Just cause a picture is a good example of line, doesn't make it compelling - or stay compelling. I was very into my pool pictures but I've looked at them a bunch of times and my interest is fading. I'm surprised because I definitely felt an oooh aaahh experience when I first looked at them.
I'm seeing pictures in class that in some respect have the opposite affect. I look and see one thing but then am drawn more into the photo and see more.
I have time to take more pictures. I have 5 I can use. But I'm hoping for more interesting "line" finds out in the world.
Wonder if it'll rain tomorrow....
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What I shot...
Last week, there were pictures on an angle, pictures of reflections, vertical lines, and so I looked for those similar opportunities to capture those.
The pool offered some great line opportunities even some reflections - some of them will end up in a project. The park waterway behind/next to Laney, with its curves caught my eye. I am entranced by curving lines, a curved path, curves in the water, the curves of the body, arches curly queues - much more than straight strong lines.
Curving lines are mysterious, leading, promising a new view, a new perspective. There are curving paths in fairy tales - into the dark, scary, dank forest where the witch lives, where the vampires lurk, where it is most like about to turn to night suddenly. The path into ID. The path woos and entices little Red into the wood where the Wolf seduces her off the path. It's easier to fall off the path, to wander off the path when it's curving.
The path out of the woods, into the light, leaves adventure behind, nightmares behind, growth behind. A person changes on the curving path. Not always for the better, but usually wiser.
The pool offered some great line opportunities even some reflections - some of them will end up in a project. The park waterway behind/next to Laney, with its curves caught my eye. I am entranced by curving lines, a curved path, curves in the water, the curves of the body, arches curly queues - much more than straight strong lines.
Curving lines are mysterious, leading, promising a new view, a new perspective. There are curving paths in fairy tales - into the dark, scary, dank forest where the witch lives, where the vampires lurk, where it is most like about to turn to night suddenly. The path into ID. The path woos and entices little Red into the wood where the Wolf seduces her off the path. It's easier to fall off the path, to wander off the path when it's curving.
The path out of the woods, into the light, leaves adventure behind, nightmares behind, growth behind. A person changes on the curving path. Not always for the better, but usually wiser.
Finally
Finally!
I was able to shoot before and after class. With work and the rain, I've bided my time -- looking and watching and imagining as I walk to and from work along the same route for three days. Three days taking pictures in my head - camera save at home. I am aware that I am lucky to work half time.
There are so many things to do that have nothing to do with earning the paycheck that allows me to live the way I do. Guilt and a low level of shame run in the background like the way PC's run their programs - static. Urgency too. Unless one of my sideline pursuits take off, I'll be conscripted to a regular 9 to 5 job (if I'm lucky enough to find one) like most people. When I don't know.
I just want to write and shoot and cast films and talk to creative people. And read. And sing and act and dance. So many things so little time.
Even when I entered the workforce after college 20+ years ago with a newly minted degree in English Literature, I felt trapped by the many walls that enclose the corporate workspace. I didn't want to be a weekend, evening creative type - I have even less energy now than I did then for such small windows to unfurl my imagination.
So today - tired - but free, took my camera to school and shot from the parking lot to class. Class day is my spa day. I feel free free free - released and raring to go to class and feel and express my enthusiasm with others and their art.
I looked around this morning at tired faces who go to other classes and thought "they don't even know how lucky they are".
I was able to shoot before and after class. With work and the rain, I've bided my time -- looking and watching and imagining as I walk to and from work along the same route for three days. Three days taking pictures in my head - camera save at home. I am aware that I am lucky to work half time.
There are so many things to do that have nothing to do with earning the paycheck that allows me to live the way I do. Guilt and a low level of shame run in the background like the way PC's run their programs - static. Urgency too. Unless one of my sideline pursuits take off, I'll be conscripted to a regular 9 to 5 job (if I'm lucky enough to find one) like most people. When I don't know.
I just want to write and shoot and cast films and talk to creative people. And read. And sing and act and dance. So many things so little time.
Even when I entered the workforce after college 20+ years ago with a newly minted degree in English Literature, I felt trapped by the many walls that enclose the corporate workspace. I didn't want to be a weekend, evening creative type - I have even less energy now than I did then for such small windows to unfurl my imagination.
So today - tired - but free, took my camera to school and shot from the parking lot to class. Class day is my spa day. I feel free free free - released and raring to go to class and feel and express my enthusiasm with others and their art.
I looked around this morning at tired faces who go to other classes and thought "they don't even know how lucky they are".
Point
Point - what was the point of a point? I could see in my minds eye a wall of diet coke and one red coke - that's a compelling point - as in advertising.
