Finding Your Own Voice
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If this is true, many graphic artists, designers, photographers and other have paid homage to their artistic heroes by trying to mimic their styles.

Dedicated nature photographers make the trek to Yosemite Park in California in an attempt to recapture the magic of Ansel Adams‘ photograph of Half Dome.

Some fashion designers toil away at making their pieces resemble the works of Ralph Lauren, Donatella Versace, or Marc Jacobs.

Graphic designers pay homage to Milton Glaser and glean ideas from his famous creations.

We can all learn from the greats and this is a good thing. But in the long run, some creative designers, artists, and those in the liberal arts want to find their own voice and style.

Picasso Broke the Mold
Pablo Picasso shocked the art world with his style of Cubism. It was unnerving to many and a wonder for others.

Some scientists even ventured to explain his art as a representation of how things would look in the fourth dimension.

Regardless of whether people accepted Picasso’s work or not, it was a style he developed and liked.

And this is the center of what drives many who are creative; the search to express something original and different.

Your Style May Look Familiar
If you are consciously attempting to use the same techniques of the artist or designer you admire in order to find your own method, it is a worthy exercise in creative growth.

In some cases, talent naturally mimics those of the great ones. “His style looks like so and so,” we hear occasionally.  As you can see, a similar style can be on purpose or occur spontaneously. But whatever is the case, as long as it is your style, that’s what is important.

Feeling Secure In What You Are Doing
It is a common trait of creative designers to sometimes second guess themselves. “Did I do it right?” Will the client like my work?” “Maybe I should have done something different instead,” and the list goes on.

Being creative can sometimes be a tough act. Are you merely a copy of someone else, or is your work truly original?

Some say there is nothing really new under the sun, and that creativity is an accumulation of what has come before us. But whether this is true or not is open for debate and contemplation.

The real question about personal creativity is, “Are you happy with what you have produced?

If the answer is “yes,” this is all that matters.

A New Camera
Two photography students were having a discussion one day after class about cameras. “I want a ______! If I could only get my hands on one, I could really take better photos.”

“It’s expensive, but it will be worth it,” exclaimed Sidney. Denny, who had an obsolete SLR camera with only a wide angle 35 mm lens, thought otherwise. “It’s your eye that’s more important. Not just the camera you use.”

Several weeks later, Sidney ran through the halls of the school brandishing his new camera for all to see.

But during the semester, it was evident that his photo assignments were still average, while Denny continued to improve and turn in exemplary images with his antiquated camera.

Sidney later dropped out of photography while Denny continued to improve with his old, out-of-date equipment.

Is It Just The Equipment?
There is a notion that better equipment makes for a better photographer. To a certain extent, this is true.

If you have a “good eye” and talent for taking images, better equipment helps you to expand your creativity, and concentrate on composing the image, rather than worrying about the technical details.

Better equipment can sometimes give a photographer more confidence as well.

But in the long run, the secrets of taking better pictures are to understand the basic principles of photography and to use them. And above all, nothing can be a substitute for a good eye in taking photos.

Stay Focused On Your Skills
If superior equipment were all that separated good photographers from mediocre ones, there would be a glut of talented photographers. But this is not the case. Consider the following images taken by professional photographer Chase Jarvis:

A mere cell phone camera was used to take these photos. The composition, colors, and framing of these images could rival those of a $2,000 digital SLR. However this is not to say that good equipment isn’t important to good images. What is said is that a good eye is probably the most important piece of “equipment” in your camera bag.

Don’t Forget the Basics
Along with a good eye, to capture the best images, is the ability to utilize good camera technique in your photos.

A thorough understanding of lighting, exposure, composition, shutter speed, depth of field, and other tools of the trade can help you to improve your photos.

There are ample books and instruction websites to obtain this information.

And of course, there are graphic design schools and graphic design colleges that have specific programs in photography for those who want to make photography their major or improve their skills.

Photography is a wonderful means of expression, communication, and art.

But the most important equipment for any photographer is not just the camera, it is the eye of the beholder.

If you have vacation pictures of the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, or Mexico, they may be more than just fond memories of your visit; they may also help you to win prizes in Wimco’s Vacation Photo Contest.

