Life the Universe and Everything?

How, What, When, and Why? Four common questions. Questions which are also the four biggest hindrances to the propulsion of human advancement. But "why" is that so? "How" do we overcome them? "When" will we know? "What" is the answer? I am a frequent victim of these questions as are countless others? I too impatiently seek the answer. But the truth is really that these questions are the keys of progress. It comes down to a balance--between the known and the unknown, the questions and answers. The balance thankfully, is not as delicate as we seem to think it is. People will fret over the difficulty of trying something new because they don't know how to do it when in truth, experience is the only way to learn. Sometimes you have to free-fall.

Annnnnnnd now seems a good place to throw in this memorable scene from one of my favorite books and movies. Enjoy-

It is important to note that suddenly, and against all probability, a Sperm Whale had been called into existence, several miles above the surface of an alien planet and since this is not a naturally tenable position for a whale, this innocent creature had very little time to come to terms with its identity. This is what it thought, as it fell:

Ahhh! Woooh! What's happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now. Ooh, this is an interesting sensation. What is it? Its a sort of tingling in my... well I suppose I better start finding names for things. Lets call it a... tail! Yeah! Tail! And hey, what's this roaring sound, whooshing past what I'm suddenly gonna call my head? Wind! Is that a good name? It'll do. Yeah, this is really exciting. I'm dizzy with anticipation! Or is it the wind? There's an awful lot of that now isn't it? And what's this thing coming toward me very fast? So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like 'Ow', 'Ownge', 'Round', 'Ground'! That's it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it'll be friends with me? Hello Ground!

I imagine this is similar to what it felt like to be born. My newest little brother, Nathanael Haygood went through that not too long ago and he still has lots of questions. You can see it in his eyes that he's not quite sure what all this is about. Unfortunately for us, we cannot understand his communication well enough to transcribe words onto this blog post. I'm sure that he could teach us a thing or two about not even knowing a thing or two.

Nathanael Mark Haygood

eight pounds of unanswered questions

Nikon D200, Lensbaby Composer w Double Glass Optic

F-8, 1/20 sec, ISO-400

Sometimes leaving questions unanswered lends a sense of intrigue to the visual impact of a photo. One of the reasons I am a fan of Lensbaby photography is the element it gives to a photograph. When I can create a great photograph that leaves someone asking what it is, I have succeeded.

One of my favorite tools of creativity

The Lensbaby Wide Angle Optic

Any Guesses?

Lensbaby Composer w/ 10+ Macro & Wide Angle Optic

F2.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 800

Just like there's calculable settings behind each and every award-winning photograph, there is an answer to every question. Most questions have answers encrypted in books or buried in the great triple Ws, but some are stuck in somebody else's grey crinkled mass of brain-matter. Lately, the answers to my photography questions have taken the form of professionally produced B&W videos, interviews, and live photography workkshops with Chase Jarvis, Joe McNally, and Zack Arias. A fantastic new-ish tool for creatives has been launched recently @ creativelive.com. It is a live classroom online that is constantly spilling out valuable information for creative people directly concerning their craft. It's nice when a query is solved by a gift-wrapped leather-bound guidebook left on your front porch with the answers to all of life's mysteries, but the most important information is gained by experience. Someday, I'd love to stream educational content into the ears and eyes of millions, but stills and words will have to do for now. Questions have answers. Go find them.

Books that may have the answers you are looking for:

(or at least the ones you should be looking for:)

Vision Mongers by David DuChemin

The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNalley

The Hotshoe Diaries by Joe Mcnally

The Digital Photography Trilogy by Scott Kelby

The Ultimate Hitch-Hiker's Guide by Douglas Adams

The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

-Josh Haygood

joshhaygood.com

The Nose Knows

I know something. And I know what it is because I was there when I thought of it. And you know that I know something because I am telling you that I do. But what you do not know is what it is. And it is in fact what it is. But I have not told you that yet. If I had, you would know. You know? The word "yet" at the end of the fifth sentence here gives you hope that you will soon know what I know. I know this: Introductions are everything! If you do not draw a reader or fan's attention within the first few seconds you have most likely lost him/her. Art that is out of the ordinary or extraordinarily beautiful is becoming commonplace as abstraction in media becomes increasingly popular. Speaking of abstraction, if you have not visited The Modern in Fort Worth, you simply must.

