Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>My hat is off in a big way to you working shooters. This is not easy, not >even remotely. Only a small portion of what I shot the week before is >interesting and certainly fewer are meaningful. I don't know how you guys >do it day in and day out. I tell you, it's very hard at times. Especially at this time of year. It's the slowest time for photojournalists looking for "wild art" for the paper. People are inside snuggled in bed, playing Nintendo, working on train layouts, darkroom, whatever. But it's inside, and we don't see 'em. So cheer up, it will improve with the weather. But seriously, to get to the point where you can find pictures in about any situation you run across is a skill that takes time to get good at. It takes imagination. Looking closely at a situation and observing relationships. Thinking up story lines that tell the viewer something about the character of the subject. Then using the formal relationships (arrange the photo into pleasing shapes, relationships and colors/tones) to make it a compelling picture. That's a the fun of making photographs on a daily basis. Seeking out what interests you. That's key. Seek. Not just walk along and hope something jumps out and bites you. Airplanes might fall out of the sky once in a lifetime. But when you're eyes are open to the possibilities in life, you can see pictures everywhere. Even when you don't have a camera with you, you can take pictures with your eyes. Eric Welch St. Joseph, MO http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch Cynicism often masquerades for sophistication in our society, but more often than not it's merely an indicator of resentment.