I am fairly apolitical, but I have to tell you folks out there I
am excited about the upcoming election year. Mostly, because I believe that
starting in January 2012 our economy is going to begin to recover. And for
someone like me that is totally self supported, this is a fantastic idea. I
could use an improved income. Since the middle of 2008 I have been working on
improving my income level harder than ever during my 53 years. I think as we
get closer to the election the population of the US will work towards more and
more confidence.

So, with that little bit of prognostication, I will tell you that
my plans for the next year are going to be positive ones. I want to open a
photography studio, and buy more equipment. Traveling more is definitely in the
plans. Around the US is fine, but somewhere abroad would really be wonderful.
I'm going to work hard towards these ends. 

I'd love to travel somewhere to do a photo shoot. Every
photographers dream, right? I'd even settle for anywhere in New Mexico. Nothing
big really, I might even do it for free. Just give me a project idea and I'm on
my way. 505-306-8958 if you come up with anything. 

I know this is a fantasy and don't really expect to hear from
anyone. But you don't know unless you try, right? 

When I was younger, maybe twenty years ago, It was really easy
for me to come up with an idea and implement it in my business. Don't really
know if it was guts or blindness, but most of the time it worked out okay. Now I
have more enthusiasm than I ever have had in my life and more smarts, however,
implementing during these times has become quite a bit more difficult. Selling
a product or a service, especially if you have not proved yourself, is very,
very hard. The public has found letting go of their income for extracurricular
activities is best kept in reserve. The money is there, but not the confidence.
I think most of us are in agreement on this lack of confidence. 

With that, let me suggest that all of you try to feign confidence
starting with the new year. Spend just a little more money on the fun stuff in
life. Eat out one more time a week. Or, like I did today buy something
practical, but too damn expensive. A lens cleaning cloth. It really works well.
Maybe just a little more money circulating will help us get on the road to
recovery and our newly elected, in 2012, president can take all the credit for it.

Have a Happy New Year,
Dave Sova

Below, a shot of my father back in the 80's when running a business was a lot different. 
Every generation seems to say things like that.

 

I am a creative and I have a dream. Now, at the age of 53, I am
endeavoring to start a new career. A career that I have been practicing for all
of my life. Photography. I know, I know you've heard it all before. Making
money as a photographer is somewhat akin to making money as a musician. Your
either broke or you are a rock star with untold millions. With broke being the
most likely. And hey, don't get me wrong, I would love to make rock star
millions as a photographer. But my main goal really is to create great
relationships and great art. To photograph and capture people for the sake of
history. Preserving images of ordinary people for future generations. And thus
creating art in the process. Photographing them in such a way that they will
not be forgotten for generations to come. So, with that said I think I can
funnel this down to three words. People, Art, and Money. Can I say that again?
People, Art, and Money!

If I had a bank account that received a weekly deposit from a
trust fund then I would spend my days taking photographs, traveling the world
looking for relationships to build my portfolios to create books, to promote
gallery shows, mass share on the net. Always attempting to improve, and sharing
with everyone the people I have met and the things that I have seen. That folks,
as a creative, is my dream. Not really an original dream, but along with many
other creative's out there, it is mine. 

Alas, since I don't have a trust fund I will have to adapt my
dream. Today, and probably many times into the future as I attempt to travel
into my new photographic artist career. Well almost new. 

So, a very long so, how do I do it? What plan can I create? How
can I move forward with it and make it fit my dream as much as possible? Well so
far, I'm working the net. Looking for subjects, taking pictures, and promoting
my results. (Pimpin'!) But I think I need to move on up to my next level.  What is at that level for me? Don't
know. But I'm looking. Looking hard. Suggestions? 
Thanks for reading,
Dave Sova

I was detailing a car, you know cleaning it. Something I do to make some extra money. The interior, vacuuming, head down in between the seats.

"Can I take pictures of this car?" I heard in the background. "Sure" somebody in the shop said. This of course peaked my interest. I had to look so I did.

A woman with a camera, and a Nikon no less. Be still my heart. 

"Hi"

"I asked, they said I could take...."

"No, it's okay, I'm a photographer and your camera caught my attention" I said.

So, That's how it started.

She shot, talked, but mostly shot. We exchanged names and pleasantries. I was excited to get a break from my car cleaning work. She said her name was Jennifer Esperanza and I said I was, well you know my name. Then we made some more small talk, but she never stopped shooting the sanding swirls on the old car that had caught her attention. Her photographic enthusiasm was wonderful. We shook hands and I went back to work. Last thing I heard was, "Good luck" as she was scooting down the sidewalk. Couldn't wait to get home and look her up on the net.