There was a particular exhibit in the museum which caught my attention this past year. It was comprised of various films showing severally and simultaneously together artistically and indirectly to tell the story of Dmitri Shostakovich's satirical opera, "The Nose." The story begins with a barber who discovers a nose in his bread. Shocked by this strange happenstance, he disposes of the nose by casting in to the river and is arrested for doing so. One of the barber's loyal customers soon discovers that it is his nose which has gone missing. As is turns out, the nose had joined the police force and outranked the man whose face it had belonged to and refused to return to its place there. The nose and its patron have a heated debate about what the nose will do next and the nose runs away. The story continues on in this ridiculously entertaining fashion with twists of romance, action, revenge, and identity theft until the nose is reacquainted with it's rightful owner and all is good and right in the world. It helps to think of the man who misplaced his nose to be an elephant who has lost his trunk, so that the detached nose could travel as a snake would. (makes much more sense that way)

Now the plot of "The Nose" has no bearing the purpose of this blog besides the fact that it is entertaining and gives the post a clever title. It's presentation at The Modern, however, was most impressive and perfectly exemplifies a captivating introduction. (a first impression if you will) Just like an interesting story or intentionally disclosed information draws and keeps one's attention, a photo that is visually pleasing beckons a second or third look. I like to do this with a skewed perspective, selective focusing, or an interesting depth of field.

Heres an example of a slightly different perspective in a picture.

By shooting with a relatively wide angled lens with a wide open aperture,

Anna Marie's eyes are in focus, while the rest of her face and body appear smaller.

"A good image can tell an interesting story with the detail it does not give you."

-Josh Haygood, 2010

Dreaming in Third Person

What is the point of a second opinion?-Now I am not really asking that question or even assuming that anyone reading these words would be so unlearned as to ask it themselves. BUT I do know how to answer that question and tell you the origin of pop-tarts all in the same couple sentences:) Here it goes: You see, a processed foods company by the name of Post introduced a new product that would keep fresh in its packaging for quite some time while at the same time taste as good as any other sugary pastry. The only problem was that in some board room in whatever building that Post rented out as HQ, some man in a shiny suit decided that people would find it irresistible to put something in their mouth called a "Country Square." (no thank you) He obviously did not get a good second opinion because Kellogg borrowed (stole) Post's failing product and turned it into the ambrosial rectangle of love and sugar with which we stock our pantries today.

In a market where everyone is striving to be different, sometimes you go a little too far with your work and people just ignore it. That is why a second and third opinion are as handy as a manual polaroid camera in a EMP blast. (I do not expect anyone to understand that example.) I for one know that my ideas can be as ugly as a 127 y/o Norwegian body builder in a short purple kilt. I conclude from this that for business and sanity's sake, a second and third person's opinion is always best. Sometimes we all need a friend who will pat you on the back and tell you that your brainchild sucks. Then put that project on the top of your "to don't list." Do not lose hope creatives; Mr. Einstein says that "if at first the idea is not absurd, it is hopeless."

There are many other uses for a third person. You can have a more involved game of Go Fish, you can more easily finish off a extra large double stuffed pizza, or use said person as a temporary light stand. (I've done two of the three. Guess which one is out) When a second opinion just won't cut it, (whatever "it" is) "third person" is there for you. Lets take it a bit further then shall we; would it be too hard for the first person to be the third person?

Last week I was sitting/sleeping in 2nd hour English when I was handed back my essay and told to critique myself and honestly determine the grade I deserve. After weeks of not thinking about it, the paper might as well have been written by someone else. It is a lot easier to find mistakes in other people's work than in your own, but if you concentrate hard and eat your veggies, you can look at your own work as if it were someone else's. I had a third person perspective without even having a third person.

Perspective is one of my favorite literary devices because its good for more than just writing. Its a pretty neat trick to climb out of your face and see yourself in third person. Much easier to make plans and change plans on the go. (I always like third person view in racing games, otherwise I crash and burn far too often.) Its the same with dreams. If I view my dream in first person mode (thats non-turret-wielding-halo-spartan for you gamers) I only see whats in my crosshairs at that moment but when I kick it into Legend of Zelda mode, I have a battle plan and the perspective needed to critique myself and make changes.

Don't just shoot from a different angle, Live with a different angle.

-Josh Haygood, 2010

Re-Differentiate

As children, we all strive just to fit in; to become a cookie-cutter version of the coolest kid we see when we stepped into Mrs. Pickard's kindergarten classroom. But there comes a point in time, somewhere between jr. high and your driver license, that your creative side wants to set you apart. "Originality does not mean thinking something that was never thought before; it means putting old ideas together in new ways." In other words, it is not at all wrong to follow your heroes and copy what they have done, but at some point, you have to break the mold and design your own brand of creativity.

