my shooting seems to be moving into a much more efficient phase, as i've been spending significantly less time with the camera in hand, and significantly more time gardening. so when the itch strikes, it is real.
today's meditation: patience.
With people, my energy becomes frantic and stretched for time, and the subject inevitably notices me. When they notice me, the purpose of the photograph changes, because now i must account for the interaction. The interaction become integral--how can it not? I'm inclined to converse--in old school documentary fashion--about the subject's life. But the reason for the photograph had nothing to do with them in the first place--it has a bit to do with me, but not even that. So the photograph looses something when they start speaking about themselves, when they are self conscious, because they are no longer connected to the universe, the unspeakable space, one space of many, that connects one image to another--vision and energy. But not engaging also feels like a cop-out--even though its, "innocent" in kim's words, it is certainly not percieved this way by very many people. In the case of the photograph of the young lady, Miranda, who works at Douds, I had the image in my mind because I love her skeptical face and her frank demeaner. So I went grocery shopping with my camera. All the girls in the store were really freaked out, like I was photographing them for some malicious reason, or I was stalking them, or I was into fetishes of grocery girls. (I actually like waitresses). Miranda was compliant, but self-conscious. I somewhat directed her facial expression, and allowed her skepticism of me to translate as skepticism at the world, the tourist, the shopper. The photograph of the two gentlemen the above is one example of when this did not happen, because the individuals in the frame did not notice my presence. I then approached the man after and conversed with him. His daughter seemed very proud about her father's accomplishments and lifestyle--he is 92 and lives alone still.
With objects, I am working on not jumping the gun, slowing down and realizing that inanimate objects that seem very animated do not walk away in reality.
I'm noticing that my reality is not concerned with logic, thus sometimes skewed. Hopefully more gardening will ground this.
well said. my brain is not working today because of cold medicine and jet lag, so i can't say much more. but that i read all of this and liked it. honest and inspiring. so the first shot is such a great mackinac image that is so common there, but barely anywhere else. the old man in front of the pancake house is strong, and I forgot about that little boozy liquor store side of douds, in the photo it looks like it's own little store. i guess my brain woke up -
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