How do you see it? Part Two
This week, I got a barrage of email from a wedding photographer from a nearby country. He was offering to teach me all sorts of technical formulas and skills that he assumed that I lacked. He intimated that my technical application was lacking and that I needed help. His help. He went on to say that I should learn something about proper posing and exposure. I politely explained that the styles of our work were drastically different and in fact, I had many years of studying and perfecting my skills and technique. I pointed out that his style is very posed and traditional and mine, being completely the opposite. This started me thinking about what I do and why, hence this entry in my blog.
I work hard at being uncontrived in my photography. That may sound ridiculous to some, but put yourself in my shoes for a summer and photograph 27 weddings in 3 months. It takes work, not to get into a rote habit of doing the same thing with each bride and groom every weekend. If I allowed that to happen, I would get so disappointed with my creative work that I would combust and change careers!
As a matter of fact, my recent pursuit has been to find ways of exercising my intuition rather than technique, in order to find photographs that are out of the ordinary. I believe there is so much more to see in life if we are able to get out of the ordinary day to day view that often entraps us. I like to speak of this approach to life as MIRACLE EXPECTANCY. It involves living and looking at each day with a sense that you just can't wait to see what's going to happen; what kind of beautiful event is going to transpire. Yes, I know, it sounds sort of like a la-la land where only wedding photographers live, but I think it's much more. And, I know from experience that with some years of practice, this view has enabled me to consistently find images that are beautiful to behold, especially for the bride and groom, and their families.
One of the last emails I received before I discontinued the conversation stated that I should swallow my pride and be grateful for his offer to teach me. I thought deeply about this and I have come to the conclusion that I am proud of what I do for one reason. That is because I love to capture photos that illustrate real moments of beauty in the lives of my clients. Moments that show them just how beautiful their lives truly are. Images that are of them naturally being themselves, not a solicited self projection that I have coached, posed and created for the camera. Certainly, this is a pride that I am pleased to swallow. And, I am grateful for his offer to teach me (even though I respectfully declined).
Why? Because it made me stop and look at what I do and how I feel about it.
That's how I see it.
I work hard at being uncontrived in my photography. That may sound ridiculous to some, but put yourself in my shoes for a summer and photograph 27 weddings in 3 months. It takes work, not to get into a rote habit of doing the same thing with each bride and groom every weekend. If I allowed that to happen, I would get so disappointed with my creative work that I would combust and change careers!
As a matter of fact, my recent pursuit has been to find ways of exercising my intuition rather than technique, in order to find photographs that are out of the ordinary. I believe there is so much more to see in life if we are able to get out of the ordinary day to day view that often entraps us. I like to speak of this approach to life as MIRACLE EXPECTANCY. It involves living and looking at each day with a sense that you just can't wait to see what's going to happen; what kind of beautiful event is going to transpire. Yes, I know, it sounds sort of like a la-la land where only wedding photographers live, but I think it's much more. And, I know from experience that with some years of practice, this view has enabled me to consistently find images that are beautiful to behold, especially for the bride and groom, and their families.
One of the last emails I received before I discontinued the conversation stated that I should swallow my pride and be grateful for his offer to teach me. I thought deeply about this and I have come to the conclusion that I am proud of what I do for one reason. That is because I love to capture photos that illustrate real moments of beauty in the lives of my clients. Moments that show them just how beautiful their lives truly are. Images that are of them naturally being themselves, not a solicited self projection that I have coached, posed and created for the camera. Certainly, this is a pride that I am pleased to swallow. And, I am grateful for his offer to teach me (even though I respectfully declined).
Why? Because it made me stop and look at what I do and how I feel about it.
That's how I see it.
posted by Larry at 5:48 PM
0 comments
