[Previous entry: "cheap"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "in memorian"]
12/24/2001 Entry: "on photography"
For the past two years, I've spend time each month reading every single photography magazine available at various bookstores near me in NJ, Washington DC, and Portland. In addition, I've read hundreds of books about taking photos, and spending huge amounts of time on the internet looking for even more information. This reading and looking at photographs has given me the bulk of my knowledge regarding the technical skill needed to take good photos.
I enjoy doing this, and probably spend an hour a day (mostly on the web) reading something that relates to photography. What I've realized in the past months though is that few magazines/books/web sites deal with photography in a useful way beyond technical issues of lens, film, exposure and lighting choices. This technical knowledge is essential, and I don't regret the time I spend improving my knowledge of the choices I can make.
But, the real issue of taking pictures- why you feel absolutely compelled to record what you see through your viewfinder at that specific moment, that is rarely dealt with. I've spend a long time looking for a quick answer to this and it doesn't exist. Looking at other photographer's work is a good start, but at some point everything needs to be left behind and you need to search for your own style, your own way of making pictures, and in searching for this, you'll find your own style.
So that's where I'm at. I'm far from having a unique voice in my photography, but I'm ready to forget everything I've learned, and to break away from what I know, to take chances, make spectacular mistakes, and to figure out how to make pictures that are uniquely mine.
 |
About the Site . Contact . Archives
 |
» these clouds
» Portland Communique
» Dave Beckerman's Day Book
» This Modern World
» Consumptive
» Luminous Landscape
» Camworld
» McSweeneys
» The Morning News
» Jessamyn West
» Rebecca Blood
» DP Review
» /.
» Derek Powazek
» City Stories
» Common Dreams