A point of frustration - trying to produce outstanding, artistic photos while on vacation

PSA Journal, Jan, 1993 by Louie J. Powell

In fact, that is the real secret. We create our own frustration by allowing ourselves to be overly inspired by post cards, calendars or magazines, and that frustration gets in the way of the creativity that is in us all. I'm trying to learn that when I go on vacation I should relax. I'm not required to come home with a specified quantity of pictures, each of which could challenge the best P.R. shot published by the Chamber of Commerce or Tourist Promotion Board. Photography is my hobby, and I'm serious about it, but it can serve its purpose to help me relax and enjoy life only if I don't let it become a compulsion.

Louie J. Powell specializes in black and white photography of people, architecture, landscape and nature subjects. He does all his darkroom work, and in addition to "straight" work, explores creative options involving infrared emulsions, high contrast litho material, hand coloring, and the antique non-silver Cyanotype process. For variety, he also dabbles in color, with his primary interest macro photography of nature subjects.

Powell is essentially self taught but has participated in workshops with teachers such as Steve Diehi and Vici Zaremba, Gary Gold, David Vestal, Mitchell Seidell and William Abranowicz. He has been a member of Schenectady Photographic Society for many years and is an Area Representative for the Photographic Society of America. Powell is a member of two portfolios, which involves exchanging prints with photographers from around the country for the purpose of commentary.

Powell is an electrical engineer (BEE, Georgia Tech) and works for GE Industrial and Power Systems as Manager, Power Delivery Systems Engineering.