2013 MIGHT BE A GOOD YEAR

So this year seems to have started great. I finally got a job at the University and I'm super nervous! I'll be the studio steward that  means I'll have to take care of all things related to materials used by art students. My "supervisor" who's not going to supervise me at all (?) explained a lot of things in such a short amount of time; I couldn't remember most of it to be honest, especially the indications given to me towards the ceramics and photography room. I'm so nervous since I've never taken ceramics or photography course, I know nothing about maintenance of all the equipment, clays, and materials... I really don't want to screw up. On the other hand, I'll get paid, and a very fair amount, which will allow me to upgrade my equipment very, very soon and I couldn't be more excited! Plus, I'll get to know about materials, processes and just anything related to art off the record without having to take the classes.

I also might be comissioned to do some photodocumentary work for a local theatre association that will be presenting a play in April. I'm very nervous because of the low light conditions I'll have to endure with my limited equipment, but hopefull by that time I'll have some new gear to use. Hopefully. 

I can't wait to start working and also, I can't wait to get my first payment. I have a lot of things I want to do and I will finally be able to plan these out! If everything turns out well, by the end of this year I'll have:

      -Canon 5D Mark II

      -Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8

      -Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM 

And I'll might be able to schedule for a photography seminar here in México in December. Save for a trip to SE Asia for 2014, and whatever comes next.

I feel silly for planning ahead and having all these high expectations but I think it is a good strategy for me in order to give it a 100% at the job and everything else in general.

Anyways, here are some photos of my niece Matilda:

Like my Facebook page

TRYING TO LEARN

So I'm constantly being asked about the way I do things, whether it is traditional art (pencils, watercolors, etc) or photography. I sincerely believe there is a fine line between asking for help and trying to emulate someone's work. Don't get me wrong, it is very flattering but for someone like me who barely has a style of her own and only recently started to put my work out there is a risky point; someone's basically asking me to tell them how to put my personal style in their work. I mean, today you can find a decent amount of information for almost every question there is; here are tons of tutorials you can read and many resources related to photography and post-production that my knowledge is short compared to people out there mastering all of the things I'm still learning to do. It is hard, it really is, but I had to do it for many years and I don't understand why people are reluctant to do so and that's what irks me at certain point. The level of committment is not the same and that's okay, I understand, but I will not be able to teach someone to do something in less than an hour and I cannot stop to teach someone for months about something because I also have some things to learn and do too!

In any case, my post-processing is not hard, I just manipulate the curves and selective color. It's not hard, it's nothing out of this world. I choose my colors according to moods I want to portray within the picture and often try to be as harmonious as I can when picking these colors, but other than that, there's no big trick, there's no secret. It all depends on what I find aesthetic and what not.

UPS & DOWNS

Este año estuvo lleno de momentos altos y bajos. Hubieron meses en los que no me sentía cómoda tomando fotos; me intimidaba salir a la calle y que la gente me viera con mi cámara y pensara cosas sobre mí. Creo que haber estado en un entorno hostil (provocado no nada más por otros sino también por mí y mis ataques hacia otras personas) me afectó al grado de sentirme juzgada por la gente, incluso desconocida. También la idea de tener clientes y no saber qué hacer con ellos a la hora de fotografiarlos.

Creo que fue complicado para mí, tuve una lucha interna entre si abrirme a las masas o seguir por debajo del agua con sólo familiares y conocidos. Decidí abrir una página de Facebook y aunque no he tenido un boom, creo que me ayudó a tener un poco más de confianza en mí misma y también a tomar un poco las riendas de lo que hago; pensar en tener el control y asumir responsabilidades.

No sé cómo vaya a ser este año, espero tener la respuesta que deseo y adquirir un poco más de experiencia porque de verdad disfruto de tomar fotografías y más cuando se trata de brindarle a una persona la facilidad de ver al pasado. No sé en realidad cómo lograr más exposición porque soy una persona muy tímida pero sé que tengo que salir más y poner mi presencia. Tarde o temprano espero hacerlo. 

This year was full of ups and downs. There were months when I didn't feel comfortable taking photos; it was intimidating to go out to the street, be seen with my camera, and be judged because of it. I think being in a hostile environment (provoked not only by other people but also by me and my attacks towards other people) affected me to the point of feeling judged by people, even strangers. Also, the idea of having clients and not knowing what to do with them during sessions was scary.

I think it was complicated for me. I had an inner struggle between opening up for the mass or stay under the water with family and friends. I decided to open a Facebook page, and even though it's not booming right now, I think it helped me to have more self-confidence and also to take control of what I do; think of having control and assume responsibilities.

I don't know how this year is going to turn out, I hope to get the response I want to and to acquire a little bit more of experience because I really enjoy taking photographs and even more when it's about bringing someone the easiness of looking back to the past. I don't really know how to achieve more exposure because I'm a very shy person but I know I need to go out there and make my presence. Sooner or later, I expect to do it.

INTRO

Hola, my nombre es Martha Beatriz Ortiz y soy una estudiante de Arte que vive en México y estudia en Texas. Amo la fotografía y quisiera poder ser más prolífica como fotógrafo. El año pasado decidí tomar fotos como negocio pero no he tenido mucho éxito en ello, como quiera, esto es algo que de verdad disfruto e incluso si no logro llegar a mi meta, seguiré usando mi cámara para documentar pedazos de mi vida.

Este blog tendrá muy pocas cosas personales y será más sobre mis experiencias con sesiones fotográficas, clientes y cosas relacionadas con la fotografía. 

Hi, my name is Martha Beatriz Ortiz, I'm an Art student living in México, studying in Texas. I love photography and I wish I could be more prolific as a photographer. Just last year I decided to try making a business out of photography but I haven't been very successful, still, this is something I really enjoy and even if I don't get to succeed, I'll keep using my camera to document pieces of my life.

This blog will containt little personal things and it will be mostly about my experiences with photoshoot, clients, and photography related projects.