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"I'm getting burned out," Phil lamented. "I'm discouraged about marketing my photos, I'm
not really interested in camera clubs, and I've printed and hung so many images that
my walls are cracking from all the nail holes. When I do think about going out to
shoot, I know it will just end up as another box of slides on the shelf. I have
no outlet for my work."
Inwardly I smirked. Smirk Smirk Obviously my old photo friend Phil had not
considered slide shows! Why, I remember well the first time I was invited to
give a presentation. A member of the local Audubon Society called and we set a
date. You're familiar with the Audubon group right? Most of them are birders. You've seen
them out in the woods and fields scurrying around like a bunch of quail on speed.
They all carry huge packs with binoculars, reference books, water, food, compass,
matches, a GPS unit, and a change of underwear. A typical birder conversation goes
something like this:
"Oh my Gawd, there's a big-boobed Bob-O-Link!"
"No it's not. See that one little beige colored feather? That's a tiny-fronted Titmouse."
"You're both wrong, it's a red-breasted grosbeak."
The great thing about giving slide shows to birders is this; they are SO appreciative.
They never get to see birds up close except with 5-pound binoculars, so a full frame
bird on a big screen is SPECIAL. Never, never pass up a chance for a slide show with
birders. You'll be called a GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER, you'll be asked why you don't sell
your images to National Geographic, and here's the best part, sometimes they actually
PAY you with REAL MONEY. Now if that doesn't make the ole ego soar to new heights,
nothing will.
With my next slide show, I hit the big time. I was invited to an ongoing event known
as Travels with Tulsans. As the name implies, it showcases the photographic works of
local Tulsans (for you on the East coast, that's in Oklahoma) and places they have
visited. This was not to be at some tiny, dusty, meeting room on the edge of town,
but in an auditorium at the DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY! There would be a couple HUNDRED
people there. I was to have a microphone. I was to have a GIANT screen to project
on. I was scared s***less.
Actually, it all went quite well. I showed my Africa slides. I cracked a couple jokes.
The audience laughed. The screen didn't fall over. The projector bulb didn't burn out.
And maybe best of all, I received even more COMPLIMENTS. Had I found a niche or what?
A few weeks later I received yet another request, this time from the Sunny Side
Nursing Home. Flushed with success, I didn't hesitate-I was on a roll.
"Sure, I'll give you a show."
And so, at the appointed time and place, I arrived and began to set up.
"Could you make it just a little darker in here," I asked?
"Sorry, but the residents need to have good lighting if they need to move around."
"Move around?"
"Yes, you know, some will probably need to get up and go to the bathroom and such.
"Hmmmm."
The old folks began to file in or should I say wheel in? I immediately sensed there
would not be a packed house for this one. A wildly optimistic guess would put the
attendance at about, oh, ten or so. I began with a slide of a map of Africa, then
one of Kenya showing the location of its capital, Nairobi.
"Where did you take these pictures?" came a voice from underneath a blanket.
"Africa."
"Oh."
"Here's a photo of an elephant, our largest land mammal."
"Can I go back to my room?" wailed a little old lady.
"You sure can Nellie" the nurse assured her. I knew I was in trouble.
"This is a cheetah. They can run very, very, fast."
"Where did you take these pictures?" said a now familiar voice.
"Africa."
"Oh."
A quick glance around the room was not encouraging. Four residents were now asleep,
three stared out the window, two were talking to no one in particular, and Nellie
still wanted to go back to her room. I momentarily considered doing a Rodney Dangerfield
impersonation, tugging on my tie and going "Tough crowd, tough crowd." but instinctively
I knew that it was too little, too late. With my ego now suffering the same fate
as the Titanic, I quickly went through the remaining slides, thanked them for
having me, and, head bowed, rapidly left the building.
Ring. Ring.
"Yeah Phil. What's up?"
"Hey, some group wants me to do a slide show. I don't do slide shows. You want to do it?"
"Sorry, I'd love to, but the dog ate my slides."
Editor's Comment: Let us know what you think! Please email the
Editor
to let us know your thoughts. ~Michael
Warren Williams has been doing photography for
over 25 years focusing mainly on Nature and wildlife. His work has been published in
several magazines, including Outdoor Photographer, Outdoor Oklahoma,
Oklahoma Today, and Persimmon Hill (the magazine of the Cowboy Hall of
Fame). Several of his photos have also appeared on calendars by Smith-Southwestern.
Warren is an active member on Photo Migrations and would also invite you to visit
his website located at: Warren Williams Photography -
Images of Wildlife and Nature.
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