Introductions – Mike Powell

October 26, 2014 by Mike Powell

This re-posting is a bit of shameless self-promotion, but it is hard to describe how honored and thrilled I feel to be featured by Leanne Cole in a blog posting today. Leanne, who lives and works in Australia, is a wonderful photographer who spends a lot of time as a kind of photographic evangelist, sharing her passion for the art and practice of photography. She is constantly encouraging and teaching others, yet somehow seems to find time to explore new areas of her own photography, ranging from photographing the stars at night to investigating the close-up world of macro photography. Be sure to check out her incredible blog.

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Inspiration, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, wildlife | 25 Comments

25 Responses

on October 26, 2014 at 5:08 pm | Reply Dan Antion

Well deserved – I”m heading over to finish up on her blog.
on October 26, 2014 at 5:20 pm | Reply hihowsyou25

Wonderful butterfly, lovely capture !
- on October 26, 2014 at 5:23 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Butterflies are one of my favorite subjects to photograph.
on October 26, 2014 at 5:51 pm | Reply afrenchgarden

I thought she had presented you photographs in a very attractive way. Perhaps I am used to seeing them usually one at a time but they look even more impressive when they are together. Amelia
- on October 26, 2014 at 6:44 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I was a bit surprised myself at how good they looked, Amelia. I keep pressing on to do new posts that I don’t often step back and look at a larger selection of what I have photographed. I didn’t have any idea what photos Leanne would choose to use, but am really happy with the ones that she selected.
on October 26, 2014 at 6:25 pm | Reply Carrie

I don’t see anything shameful in being acknowledged 🙂 Leanne is a treasure for bloggers into photography. I have learned so much from her and those she “introduces”, I am looking forward to seeing the world through your lens too! Your images are incredibly detailed, thank you for sharing them.
- on October 27, 2014 at 6:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for your positive words. I love Leanne’s posts and was amazed when she sent me an e-mail saying she wanted to introduce me. I am also very humbled, because I know there are lots of awesome photographers out there who have been shooting for a lot longer than I have. I wanted to share the good news of Leanne’s post with my regular readers without it coming across as, “Look how good I am.”
on October 26, 2014 at 7:12 pm | Reply Amy

You certainly have shown us commonplace subjects can be extraordinarily beautiful. Magical! Thank you, Michael.
- on October 27, 2014 at 6:43 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  You are very welcome, Amy. Perhaps someday I will feel an urge to venture out and find more exotic subjects, but for now at least I am more than content searching out interesting ways to photograph subjects that many of us see regularly.
on October 27, 2014 at 2:08 am | Reply Nia Simone and Ántonia Moran

I agree with you, Mike, that Leanne is wonderful. I’m glad she introduced you to her followers. She is diligent at finding photographers in WordPress!
- on October 27, 2014 at 6:54 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. If there are any of my regular readers weren’t yet following Leanne’s blog, I was hoping to encourage them to do so
on October 27, 2014 at 7:02 am | Reply centralohionature

Enjoyed reading about your thoughts on photography as well as looking at your photographs. My wife and I tend to be opportunistic roamers which often necessitates some pretty basic equipment. The results, that often may elude perfection, usually meet our needs.
- on October 27, 2014 at 7:14 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I too leave perfection to others. I remember reading somewhere that professional photographers should only let others see their best work. I am excited to show people things that interest me, even if I know it is not my best work from a technical perspective. We all shoot for different reasons. I am a thinking person and enjoy moments of introspection. Leanne’s questions permitted me to meditate anew on my motivations. My advice to folks is usually to keep on shooting, for whatever reason they shoot, and never to be afraid to try something different as they do so.
on October 27, 2014 at 10:41 am | Reply cihearu - Chronicles of a Bionic Woman

Mike, I enjoyed reading your intro by Leanne. And, thanks for introducing me to her blog. I’m learning a lot, and enjoying the great shots. Your blog is very well presented, and always interesting. I love how it’s always evolving with the seasons and with whatever presents itself to your lens.
- on October 27, 2014 at 5:29 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for your kind words. It’s really cool to be exposed to a wide range of photography and most folks are more than willing to provide advice and tips. Who knows what the next season will hold for my photography.
on October 27, 2014 at 12:05 pm | Reply Nina Liakos

Very nice and definitely well deserved, Mike. I enjoyed reading some of the background information included in the interview. (I also studied in Paris for a year, and then stayed there for two more years teaching English, which became my career.) You were so lucky to have Cindy teach you. I sometimes fantasize about learning about photography from you (if I ever get a camera with proper lenses).
- on October 27, 2014 at 5:35 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Nina. When Leanne sent me the questions, I decided to be expansive in answering them and shared quite a bit about what makes me tick. I would not get too hung up about the gear. My advice would be to get really familiar with what it can do and you’ll probably be amazed by the images you can produce. Gear can be a crutch at times, but it does make a difference some of the time. One way to start is to go to cindydyerphotography.com and click on the tab called Freebies to download a 16 page guide that includes a lot of what she showed me how to do.
on October 27, 2014 at 1:01 pm | Reply Ed

Congrats, it is truly an honor to be on her blog. I’ve been following her as long as I’ve been following your blog..maybe even a bit longer..:-)
- on October 27, 2014 at 5:36 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ed. I was a bit shocked when she asked me, but there was no way that I was going to say no.
on October 27, 2014 at 3:09 pm | Reply poppytump

Are you the butterfly whisperer 😉
Such a beautiful capture .
I hopped over from Leanne’s blog where your collection of photos is very impressive .
- on October 27, 2014 at 5:39 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I don’t know if I can claim to be a butterfly whisperer, but I am awfully persistent and patient, which helps with a subject that likes to move around a lot.
on October 28, 2014 at 12:20 am | Reply Bruce Ruston

I think it is quite deserved as well.
- on October 28, 2014 at 4:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks,Bruce.
on October 30, 2014 at 7:51 pm | Reply Sue

Wow Mike, that was a really nice photo journalism bit on your photography. I enjoyed the photos, but your responses to her questions even more. A very nice accolade and well deserved!
- on October 30, 2014 at 8:43 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It was a wonderful experience. I thought a lot about the questions and then answered them in one sitting. It was a little unusual in the sense that I had no idea how Leanne would introduce me, what reasons she might give for selecting me, or even what photos she would choose to use. It turned out really well and I am both humbled and flattered to be given broader exposure.