A point could be the absence of something - mystery. One of my point pictures did that but turned to it was really an interesting enough point. And there were other possible points to distract the eye - a definite experiment. The ice was an interesting tool though.
One picture I submitted - I loved. The light was so hot that it obscured most of the object but the point. I loved it - though it beautiful and a little ethereal. The class had a tepid response. Why must you be able to see an object clearly and know it to like it? Or it just wasn't quite there. It's all an experiment.
I'd learn more if I experimented more. Time and weather are hindrances right now. I have class and need to leave and I'm thinking will it stay cloudy (and not rain) so I can shoot?
A point could be the absence of something - mystery. One of my point pictures did that but turned to it was really an interesting enough point. And there were other possible points to distract the eye - a definite experiment. The ice was an interesting tool though.
One picture I submitted - I loved. The light was so hot that it obscured most of the object but the point. I loved it - though it beautiful and a little ethereal. The class had a tepid response. Why must you be able to see an object clearly and know it to like it? Or it just wasn't quite there. It's all an experiment.
I'd learn more if I experimented more. Time and weather are hindrances right now. I have class and need to leave and I'm thinking will it stay cloudy (and not rain) so I can shoot?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Not much to report...
I've been very caught up with casting a short film - so much so that photography has become morning day dreams.
One of my classmates asked me about my interests - and it was interesting that the bottom was "photograph what you know". Coming from a writing and performing background that's what you think about.
Photography - taking pictures I take whatever interests me that I can see. But it was excellent advice. I love dancers and actors -- there is such rich material to mine.
Ballet Dancers, actors putting on costumes and make up etc etc etc.
One of my classmates asked me about my interests - and it was interesting that the bottom was "photograph what you know". Coming from a writing and performing background that's what you think about.
Photography - taking pictures I take whatever interests me that I can see. But it was excellent advice. I love dancers and actors -- there is such rich material to mine.
Ballet Dancers, actors putting on costumes and make up etc etc etc.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Richmond - San Rafael Bridge
SO Gorgeous today! I wished all across that darn bridge that I had my camera and a chauffeur -- so many vistas to shoot.
Shoot Day
I woke to a powder blue sky and sunshine. And while I lay in my beloved bed I thought that I may have time to do some shooting before going to a pre-production meeting for a short I'm casting.
Shooting feels like meditation to me. My mind becomes a still lake and a part of me takes over positioning my object, repositioning me, or the tripod. Where I am restless in my life I am patient with my camera.
Today I used dried plants, a dieing daffodil, heather, a dried rose to explore "Point". I feel like I'm seeing more "line" than point but if I like them, I'll use them for that later assignment. I am looking for points that grab my eye and keep it - "restrained" and interested - this is my ruler.
Taking pictures makes me happy and looking at them sometimes fills me with awe. I even gasped at one picture right after I took it -- I had no idea what it really looked like until I saw it photographed.
Shooting feels like meditation to me. My mind becomes a still lake and a part of me takes over positioning my object, repositioning me, or the tripod. Where I am restless in my life I am patient with my camera.
Today I used dried plants, a dieing daffodil, heather, a dried rose to explore "Point". I feel like I'm seeing more "line" than point but if I like them, I'll use them for that later assignment. I am looking for points that grab my eye and keep it - "restrained" and interested - this is my ruler.
Taking pictures makes me happy and looking at them sometimes fills me with awe. I even gasped at one picture right after I took it -- I had no idea what it really looked like until I saw it photographed.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Gordon Parks Documentary
Just finished watching the documentary on Gordon Parks filmed in 1999, 7 years shy of his death. A true renaissance man, his career defied definition. An artisan: a filmmaker, a poet, a composer, a musician, a photographer, a novelist, a magazine editor (started Essence magazine).
His images are startling - very contrasty. His subjects trusted and relaxed completely opening their pain to him. Some of his pictures are sweeping almost a pen and ink drawings. Some - close and personal.
Really there is nothing I can say that would reveal anything and I'm hesitant to comment - I am a beginner and in awe of his life and his art.
His images are startling - very contrasty. His subjects trusted and relaxed completely opening their pain to him. Some of his pictures are sweeping almost a pen and ink drawings. Some - close and personal.
Really there is nothing I can say that would reveal anything and I'm hesitant to comment - I am a beginner and in awe of his life and his art.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Who I May Become
P.S.
Who I may become I hope will be greater and richer than I can imagine at this time. Right now I want to photograph....I don't know....but for a living or a partial living. Inside I feel wings battering my ribs - flapping against the contained area striving to be free. It is cliche but so true. I wish to fly as a creative person.
