History
It all started in 1978 while driving home from Arizona State University to San Diego . It was an early June morning with a desert sun just rising in my rear view mirror. As I stared out in front of me I saw off in the distance to the side of the road a huge hawk sitting on a fence post. I slowed down and stopped. It just sat there. We looked at each other and the same words uttered by millions came out of my mouth, "If I only had a camera!".
Soon after I got home I bought my first camera; A Canon AE-1. It went everywhere with me. I took pictures of everything. I was soon blowing up pictures and producing slide shows choreographed to music for church and at school.
It was my senior year at ASU, majoring in Construction Management. I had to take an art class as an elective. I took photography 101. I had a blast. Spent unknown hours in the dark room and way too much money on film and paper. My instructor would constantly bring in other instructors to view my work. My final project for the class was accepted into a photo gallery in Scottsdale as outstanding student work at any level. I talked with the instructor and was really considering changing my major. His response: "Why do you want to starve?". "You have a great future in front of you. One that will make you money, money you can use to support your love of photography. Why become like us, starving photographers trying to make a living by teaching?"
I continued taking pictures and doing slide shows up to about 1997 when my Canon, after being repaired a couple of times, finally gave up the "ghost". I saw digital photography coming and chose not to get another camera until I could afford one of those SLR types (some day we'll laugh at how much they cost!).
February, 2005: Pricing was still up there but I got a bonus from work to close the gap and made the plunge. I got myself a Nikon D70. I immediately started taking pictures again (It's been eight years). I learned how to use this "hand-held-photo-computer" at my kid's sport events. Parents, without digital SLRs, were soon asking me to take pictures of their kids and said that they would pay for them. So I did.
I took my camera to work to show it off. One of the ladies in marketing asked what kind of pictures I liked to take? "Anything" was my answer. The current photography company they used only provided a few images for their use. She asked if I would be willing to take pictures of some of the company's projects. I said I would visit a site and "shoot it up"! I did. She liked them. And Shoot Em Up Photography was born.
Do I make a living at this? NO! I would probably starve. But, how many people have a "self supporting hobby"? For now, it's a lot of fun. I've always loved architecture and an architect's ability to create from nothing. As a builder, I will always be amazed that anything gets built. To take pictures of these little miracles, knowing all the energy, frustration, sweat, blood, etc, etc that goes into them, is a real joy. The names and faces are gone, but the "monument" to their work and sacrifice will stand for decades. It's my privilege to memorialize them for others to see.
Mac Byers |