After a year and a half of including a ‘pic of the week’ at the end of my weekly training summary, I’ve decided to let it stand as a post of its own.  I’m also implementing a rule that the Friday Foto needs to have been taken sometime in the last week.  No recycling.  I am doing this to keep me engaged in building my photography skills, and to make me work harder to get fresh shots.  Click here to see my previous Friday Foto posts.

I have been approached over the past couple of years by people wanting to use my photos, video clips, or quotes in articles or other commercial ventures.  I have always enthusiastically agreed and in many cases have offered or delivered more than what was originally requested.  I like sharing my work, and enjoy seeing others get some use out of it.  Sadly, though – that is usually the last I ever hear from them and I never get to see the finished product.

I don’t watermark my images (though I have thought about it at times), and have resisted the whole “Firstname Lastname Photography” branding trend.  Nothing wrong with either of those things, and I may end up doing one or both at some point in the future, but for now I am content to consider what I’m doing as practice.  I want to be good at photography.  Really good, in fact.  I have a long way to go, and I’m not looking for any shortcuts.  Paying my dues, so to speak.

When I posted a batch of photos I shot at last week’s Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon, I was contacted and asked for permission to use one as part of an interview being published by Simon on RunColo.com.  I agreed and sent a link to the high resolution version.

Then, for the first time ever, things came full circle when he sent me a message to let me know that the article was going live and credit had been given.  It’s a small thing, but I really appreciated that extra touch.

You can view the article here:
http://www.runcolo.com/content/interview-nicole-chyr-1281/

I didn’t realize that he was going to use such a large format, and the picture that appears on the site didn’t quite stand up to the quality I would have liked.  From a technical perspective it is a little soft (full zoom, wide aperture, and cropping in post left it lacking in sharpness).  My long zoom is a pretty mediocre lens, too.

Artistically, I love how it turned out.  Obviously it starts with good subject material.  Nicole won in a blazing fast time and took home some nice prize money.  I also like the golden tones, it reminds me of a scene out of the movie “300”.  I was happy to get anything decent at all on such a dark and gloomy morning.

If people want to use pics I take for blogs or whatever, I have no issues with that.  That’s why I make them available!  It’s nice when people give credit, but I don’t get overly militant about it, either.  Of course my feelings would probably be a lot different if I were trying to make a living this way.  I feel for those that have to wrestle with the dilemma of putting their work out on the web to be seen, but then have to defend it from being taken and used without credit or payment.  Fortunately, I am not in that position and nothing makes me happier than when someone likes a photo I have produced.

The exchange with RunColo.com was a great example of how collaboration can work in this day and age if someone simply takes the time to reach out.  He got a photo for his article, I got a little exposure in return.  A good experience on both sides.  We may never be in contact again, but the door is always open.  In my experience, that is worth a lot.  Thanks, Simon!  Well done.

Fast Runner
1/500, f/5.6, 300mm @ ISO 400