Personal Perspective

With memories of alpine wildflowers in the not-too-distant past it’s almost impossible to believe that autumn is right around the corner. And yet, all the signs point to exactly that. Temperatures are trending lower, bears are focused on getting fatter and sunset is arriving earlier every day. If you ask me, I say, "Bring it on!"

1 - Introduction
Creating a portfolio of your work is one of the most important things you can accomplish as a photographer. Unfortunately, relatively few photographers create portfolios because they find the process daunting or think their work is not good enough to be included in a portfolio. Others squirm at the idea that they will have to review thousands of photographs taken over many years. Yet others do not know how to select photographs for a portfolio. Finally, there are those who believe that a portfolio cannot be created by themselves, that such an endeavor has to be conducted under the control of a museum or a gallery or needs to take place in the context of a retrospective of the artist’s work.

While these concerns are fair, let me start by saying that they are inaccurate. Assembling a portfolio is not the daunting and frightening task it is purported to be. Let’s start by taking a close look at what a portfolio is, proceed to study why it is important to create portfolios of your work, and finally learn how you can create a portfolio of your own work. Throughout this article I will use portfolios I have created as examples.

Wouldn't it be grand if every photo vacation involved puffy clouds filling an azure sky above rugged peaks, deep canyons or vast deserts awash in alpenglow every morning and every evening of our trip? Perhaps some photographers are so lucky. I am not one of them. Twice now I've spent the first two weeks of June in Yellowstone and the Tetons and twice now I've been met with dull gray overcast skies, rain, snow, thunder and lightning and only fleeting glimpses of that big ball of fire in the sky. What's worse is that both times, the bad weather seemed to disappear just as soon as I'd left. I have to assume that I have somehow angered the Gods of Photography.

Many people that know me, or have followed my photography, are aware that I got my start in the industry working for the internationally renowned photographer and adventurer, Galen Rowell. It quickly became apparent that I had stumbled into a position that many people, especially other photographers, would have happily considered sacrificing the proverbial body part in exchange for that experience and opportunity. Throughout the years, and even today, one of the questions that I am most often asked is, "What was it like to work for Galen?"