Wimco, a company that provides villa rentals and hotel booking services to vacationers and travelers, is calling for photographers to submit their vacation photos in any of the following locations:

Caribbean: St Barts, St Martin, Nevis, Anguilla, St John, St Thomas, Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Turks & Caicos, Barbados, Grand Cayman, Mustique
Europe: Tuscany, Umbria, Amalfi Coast & Capri, Provence, Cote D’Azur, St Tropez, Cannes, Mykonos, Santorini
Hawaii: Maui, Oahu
Mexico: Punta Mita, Riviera Maya

The contest is open to all individuals, 21 years or older, residing in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.

Up to three vacation photos can be submitted on qualifying vacation locations and shot in digital format.

The Hidden Costs of College
Art supplies, photography supplies, and other design related materials are additional costs that must be factored in, while going to the graphic design school or graphic design college of your choice.

Some students make ends meet by taking on part-time jobs, while others are fortunate enough to have these expenses covered by parents, relatives or student aid.

Weddings and You
Regardless of your particular circumstances, bringing in supplemental income by using your specific liberal arts talent can bring you personal satisfaction of a job done well. One particular social event that you may find interesting is weddings.

The Photography.Book.Now competition is open to all photographers 18 years or older. If you have a photography book assembled of your work, or are in the midst of putting one together, there are three categories available for you to enter: fine arts, editorial, and commercial.

You may enter as many times in as many categories as you wish. The entry fee for each submission is $35. Photo curators, photo editors, publishers, and world-respected photographers take the duties of judging the entries. The deadline for contest entries is July 16,2009.

Submissions can be either hard copy or sent in electronically to the Blurb Inc. website. Click here to see the details.

At the conclusion of the contest, the grand prizewinner, top category winners, and honorable mentions will be acknowledged and honored at the Photography.Book.Now evening awards in New York. Everyone is welcome to attend the gala event. The meet-up is an excellent opportunity to meet industry leaders, contest jurors, and show off your photo book.

Other meet-ups are scheduled for San Francisco, Chicago, and London. More information about these events will be updated on the blurb.com website.

The awards for this contest are:

Grand Prize

$25,000

Category Winner

Ultimate Review Package Personal Portfolio Review with a Judge in Your Category Canon Camera

First Runner-Up

Photographic Experience Package Admission to Center’s Review LA Virgin America Airline Ticket B&H Photo Gift Card

Second Runner-Up

Professional Equipment Package Wacom Intuos4 Professional Pen Tablet X-Rite i1 Display LT Colorimeter Induro Carbon Fiber Tripod & Head Tenba Shootout Medium Backpack

People’s Choice Award

Maine Media Workshop Scholarship Package Three prizes will be presented - one for each of the competition’s three categories.

(Starting this week, GDB will be doing spotlight articles on chosen categories in the liberal arts fields. These pieces will examine the employment opportunities available, what sort of training you will need, and other tips that may help shed light on these professions.)

Career Training In Photography
There are colleges and online design centers that can help you receive the proper training in this highly competitive field. You’ll learn about photo composition, color theory, camera operation, and other related coursework. Instructors guide you through the techniques in various photography disciplines such as commercial photography, industrial photography, photojournalism, and portraiture.

Photography is used in virtually all career fields such as medicine, law, business, entertainment, and publishing. Your career training should reflect the specialty you are interested in. Make sure that the college or online learning center you are considering covers your specific field and interests.

Photographer Job Statistics
Of those who worked as photographers in 2006, more than half were self-employed. This percentage is much higher when compared to other occupations. Full time photographers obtained work through contracts with magazines, advertising firms, or companies that paid flat fees for work.

Other salaried photographers worked in portrait studios, commercial studios, or worked as freelance photographers for stock image agencies. Some photographers worked in the capacity of darkroom technicians or in digital imaging labs.

Employment Opportunities
Because of the transition of film-based photography to digital photography, many businesses and firms are producing their own content. Because of this, jobs in photography are expected to be somewhat decreased.

However, jobs are still expected to grow about 10% though 2016 when compared to other jobs. Competition for salaried jobs will be high. In May 2007, photographers made a mean annual salary of $34.010.