"Damn!!!" As I scanned her Facebook account. Almost 400 images. And good too. Big variety, quality, and real heart. Visionary. I could feel her soul in every photograph. And  with so many Face book Friends, 3833 if I recall correctly, It's a wonder she has time to shoot, much less have friends in the real world. It looks like she does it though. I am so very glad to have met her. It's nice to find and interact with someone on line, but there is nothing like meeting someone like this face to face. Someone who so evidently has similar interest. Even if it is for a short time. 

Relationships count so much these days. Friendships feel fleeting. And if you spend a lot of time working on the internet relationships, like so many photographers do these days, real world time really seems to slip away.
Balancing these two different environments can be difficult. But I think we must be aware and attempt to find this balance. Winter time can add even more challenge. Since inside time seems to really increase. 
 
Certainly, share through social networking on a global level, But really friend, love, and support on a local person to person level.

If you live in the Albuquerque area, I would love to have you as an added FaceBook friend, but if you want to do something on a face to face level then shoot me an email. Maybewe can take some photographs and develop a friendship. 

Thanks Jennifer for being such a good example.

A NORMAL Physical response. Yes, That is right. In today's world stress is viewed as such that one tends to consider it a new cancer. To be hacked away and removed from one's life at all cost. Stress response availability in the body and mind is a necessity.

A very good analogy is the NOS that are used on drag race cars. NOS stands for Nitrous Oxide Systems. These are installed on drag race cars for short term burst of energy by feeding nitrous oxide into the fuel system of the drag race car's engine. The result is a large increase in horse power for the short time that the NOS is engaged. The drawback to this process is that if the NOS is left engaged for too long a period then the engine could suffer failure because the engine is being asked to perform above and beyond its design capabilities. Also, repeated use of NOS shortens the life of the engine. Which requires hot rod mechanics to continuously repair and rebuild their engine much more often than most auto engines being used under normal conditions.

So, if you consider that your stress response is your built in NOS system, and from time to time in an emergency you may need the boost of power that your body then can supply. You can see why it is a good thing to have. For instance, should you step out onto an empty side street from your favourite restaurant heading for your parked car. Then, suddenly, a evil looking character steps from a nearby allies' shadows. Your heart races, you begin to sweat, your eyes narrow with fear, you feel a lower abdominal disturbance, blood is being pumped to your legs for increased energy for running. Which you instinctively do. You run like the wind and take yourself from a possible horrible situation. This is a "fight or flight response" to a perceived possible harmful or even fatal situation.

There are two types of stress, "physical" which I have described above, and "psychological". The later type, what we
mostly deal with in today's world. Unfortunately, the mind does not know the difference between the two and the body responds to both with the same physical characteristics. Which are: The Autonomic nerve system is utilized , Adrenalin is released in your body and this causes increased heartbeat and blood flow, your vision narrows, muscles tense and flex, sweating is increased, your hearing becomes much more sensitive. In today's world we are bombarded with continuous scenarios that lead to the body's "stressful response system" being triggered or
set off. And like the NOS analogy, our body's requires a maintenance routine to keep the system from prematurely wearing out our bodies.

Human beings currently deal with stressful circumstances frequently. Several times a day is not unusual. Starting when awaken, people begin to worry of money, always in a hurry to meet deadlines, i.e. getting to work, the kids to school, breakfast on the table, food preparations for lunch, for dinner and many other planned activities for any
given day. Then off to work, or school. Where we must interact with co-workers, bosses, and daily work crisis. At school we have, teachers, school work, social interaction including a daily dose of any bullies that are around. Even into the evening we have home activities such as watching TV, computer activities, outside physical sports competitions and neighbour interactions. And these all don't sound too bad. Some of us have to deal with joblessness, drug addiction, physical and psychological abuse, loneliness, depression, short and long term physical illness. I'm sure that I don't need to go on to prove my point. And to make matters worse in some people the ANS, Autonomic Nervous System, which runs from the spinal cord managing every organ in the body may become unbalanced. The ANS has two branches "parasympathetic" and "sympathetic". When there is no danger, or stress the parasympathetic mode is engaged. The sympathetic mode is engaged when a stressful or dangerous situation is encountered. With some bodies this is a result of being in an unbalanced, unhealthy state. Leaving the body in
stress environment continuously. This is a worst case scenario. The body stays in stress mode and like with the NOS analogy the body is at risk of engine failure. So, the first step to manage stress is to get your life balanced and
healthy.
Some Long Term Effects Of Continuous Stress
Heart Problems
High Blood Pressure
Weaker or Suppressed Immune System
Skin Problems
Muscular Pain
Diabetes
Infertility
Learn to recognize continuous stress in your life. Then, learn to maintain that stress. I'm sure that there are some out there that do not have a unmanaged stress situation. But, the majority of us are usually right in the middle of a stress storm. So much so that we find it hard to recognize when we are there.
Below are some typical physical symptoms of an overly stressed person:
Headache
Muscle tension or pain
Chest pain
Fatigue
Change in sex drive
Stomach upset
Sleep problems
Your mood may be affected in these ways:
Anxiety
Restlessness
Lack of motivation or focus
Irritability or anger
Sadness or depression
You may behave in these ways:
Overeating or under eating
Angry outbursts
Drug or alcohol abuse
Tobacco use
Social withdrawal
Stress effects every area of your life cycle. So, STOP, just stop everything. This will give you the clearest vision, to
examine every life cycle area. Each section will give you new insight to stress in your life. Look at Health first. Do you exercise? Meditate, or pray? What, when, where, and how do you eat? How is the condition of your body? Your state
of mind? How are the other areas of life cycle effecting your health? Is your Home a calm place where you can regenerate your energies? Do you hate your Job? Do you find your Friends mostly in your Social Environment? Do you ride the Bus to work and you are frightened the whole time? These are examples of questions that could be asked. Go, from life cycle area to life cycle area and repeat the above exercise. Then determine and write down the actions you need to take to find balance. Balance will help find health, and stress management. This will keep you from engine failure due to too much NOS. Then slowly adapt slowly each and every life cycle area and develop a maintenance schedule to fit your life. And always find time for yourself, first and foremost.

