Michael Harris Photography

Thinking about how you can improve your photography in the new year I came up with a list of items that might help. If you have any additional ideas please comment. 1. Review 2011 the Good Stuff What images do you like and why, what images did friends like and why. Is there a common theme you can build on? 2. Review 2011 the Not So Good Stuff What mistakes did you make. It is easy to ignore or delete bad images, revisit mistakes and make sure you know what you did and have you fixed the problem. Another reason to review mistakes is they can lead to new ideas. 3. Journal Record findings in 1 and 2 in your journal. If you don’t have a journal start one. 4. Weakness Vision, capture or post processing which is your weakness, if you don’t know ask a friend, don’t get defensive. This year work on your weakest area the most. Next year reevaluate. 5. Read More Ten years to get good at anything shorten the time-frame by reading as much as you can about the techniques that interest you. More...

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama

One of many starts at the 2011 Rolex Cup on Biscayne Bay, South Florida. The 2012 Rolex Cup is coming up January 22nd through 28th. A week of exceptional sailboat racing. This image was taken from a small boat near the start line with a 70-200mm zoom. I tell people this image took 3 years to make, as this was the 3rd year I attempted to make a unique decent image of this event.  This was the year though, I was in the wrong place as the gun went off for this last start. Fortunately there were several boats over early and they had to restart, that gave me time to get in the right place. This image was selected as photo of the week on The Mindful Eye site and a fabulous critique was done on it by Craig Tanner, you can see it here; The Start

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. Dalai Lama

Grace means more than gifts. In grace something is transcended, once and for all overcome. Grace happens in spite of something; it happens in spite of separateness and alienation. Grace means that life is once again united with life, self is reconciled with self. Grace means accepting the abandoned one. Grace transforms fate into a meaningful vocation. It transforms guilt to trust and courage. The word grace has something triumphant in it. Yrjo Kallinen