Tag Archives: photo blog

Beyond Capture

The art of photography for me is a multi-layered process. It begins with a visualization, an idea. Subject matter, composition, framing and lighting all come into play along with other considerations such as context, emotion or inspiration before the shutter is released .

Photography—as well as most art forms—is a kind of dialog between the artist and the viewer. So an early element of the process is developing a visual story. I am not interested so much in documentation even though I don’t alter any elements and do minimal post-processing. I strive to express an underlying abstraction, interpretation or feeling.

The next layer in the process is the presentation. This extends well beyond the capture stage. Needless to say, it originates with a strong image. At this point much time is spent evaluating and deliberating if it is worthy of sharing and what form it should take. Upon sharing the image it becomes an offer for the viewer to experience the results.

Simplicity

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“Less is more” ~ Ancient Greek proverb

“There is great beauty in simplicity” ~ Mirra Alfassa

Living in the world today can be complicated and overwhelming. We are inundated with a myriad of stresses, diversions, stimuli and expectations to our physical and mental well being. I’ve learned that simplifying things can provide a sense of freedom and balance. I believe that more isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more.

Particularly for my work I have tried to keep things simple, both in my approach and vision—to eliminate superfluous, distracting elements and capture the essence of my experience. In doing so I have found I can concentrate more on what’s important to me and have a finer focus and direction, both in creating my art and in living my life.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” ~ Leonardo da Vinci

“Simplicity is the glory of expression” ~ Walt Whitman

Stones, Surf and Shadows – Shoreline 1770

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary” Pablo Picasso

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful” John Maeda

Preconceptions

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“To know ahead of time what you’re looking for means you’re then only photographing your own preconceptions, which is very limiting and often false.” ~ Dorothea Lange

Creativity emerges from looking or thinking without preconceptions. Examining things without preconceptions offers an opportunity to develop a new and different way of perception, a unique viewpoint.

“It’s about reacting to what you see, hopefully without preconception. You can find pictures anywhere. It’s simply a matter of noticing things and organizing them. You just have to care about what’s around you…” ~ Ellliot Erwitt

Often preconceptions of what is good or bad can stifle creativity. Having years of informal and formal art education and experience, I can’t recall a professor, teacher, mentor or instructor that offered “rules” to follow in creating work, other than to consistently pursue it with a fresh, individual and independent approach. I have consciously tried to follow that advice and will continue to abide by it.

“Constant reminding ourselves that we not see with our eyes but with our synergetic eye-brain system working as a whole will produce constant astonishment as we notice, more and more often, how much of our perceptions emerge from our preconceptions.” ~ David Eagleman

Mindfulness

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When I go out to photograph I generally do not have a preconception of what exactly I am going to shoot. Of course the inherent subject matter is more or less dependent on where I am, but I keep my mind open to what I may encounter. In doing so, it often becomes a calming, almost meditative means of practicing mindfulness.

The dictionary defines mindfulness as “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgemental state of heightened awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.” Mindfulness is the process of focusing conscious attention on your present experience, giving all of your attention to recognize and acknowledge what is happening around you and within you in the moment without judgement or overthinking.

Being mindful in this way fosters an awareness that leads to expressive creativity and aesthetic sensitivity without a bias as to what is appropriate or pleasing. It develops a consciousness of and openness to possibilities, emotions and feelings. And hopefully, that will appear in my work.