There are many photographers out there now who soley rely on Photoshop or imaging software to make the photograph. Techniques such as image blending, taking key components of the actual photograph and moving or deleting it all together within the image, and even oversaturating the colors. To me, there is a fine line between calling yourself an actual photographer and being considered a digital artist. In creating my images, I want the viewer to see the image as if they were standing right next to me while taking it. I would take pride in the viewer saying, "That is exactly what the event looked like when Mitch was photographing it!"

Back in April while sitting high atop a cliff overlooking the Horsehoe Bend of the famed Colorado River in Northern Arizona, I heard a comment from a so called photographer that really made me pause to think and shake my head in disgust. As the light was slowly fading but still too harsh to get the image in one exposure, many of the photographers there, approximately 10 others, were clicking away taking their images. I waited around watching them, not one was making any adjustments to their cameras to compensate for exposure, nor were any using any type of graduated neutral density to try and get the dynamic range of the image in check. Most of them eventually gave up and started to pack it in. As one of the photographers nearby was packing up, I overheard him say quite loudly, " I have Photoshop, and I know how to use it!"

POOR GUY! Once everyone left, the light was just right I felt, and I went to work.

Art Show Schedule

I've finally firmed up my show schedule until the end of the year with the Annual Olney Fall Festival ending the festivities for the year on the show circuit.

August 15 Festival of the Arts Downtown Champaign, IL
Sept. 19 2nd Annual Kenny Kent Wine & Art Festival Main St. Evansville, IN.
Sept. 26 Olney Fall Festival City Park Olney, IL.