Paying it Forward
To say “Thank You”
Artists' Assistance
Over the years, a number of people have been kind enough to answer my many questions. When I was first began investigating entering art fairs, the assistance I received from various artists was most beneficial.
I learned photography by asking questions of myself, then researching answers by reading.
Even if I obtained only one new idea, generated another question to research, or found a different technique that piqued my interest, each author unknowingly assisted in my endeavor.
Teachers And Others
Looking back throughout my younger life, and then working career, a variety of teachers and others provided insight.
Though unrelated perhaps to anything I was doing at the time, each insight helped push my creativity further.
We are all “Private Ryan”
I consider myself very lucky. Although I was drafted during the Vietnam War, my duty never took me any further than California.
And before that, I look back at all the men and women who fought, and too many died, during all the previous wars and conflicts. They never had the opportunities that I’ve had.
One of the last scenes in “Saving Private Ryan”, after an intense battle, the captain pulls Private Ryan close to him and says “Earn this”. We are all Private Ryan.
Can't Pay Back - Thus Pay It Forward
There is no way to pay any of the individuals back for their contribution to my education, whether formal or through lifelong learning, or to those who have sacrificed so much for my future.
However, I can pay it forward.
Lifelong Endeavor
Paying it forward, to me, is not a singular event but rather a continuum without an end. It is a lifelong process.
Examples of this include the following:
Blog
One way to “pay it forward” is through my blog. I share stories and technical information of images I’ve captured. I provide reviews of my equipment I personally use, both in photography and in printing,
In doing art fairs, I’ve picked up some things that work, and others that don’t. By sharing these stories, perhaps they may help others as they get started in art fairs.
Monetary Donations - Children’s Wisconsin
For one full year (2016), I donated 10% of the purchase price of every print to Children’s Wisconsin (Children’s Hospital) neonatal intensive care unit.
Though I have made a few smaller monetary donations to others, paying it forward isn’t always about money. Here are additional ways I try to pay it forward.
Print Donations - Silent Auctions
Within my Powder Hill Photography business, as part of my “Pay it Forward” program. I’ve offered print donations to causes that ideally help kids.
Silent Auctions at art shows, as an example, often help generate income for the entity's scholarship funds.
Additional prints have been donated to various other community causes, including the Hartford Pink Pumpkin Run that benefits local cancer patients, ARC Cerebral Palsy, REAP, Juvenile Myositis, Christmas benefit, just to name a few.
Print Donations - Education
Teachers are vitally important to the education of our kids. And I’m a fully supportive of the teachers that love their work, and are dedicated to their profession and the kids they teach.
A few years ago, a new teacher from a district nowhere near me, contacted me to obtain a print of a very successful image of mine. She wanted to laminate it and place it in her math room. The print was “Meandering Boardwalk”, showing a boardwalk through a spring marsh. It is one of those prints that you know the future is around the corner, you just can’t see it yet - though keep walking.
Remember, this was a brand new teacher, fresh out of college, who already was thinking of ways to motivate the kids. Since I don’t want any of my prints buried in lamination, I instead donated and sent her the framed 16x20 print for her classroom. The note I received back made the donation totally worth it.
Print Donations - Assisted Living
Quite by accident, I discovered the calming affect one of my images had on a resident in an assisted living facility. The person happened to see one of my images on the computer, as a staff member was reviewing my website. As the images were scrolled through, a particular river scene caught this person’s undivided attention.
As I’m told, after that viewing, at different times the resident would enter the staff member’s office to view that one image. After finding this out, I donated a 16x20 framed print of this image to the facility. The emotional attachment to that print now remains forever.
Print Donations - Health Care Workers
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve taken this idea a step further. Health care workers were overwhelmed by the hospitalizations during the pandemic. At selected times, I offered a free 11x14” matted of their choice from my Gallery, as a way of thanking them for their incredible work.
With the individual making their personal selection, the print will forever have an importance to them personally. Perhaps my nature print will help them mentally through one of the toughest parts of their healthcare career.
Sponsoring Virtual Concerts
During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020/21, Powder Hill Photography LLC sponsored three different Brad Fitch and Mark Rashid virtual concerts from Estes Park, Colorado to anywhere in the world. All three concerts were live-streamed off of the Cowboy Brad Music Group Facebook page.
Each concert provided a different song list. The first virtual concert (May 2020), included songs from John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, and others, as well as original music from both Mark and Brad.
The second virtual concert (December 2020), was timed to their latest CD release “My Western Town”. That concert included songs from Brad and Mark’s last two CDs (“My Western Town”, and “Making Good Time”, as well as a few seasonal songs from Brad’s Christmas CD (“Christmas Time with You”)
The third virtual concert (February 2021) was filled with all John Prine songs, as a tribute to this great singer/songwriter. Sadly John Prine died in April 2020 from Covid-19.
Sponsoring Campfire Programs
Brad also provides evening campfire programs in downtown Bond Pak, Estes Park, Colorado throughout the summer. These programs, while free to the tourists and residents, are sponsored by local businesses.
Recently, I’ve also joined in sponsoring two of his evening summer performances. Brad’s evening campfire programs allow a good hour of family sing-along entertainment. And don’t we all enjoy that!
Answering Questions
In addition to the donations and concert sponsorships, I consider answering questions also part of paying it forward. I am happy to answer any question that may be asked.
Through my writing, I share many of these responses. Maybe one thought in one of my writings will help another.
“Where did you purchase your tent?”
“What is your go-to lens?”
“Where did you purchase your chair (for art fairs)?”
“What software do you use?”
“Are all your images from Wisconsin?”
This is just a sampling of the questions which have generated an article. If one person asked the question, there probably are others who have the same question.
People Helping People
Paying it Forward isn't some magical process.
In our own unique way, it is simply people helping people.