Ray McMullen Fine Art Photography

      I was out on a location shooting some breath taking scenes, and I was happy  to be there in the moment. Having my camera made it all the more sweet. I spent most of my day getting different perspectives of this amazing place.       I got back to my office to down load my shots and I couldn't have been more proud. After everything had been downloaded I began to review each shot carefully. After the first 5 shots I realized that there were spots on the images and they were not birds, but dirt on my lens, I was devastated.       The day before I had been up in the mountains shooting some waterfalls. It was a windy day, and some spray must have landed on the lens and attracted dust on the lens. Now I will be spending some quality time removing these spots from each frame I shot.  After this particular experience... I've made cleaning my lenses a part of my after shooting check list. ...

     In the beginning, I wanted to find my own photographic style. I looked at thousands of photos, books, magazines, and videos in an effort to do this. There were a few Photographers that really influenced my passion for photography— 1.      Joe McNally  ... Joe taught me the importance of using the right light.  2.     Trey Ratcliff  ... Trey introduced me to the wonderful world of HDR. 3.     Peter Lik  ... Peter taught me how important it is to see the big picture.      While studying these photographers and their work, I took a little inspiration from each in an effort to  develop  “my style”. Years have passed, and now I believe you never stop developing your style. For me it is a work in progress. However, during my search I did find a love for landscape photography that I carry to this day.

      Leaving the familiar and allowing yourself to  follow a dream  can be a very difficult thing to do. I was successful in my career, but it wasn't fulfilling and there was something missing. I found that missing piece in photography, and it quickly became my passion. I was torn between my photography and a job that would provide for my family. After a lot of soul searching, I decided to  follow a dream .      I left that job to pursue my passion. Now I spend my days looking for new places to discover and shoot. My pay check may be a bit smaller, but I am happy getting up every morning to follow my passion.      I'm just a guy with a camera trying to capture life one click at a time.  I want my photography to tell a story. Every photo has something different to say.  I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me. The lesson learned... Don't let anything stand in your w...

     When looking at a photograph that inspires me , I try to break down the reasons why. I want to know what the photographer did to capture the mood and draw me into that shot.  Those special photos of which I'm speaking, are the ones that make me feel as though I'm standing right there the moment the shutter was pressed.  Is it the lighting, angle,  composition or a combination of them all?  I am constantly trying to discover and learn different techniques.  I  seek out new locations and different times of the day, i n an effort to take that special shot.           So the next time you're viewing someone's work, study it. Look at the lighting, observe the time of day, and the angle from which it was taken. You might learn something new. Hopefully, after viewing other peoples work you will be inspired as I am.

     T his is something that really gets me excited. All the work of setting up the shot, post production, processing, and finally... printing.  I love seeing the final product mounted on the wall.        I remember the very first photo I printed. It was a shot taken in Pensacola, Florida, d owntown  in the winter. I liked the texture of the brick wall, and the moment with the guy riding the bike. I printed it up on regular paper and ink from my everyday office printer. It was far from being epic, but I was proud, I was happy, and most of all I was hooked. I am far from that first printed photo of Pensacola.       I've since invested in a photo printer, and the excitement is still there every time I print a shot.  If you haven't printed your own work before, give it a try. It may take your work from a hobby to something more.