To be drawn forward into a life full of greater scope and color and form. This entrances me as I am a toddler waddling about falling and bumping into things. I am also tired of working in an office where my urges to be free and feel free is are stifled. I need the paycheck. I need the health insurance. I am grateful for both. And I also mourn my loss of freedom so that it rankles to be inside and on someone else's turf.
I wish to be paid well for the art or product I create. To have respect and acknowledgement beyond my own pleasure. I know I "shouldn't" but I do.
I hope that wherever photography takes me that it will be even better than I can imagine right now. I want to be surprised and opened and deepened by what I learn in class and through the lense and in the quiet moments of discovery. It is delicious. It keeps me going while I'm in my cubicle and cannot see the sky or smell the air.
I will be taking photos this weekend - yeay! more point!
Who I may become I hope will be greater and richer than I can imagine at this time. Right now I want to photograph....I don't know....but for a living or a partial living. Inside I feel wings battering my ribs - flapping against the contained area striving to be free. It is cliche but so true. I wish to fly as a creative person.
To be drawn forward into a life full of greater scope and color and form. This entrances me as I am a toddler waddling about falling and bumping into things. I am also tired of working in an office where my urges to be free and feel free is are stifled. I need the paycheck. I need the health insurance. I am grateful for both. And I also mourn my loss of freedom so that it rankles to be inside and on someone else's turf.
I wish to be paid well for the art or product I create. To have respect and acknowledgement beyond my own pleasure. I know I "shouldn't" but I do.
I hope that wherever photography takes me that it will be even better than I can imagine right now. I want to be surprised and opened and deepened by what I learn in class and through the lense and in the quiet moments of discovery. It is delicious. It keeps me going while I'm in my cubicle and cannot see the sky or smell the air.
I will be taking photos this weekend - yeay! more point!
Journal Assignment #1
We are in to week #3 of A&D. The first assignment for we first timers is "Point". A point in which the eye is grabbed and "restrained" by it's arresting visual, possibly intellectual interest.
I've taken one picture that will possibly qualify as point. While my eye seems to seek out possible 'points' - my production has been close to nil as I was sick for about 2 weeks AND I have a new camera that while is fantastic is also a bit intimidating.
But I am getting ahead of myself. As assigned I should begin with my own starting "point".
The question to ponder is: What is it I think I'll get out of this course? Who am I as a photographer now and who may I be at the end?
Even now after reviewing the assignments, my driven, analytical and slightly arrogant side is saying "I could totally do all these assignments and quickly". I am aware of this drive to do, to complete and it has become one of my personal goals to do the opposite.
That is to invite a slower, less driven, open-to-what I can't see on the surface - at first glance MO. I want to grow not just in quality and quantity but in approach. I already feel a delightful and child-like glee about taking pictures. It just plain gives me a kick.
I love that it is "mine" -- it is a selfish impulse. But after doing years of theater and training as a singer and dancer and finding it difficult to secure roles which let me perform and share my passion -- photography is so freeing. I create for myself and love to share what I do with others - but it is on my timetable (sort of, aside from due dates in class), my vision, my interest.
I am a bit trepidatious about fulfilling assignments and warring with the comparison gremlin. But I am also inspired by classmates' work already and only hope that I find something that inspires others as well.
That's it for now.....
I've taken one picture that will possibly qualify as point. While my eye seems to seek out possible 'points' - my production has been close to nil as I was sick for about 2 weeks AND I have a new camera that while is fantastic is also a bit intimidating.
But I am getting ahead of myself. As assigned I should begin with my own starting "point".
The question to ponder is: What is it I think I'll get out of this course? Who am I as a photographer now and who may I be at the end?
Even now after reviewing the assignments, my driven, analytical and slightly arrogant side is saying "I could totally do all these assignments and quickly". I am aware of this drive to do, to complete and it has become one of my personal goals to do the opposite.
That is to invite a slower, less driven, open-to-what I can't see on the surface - at first glance MO. I want to grow not just in quality and quantity but in approach. I already feel a delightful and child-like glee about taking pictures. It just plain gives me a kick.
I love that it is "mine" -- it is a selfish impulse. But after doing years of theater and training as a singer and dancer and finding it difficult to secure roles which let me perform and share my passion -- photography is so freeing. I create for myself and love to share what I do with others - but it is on my timetable (sort of, aside from due dates in class), my vision, my interest.
I am a bit trepidatious about fulfilling assignments and warring with the comparison gremlin. But I am also inspired by classmates' work already and only hope that I find something that inspires others as well.
That's it for now.....
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