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A high level of creativity does not equate someone as an artist, creativity only grants people the mental tools to turn an original idea into something – a product – which is usually not art. Art, as my friend so elegantly spoke – ‘grabs you by the balls’ – so in other words, art has an affect on you in a blunter and sometimes more painful way.

During this road trip conversation, which shifted between backpacking trips and truck parts, we had pretty much reached the conclusion that truisms sucked – such as fishing in the rain, sucks. Just in time too, because by then we had reached our shoot destination had taken off our philosopher fedoras and extinguished our ridiculously long filtered cigarettes.

No more time for thinking, there was work to be done.

Studying art does not make you any more creative than say, wearing a fedora. But what studying art can do is make you aware of what affects you and the techniques used to make this impression deep in your conscience.

For example, I’ve always been affected by van Gogh’s ‘The Sower’ since I first saw it reprinted on a greeting card given to me by my girlfriend’s sister, which still hangs in my office after many years.

Something about ‘The Sower’s’ clean composition, the straight lines that make up the form of unplowed wheat and the story that I place in the furrowed field has always appealed to me – or affected me in a more painful way.

Clean composition has always appealed to me. I’m not sure why really, maybe because I’m so scattered brained and the clean form of lines focus my eyes and thoughts. Yes, layering your work – especially in photography – makes your work more visually appealing but I’m not talking about being appealed by a visual. I’m talking about focusing my thoughts and emotions – the true value I see in the art that affects me.

Art is personal, man.

Shifting gears. I leave you not with a painting of dogs playing poker but an iPhone photo of my dog, Sophie.

Is this photo, art? The short answer points to no, but let’s not get personal here, do that in the comment section.

Cheers,

Nathan

@freshwatertweet
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This April I launched Square State Media to serve as an online gathering place for Colorado’s community of moonlighting creatives, freelancers, students and artists looking for an outlet to broadcast themselves and gain exposure through the power of social media.

It’s simply a way to link together a community and give them a place to exchange advice, new work and ideas to help Colorado stay creative.

I’m asking artists and other creative folks to post work and/or press releases to the site, which is free. From there I tweet out the new post and then post to the Square State Media Facebook Fan Page stream. Once the post is ‘live’ you are welcome, and encouraged, to post to your Twitter account, Facebook and whatever social media platform you enjoy. More eyes on your work, more inbound links to your business’ site.

There will be original content in the form of interviews and Q&A’s. Topics will range from business tips, technological updates and interviews with those that have made a successful business from their creative ideas. As always, I’m open to ideas.

As with most experiments, it could crash and burn but I have a feeling that Colorado could find Square State Media a valuable resource.

This experiment is being personally sponsored and supplemented  by a few Google ads in an effort to cover some of my startup costs and time – it’s hardly a commercial enterprise but a contribution to the community that has helped me so much over my career.

If you would like to promote your work please email to squarestatemedia@gmail.com or you can read more about the simple process of showing your work by visiting the ‘Show Your Work’ tab at the top of the page – or by clicking here.

Thanks, feedback is always welcome.

Cheers,

Nathan

@freshwatertweet
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Commercial photography company launches site focused on corporate marketing needs

DENVER, COLO. (February 9, 2010) – Freshwater Images, a Denver-based commercial photography company, has launched its new Web site: www.FreshwaterImages.com.

Freshwater Images’ Web site provides visitors with a robust portfolio for review and a regularly updated photo blog, which enables viewers to follow along as the company documents events, conventions and organizations throughout the Rocky Mountain West.

“I am thrilled to launch Freshwater Images’ site and provide our clients with an online source to view our services and work,” said Nathan W. Armes, Freshwater Images founder and owner. “I am also excited about our blog and the opportunity it offers our clients and the general public to keep an eye on some of the regional happenings and what Freshwater Images is working on.”

For more information about Freshwater Images’ Web site launch, visit www.FreshwaterImages.com or call 303-478-8484.

About Freshwater Images

A proponent of custom imagery for commercial use, Freshwater Images works with small to large companies and nonprofits to document their events and conventions, and develop product and service imagery for marketing purposes. The photography company also works with public relations and marketing firms to document their clients’ events and projects for photo distribution to the media. For more information about Freshwater Images, visit www.FreshwaterImages.com or call 303-478-8484.

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download official release

Cheers,

Nathan

As a photographer, I am drawn to the images used by these companies. Stellar work that documents the product in their natural habitat – outdoors and in the snow – and sometimes vertical, backwards or airborne. Some even call this type of imagery; ski porn. I can agree with that.

My mission assigned to me, was to take a few product line shots – a difficult task to stack up against the glossy dealer books. Here is a slideshow of just a few of the images, have fun at your last day of SIA. I plan to add more photos in a ‘wrap up’ gallery later this afternoon/evening.

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Cheers,

Nathan

That is good because I love beer, wine makes me tired and champagne costs too much. Beer is the perfect beverage to end a long day or enjoy with friends after skiing, biking, building a house, geeking out on Twitter all day …  you get the point, its pretty much perfect for any occasion.