My approach to creative thinking is rather simple. I think like a child. Children are the most imaginative people that you know. Just think about it; I can stand and listen outside my two youngest sisters' rooms and hear the fantasy worlds of barbie and batman for hours. Their capacity to invent a story and colorfully provide detail during playtime transcends logic. I remember enough to write a book about the worlds I've created with just a few legos and a little imagination. If we had an ounce of the creativity that comes out of a kid's head, we would never have to sanction time for a brainstorming session or stress over deadlines that require new ideas or creative ingenuity. Sometimes, getting the shot is about replacing analytical thinking with elementary level ideas.

my inspiration for this shot for instance was a Toy Story 3

commercial which most people over the age of 12 would ignore

the mind of a child is truly remarkable (especially this child)

I was recently featured on Carbonmade for my photography porfolio and I could not be more appreciative. The story of carbonmade's startup is a showcase of success through the creative minds of Spencer Fry, David Gorum, and Jason Nelson. The business began as a solution for putting David's work on the web in a aesthetically pleasing, easy to use portfolio but they soon realized that it had the potential to be a marketable web app. (the best I have personally seen) "We set out to showcase your work in a beautiful and simplistic way and draw the viewer’s eye to what’s being displayed and not how it’s being displayed," says co-founder, Spencer Fry. You can read the whole story of Carbonmade's startup here. I am extremely honored to have been featured and would like to thank Spencer and the Carbonmade team once again for everything they've done for me.

my Carbonmade portfolio.

Josh Haygood, 2010

Cheers!

Wound, Rewound, then Unwound

Pieces of My Mind

collect them all for special prize

"spring has sprung and it's time to recoil it"

Spring Break has been extremely. (Yes just extremely) So much said, accomplished, wasted, wished, and expected. I've had time to get my website up and oil it a bit and I've had a couple servings of good old spring cleaning around the house. This blog thus far has been a bit of a late night journal. You know the 30 or so minutes that you get into bed and your thoughts tide over your mind. (I swear the moon has the same affect on my thought life as it does on the ocean) The good memories of the day always come first thankfully, like the dessert you scarf down before you have to eat the healthy garbage simmering putridly in momma's pots and pans (No offense mother dearest, not even referring to you) I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is always the pressure of work that still needs to be done. Sure I bought a camera, started a portfolio, launched a website, bought a domain name, created a fan page, and a blog but now I feel something like Bilbo's infamous exodus speech: "like butter that has been spread over too much bread." It's as if I threw my life into the paint bucket of an abstract splatter art studio. My next project will be organizing my virtual life and business. I need a solution that fits my perfectionist specifications and aspirations.

On another note, I'll be graduating in early June! (I haven't realized it yet, so don't tell me) Those of you who know me well know that I don't usually get excited about anything until it is almost tangible. Maybe thats why I enjoy food so much. (hmmm? mmmmm...Fuzzy's 3 cheese nachos...Yes please!) Anyways, college is a filthy devil that is out to take your money so I'm sitting on my options and praying for the best. I've been accepted to Oral Roberts University and very much like the School: Campus, People, and Atmosphere (love the media dept!) and I'm in a struggle for their prestigious Whole Person Scholarship, which would financially enable me to attend. If I turn out to be only a partial person however, I am perfectly content with staying in the greatest state in America and continuing my education at more affordable venue amongst the people I love.

The future is blindingly bright. (Meaning that I don't see exactly where I'm going, but It's gonna be insanely good) I've lined up a couple senior picture sessions and a few weddings in May. It's uncanny how (hold on, gonna make up a word) "outrovertedly" excited I can get about getting to pick up my camera and having a direction towards which to press that little silver button. All of your support is greatly appreciated! coming up on 200 facebook fans with more on the way! Spread the word! Please email me with any questions, comments, or jobs you may have for me at joshhaygood@me.com

-Josh Haygood, 2010

The Vision

Vision //ˈvi-zhən/- An image of what the future will or could be like. I have always loved writing as a practice and an art because through words we can illustrate pictures that will last forever. If it is true that timelessness of an image is powerful enough to speak 1000 words, then photography is in my book paramount of the arts. A shutter actuation, camera flash, and a creative eye are all it takes to take history with us into the future. My vision is the same as everyone else's and I'd love to share it with you through my photography. I love what I do with zealous enthusiasm and invite you to tag along. Your moments can be as timeless as words with the right vision. Embrace the moment and never let it go.

My procrastinatory skills have kept me from taking the plunge into the blogosphere but I believe I will put off procrastination until another time and do this thing. I have learned a great deal from reading blogs of other important and notable people and it's about time that I should copy them since I plan on becoming an important and notable person. (shiny people as I like to call them) Photography is my game and a great deal of my blogs will relate to this topic. If that is not your thing, just stick around to look at the pretty pictures. That's all for now folks as it is way past my bedtime and Z's are in on my head's clearance rack. Thanks for all the time you spent looking at my words.

With the sincerest of love from somewhere in the middle part of my heart,

Josh Haygood, 2010

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