Spinner
Been a little hectic here for the last two weeks so I have fallen behind on things of importance. Of late I have been feeling a little envy of those that live in the city. I would love to have access to more people to shoot (models etc) and other photographers to talk to. There is something energetic about being able to share ideas over a beer or coffee. There is something transforming about the give and take, that elevates the ideas and knowledge of those kinds of conversations.
I like being here in the hinterlands but envy those who have others to share ideas with. Since I began to exchange ideas and such online I have met and begun to feel part of a community. However that rapid fire, off the top of your head, idea testing , give and take, that happens when you share the excitement of pursuing that just over the edge idea with others is missing. Not that it isn’t possible online it is just not as spontaneous when you have to type and wait.
I have been told that conversations with me are sort of like a test, with obscure references to books, shows, and people. Bouncing ideas at the rate you think and seeing what the frame of reference really is. Hard to do when the only one there is yourself.
Which brings me to the next installment, I have spent the last two weeks in the shop in metal fabrication for a couple of different projects. (It isn’t as much fun as it used to be, concrete standing hurts). It has given me time to think about a few questions I have had, so I will be posting a few of the thoughts I think I have finally sorted out on art and photography. Back soon, off to the shop for the rest of the day.
D300 1/3200 f8
Early morning on the way home from a try at a sunrise over Mt Rainier.
Of late I have been thinking a lot about how captions and titles effect a photograph. It started with a conversation with an acquaintance who had taken a class in photojournalism. He stated that a lot of the learning involved being able to write clear and meaningful titles or captions to the photos that were submitted. This would make a lot of sense from journalistic direction, but then is it the whole story that only an image can tell. Is it necessary for a photo essay or other photographic endeavors?
The title and/or caption that is connected to a photo would seem to set a stage for the perception of the photo. Does this context help to make the photo a better photo or is it just a help to the observer to find meaning in the photo? My personal feeling is that the photo needs to stand alone and any title or context is only an addition to the importance of the work. Many of the reviews of work seem to have to add the life story of the artist or situation that the work was created in to make the work important or significant. If this is necessary for the observer to ‘get it’ I feel the work has failed. The saying that a photo is worth a thousand words should be more than a cliche.
Environmental portraits should be more than just an ego stroke of making someone look ‘pretty’. The photo should tell something about the subjects life story past and present. This may not be applicable to work done for all clients but I can’t help but think that these ideals can be incorporated into any photo. It may be the thing that makes the work that one step above.
Writing has always been a bit of a struggle for me, my thoughts have always moved a little faster than I can get it down on paper. Recently I have added a recorder to my bag of tricks and may be able to edit well enough to make my words on paper match my convoluted thought process. Hell if I could write I wouldn’t need to shoot the photos to tell the story.
I have noticed that a lot of the better photographers who’s work I admire are also very articulate and able to write extremely well. Yet even without the words many of their photos tell me a story and that is what sets them apart.
Sometimes you just need to lay there and look up.
Forget about how the yard is supposed to look, after all the yellow really is a nice color against the green, isn’t it? Sunny day and it will rain in a day or two so why not just lay there and enjoy. You know like it was way back when and Dad wanted you to weed the yard, but the clouds were a lot more interesting.
Sometimes it is better to just lay there and dream.
rlketcham.com
