janet davis: art + photography + design

4 Days 4 States

2016-05-26T16:46:00.001-04:00

2016-05-04T12:22:00.003-04:00

So, finally... FINALLY... I have a live website. I created it through Wix.com, which is currently free, so I can get a feel for it. Please let me know what you think. Likes, dislikes, etc. I'd greatly appreciate any feedback.

http://www.janetdavisphotography.com

New Logo

2016-03-09T18:49:00.001-05:00

Yet again, I've changed my logo... something a bit simpler. And I'm quite fond of it.

The new (test) website is slowly coming along. The largest task is choosing the photos to use. I have thousands and thousands of images...

But I do hope to have some new photos up on Flickr soon, as we recently took a quick trip to LA, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, while hitting lots of spots on Historic Route 66. Be sure to keep a lookout for those!

In search of...

2015-10-27T15:35:00.002-04:00

A new website.

In the meantime, you can see some of my images via Flickr.

Janet Davis on Flickr

Yosemite National Park

2015-10-03T11:13:00.001-04:00

Yosemite National Park - July 2015

San Francisco

2015-10-03T11:12:00.002-04:00

San Francisco July 2015

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial

2015-10-03T11:12:00.000-04:00

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial (taken 9/11/2015)

Alaska 2014

2015-10-03T11:09:00.000-04:00

Alaska 2014

2015-08-10T17:32:00.001-04:00

Please be aware, this is just a temporary home for my website while I look for a new service. I had hosting through Zenfolio, which was great, but as my art & talent has expanded into more than just photography, it didn't really fit my needs anymore. So, I'm on the hunt for a new service that is reasonably priced. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them here!

New Design/Logo

2014-04-16T01:45:00.002-04:00

While some may think I'm slacking (and maybe I have been just a teensy bit), I HAVE been working on selecting new colors and sketching out a new logo design for my website, blog, etc. And while I may have a BAA, it's still not an easy task. : / It's tough to design something for yourself! Yet the ideas flow when you're working with someone...

So, some of my color testing will be done on the blog, so if you visit here and see funky colors, or notice that this no longer matches my website, at least you'll understand why. And please, if you have any feedback, thoughts, ideas... send them to me!

As always, thanks for reading and checking out my photos. Happy Spring!

Tim Reynolds & TR3

2014-03-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

Tim Reynolds & TR3, a set on Flickr.

Well, things have been a little boring lately in the photography world. I'm working on a Graphic Design certificate at the moment and working part-time, so spare time isn't a big part of my life.

On February 22nd, I met up with some folks in DC to go check out Tim Reynolds & TR3 in concert. Tim Reynolds plays guitar with the Dave Matthews Band on tour and on their albums, as well.

Tim was great to watch - totally different from a DMB show. He was also really cool and fun, chatting with me about the violin and various types of music I should check out. I probably could've had a drink with him.

Hopefully, when things start to warm up, I can get out and shoot a little bit. I am beyond over the snow and the cold. C'mon spring!

The Abandoned Renaissance Faire Photos

2014-01-10T17:41:00.002-05:00

I recently visited an abandoned site here in Virginia, and those that know me know that I LOVE abandoned sites. And when I visit these places, I do not disturb anything, nor do I risk my safety. If I think for one minute a structure might give, I don't risk it. This particular site had "No Trespassing" signs posted (I didn't see these until AFTER I exited, so perhaps better placement is needed...?). I was only there for about 10 minutes - I literally RAN through and snapped some quick photos of the interesting things there, then left. When I posted them to Flickr (then shared here and to Facebook), I never posted the location and I disclosed the no trespassing portion - I was quite clear.

A couple of months after I visited this site, I received a phone call from the listing agent for this location. He was extremely rude to me and demanded I take the photos down immediately. I was even threatened with police action. Of course, he doesn't know me and doesn't know I'm not an entirely dumb cookie... so when I asked about ALL the other HUNDREDS of photos of this place on the Internet and Flickr (just to name a few), he balked and again demanded I remove mine. I said no, not until the others are removed. *On a side note, there's photos on Flickr by some guy allowing his children to run around these buildings that are literally falling apart.* I hung up on him.

A few hours after that phone call, I get an email from the trustee of the property... a lawyer. He was very nice and professional and explained to me exactly what happened. Some folks went out there and ran into some hunters - the property is leased to a hunt club and is actively hunted. These "folks" cited MY Facebook page... MY NAME. Even though a simple search will bring up tons of stuff for this place. He also asked that I post that violators will be prosecuted, which I did. I let him know that I never posted location information and posted about the trespassing.

If you see something on my website, Facebook page, blog, Twitter, Tumblr, whatever... and you decide you want to go there, you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK. DO NOT... I REPEAT... DO NOT mention MY NAME. I WILL NOT be responsible for your safety, or your stupidity. I went out there, I trespassed (unknowingly at the time), and I OWN IT. OWN YOUR ACTIONS.

For those folks that like to go urban exploring, just be careful PLEASE. You just never know who the property belongs to. Honestly, if I'm able to find contact information, I call and ask permission. As long as you guarantee the owner isn't liable for any injuries (I always provide them a waiver), then 90% of the time, they have no problem with you going. It's really that simple. Don't ruin it for other people.

