| Every day life may seem mundane to some, | | | | development services ancient history in |
| but for amateur photographer Will | | | | just a few years, and other creative |
| Highsmith it is the perfect inspiration | | | | options have also become available. |
| for a captivating image. | | | | "There are a lot more things you can do |
| "Most of my pictures aren't planned," | | | | with your digital photos these days," |
| Highsmith said. "I just take my camera | | | | Highsmith said. "I don't just print out |
| with me wherever I go. I found that's | | | | my pictures and hang them on the wall |
| how you get the best pictures." | | | | anymore, I use a PhotoBook Creator ( to |
| Highsmith, who works by day as | | | | make very small photo books to hand out |
| Operations Director for an Atlanta-area | | | | instead of business cards. Other |
| manufacturing company, got his first | | | | people's business cards get thrown away, |
| digital camera in 1999 for an upcoming | | | | mine end up on the coffee table!" |
| European vacation. Nearly a decade | | | | Highsmith's book of choice for personal |
| later, what began as a means of | | | | promotions is the 4x6 black-linen photo |
| preserving memories overseas has evolved | | | | book. Small enough to carry and |
| into a hobby that has landed Highsmith's | | | | distribute in multiples, they are also |
| work in show rooms along side the work | | | | easy to assemble at home. |
| of more established professional | | | | "The 4x6 books are perfect for |
| photographers. | | | | souvenirs," Highsmith said. "I also |
| "Nowhere is the technological gap | | | | showcase my images by putting them up on |
| between amateurs and professionals | | | | Flicker, which gets a good number of |
| smaller than in photography," said | | | | people viewing and posting comments," he |
| Highsmith. "Today's amateur | | | | said. "These things got me into the |
| photographers have a lot of choices for | | | | photo shows at Eastside Lounge in |
| affordable equipment that - up until | | | | Atlanta. I've got several of my photos |
| recently - were available only to | | | | hanging up there now." |
| professionals with big budgets. | | | | Of course, Highsmith attributes his |
| Equipment is no longer the difference | | | | burgeoning success to his artistic |
| between an amateur and a pro - now it | | | | talent, "but no one would have ever seen |
| just comes down to talent. | | | | my work if it weren't for the Internet |
| The revolution in the photography market | | | | and the PhotoBook Creator. These |
| may have started with cameras, but | | | | technologies have enabled me to share my |
| change is spreading throughout the | | | | work with lots of people, and that is |
| photography landscape. Low-cost ink-jet | | | | what has been key to getting my work |
| printers from manufacturers such as | | | | into shows. |
| Epson and Canon have made traditional | | | | |