I’ve talked a lot about Scott Bourne in previous posts…

Scott Bourne and I have a connection that until he reminded me about it, I’d completely forgotten.  He was a Hasselblad shooter and sent a proposal to me in the 90’s.  At the same time one of the magazines was doing a story and called me looking for a new name in professional photography.  Scott’s work was terrific and I gave them his name.  A company in the middle east saw the story and that led to a five year project for Scott setting up 150 portrait studios in the middle east.   This past summer he was an incredible contributor to Skip’s Summer School doing a short program on Social Media that was so good, he’s coming back next year to do a full program.

My respect for him grows more and more every day.  He’s now approaching 40,000 followers on Twitter and 90,000 on the PhotoFocus blog and his podcasts.   At times I have a hard time figuring out which hat he wears best – he’s an outstanding photographer, a terrific writer and a great instructor.  While I appreciate each one of these incredible skills, I enjoy him most as a great friend and a constant inspiration!

It just wouldn’t be right to go through Blog Fest 2009 without a guest post from Scott.  He’s travelling, but wanted to participate and asked me to wander through his site and see if there was something that would be of interest that he could contribute.  I was drawn to a post he wrote in September about an Artist’s Statement. 

I’ve read so many cheesy mission statements in the “about us” section on professional photographer’s websites.  Too often everyone talks about their awards rather than their heart.  Scott really says it best in this post below.

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Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved

Corporations have “Mission Statements.” Artists have “Artist’s Statements.”

If you want to communicate with fine art buyers, galleries, museums and anyone who buys photography or for that matter, who sells it, you might want to consider creating an artist’s statement. This statement should help anyone interested in collecting your work understand where YOU are coming from. It should be about YOU not so much about a camera or a photo or a technique. To quote my friend Dane Sanders – “YOU are not your photography.” So tell us something about what it’s like for you to make a photo. Share your heart. That’s how you write an artist’s statement.

Rather than give you a checklist of what to include in your statement, I’m simply going to show you mine. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to do this. I think you just have to write from your heart or be inspired by someone or something else who shares your vision. I re-wrote my statement last year when some comments I received on my images helped me to see what others were seeing in my work, but which I lacked the proper mirror to see. Here’s my artist’s statement.
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Artist Statement

For me, wildlife art photography is about two connecting themes: extraordinary craftsmanship in terms of technical mastery of photography and a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of the nature behind the image.

At a deeper level, however, I pursue this art form because of its almost religious qualities.

One day, I can have a vision in my mind that represents a photograph I want to make. This vision exists only in my head and my heart – it’s a silent vision which has the power to bring me out into the field, month after month, year after year, for a chance to turn that vision into something tangible that I can share with others.

The other religious aspect of my work is focus and devotion to an idea over which I have absolutely no control.

I learn all that I can about the natural factors behind each photographic opportunity, but I never know how they will play out. My artistry focuses on the beauty of things which are random. Wildlife operates within its own free will. The bird flies its own path.

It’s different than working in a photography studio where I have control over the set, the model and the lights. As a wildlife artist, my gift is to know how to “show up prepared” to interact with beauty that I do not control. I must learn to be at peace with my subject on their terms, not on mine.

I struggle with finding the patience and the path. But when that struggle becomes the hardest, I remember my calling. I speak for the creatures which have no voice. Perhaps this is why the experience is so emotional for me.

Each time I get a perfect moment and capture that with my camera, I experience joy and sadness. I am joyful because the finished work provides me with a lifelong memory of a successful vision. But I also feel sadness that the pursuit is over.

After that moment, the cycle begins again, and I launch the pursuit of the next creative vision. I hope to share that vision well enough that others may someday wish to help speak for the animals too.