Harpers Ferry, WV

2013-09-14T12:47:00.003-04:00

Harpers Ferry, WV, a set on Flickr.

Abandoned Renaissance Faire - VA

2013-09-14T12:47:00.001-04:00

Abandoned Renaissance Faire - VA, a set on Flickr.

Abandoned Hotel - Lumberton, NC

2013-08-16T15:03:00.001-04:00

Abandoned Hotel - Lumberton, NC, a set on Flickr.

I'm currently playing catch up... we recently moved back to the Northern VA/DC area from NC. This collection was my last shoot in North Carolina, taken 5 days before we left.

I'm such a bad blogger... and other news.

2012-10-16T10:28:00.001-04:00

I haven't posted since May. Wow. And I have the Blogger app on my phone. That's a sign that I'm WAY too busy - and not with photography stuff like I wish I could be.

I'm on my next-to-last semester at UNC Pembroke... hard to believe. And I think it's my toughest one yet. Not so much the workload, but the schedule. I have four classes that conflict with each other, so the time I'm not IN class has to be made up outside of class, in addition to my work. It's almost over... I only have 6 credits left and I will have a BA in Art. Then - off to work on my MFA in Virginia.

In photography related news, I will no longer be shooting weddings, except under VERY special circumstances. I love to be a part of someone's special day, but all the drama that revolves around it is not what I love anymore. Photography has become a commodity, shopping around for the best price - I totally get that. But sometimes, you get what you pay for. Fauxtographers are in abundance - those that bought a camera and suddenly think they're a photographer. And charging peanuts for working hard. Photographing a wedding is NOT easy. Then you have all the work after the event. And with the invent of digital, brides & grooms think their photos are ready the next day. Seriously? I'm good, but not that good. It's disheartening to me and this is why I've chosen to shift my focus from commercial and go back to what I did a long time ago. Art.

Brides and grooms, be careful - look at a photographer's portfolio. And I mean REALLY look at it. Is this what you want in remembrance of your big day? You may be able to get an excellent photographer for an excellent price. Great! But that's not always the case. I'm always here to offer advice, so if a bride or groom comes across this post or my website, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be more than happy to help, if I can. And please, don't put unrealistic expectations on your GREAT photographer. All that equipment they use? That costs A LOT OF MONEY. (They should have at least 2 cameras, 2 flashes and 2 lenses - at a minimum.) Shooting is wear and tear on that equipment. Then there's other costs, such as memory cards, wear/tear on the car, computer equipment, website, etc. There's a lot more to it than just a camera - it's a business with overhead costs, and they have to cover that AND pay themselves. Don't forget, going through the images, processing them, uploading them to a website, making an album - all AFTER your big day. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for your photographer, but you need to be prepared to spend some money if you want quality. Remember: a picture is worth a thousand words.

In the coming months - as soon as I have a chance to breathe! - I'll be updating my website, shifting from the wedding/event focus to a more artistic focus, including some of the artworks I've created. I am now an internationally exhibited artist, having been part of a show this past August in Brighton, England. I'd like to share some of those things with you. But photography will still be my main focus. Eventually, I'll go back to shooting portraits and maybe an event here or there. But weddings are out of the picture for now... maybe someday I'll revisit the idea, or fall in love with it again.

Lumbee Spring Pow Wow 2012

2012-05-31T19:11:00.001-04:00

JDP-201205-060.jpg a photo by MsPhoto70 on Flickr.

One of my more popular images (and one of my favorites) from the pow wow in May. What an AMAZING experience! If you've never been to a pow wow... You. Must. Go.

I'll be photographing a couple more this summer, outdoors, so should be able to get better images.

So...

2012-05-02T14:32:00.001-04:00

JDP-20110423-233 a photo by MsPhoto70 on Flickr.

I just found out what this plant is called. Lamb's Ear!

There it was, growing in the middle of this abandoned building mess. I was fascinated with it (yeah, doesn't take much)... and it was so soft to the touch. And now, I have some growing in my yard. :)

Pre-Deployment Photos

2012-02-27T20:18:00.001-05:00

I had a shoot with a WONDERFUL family on the 17th. They were so much fun that it never felt like work. :) He's deploying to Afghanistan soon, so please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

2012-02-21T00:37:00.001-05:00

Sneak peak of today's photo shoot... some of the images from this session will be used in advertisements for the spring Lumbee powwow, including billboards!

Layla Locklear

2011-10-21T02:58:00.004-04:00

This is my friend, Rebecca, and her beautiful daughter, Norah, taken in September at Kitty Hawk Beach, Outer Banks, NC.

Kayla & Antoine

2011-10-21T02:55:00.001-04:00

A few of my wedding images...

2011-08-29T23:22:00.002-04:00

I now have a Facebook Fan Page!

2011-08-27T23:02:00.000-04:00

janet davis photography

Please be sure to visit and "like" my page...

So it seems...

2011-07-16T03:17:00.001-04:00

JDP-20110626-137.jpg a photo by MsPhoto70 on Flickr.

that this young lady is creating quite a stir, everywhere. My Flickr hits have gone UP since I've posted these photos of the lovely Grace Potter and her band the Nocturnals.