Photography, Friendships and a Trip to Ohio

Me and "Hoss" hanging out with Bob Coates in Ohio

It's just a short post this morning, and not as off the topic of photography as I usually share. For years I've written about the best thing in our industry being the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Well, here's a prime example:

I'm in Ohio and spoke at PhotoBlast 2018, PPO's annual event this weekend. It's a great little conference, and if you're in Ohio and missed this year's convention, you blew it. It's a solid lineup of speakers, a terrific little trade show and with 300 people in attendance, it's a boutique conference worth putting on your calendar for 2019, but that's not why it's been such a good trip.

This industry is built on friendships. I watched with incredible pride as my good buddy Brent Watkins, president of PPO received PPA's National Award last night. I was sitting with Robert Kunesh at the time, who I hadn't seen in at least ten years and at our table were several photographers who I'd never met, all being recognized for their contribution to the craft. 

Earlier I caught up to Bob Coates, who I've been hanging out with for years. I've grown as an artist thanks to his influence.  

Plus, my good buddy Mark, AKA "Hoss," who's not in the industry drove down with me - what a kick connecting a friend from one part of my life outside of photography with friends from another!

And that brings me right to my point this morning:

It's those friendships both new and old that's the "mortar" that holds all the "bricks" of our lives together. And, this weekend I've met a lot of photographers both new and old to the craft. Each one has sparked the potential of a new friendship.

If you've ever seen an old building, it's the mortar between the bricks that decays first. In life, but more specifically our industry, it's the new friendships that keep the mortar solid. It's the passion of people you meet at a small conference like this that keeps photography growing, and for me, it's where the love I have for this industry comes from.

Roll your eyes and call me sappy, but I can't imagine any career choice that could keep me smiling every day like this one!

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend and one filled with the possibility of new friends, and appreciation for the old ones. Go for those eleven-second hugs and if you're a photographer, give yourself a big pat on the back for the contribution you make to the world every time you click the shutter!

Happy Sunday everybody!

---