As I said in my first blog, I’ve had a camera of some sort within reach most of my life, but do I deserve the title of photographer? I think I do. Let me explain why.
As someone with a Camera, I strive to capture moments. Obvious I know, but it’s not just the visual image I’m shooting, but the moment; the way that moment feels! I’m trying to convey to the viewer the way that moment feels to me. While I don’t know if I am successfully doing that, it is my intention.
I also see Photography as an Art form. As a Musician, I learned to create Art through sound and rhythm; as a Photographer, I am learning to create Visual Art. We - my camera and I - attempt to tell a story through Shutter Speed, Aperture size, and ISO. (image brightness or darkness) We can create moods, evoke emotions, and make memories. As the old saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and in many cases, there are no words to adequately describe an image. Take a glorious summer sunset for example. To verbally describe it might be possible, but a photograph is far more descriptive. The varieties of colours, the reflection of the sun on a lake, the shimmering heat waves… All are captured in a photograph, but a verbal description falls far short.
While the Photographers who do contract work, such as Portraits, Weddings, Real-Estate, or advertising are expected to deliver a product that meets the expectations of their employer, Landscape, Nature and Wildlife Photographers are free to be a bit (or a lot) more discreet or even abstract in the images they choose to capture and how to present them.
For me, being a Photographer is about sharing what I photograph with the world. All the top, successful Photographers have said to ignore what other people say you should do and shoot what appeals to you. When I see something that speaks to me, I take the photo. It doesn’t really matter in the end if you like it or not. Yes, I appreciate positive feedback, but I’m not shooting the image for your approval; I’m shooting it for myself – for my memories, and for my education, because I learn something from every Photo I shoot; both what I did right and what I did wrong. Each mistake is a reminder that I need to work a bit harder to achieve the results I am looking for. Each image I take that successfully turns out the way I want, is a reminder of what I need to continue focusing on.
And there are many images that don’t work. One simple reason for this is that a camera isn’t a Human eye. Yes, a camera can record subtle differences in light, or colour, but it isn’t capable of the complexities our eyes see. In short, a camera can’t emote. No matter how good my camera is, it can never feel what I am feeling, nor can it convey that feeling to you. The best we can hope for is that you will appreciate the images and feel your own emotions from them.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and view my images. Please feel free to contact me with your opinions, questions or suggestions.
Until next week, keep your shutter finger warm, and don’t forget to pack extra batteries!
