Current Happenings

The month of January could provide some much needed punch to my photography career. With the exhibit coming up at the Palm Beach Cultural Council's gallery in Lake Worth, the juried photography show in Naples in which I was accepted, my work is being exhibited in two new cities and audiences.
I submitted to the juried art show at the Elliott Museum here in Stuart, and will submit to another juried show at a gallery in Jacksonville. Both shows start in late January with receptions in early February. Results will be know soon. I'll keep you posted.

The 80-20 Rule

Currently I belong to two groups or associations where participation is critical for success and longevity. It's a known fact that while many like to be in group settings, they're not prepared to help out and be active participants. The 80-20 Rule, as we know, is where 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. It's the same in some businesses too. When this occurs, the Group starts to fragment and lose its relevance. Both of the Groups I belong in are now suffering from this lack of participation. Myself and a few others are now coming together to reenergize these Groups and make them exciting once again. Time will tell. I'll keep you posted.

Road Trip

The weather wasn't spectacular today, but myself and a friend from our Photography Group headed up to Lake Wales to Lake Kissimmee State Park. One thing people have to realize when they do a road trip with me is plan on walking a distance and putting up with the Florida elements - mosquitoes and other critters. Well, we didn't do much hiking, and got just a few shots. It's too bad, because the weather improved as the morning continued. Next time, I go it alone. I received my Audubon Magazines yesterday. My image was in the middle of the book, but no mention of me(sigh). It is my first image in the magazine, and I hope to contribute more in upcoming issues. Thanks to the power of the social media, I have submitted images to two interior designers for their projects. Never give up!

Other Avenues

They say if you want to stay in front of the pack, you must constantly reinvent yourself or find other avenues in which to use your talents. I know senior high school portraits are very lucrative for some photographers. I'm in the process of putting together some packages based on parents' budgets. I will not underprice my work, but rather explain what each package contains. I'm not looking to do a lot of this work, but if it comes my way, I won't turn it down.

On another note, Facebook and social media marketing may have introduced me to a new gallery in South Carolina. It may be a few months before I exhibit anything. Much more communication is needed. I'll keep you posted.

Off the Soapbox

It's time to get off the soapbox, and concentrate on things I can do, with the help of God, to better myself. I'm anxiously awaiting the next issue of "The Naturalist", the magazine of Audubon of Florida. I will have an image featured, as well as a little blurb written about me. I was also hoping to be published in ArtSi Magazine, but the last issue is way past due, and I wonder if the publication is going under. That would be a shame from my observation of one issue(in print), as it looks to have been a quality publication. I am in the process of submitting to more magazines, and am awaiting a response from another gallery in Texas, this one in Austin.

A further rant

In my last post about big box stores, I doubted the profitability of some of those stores. With the heavy inventory and overhead, combined with weak sales and an inept return policy, it didn't seem feasible. Lowes may be waking up to that reality. I recently heard that they are in the process of closing 7 stores in the midwest, in and around Chicago. I wonder if any action will be taken in Florida, and if so, where?

Random Thoughts about the Economy

To make ends meet, I find myself working for one of those big box stores. It's amazing how flawed these stores are, yet find themselves successful, or are they? The purchasing is done on a national scale, instead of regional, so many inventory items are purchased without thought. With so many items in the store, the company feels it is easier to just receive by the truckload instead of by each item, hoping that everything the purchasing dept. has bought comes in, and at the proper quantity. Cycle counts have to be performed in each department weekly to verify inventory, and make corrections as necessary. The problem I see with big box stores is they are jack of all trades, and master of none. They have destroyed America's small business community, which specialized in specific trades or skills. While our beloved politicians say that small business is the backbone of America, who do you think supports their election?