Welcome to the tenth day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway! Today, we are super excited to introduce Jacob Lucas, a very talented Seattle photographer who in his own words enjoys “photographing all aspects of life, from stunning landscapes to lifestyle, from festivals to weddings, from places to people and everywhere in between." Jacob has a keen eye for quality in his images and I believe it is his inspiration...after reading about Jacob, I'm sure you will agree.
Meylah: How did you get started in photography and what is your inspiration?
Jacob: I got my start when I received a small point & shoot digital camera for a birthday present a few years back. This was the catalyst - I realized that I could capture all the beautiful elements of the world we live in, as I see them. No one else could do that for me. It became a personal aspiration to become a great photographer and to take amazing photographs - one I am still working towards and will always work towards. I'm continually inspired through not only traveling the world and witnessing the amazing sights available to us all, but also through exploring the different corners of Seattle, the city I live in. Every neighborhood and city block has something unique and beautiful to offer.
Meylah: We see you have your own website and blog and you showcase your Images on SmugMug as well. What challenges have you found while trying to share/sell your artwork online? What successes?
Jacob: My biggest challenge in this area was finding the right place and look for my site. I spoke to several different hosting companies and providers before settling on where I am now - I couldn't be happier. I've had a background in web development so I was able to design the website to have the exact look and feel that I was after. In terms of sharing and showcasing my images, it took me a long time to decide where I wanted to host the images I made available for public viewing. It had to look good, display and protect my images well, and be easy to navigate - SmugMug fits the bill perfectly.
Jacob: I have a Twitter account for my photography which I use to post updates on shoots, new images I've taken, blog updates, and other photography news I find interesting or creative. My website and blog are the main platforms I use to promote my work and what I'm currently shooting.
Meylah: Do you ever participate or showcase your work at any local shows or fairs?
Jacob: No, my work is currently presented entirely on my website portfolio and my blog. In 2010, I plan to venture into this more by showcasing my work in some artisan Seattle Coffee houses or at local neighborhood markets.
Meylah: What advice would you give to an everyday photographer wanting to take their photography to the next level?
Jacob: Focus on your photography - read books, subscribe to magazines, get involved in online communities. Do whatever you can to learn more, more, more! But most importantly, don't get too caught up on buying the best gear or the best brands - you can take great images with point and shoot cameras, entry level SLR cameras or even camera phones. The rest doesn't matter. Above all else, your own ideas and vision will be what leads you to taking great photographs. Find a camera that feels right in your hands, then get out there and start shooting. Everything around us has a story and a history - it's up to you to capture your own interpretation of it in your own way.
Meylah: What is the one place you would love to photograph that you haven’t photographed?
Jacob: If I had to pick one place (among the hundreds of places that are my list of places to go to visit and shoot) I would pick Ayers Rock. It has such an incredible history in my home country and is one of Australia's best known natural icons. I believe that taking the time to personally photograph this to capture all the myth and history of the rock and its surroundings would be truly unforgettable.
Thank you Jacob for sharing your insights with us and of course your incredible images! Today, Jacob is giving away an 8x10 framed print of any of the images in this post (winner’s choice) and to be eligible to win, please leave a comment describing why a particular image above is your favorite or what you would love to see Jacob photograph next.
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13 Comments
thanx for sharing!
AMAZING! I really like the Public Market. I enjoyed looking through Jacob’s portfolio. Such talent!
I really like the city lights. The moon is also very powerful.
Jacob,
Amazing images. My favorite is the space needle and the reason is the alignment of the needle to the moon. I am an engineer and I like and appreciate patterns, balance, alignment. I am also learning photography and i can appreciate good images and know what it takes. Great Work.
Nice work! I’m really intrigued by the black & white photograph of the Pke Place Market signs. It has a very silvery faded tone to it- I had to look twice to make sure I wasn’t looking at a snow photos. It has a very timeless quality to it. I’d love to see you do more photographs like this- timeless photos of landmark locations- I think they would be a hit!
Gorgeous work, Jacob! I love the moon rising about Seattle – so clear and beautiful – a great reminder of why we live here during the cloudy, rainy months!
I think when you’re over there in Oz shooting Uluru, you need to hop on over to New Zealand. That country has the most gorgeous scenery. My favorite? Lion Rock on Piha beach – http://www.travel-destination-pictures.com/lion-rock-piha-beach-87-pictures.htm
I want the Pike/Pine photo because the market is my favorite place in Seattle and this totally captures the feeling I get when I walk down on a cloudy day with my double shot latte in hand! I love how beautiful Seattle is on a clear summer day but ever since I moved here I’ve fallen in love with the mild, overcast days. I feel secure and comfortable under the white sky and this photos captures that for me. I love it!!
I just wanted to say you are very talented. LOVE the pictures. Such talent and love for what you do. you can see it in every picture. Keep shootin for the stars You are amazing.
Hi Jacob – although all three photos are beautiful, the composition of the first one is my favorite. I like the way the softness of the sky and water contrasts with the sharper, harder, but somewhat blurred cityscape and the way the curved lines of nature juxtapose with the straight lines of the buildings, with the curve of the freeway providing movement in the foreground. It’s a visually intriguing picture and I’m glad Meylah chose to feature your work.
The Pike/Pine picture captures my love of Seattle. When I first moved here I thought I’d only enjoy the sunny summer months, but since living here I realized that my some of my favorite days are overcast and cloudy in Seattle. This picture reminds me of the feeling I get walking down to the markets on a Saturday morning with my double latte in hand. I feel comfortable and happy in those moments. Thanks for capturing this wonderful feeling for me Jacob!
I adore the Seattle Picture! It is mesmerizing.
I like barns and the various shapes they come in.
They would make wonderful photographs!
Thanks, Cindi
WOW! Wonderful Images. You have a really great eye to capture what you see.
I have seen the panoramas from these shoots and they are stunning. Perhaps some portraits next?