People who know me know that I really really like what I do. I often tell people I live a charmed life. I think part of why I like what I do so much is that I'm always hungry to learn more, try different things and never settle for a routine. This past basketball season for instance I decided to try to really push myself to make pictures in a different way. I used a lens that is a little too long generally for basketball, and I used it about 85% of the time. I wanted to create a different look than what I've had for years covering high school ball, and even though it was a challenge--and sometimes dicey as to whether or not I got a good shot, I think it was important for me to do this. I even often try to change the way I make pictures. Lately I'm trying to take a more middle range view of my subjects and compose harsh to the edges. I'm trying to learn how to not be too close all the time because that can influence what is going on a little too much. Yet I still want to use a wide angle lens so I have to be somewhat close. When I purposely try to change my style it often leads to a lot of failures or near failures before it becomes something helpful. I was thinking about portraits too, most people who know me wouldn't call me a traditional photographer, yet I have a great admiration for solid traditional photography. So I try to learn what I can. I study photographs and really like to look back at the masters for guidance. I never think of it so much as copying, but learning and allowing positive influences to enter into my work. When I think of my painting I cannot help but think of how much Enrico Pinardi continues to influence my work. In photojournalism Craig Walker, Jim Stefanucci and Dan DeLong really make me focus on the story and try to understand how to still do this with an eye that is my own. My portrait influences aren't as strong, Rudy Grazziani and Arthur Rainville taught me how to really pay attention to quality, and though I think I lack a great deal of their sensibility, I do remember their lesson well and think I apply much of what they taught, but is a slightly askew manner. And thats what I'm thinking about now as I'm gearing up to make a big Senior portrait summer offer. I want to redefine what a senior portrait is around here this summer and I'm coming up with a lot of ideas. This is a more traditional portrait of Angela that I took recently--somewhere in between traditional and whacky portraits is something entirely different and I hope to find it. SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.