The Inner Path of Photography

We yearn for the taste of the sacred…and through our cameras discover it, the world, and ourselves.

Category: Photographs, Images, Film

“One Moment in Time”

We judge ourselves too harshly when we look at the now
(which may not measure up to our dreams and expectations)

and think
“This is My Life”

Rather than looking at our lives as a sequence of images
a flow of moments in time that – lived through, gathered together –
reflect complex lives of good times and bad
Triumphs and illusions of failure.

Underlying all:

The personal story of constant expression
of love, inspiration, depth of spirit, courage

The experience of pure moments
thankfulness to be alive.

Remember your story

(or perhaps you’ve forgotten
and need someone to tell it to you,
and remind you of the images)

Celebrate the amazing fact
that you are still here to tell the tale

Yes.

Then you may say,
 “This is My Life.”

***

Last week I posted a short article here about “sequencing” in photography – where you use the flow of a series of photographs to tell a story, rather than depending on one image to tell it all. I found once again that the choices we make in art often reflect the way we think about life.

Must your life right now be the “ultimate image?” Or can you relax and trust in the beauty of sequencing, your true life story…

Perhaps we could remember that, just as in “sequencing,” our lives cannot be evaluated by just one image, one moment in time.

What about sequencing?

Minor White had much to say about the concept of “sequencing” – where you use the flow of a series of photographs to tell your story, rather than depending on one image to tell it all.

After spending most of today reviewing, editing, and printing photographs for a Galveston portfolio – lots of fog, subtle tone, blue-grays, silence – I had to take a break and work with something with COLOR!

So I visited some images I created last Halloween, when I unexpectedly found teens roaming the Galveston beaches in costumes.

As I was deciding what to print, I found it was difficult, because often there would be two images that were similar, but had changes in movement – the “characters” had walked to different places on the beach, and were having new interactions.

When I shot these images, I was intrigued by exactly that – the flow of teens, how they come and go, change groups, photograph each other, group, go away, regroup, etc. And that can’t be captured in one definitive photo.

So I’m sharing with you tonight several images that reflect what I’m talking about – sequencing – arranging images so you build a feeling – an understanding –  a glimpse into someone else’s world.

This my first-time playing – we’ll see what my final body of work becomes –

What about you? Are you remembering sequencing as an option, or do you prefer the “ultimate image?”

 

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Eve Arnold, Magnum Photographer, Dies at 99

Slide show from NY Times Lens Blog, Eve Arnold Dies at 99
Full obituary, Eve Arnold, New York Times 1.6.2012

A huge influence, in spirit and in talent…

Refresh your creativity – change up the usual

Photo by Zack Whitehouse, © 2011

Summer 2010, Burlington, Vermont.  I handed my camera over to my then 15-year old nephew Zack and said “Shoot whatever you want.”

I’ve been doing this for years, and love seeing the results. I think he has a natural photographer’s eye, plus it’s fun seeing a familiar place through another photographer’s eyes.

I made a CD for Zack of his images, and it got lost, then found, then I moved, lost, found…you get the picture. It never made it to the mailbox, or into my suitcase when I traveled to Vermont.

So finally, this Christmas I decided it was ridiculous that he hadn’t even seen what he had shot – so I made a new CD. I  also had fun making a short slideshow from images that I selected. I wanted to show Zack how grouping photos and putting music to them can provide context, interest, and also demonstrate the strength and theme of his vision.

I also enjoyed giving Zack that affirming experience of seeing images in a more “professional” format, rather than just posted on a photo sharing website.

While making the slideshow, I remembered how much I love sequencing images, telling a visual story, and matching music to the flow. It was much more fun than just loading a bunch of images onto a CD, and gave me more creative ideas for my own work along the way.

So just a little reminder to all that changing up the way you share photos, or work with them, can give you a whole new energy for shooting and sharing, and can spark that creativity again. Working with another person’s images also frees up some of your own self-judgment, and can help you be more playful!

Thanks, Zack, for your fine work and for letting me share this! I hope you continue to expand your creativity –

Here’s the slideshow – a short 2 minutes –

Zack Whitehouse, Photographer – Burlington, VT 2010

Notes:

* What did I use? After fooling with various software on my Mac, I ended up using Lightroom 3, which was the simplest for me.

* Why this image? There are actually two in the slideshow (look for them!).  The first is three teens walking along;  the second is this image, where the girl in the pink top broke into a little dance. Zack nailed it. Love that –