The complexity of beer and the variety of brewers has skyrocketed over the past few years and for that, we beer lovers are grateful.

When I first moved to Denver I noticed right away that my city likes to drink – but not drink like a college kid – but drink finely crafted microbrews to be enjoyed with a meal from one of the many fantastic restaurants.

The article has a great list that further details Denver’s microbrews and breweries – which got me think about a story I shot for ESCALA magazine, the official inflight magazine for Aeromexico a few months ago, regarding Denver’s beer culture.

Yes, I got to try the beer ….  I really love my job and work!

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“There can’t be good living where there is not good drinking.”  - Ben Franklin

Cheers,

Nathan

With still so much to see on Friday I’m truly looking forward to a good night’s sleep tonight and meeting some great folks. By the way, I created a SIA-2010 Twitter List if you’d like to check it out.

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Cheers,

Nathan

Wednesday night, as a welcoming celebration and to showcase snow sports fashions, the SIA threw a party – that just happened to include a fashion show. Food, wine and pants that would have said ‘Swish’ when they strutted past on the catwalk should you could have heard it over the bumping tracks from DJ Rootz.

Last night I was shooting for fun and for the thrill of the sights and the sounds that every fashion show is bound to bring.

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Cheers,

Nathan

Just a few years ago, while chatting up a client at a cocktail party or meeting over lunch, if you would have said any form of these three words they might have thought you a bit unbalanced.

“Check please.”

Honestly, it took me a bit to fully grasp the idea of social media as more than a place to re-up with old friends or college roommates.  Social media to me means more than just sharing links, which I’m very good at, but to engage people that I would not normally have contact with.  Social media as a whole has been pretty good to me.  I get my message and photos out.

Freshwater Images was founded in March 2009.  My first tweet through @freshwatertweet follows:

launching a new brand, company and creative direction all in the same day, might need some more coffee.

2:21 PM Mar 8th from web

While I still share lots of random links and self promote I also try to provide value to anyone and everyone.  I try not to simply climb to top of a tall building and scream, “Here I am.  Now pay attention to me.”

That example is like a car alarm.  Why do people even use such an annoying device.  No one listens anyway.  I have never gotten up and said, “Wow, some dude’s car is getting stolen around the block.  We should check it out.”  Be honest, have you ever checked it out?  I love my neighbors, but my neighbors also don’t have car alarms.  I value my neighbors not having car alarms.

>Social media, in a way, works in the same function.  A wise man, @tonyfelice, gave me the tip to provide value.  It totally makes sense and he’s right.

What is the point if you don’t give something of value?  You have such a small space to focus your words but an unlimited amount of ideas and thoughts that someone or many someone’s may build from or improve.  The hope is that someone or those many someone’s will do the same with their limited amount of space and provide you with something of value.

Below is a word cloud of just a few days of Tweets.  I’ve been experimenting with hashtags (shift+3) – small markers that include more information or metadata into your otherwise awesome Tweet.  Say you work on an organic farm and Tweet between chores.  A good example of using a hashtag would be:

Bright Ridge Farms is looking for some good ideas regarding #organic-farms and #organic-food for our next round table discussion.

There is no formula for being a genius social networker.  Some may disagree with that statement, but what can be agreed on is that there are many known unknowns – as someone once said.

Your job is to figure out the known unknowns, for your company or brand, and Tweet with the Twitter you are given.

Cheers,

Nathan

(Author’s Note: This was previously posted on a former blog of mine. You can berate me in the comment section for recycling a post, if you feel the need.)

The words, scrawled in black magic marker by 8-year-old Michaela Hourigan, ‘Cupcakes for Haiti’ was carefully taped to her stand.

From watching television footage of the earthquake that struck the small island nation, Hourigan came up with a simple, yet brilliant, social entrepreneurial solution to a huge problem.

Cupcakes, fresh from the oven,  would show the sweet and heartfelt help for Haiti that was taking place in this Denver neighborhood. For each cupcake sold, sprinkles or not, (a $1.00 for the small cupcakes and $2.00 for the larger) went directly to the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter where Hourigan raised $1000 for relief aid.

I was alerted to this story through Twitter and simply contacted the young social entrepreneur’s mother and scheduled a time to swing by to meet, take some photographs and of course, buy a cupcake. I pitched the story idea to one of my longtime editorial clients, The Denver Post, and was given the green light by an editor to take a look.

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For those of you, by you I mean that one guy or gal (quite possibly my mom) that read my other Freshwater Images blog … may remember me noting that I would like to profile more social entrepreneurs, local business leaders and creative folks that have really great ideas.

I never thought that the first entry on this new blog would feature a slight and curly haired 8-year-old and the youngest social entrepreneur that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

Good luck Michaela.

For more information you can visit the Cupcakes For A Cause Facebook page where you can still donate money directly to the Red Cross.

Cheers,

Nathan