Any ear will do...

Have you ever been out minding your own business and a random stranger strikes up a conversation with you? Before you know what's happening, they are telling you their ENTIRE "story" as if you are an old, trusted friend. I think it has happened to all of us at some point and if it hasn't happen to you, just wait. Pretty soon you too will have the joy of having to listen to someone pour their soul out to you and your only recourse being to grin and bear it. The sad part is that it's almost always a sob story, the old someone-done-did-me-wrong song. Today, in an elevator, a women said "today's a nice day. It's still nice even though I just got a pay cut!" As she got off, I stood there wondering what was that about and why she would even share that with me! Was there an applicable response that I was supposed to deliver? Would a "those BASTARDS!" made her feel better about her situation?

There is something underneath all of that: we as humans need to share our thoughts. The preferable option is to tell someone who cares, about them and/or the situation. Often though, some of us don't have that luxury and in those cases, any ear will do. Beware if it happens to be yours. The flip side of that coin is that there are people who PREFER not to speak to their loved ones for fear of judgement or reproach. We have a whole profession dedicated to listening to people so that they don't have to talk to their family and friends! When you spill your guts to a stranger, they don't know you enough to critique your point of view. In fact, if you're truly a random stranger more than likely you will just stand there and listen while as we rant and, for a lot of people, that's all we really want: someone to LISTEN while we go on about how bad our lives are. It makes us feel better. Kinda.

So the next time you get confronted with a drive-by counseling session, just listen and nod, or do what I do...try to out "whoa-is-me" them and tell them about how bad YOUR life is. Even spice it up and make up maladies! Let's see how they like it for a change!

These are my thoughts...what are yours?

Product spotlight! The Lytro camera!

I think this will herald in the new wave of digital photography. Stay tuned!! http://www.devicemag.com/2011/10/20/lytro-digital-camera-rewrites-photography-rules-video/

We're showing off our stuff!

We are hosting our very first photo exhibit!!!!

The exhibit will run from November 4th - 20th at the JujoMukti Tea Lounge, 211 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10009. We will kick off the run with an Opening Night event on November 4th at 7:00pm.

Dozens of photos will be on display (like the ones in the sidebar) and available for purchase. Want to WIN one? Just leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered into a raffle to be drawn at the opening (you must be present to win). While you're at it, join the blog for future updates and giveaways.

Thank you for all of your support and I hope to see you at the exhibit!

Hayden M. Greene
Owner, Greene Light Photography

The Magic of Photography

You come home from a hard day at high school with a ton of homework. The first thing you do is hit the computer (or in my case, the encyclopedia) to do all the research you need to do. By the time you get done, it dark and you missed that game of catch outside or the double Dutch rope has been put away, and now it's time for dinner. Oh well at least all your work is done. The next morning, your friend comes up to you and wants to copy your homework before you go to class. No research, no missed games, nothing. They just want you to do the work and you to give them your results. Sound familiar?

We all went through this in school (unless of course, you WERE the moocher). But old habits die hard because people still do it to me. In the photographer community, there is an environment of sharing that we all appreciate. We all know that today I may share a technique but tomorrow I may learn something for someone who I taught something to the day before. It's like splitting the bill when you're out with friends: in the end it all evens out (PS. That's the topic for a whole other blog). There is another aspect of sharing that bugs me though: the hobbyist wanting to learn a technique without learning the fundamentals. When I started learning about photography, I started from the ground up. I made an effort to understand f-stops, shutter speeds, light meters, everything. That way when I wanted to learn about more complex theories, I had the basics down. Cue the enthusiast who refuses to take their camera off auto and wants me to tell them how to shoot a stitched together panoramic image! Then I start by telling them that they have to set their white balance to manual and their eyes start to glaze over. Now I look like the jerk who won't share my secrets!

I say all of this to say, if you're serious about photography, I will geek out with you for hours and tell you everything I know...once I know you've done the research and know the basics. I'm happy to do that. However, I think it's rude to expect a photographer to detail their work to people who have a pedestrian interest in the art. It's like asking a magician to show you how they did their tricks. Unless you want to be a magician yourself, knowing how it's done just spoils the experience! Same with photography.  So word to all photo enthusiasts who aren't serious about advancing; thank you for appreciating our work but leave the magic to the professionals!

On to the next frame...trying to stay in focus!