About two years ago, I bought myself a digital SLR camera. My grandfather was a nature photographer of some reputation. My father showed me several pictures that he took when he was young, which I think show a great deal of talent. My brother has several photographs he has taken in his home, which I find very cool.
I have irregularly taken pictures, and I find that I like several of them. However, when I entered some of them into a WIRED photo-contest, they attracted less than no attention. As I looked back at what I submitted, I agree with the crowd's opinion. I have some interesting pictures of Portsmouth, NH, but they look pretty much like any picture of a seaside. My pictures of the Manchester, NH, mills look very much like any picture of industrial architecture. Since I have only nodding acquaintance with the technical aspects of photography, they are only accidentally competent
Margret Bourke-White has magnificent pictures of industry. Henri Cartier creates amazing city-scapes. Annie Leibovitz's portraits are compelling. When I take pictures, I end up seeing the world as it is portrayed in their photographs. What results is a marginally competent photograph which looks vaguely like something you have already seen.
I find my photographs interesting, because I know the people in the picture and I know the locations where they are taken. They are certainly good enough to decorate my house, but they won't have any connection or drama for other people. Truly great photographers seem to create a universal connection. Their photographs become symbolic of an object or place or time. In Annie Leibovitz's case, the subject is already well-known, so we are interested in the person in her snapshot. Her talent somehow makes her snapshot the iconic image of that celebrity.
It is still possible to take significant photographs. Not all of human experience has been codified into an image. One of the winners of a WIRED photo-contest submitted a picture of his five year old daughter in a fur-lined parka, that I still recall for its perfection of light and texture and composition. This was someone else's family portrait, yet I find it particularly compelling.
Human drama also provides endless opportunity for taking the perfect picture. Robert Capa said, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough." He gives hope that I can still take a perfect picture if I am just prepared to plunge into the world around me. I will try to take pictures more regularly. Hopefully, familiarity with the camera will allow me to capture the "decisive moment" when I see it.
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Keep your sights high… My wife, Sarah, will swear that I make the best coffee yet I’m no coffee connoisseur! What’s my secret? Well, first lets assume that my Sarah represents all Sarah’s, Susan’s and Cara’s in the US today and that they are all enamored with my coffee. Now, what’s my secret? Is it the RO water or the way I store my beans and grind on the spot or is it my special measurement technique? I think, a little of each, but I have noticed a sort of secret ingredient hidden in there. This secret ingredient is not related to the cleanliness of my coffee maker or the quality of my sugar although, I suppose, everything has some input into the perfect cup. Then what? Well, since I’m sure that by now you’re wondering how this has anything to do with taking pictures, I’ll break the suspense. It’s how I feel, plain and simple. Some days, I don’t like my coffee as well as others yet admittedly, it almost always tromps the local Java house. Explanation, I almost always put a little more joy into my concoction than the local java-house employee. They have all of the-know how and all the resources and all the incentive, but I feel good about making coffee. It’s a formidable power to wield! Now, I’m not implying that to be great at something all one needs is to feel great about what they are doing although I do believe that it is a necessary secret ingredient. I’m also not trying to imply that that I’m great at making coffee but with my secret ingredient, I’m sure to be great at something and so are you!
ReplyDeletei agree, with most things, like coffee, pictures, and models etc. you generally have to find the right moment, and enjoy what you are doing. it seems like when you look at a painting or a picture, you can determine the mood of its creator, and work from there
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