We all say that don’t we ? “Oh I wish I could go back and do that differently” ….I do. I know I do it; as a matter of fact I know I do it all the time and to make matters worse I never follow through and accomplish the goal.
Photography is more than taking images, it’s about “seeing”. Even without a camera in my bag I never stop looking. Looking at shapes, colour and observing light and shadows. Envisaging what would work and of course what wouldn’t. Now it’s very easy to say that having a mobile phone in your pocket practically gives you the same ability as having a modern DSLR and it does, I agree. I guess, the old ways of looking, watching and observing then making notes have been very slow to leave my techniques.
Moving on, it’s ok doing and saying all this but what happens when you are at a loose end and have the opportunity to grab a camera and head out? In days of old I would have fallen back on a lifelong hobby and ended up grabbing some aviation action at the nearest airport. But time has moved on; I have worked in many fields in photography and as much as that experience has taught me alot over the years I do not profess to being an expert in every field. It would be a very boastful attitude to say otherwise as there are some absolutely cracking photographers out there in some very narrow fields of the profession.
As I said just before, there is a great deal to see whether its sunny, snowy or pouring down with rain. And I have done it, shooting in the rain is tremendous fun let me tell you now. As long as you have equipment protected it really isn’t an issue.
Anyway, the point is merely this…..DO NOT BE AFRAID. step out of your comfort zone once in a while. It can make you feel good trying something totally new.
I did this, Yes, I actually did this and became a mentor to my own rut dwelling self. A simple lesson is this : Nine times out of ten … different is good. Different attracts attention. Okay, isolating colour has had its day I suppose but drawing the eye to an image through pure content and composition is still the way to go when it comes to image creation. You could be quite harsh on the majority at this point and say “does that mean that iPhone users merely don’t think and just point and shoot. I am quite confident they do, well at least some of them anyway. As for thinking about composition many of the human race look with the blinkered eyes of a cart horse ont he A64. They fail to see the bigger picture and the detail the surrounds and supports the subject. Image creation and Photography are so much more than subject matter. For example, I am sure we all remember when we learned creative writing at school. One of the key points that we were taught was to explain the scene. Make the reader not just know where they are but also feel like they are there.
Of course there are rules that govern this but when you stop and think about it, two things spring to mind.
1. WHO MADE THE RULES?
2. RULES WERE MADE FOR BREAKING…..Weren’t they?
Go with an open mind on every frame you capture. You are the designer, the artist and the photographer. Do what you actually like or even love. It’s not wrong. If you start to question yourself just ask…. what did Picasso’s wife say when he said upon completing his first piece….. “ere love…. come and see this painting I’ve done!”