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Thoughts on Photography

Photography and Changes in your life

My life was pretty standard. Work, family, bills, life's ups and downs. I, like many others own a camera. Nothing special just a camera for vacation, family, and friends. The main use of my camera was to take pictures. Not sure of what but pictures never the less. Looking back, the technical order in which I shot was very bland. Yes some times a picture would turn out but normally just a snap shot of a moment. Was it fun not really did they need to be taken, yes at least there was documentation of the time. For me, that’s when it began and ended, because due to life’s intervention, I stopped taking pictures for a few years out of economics and a lack of enthusiasm because… Well life got in the way. After some life changes, slow down on the work front and a stronger home life. I have been able to get back into photography. In the last few years I have gone from shooting the every day to actually focusing on the every day. Those moments in time where you stop for that brief second and see. Not only has the clarity, and emotion of that sight intensified but I believe I am seeing clearer. Lots of reading and a few photo courses later I think that I am on my path to being a better photographer and I am now getting back into the print aspect. In the last few months, photography has taught me more than I can imagine for me I can’t get enough.

Here are some thoughts on Photography and the direction it is now taking me.

1.
“Look.”
Now I’m constantly looking at the world, and my surroundings. Now I centre on every detail that within my purview. And when I say look, I mean I really look. Up, down, and all around. No detail large or small is not within my effort to visualize how it might look in a photograph, even if I’m not currently taking one. Before restarting my passion for photography, I would just walk around and take many sights and sounds for granted. Not anymore, that was then and this is now—and now, I look and pay attention.

2.
“See.”
Although I talked about looking in the paragraph above, frequently just looking isn’t good enough; you have to see, too. See the different angles, the different sides, the different light, and the different heights, from all venues and vantage points.

3.
“Time.”
Time used to be a measurement of getting from one place to another. For most, it’s about always being “on the move.” For me, now, time is spent much differently. I spend my time trying to take in my surroundings with a more discerning consciousness, and attempting to look and see everything that I can at any given moment. Time is more than time passing me by, or a clock ticking from one hour to the next, time is a place and fact that I use to merge into my ability to see and look in advance, in why I would approach my subject matters, and how I would use that time to my advantage to capture the image that I’ve visualized.

4.
“Light.”
Art and Photography are borne and spring from the understanding, and the use of light. This one kind of goes without saying, but now I take notice where the light is coming from, it's intensity, its frequency, it's duration, and it's brightness. Before, I barely paid attention and took a nonchalant attitude about it. When you have a camera in your hand, light becomes an integral part of your life.

5.
“Distance.”
How the focal point of your photograph and its subject matter is presented is a function of not only light but distance. How far away should one stand or focus on to get the right shot at the right time? It’s amazing what occurs to me when I’m visualizing the “perfect” shot, which will be a function of my subject matter, where I’m standing, or what lens I plan to use.

6.
“Learning.”
As the saying goes, you never stop learning, especially when photography is concerned. Even when learning about the new, the old is equally important – matters including, composition, shutter speed, aperture, or the Rule of Thirds. The other area of learning which has become very important to me is studying other photographers, Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Darwin Wigett or Paul Lavoie. Its invigorating, challenging, and always a journey to learn, and learn some more.

7.
“Traveling.”
I have discovered traveling, but not traveling around the world, or even for a vacation. I travel everyday in my own neck of the woods– in my neighbourhood. Living in Northern Alberta I admit to having a pretty large and interesting one at that. However, the theory remains the same, regardless of how large your neighbourhood is– you can find plenty of fascinating places, and unique photos to take in your own backyard. Look, see, and realize that what’s in your own backyard is all too frequently pretty impressive. Best of all, it’s exciting, affordable, and I learn as much if not more, right here.

8.
“Seconds.”
Before owning a camera, seconds didn’t matter. Now, just as taking time to get a great shot is important, seconds are equally as important. They can be the difference between an action and inaction. Seconds are the breakdown of the moment that you saw and created the image you wanted. The “time” will be forever an issue for photographers to master.

9.
“Focus.”
Every photographer needs to know about and how to use proper focus; but I’m also talking about focus in relationship to personal focus. Focus on technical, your camera’s battery, focus on your camera settings, focus on your subject, focus on your environment, and even focus on your time management. It’s not always about taking the picture, but as importantly the process of how.This list is long, and goes on and on through out the creation of your image and process.

10.
“Appreciation.”
With my camera in my hand, I’ve gained a new found appreciation of a smile, a gesture, a sunset, a building, a child, and the beach– and life itself. I see things differently, more clearly.

These were only a few examples of my new found appreciation of life, and life’s offerings since I’ve got bit by the camera bug.
How about you? How has photography changed your life and made it better?