They say to improve your skills you have to push yourself outside of the comfort zone. It becomes even more demanding when you’re shooting for shapes on a daily basis formulated from preconceived ideas that are about as visual as blank white walls. I’m outside of my own zone struggling to layer photos better while maintaining a tried-and-true graphic bent. It’s my personal goal to lift my work to the next level and shoot consistently more sophisticated photographs. It’s more or less hit-or-miss right now, but with good critiquing from fellow photographers and good energy and attitude in the field, I’m confident my eyes will improve over time. Let me know what you think and don’t beat around the bush; let me have it. Here are a few recent photos.

Top to bottom: Mizzou football camp for high-school athletes, DeSmet High School, St. Louis, Missouri. Nerve decompression surgery by Dr. Robert Hagan, Mason Ridge Surgery Center, St. Louis, and annual Soap Box Derby in St. Louis. The derby photo would definitely benefit from a hand gripping the vertical sign a la Alex Webb’s “Under a Grudging Sun.” Photographs copyright Erik Lunsford.

Freshly painted parking lot, photograph copyright Erik M. Lunsford