Untitled Forbidden!

A good title is like a bow on a gift. It ties it all together. A photo deserves a unique, thought provoking title. In many ways, the title is just as important as the subject matter or the composition.

Titles can bring clarity to a work, evoke thoughts of content not featured within your photo, and can deliver the punch-line of a good joke all at the same time. With some thought, a title can become more important than the photo itself. At the very least, a good title has the ability to enhance a photo that may otherwise be a discard.

Here are some aspects to consider when thinking about your title:

- What is unique about your photo?

- Does this photo conjure up thoughts of something unrelated, yet describes the subject of the photo well?

- Is there anything missing in the photo that could be added back in by the use of a good title?

- Draw on pop culture references to give your photo instant recognition.

- Perhaps there is a mistake in the photo...something in the background that ruins the composition. Use it to your advantage with a catchy title!

- At all costs, resist the urge to name your photo "Untitled."

- Embrace unconventional thoughts in much the same way you embrace the unconventional for your photos. These ideas lend themselves nicely to titles.

With these aspects in mind, re-examine your photos. Go ahead...re-envision your photos and give them a fresh perspective with a clever title! I encourage you to challenge yourself. Make it a rule that you will not be happy with your photos unless you have a good title to go along with each of them. While this is not always practical, attempt it. You may find yourself getting complimented on your unique point of view in more ways than one!

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JPG IS It!

I found myself bored; tired and frustrated. Something was missing. I knew it was out there and I needed to find it. I was compelled to express my vision. I wanted others to experience the pleasure of looking through the lens and creating art. Thoughts were racing through my head, synapses firing right and left, and there it was. I found a whole new plain of existence, to which I was previously unaware.

I found it.

Sounds like a profound experience, does it not? Indeed it was and remains so today. What I found was a community of like-minded individuals acting as a whole in one of the world's most creative avenues. Suddenly I found hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, of artists expressing the very same desire to create that made me fall in love with the art of photography in the first place.

I found it, but it was different.

I found a form of expression that combined the very best of photography with social interactivity. The ability to submit my work for consideration by these newly found comrades compels me and has sparked a flurry of interaction. I seek out the work of others, scanning the photos for those that catch my eye, offering up comments and "props," all the while forming friendships via our shared interests. I anxiously await comments (for better or worse) and "props" each day like a child waiting for one of its parents to come home from work.

Since I discovered it, I have found more creative energy than ever before. Seeing other member's work has driven me to expand my knowledge and photographic skill set. It fosters learning via sharing knowledge like no other place I know. We share our photos and see the world through each other’s lenses all in an effort to better ourselves.

I found the total social photography experience. While I can by no means take credit for creating it, I find myself evangelizing the qualities of it to my friends. What I can take credit for is my involvement and interaction as I add to the whole. All of its members can and do help create each issue, and as is pointed out in every issue, it is made by us.

I am convinced that I have found a new level in the world of social interaction. While plenty of photography websites exist and plenty of social sites exist, non have combined the experience the way it has. It is truly is an exciting avenue of expression unlike any other.

I have found that for which I was looking and it is called JPG.

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