There’s a couple more of these urban scenes and then I’ll be switching to another photographic subject for a short period. I’m experimenting with shooting different themes under self-set restraints. A couple of weeks ago I was shooting nature-scapes along the river before moving to the current city/urban scenes. I’ll soon be switching again to focus on a different subject area. The goal of each theme period is to come up with at least a weeks worth of theme photos I feel comfortable posting here — but I’m not setting any actual time limits. I may take them all in one session or it may take multiple photo sessions but I can’t switch themes until I reached my goal.
I’m wondering in doing this if the creative mind or the “minds eye” will respond similar to how muscles respond when we strength train our bodies — doing repetitions of a certain exercise and then moving on to the next station forges stronger quicker reacting muscles.
When I switched from nature to this urban theme I was apprehensive because I’m more comfortable with nature photography. However, once I accepted the restrictions and began to “see” the opportunities of the new surroundings I found more interesting subjects then I would have first imagined.
Now I’m switching again, to an even more limited theme which I’ll expand upon later, and I’m actually looking forward to it. I’m switching “tracks” without most of the hesitation that occurred in between the nature and urban switch.
The question is, “How do you train you creative mind to be more aware of any type of photographic opportunities?“
This photo is of the Salisbury Train Station Platform. I believe what caught my eye in this image was the wonderful sky and clouds which added so much to the “feel” of the photo especially as a backdrop for the dark contrast of the railway structures and lights. To my mind it’s a little foreboding but at the same time draws you in.
Earl, I agree with you that the clouds really add the life to this image. I also like how you placed the platforms shelter roof so it draws you eye back into the image which further leads you eye to what appears to be a factory smoke stack reaching skyward.
Steve, thanks for the nice comments on this photo. It does draw your eye into it.
Good grief, Earl, that is an awesome image! It really pops, grabs me. I like the use of leading lines and the black and white post processing. Well done.
As for training I believe you have it right. We practice our craft to be good and to allow it to be second nature to us. I was taught in weight training that its the repetitions of lighter weights that tone the body rather than lifting the large weights. I feel it’s the same with our inner eye. It needs to be trained.
Monte, thanks, glad you liked this photo!
As I commented to Paul, below, I believe we can train to access our “inner eye” but to Paul’s point I’d have to agree we perhaps can’t develop it to see things we can’t see. What we “see” is part of the uniqueness of each of us as humans.
So, how much limitation do we place on ourselves by thinking that way? Could it be we haven’t practiced or trained enough? Or do we have those filters blocking what we are yet to see? Does it even matter? I see the world with different eyes than I did 5, 10 years ago. I enjoy the images I can pre-visualize and create. I also enjoy the images I’ve taken in the past and only now find have a new look to me. It seems to me our uniqueness is always changing.
Monte, I don’t think it puts any limitation on us unless we impose them ourselves. We each have unique ways of viewing things, putting together patterns, learning things, solving puzzles, etc. — at some things we are better then others, some might call this our talents, others, in negativity might think it’s our limitations.
For example in my case I don’t have a musical ear. I could train and study night and day for years and years but I’d never be a great musician. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy music or that I couldn’t learn perhaps to play an instrument reasonably well. It also would never discourage me in pursuing music, if that’s what I wanted.
I can accept never being the equal of Mozart and I think Ansel Adams is probably safe in the photography field as well. ;-) That doesn’t lessen my enjoyment or lessen my efforts to be the best I can be in photography.
I simply want to take better photos tomorrow then I did today and I’d hope to understand myself a bit better through my efforts. For now, that’s enough.
Very well said, my friend. I too, strive to create images that I enjoy and hopefully others enjoy. Understanding myself has frustrated me but getting to know myself has been exciting. That includes my gifts and my limitations. I only sing in the shower. :-)
“Foreboding” is not a word I’d use to describe this very good image. Given the shadows made by the posts, there was a fair amount of bright sun (at least when this was taken). No, I see an image of lines and shapes. The clouds are useful only because they provide a high contrast background for both the lights on the platform and the signal lights above the tracks. Those two things are the primary subjects.
To answer your question, I don’t personally believe that you can ‘train” yourself to take these kinds of images. You either see them or you don’t. If you do see them, you can hone technique and some of the subtleties of composition. But the raw image is pure instinct (the so-called “mind’s eye”).
Paul, foreboding may well have been the wrong choice of word and yes, there was periods of bright sunshine between the clouds, as when I made this photo.
I agree you can’t train what you can or can’t see but I do believe you can learn to expedite your ability to access your “mind’s eye,” your own raw instincts. Part of it may require unlearning some things, removing some filters, and part of it is knowing yourself. Then there’s learning to ask questions that move you beyond simply liking or disliking something to knowing why.
Still working some of this out in my head. I lived many years marching to others expectations.
I suppose I will disagree a bit that someone cannot be “trained” to see such things because I know my ability to notice shapes, relationships, and patterns has greatly increased over the years I have been photographing. And heck, if I can be trained – perhaps a monkey can as well.
I like the image Earl. It has such a great amount of depth from your composition. Great sky, fitting processing – it is one of those images that just draws you in and keeps you captivated.
Mark, I would say that you were always able to see these things and that experience and knowledge has helped in your ability recognizing and utilizing those things you see.
It may in many cases be a matter of degree. Some see patterns and relationships quicker or clearer then others. While you could perhaps train anyone to look for patterns they probably would never be as good as someone who saw these things naturally…IMO.
When my daughter was about three or four she would look at things people were wearing and if the colors clashed she would say, “that and that, no go!” Certainly no one had taught her the color wheel and which colors were complimentary but she could see it.
Thanks on the photo.