Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/08/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Sonny Carter wrote: > One of the hardest things for photographers is to take pictures of the > familiar things around us .<<<< Hi Sonny, I've always had the toughest time shooting in the "home town." Everything is in your face day after day and one becomes immune to it visually. I'd get mad when a magazine photo editor I did assignments for sent a shooter to my city, as I saw it as work being assigned to another guy when I needed the income and lived there. I asked him why he did that and he responded..." It's simple, you live there and don't see it with fresh eyes. And that's why I hire you to come here to shoot and send him to your city. You both see each other's territory with fresh eyes. Therefore I win in both cases." And if you think about it, he was right. Your ability to see familiar surroundings in a new and magical way is usually lessened due to familiarity. If you go to a different country or city it's like, "wow! Look at all the neat stuff here!" and you're gung ho to shoot. Get the same assignment at home and it's "What the hell are they talking about there's no neat stuff here!" And that's even if the story is identical in both locations. The way to over come this to some degree at home is, go out at a time of the day that isn't your normal time to be out and about the city. Dawn for example, when you're normally still in the sack warm and cozy. The city is waking-up, the light is different, the traffic is different and it goes on and on. Or go on a Sunday morning when the city is still in the sack! Now you're seeing everything in a "different light" and it becomes interesting and neat! You get the picture. Your donuts are mouth watering and an interesting subject even if it's been a once a week event. I'd swap them a bunch of pictures for a box of donuts! ;-) The on going assignment idea of the "donut eating / reading the paper / drinking coffee" crowd should make for interesting photography.... in B&W! ;-) Watching or them. ted - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html