Explain this! Weird

Going through sets of photos. It's a rapid process. On the whole, I rarely go back to see the things that have been dropped on the proverbial editors floor. But once in a while, you go back and see something that your really, really, can't explain.

I had gone to do some reflective searching to see some of my past material and to see what I don't want to do in the future.

Learn from history. Let the future create.

Understanding techniques is also a crucial part of photography. Why did the light fall in a certain way? Was it intentional? Can you recreate it? Those are the signs of the masters.So I went on my pilgrimage of images, mine and others. I sought enlightenment of light. Purity. Holistic bathing. Maybe I'd see a spirit guide along the way. In fact, I wonder what creature my spirit guide would be...?

Anyway, something caught my eye. There are literally millions of images that immediately get chucked away. But in this one, I was wondering what trick of light I was looking at on my second pass. I really couldn't understand it because it looks like a ghost image like when you either have a long exposure or a blur from someone else. It looks like these things. Would be nice if it was. But none of these things were present.

I would love to say I knew how to do this, in the camera. I would freak people out. :-) But until I have words with my spirit guide, I don't know how to do this. I'm still trying to figure out what the hell I see when I see this!

An image immediately discarded

On closer inspection...

Angus D

Tools and talent

"A photographer went to a socialite party in New York. As he entered the front door, the host said 'I love your pictures - they're wonderful; you must have a fantastic camera.' He said nothing until dinner was finished, then: 'That was a wonderful dinner; you must have a terrific stove.' "


Sam Haskins

I think that was a brilliant way of showing where we place importance with different things. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard,

"Oh that's a nice shot! You must have a really good camera?"

"I must have a really...?! What the...?!"

I smile. I honestly thank them for their appreciation of the image. And then I think about people and our... biases.

From a purely photographic point of view, the funny thing is that the camera is the 3rd important thing. More important than the camera is actually the lens. People forget that a good camera with a rubbish lens will be like doing a tug of war with a 3 year old in your team - no matter how strong you are those teeny tiny 3 year old hands will struggle to perform to a high level!

Note we are talking about capabilities and not results.

But the most important thing, the most important thing, theeeeee most immmm-po-tant-ting ("h" not included), is the mind's eye of the photographer.

What would you rather have?
Vision or money?
Understanding or results without understanding?
Insight or happiness?

It's curious and not always easy to see the point. But one option gives instant results and gratification. The other gives the ability to know why you got results and how to get more results and develop beyond your own ability.

But to say it was all the camera...! That technology is the real skill! That I go for instant gratification without spending time on core values! I'm, I'm, going to cry.

But this happens in many other things. Most people seem to think that footballers are too highly paid. In motor racing, it's the car that does all the work. Hospital consultants earn waaaay too much. That chef is sooo overrated. (And my own personal one) Paris Hilton is rich for doing nothing.

Really? Really?


The point is not to be controversial about how much are they morally worth compared to others. The point is, do we really understand what they do and how they got to the position they did doing the things they do. Or even the things they had to give up to get to where they are. We all can only dream. I was at an event recently listening to a very successful, inspirational lady talking about how people always assume she had a silver spoon upbringing and her success is the result of an easy route. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Taken in 2007 and still one of my favourite powerful moments

A vision, insight and understanding is what we need. Even for Paris Hilton. Which I am really really struggling with!

ADP

Reinterpretation

Listening to the amazing 30 Seconds To Mars reinterpretation of Kanye West's Stronger (BBC Live Lounge), apart from being totally bowled over, I was reminded of how the same words can take on a completely different meaning by virtue of presentation.

Along the same lines, I am going through a phase of changing around my blog and website. Starting with the colour scheme. I would say check it out after the refurbishment, but to be honest, I plan to refurbish at least once a year. Probably twice. So just check it out to see what's changed!

The first thing that's changed is the email subscription over on the right. Now, if you subscribe by email, you will get notified of blog entries. It makes it easier for me to keep you informed and for you to save time. Though I'm sure you were checking out the latest and greatest imagery on my site anyway. :-)

Oh, and all comments welcome! Shoot me a line. I can't promise to please everyone, but I can promise to listen.

I reserve the right to come up with a new idea!

Sometimes looking again gives you a different idea about presentation.

The birth of an idea

Completely unexpectedly, I start writing this listening to Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror on radio. His music is truly amazing.

Anyway, I just completed a test shot for a client.

I was given a very broad idea of what they would like. My job is to put the idea into print. While lying in my bed at 1am, letting the mind drift, I had been casually thinking of what image to create. With the design brief I had, it was evident that the idea had been covered many many times, so the challenge for once wasn't actually where to take the picture, but how to differentiate it from the many others out there.

Suddenly but gently, an idea dropped into my sleepy cranium. Then it got refined. And complicated. What I thought of creating would probably stretch me quite a bit. I smiled with the prospect, then slept.

Morning came. I was excited. I had to wait a few days to get the right conditions for the image. I went to The Spot, about 30 images and 3 hours later, I was in my car driving home wondering if many of the problems I encountered would completely wreck the image. Either way, I said to my lovely partner who came along, it has educated me no ends.

I drove with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

The following morning, I began to do a quick draft to see if either I or my trusty computer could handle what I was trying to do. (My old computer caught fire when I pushed it too much!) I completed all the pieces and the computer was left to put them together before I went back to tailor the image. I clicked "Process". The phone rang. I was glad for the distraction.

The CPU started getting hot from processing the numbers. The screen flickered fragmented images up then went black repeatedly. I tried not to notice. For trying to complete something you have never done before, this was like waiting to hear if your cat was going to live!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the final process bar reaching 100%... Still on the phone I turned to the computer, preloading a touch of disappointment to try to balance my nerves. It didn't work.

The image flashed up. Immediately I knew... IT HAD WORKED!!! The phone flew out of my hand as I jumped from my seat as if England had just won against the Germans. I did my little rain dance of happiness. Sat back down. Stared at the computer. Felt good. I had been vindicated. Of sorts. :-)

And this was only a proof of principle!

A sample of the draft. I can't show the full version until the client gets the final. But stay tuned!