Lately, I’ve felt as if something is missing in my photography. I think that I might know what it is. It’s a sense of purpose. Since starting my blog, I strive to post a new photo every day; however, this has, I feel, left me feeling somewhat shallow. I try to post something exciting and new, but they are starting to feel superficial and shallow.
I kind of got caught up in the wow of the color, but I have felt that they lack a deeper sense of meaning, at least for me.
I used to do some small projects, although never printed, they gave me a start and and end point and they required a little more depth and appreciation than is required by the picture of the day.
I’ve also wondered why it is that, even though I am not a big fan of the beach, some of my best pictures are of that environment. I guess its because I’ve been there so many times and I have a real feeling for the rhythm and flow of that environment. I’m intimate with it.
Shooting a photo to post on a daily basis is not nearly as satisfying as a well thought out and deeply felt photo.
Over the past week, or so, I’ve gone back to primarily Black & White photography and to some of my older photos. Why? Because these images, to me, are a little bit deeper and more about the subject than about the color. Also, I like black & white much better. So, for now, that’s my direction.
I’ve been bidding on Olympus 35 RC range finder cameras. I’ve not won one yet. I want to get back to film a little bit. It’s a slower pace. Truthfully, I also miss the development step a bit. So, I’m going to take a hybrid approach. I’ll shoot some film, develop it myself, scan it in to digital, and then post it. I’ll not let go of my D2x, though! No way!
I’m also getting the itch to do a little people photography, too, although my heart is really with the animals and the environment. I just love photographing nature.
Hopefully, by the end of the week, I will have shot a bit of B & W 120 film with my Yashica Mat 124G. Surprisingly, after all of these years of being idle, the battery is still good. Now, I have film, developer, and fixer. All I’m waiting for is the daylight tank!
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3 Responses to “Depth”
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The goal of a new image everyday is less important than following your heart and finding depth. It is also hard with busy schedules for your ‘fans’ to appreciate a new one each day. So follow your heart and we will all be glad to see your work unfold! I look forward to more of your b&w shots – this one is beautiful.
Thanks, Ptelea. I had never thought about the other angle, of appreciation. It is rather difficult to appreciate new photos every day from both the creator of the photograph as well as the viewer. I think that something gets lost, or perhaps there is sensory overload.
That’s the reason that I don’t visit so many blogs. Blogging, for the most part, is based on reciprocity. Sure, I’d love to get 20, 30, 40, or 50+ comments per day telling me how good I’m doing, but that’s not what I’m in it for. I do this because … well, I love to do it.
In order to get all of those posts, I’d have to visit at least that many and time does not allow; Further, I really like to spend time looking at those few blogs that I visit.
If you’ve noticed the timestamps from some of my recent photos, they are from 2004. I’m going back into the archives to get a bit of substance.
As I create current photographs that I believe have something to say, I’ll post them. Should I not have one of those photographs available, I just won’t post.
So, now it’s time to slow down, look, spend time with an area or idea, and then press the shutter.
I agree, which is why I went to my Festival of Film for the past few days to grab something a bit different. I need to think on this for a bit.