An excerpt from an upcoming book
by Dave Sova
Thank You

Pay as little attention to discouragements as possible!
Plough ahead as a steamer does, rough or smooth, rain or shine!
To carry your cargo and make your port is the point!
Maltbie Babcock.

To take the pictures and share them with others is the point! 
Keep focused on the journey and all photographic adventures experienced.
These adventures will be positive, and you will learn. However, the
lessons won't always make sense right away. 

Recently, I was invited by an individual at an entertainment
company to come and discuss the possibility of coming up with an idea,
photographically, that could be in place at an upcoming event of theirs. I won't
get into any more details, but the lady suggested that I come down two days
later and they would  see if they could give me a few moments, because they were very busy.
She was concerned that I would be frustrated while waiting. I responded by asking if I could bring my
camera and take pictures of the practice session. She said sure. I was excited. 

I was polite and kind. Followed every direction given to me. Very
appreciative of having the opportunity to take images of the fine entertainers
in this school. I was there for a little more than an hour and was called away
to an emergency. I Announced this to the woman contact and she told me not to
bring my camera if I returned to the school. Also, don't feel like that I
needed to return.  Total shock, I did not expect this. Still not sure what happened. 
But man, was I discouraged by this. Now, I'm a 53 year old business man, have
been since I was 16. Rejection I can handle. Well, after some thought I realized
that what discouraged me the most is that I couldn't fulfill my credo at the
beginning of the article. I took almost 150 images at this entertainment school, some
of them I feel are quite good. However, I don't feel at this point and under
the circumstances, that I can share them.

Now understand, I do not
harbor resentment. These folks did what they thought prudent for their school
and students. The place was busy and communication was poor at best. I missed
something, probably because of my enthusiasm. I've not given up. But at this
time it is easy for me to feel very discouraged. Like someone has pulled the
wrapper off the lollypop, and I can't get a lick. I'd love to show you one or
two of the images in this blog. You'd like them I'm sure. Maybe in the future.
But when one fall's off the proverbial horse, you must get up and keep making
photographs and trying to share them with people, for free or not, on the net,
on the corner, in a museum or a gallery because sharing the images is the
point.

I can't help but to post an image of the reason I was called away from the shoot
mentioned above. An image of my 1 day old grandson. Thank You for reading.

Beginners Mind? Viewing the subject through my camera's lens cultivates
beginners mind. I empty my mind and see the subject for the first time. No preconceived notions,
no prejudices. Subject, light, and composition come together for the first time. I try to experience
the photograph and its insides for the first time as I press the shutter. Move and find something new in
the frame, empty my mind, shoot and try to see, visualize if you well, a whole new image. Every shot
is unique, different, or quirky from the all the others.
Do I shoot this way? Today I will start to practice the
beginners mind every time I shoot. With every frame.  

Find a lecture on Beginners Mind here.
http://www.intrex.net/chzg/hartman4.htm

Welcome to my new and second blog. Portraiture has been, until now, a behind the scenes love. I have
come out of the closet per say and I am focusing on people photography. Still love the black and white,
and will continue to shoot those kind of shots. However, I need personality and human interaction from now on.
So, if you want your portrait taken, shoot me an email at davesova@gmail.com. I am eager to set up sessions.
Thank You, Dave
See below, a portrait of Lara Dale. A wonderful lady and model that posed for me recently.