Branch out! Industry goes to comedy wildlife photography

Who says that photography can’t be fun?

There is tremendous pressure placed on photographers to achieve that perfect shot. Images and dreams of worldwide fame and countless accolades fill the heads of hundreds of individuals. The task is made even more unbearable by the fact that technology makes it easier. Anyone with a smart phone can now take a beautiful photo; definition and clarity are no longer issues. This has driven competition to the extreme.

Image Source: theverge.com

While competition is healthy to a certain degree, many photographers are seeing a change in how this hobby is viewed. There is a lack of focus on what photography truly means.

What writers do with words, photographers do with pictures. It is an act of telling a story. What differentiates photography from other hobbies is that it is limited in chances. That is, photographers have only one chance to tell a story. It is that one shot. This compels people to perfection but it should never be forgotten that perfection is not something that is achieved immediately. It is a process that takes years of practice. Furthermore, the definition of what is "perfect" in art is a misnomer.

That is why many experts in the industry are pushing for a lighter, more fun mood in photography. Individuals are asked to remove themselves from the competitive world and immerse themselves in photography itself. This stance has created several competitions, such as the comedy wildlife photography contest. Photographers are asked to hone their skills in nature photography and show the funnier side of the animal world.

Image Source: petslady.com

These genres are slowly gaining traction; viewers are appreciating the easy feel of the pictures. That being said, this is still a relatively small market. It is hoped that this will grow in popularity.

Being retired does not mean I’ve given up on what I love. I am Keith W Springer and I am a photographer. Learn more by liking this Facebook page.

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum: One of New York's must-see parks

A favorite tourist destination in New York is The Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Although called a museum, it is considered a national park by residents of the state because of its historical value and background. The museum is located at the heart of the lower east side and was home to around 7,000 people from 20 nations between 1863 and 1935. The tenement building serves as a reminder of the Jewish people who were forced to live in cramped living spaces.

There are several guided tours that one can choose from. Each of these tours aims to show how residents lived during this time. Most of these focus on living conditions, although there are tours that have tourists meeting costumed actors roleplaying on the streets to walking around the neighborhood to experience how immigrants survived.

Image Source: studentrush.org

One of the reasons why this is such a highly-recommended national park is that the entire area has been preserved and maintained. Full park tours even allow visitors to taste authentic food that completes the immigrant experience. A popular destination is the Jarmulowsky Bank where immigrants deposited all their life savings and lost it during the latter part of the war.

Image Source: tenement.org

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is a fully interactive national park and serves as a testament to the lives of thousands of Jews and their precarious position during the 20th century. While a visit to the park is recommended for its entertainment value, it must also be remembered that New York was a city overflowing with different cultures and peoples.

Keith W. Springer loves visiting national parks in his hometown of New York City. Learn more by viewing this LinkedIn page.