Weekend thoughts…..
I read an article this morning that I found compelling thought! How I Found My Vision by Cole Thompson. http://www.tomen.de/how-i-found-my-vision-diy-photography/
Cole Thompson is a very talented fine art photographer based in Laporte, Colorado. This article has some great thoughts on how to find our VISION!
My favorite line from his article is reprinted here, it is serious food for thought!
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During the last review of a very long day, the reviewer quickly looked at my work, brusquely pushed it back to me and said “It looks like your trying to copy Ansel Adams.” I replied that I was, because I loved his work! He then said something that would change my life:
“Ansel’s already done Ansel and you’re not going to do him any better. What can you create that shows your unique vision?”
Those words really stung, but over the next two years the message did sink in: Was it my life’s ambition to be known as the world’s best Ansel Adams imitator? Had I no higher aspirations than that?
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One example that Cole shared in his article was that in a effort to find his vision he laid out his 100 favorite photographs and divided them into two piles, those he “really loved” and the rest. He studied the ones that were his most prized and came to a realization that they spoke to him, that the subjects and light had spoken to him, he got as glimpse of his VISION!
I did the same this morning and came up with the image above. I have thought about if for while now and have come up with some fairly quick reactions. It’s simple, it’s graphic, it’s to the point, and I have a affinity for the subject matter. I am pretty sure that if I picked a few other of my most treasured images I would pretty much come up with the same list!
I post articles all the time about gear; bodies, lenses what’s new, what is rumored, etc. etc. The simple answer is that I’m a gear freak, I love the gear, I love testing and playing with it. ….and sadly, I buy a lot of it too! It’s fun, it’s not sinful to like the gear, but it is not photography, cameras and lenses, tripods and accessories are tools, nothing more. Will a legendary lens make you a better photographer? Will more mega pixels improve your images? No! In another article by Cole, I’m spending more time on his Blog, he showed a pie graph that says if succinctly!
A Great Image Consists of:
First a big thanks to Cole for helping me clarify some things I needed to think more about. Second I would highly recommend you visit his website; http://www.photographyblackwhite.com/ I plan to purchase one of his Fine Art Prints, but it’s going to take me a while to pick one from among the many truly wonderful images!
I’m an addict, and I will continue to talk about gear, but I’m going to be ever mindful that gear is the hobby, but the passion is improving and enjoying my VISION.
Blessings,
the pilgrim
One more favorite.
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 7th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
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I was at one of our Dallas area Meetup meetings today (NANPA) and the pro photographer leading the group made a quotable quote “The Artist is not the Equipment but the Eye”. I think that sums it up pretty well.
Of course your eyesight is much improved when you look through an expensive f2.8 zoom compared to a f3-5~5.6 zoom, right?
I’ve often thought that none of us use our gear to it’s full potential, even the f 3.5-4.8!
But yes, f 2.8 is sure sweet!
I liked #5 the best:
“I ignored the advice that well intentioned friends and experts gave me. So much of this advice had never felt right for me and I was torn between following their recommendations or my own intuition. In the end I decided that only by pleasing myself could I create my best work, and that no matter how expert someone was, they were not an expert about my Vision or what I wanted”
Because if you ever get on photography forums, people are just full of ideas of how you should shoot, what you should shoot and how to edit your images. It’s good to look at other work and take note of other photographer’s advice when you’re new to photography, but once you have the basics down and ‘sort of’ know what you want, I think then it’s time to start ignoring the other people and set out to make the images that make you feel best about your work (if you have the luxury of doing that and are not forced to shoot certain things a certain way to provide an income). I have the advantage of not worrying about selling my ‘work’ because I have a good job already, but for my own personal pleasure, photography is what makes me feel good and I’m grateful I have a good job that can support my hobby/passion.
Feedback is good, of course, but sometimes the “photo club” mentality can do more to crush that enable good art. That’s not to discount appropriate criticism and suggestions but sometimes the comments are made without understanding that “I’d like to see” may be physically impossible or impractical. I’ve been in many situations where two inches to the right would send me over a cliff or into a river.
Jon, you and I are blessed to be able to shoot with our hearts! I loved the entire article, and too feel that is a pivotal point.
Bill, I noticed that the top image, if you look at it briefly, appears to be a cross! 🙂
I can’t resist this Ansel Adams story. I was in the Ansel Adams gallery at Yosemite when a lady visiting told one of the employees, “I was here a couple of years ago. He had some very nice work but I don’t see anything new.” 😉
Good story, she was right though, nothing recently!