendary masters to contemporary stars, in an appealing format with a portfolio binding.”

What a great collection of some of the best photographs and photographers in the world! I am actually am using the contents of the book to decorate my apartment.

I got the idea years ago from an Oprah show that featured the adorable decorator Nate Berkus and he mentioned using old history books, art books and stylish magazine covers for inexpensive art by cutting them out and framing them. So, I cut out my favorite photos and frame them for a collection of small pieces of art. I actually hope to get a non-abused copy as a present soon. But at $20 if I don’t get it as a gift I’ll certainly go buy another copy.

One Small Act of Kindness

Melissa — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:11:09 +0000

I’m a proud sponsor of a 9 year old girl named Nayeli in Bolivia. I truly wish to be able to meet her some day before she “ages” out of the program. I also donate on occasion to Breast Cancer research (my great grandmother had breast cancer), Premature Baby foundations (I was a premature baby) and disaster relief or other causes as I feel I can. There are so many charitable organization that it’s really possible for anyone to find the one(s) that fits them best. However, in this day and age it’s considered “smart” to be cautious and even skeptical especially when donating to charities. Luckily, with technology has come information at our fingertips. There are many great ways to be able to tell where your money is going and one of the best is a non-profit group called CharityNavigator.org which allows you to see exactly what percentage of your donations go where, and they even compile a list each year of the CEO’s salaries.

So, I must admit it is very close to my heart to see a documentary like the one posted below come to the big screen. It re-affirms my belief that one small act of kindness really can make a huge difference in the world. I hope you all will take the time to watch the film as it is released in your areas. But more importantly, I sincerely hope you consider finding YOUR cause, one that speaks to you and donate to it and support it with all your heart. Because YOU can make a difference in the world. <3

A SMALL ACT Trailer 2010 from Jennifer Arnold on Vimeo.

PhotoStalking

Melissa — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:23:25 +0000

As an amateur photographer I’m constantly browsing websites of other photographers. For inspiration, tips and more. So I thought maybe I would share some of my regular favorites and recently discovered photographer’s blogs and portfolios with you all. By keeping track of photographers and styles I like I have started to get a better feel for how I want to develop my own style and portfolio. Enjoy!

http://blog.benblood.com/ – Ben Blood
http://www.photojj.com/blog/ – Jenny Jimenez
http://www.ashimagery.com/blog – Mike Smith
http://www.sammblakeblog.com/ – Samm Blake
http://bretcole.bigfolioblog.com/ – Bret Cole
http://melissajill.com/ – Melissa Jill

Everything is Coming Together

Melissa — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:36:04 +0000

I’ve finally got on the ball the last few weeks and started re-organizing all my digital photos. It took some time but now I have a well organized system for storing, editing and backing up my photos. With everything organized I have also began using Lightroom to it’s fullest potential for re-editing older photos as well as being able to edit and export in a fairly quick amount of time. I should have my online portfolio updated soon and will probably be posting some projects over the next couple weeks. For now though, here’s a couple shots of some floral work.

Sunset Photo Shoot

Melissa — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:05:26 +0000

I’m so lucky to have found this group of photographers here in Manhattan, KS. They arrange meet ups a couple times a month and this past weekend was a fun sunset photo shoot. It poured down rain for a few hours in the afternoon so I was afraid the clouds wouldn’t break, but it cleared up nicely by the time the shoot rolled around. I got my first experience photographing people other than friends or family and that was quite fun! Here’s a few shots.

Super Harvest Moon

Melissa — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:58:56 +0000

For the first time in 20 years we had a full moon the the first night of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. It was a windy and cloudy night for us here in Kansas, but I managed to grab a few shots before the storm clouds rolled in.

I have something to say!

Melissa — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:11:12 +0000

Just stop complaining! Do what you do and don’t complain about what others do. The world and times are changing. We don’t get jobs the same way we used to, hell people don’t even communicate the same way they used to. Go forward. Make yourself unique and in demand and don’t accept less than what YOU deserve. Be careful with ego and thinking you deserve more than that though. Never mind what everyone else is doing and how it’s supposedly affecting you and your ability to profit in life. People will steal from you. People will undermine you. People will create useless drivel and horrible art and will make billions of dollars doing it. These are facts and complaining about them won’t change that they will happen. Life is not fair! You don’t have to like it but PLEASE for all that is on this earth and in the stars stop complaining about it! Just do your part to make it better for yourself and the people in the world around you. Thank you.

Losing Moments

Melissa — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:47:49 +0000

FACT: I chose the name “Merge Imagery” because of my desire to merge my life with my love for photography. Can it truly be done and can I still have a good balance in my life?

Today I was reading a photographers blog where they mentioned that the particular shot in the blog post was captured at the expense of family being hauled out of bed before sunrise during their family vacation and even at the protest of that family complaining that they had to stop yet again. I’m sure some of it was in humor and for entertainment purposes. However, this struck me as odd because it seemed to me that becoming a photographer – a real professional, that is – might mean forgoing normalcy and not quite living in the moment anymore. Could I really give that up? Sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy a moment and capture it in your mind vs. on camera. To really enjoy that moment in the company of those you love because they are there sharing it with you and not in spite of them being there.

I had the same thought again while watching a movie this evening where the character was taking a photograph on her trip. It was simply because it was a moment she didn’t want to forget, but it wasn’t intruding on the experience she was having, rather just a part of it. THAT is the kind of balance I want as a photographer. Which is exactly why I have been trying to figure out where I will be going as a photographer. I bounce back and forth if I should start the endeavor of a photography business or if I should keep photography as a hobby. It is something I truly enjoy and love doing, I think I’m good at it (though not great yet) and I wouldn’t mind if I got to do it the rest of my life as career. Though I have to wonder, would that mean losing introspective and intimate moments…? Do I want photography to lose that special place in my heart when the stresses of having to run a business and make a profit come to play? Do I want to always be looking around for that “Wait! There’s a photograph that would sell well!” moment? Would it even be that way for me? Well of course, I don’t begin to know.

I find a lot lately that many photographers these days get so wrapped up in the technicality, shooting and editing/processing (or as some elitist proclaim – lack there of) that they forget to remember that the image that speaks to us on that unexplainable emotional level is the REAL thing that matters most. I like photography because it captures the moments or emotion and experience that I wish the reflect on years and years from now. I like it because it can tell stories and speak on emotional levels that sometimes can’t be put into words…not short words anyway.

So it seems fitting that I ended this evening with a quick pop onto twitter where I found a blog post by Scott Bourne that spoke exactly of what I mean by this. (quote below) THANK YOU! It’s like you read my mind!

SCOTT BOURNE on “The Process“

When I critique photos for competition, I’ll often receive entries from photographers who will include a long, passionate statement declaring “No Photoshop or digital manipulation of any kind was done to this photograph.”

I don’t care.

I really don’t. At the end of the day, all I want to do is look at great photographs. This isn’t a contest to see who can make it the hardest to get a great shot. The result is what matters. I don’t really care if you use Photoshop or iPhoto or Aperture or Lightroom or none of the above or all of the above. I don’t care if you used or did not use filters, actions or special effects. I don’t care if you shot digital or film or if you manipulated the image. I don’t care if you used HDR or tonemapping or didn’t. Unless you’re a photo journalist and I’m looking at your images in the “New York Times,” I don’t care if you posed people, cloned out distractions, changed colors or anything else.

From his blog post here: http://bit.ly/b4lmbY