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Garden petunia (Petunia atkinsiana)
This past Monday morning, the weather was nice, and I was feeling an urge to make some photos, which I haven’t felt in a while. Bonnie used our car for most of the day, so my choices of what to photograph were limited by how far I was willing to walk. It turns out, not so far. :-)
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Overflow Spillway
My first stop was our backyard. Our backyard is small. It extends back about 35-40 feet before ending in a small patch of woods with a rock-lined overflow spillway along one edge. The spillway is dry now but during rains, water can completely fill it and sometimes overflow.
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Zonal Geranium Sprout (Pelarganium hortorum)
It’s green now everywhere, only broken up by spring buds and colorful flowers. I love the beauty of flowers and enjoy photographing them but planting and caring for them is Bonnie’s passion. It works out well that way.
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Barberton Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)
I spent about an hour fiddling about, making some good and some not-so-good photos. It may have ranked low on the “sensational meter,” but it was simple and satisfying to me. It took me back to my earlier days of photographing when it was all about fun, play, and exploring and not so much trying to grab “that photo” or to be technically perfect.
We have access to so many sensational photographs/processed images online these days; I think, without realizing it, it’s set a bar we often feel we need to clear. I sometimes wonder, would we be better off and our work more personal and original if we never saw anyone else’s work? Or, does the positive outweigh the negative, enhancing growth and development as a photographer? Your thoughts?
Interesting isn’t it….some days there just isn’t the creative muse snd it seems like no matter what we do we can’t find a composition and then on other days it seems like there is a photo everywhere we look.
In response to your question, I think it’s not that we shouldn’t be looking at other peoples work (after all, how can someone become a talented musician, for example, while not listening to anyone else’s music) but, rather, that we shouldn’t be comparing our own work to everyone else’s. We need to make what’s unique to ourselves.
Yeah, Howard, my creative muse, seems to be working only part-time these days and calling in sick for even some of those days. :-)
I think of some of the late 19th and early 20th-century historic photographers such as Mathew B. Brady, Dorothea Lange, Timothy H. O’Sullivan, Erwin E. Smith, and even Ansel Adams to some extent who were pioneers in the photography craft and developed their skills and signature styles/techniques with minimum exposure to the works of others. Today, in the Internet age, we may strive not to compare our work to everyone else’s, but can we say we haven’t been influenced? Perhaps this influence is good for the craft. Overall, I would probably argue that overall the exposure is a positive, but as a mental exercise, I wonder what path I might have traveled without it.
Thanks, Howard.
Thought you might like reading this:
https://colethompsonphotography.com/tag/photographic-celibacy/
Hey, thanks, Howard. I’d actually read this article sometime in the distant past, and it perhaps planted the seed for my post and question. Of course, like so many different things, I’d lost track of the what and where of Cole’s article so I appreciate you giving me the chance to reread it. I don’t know I would have the discipline for his level of photographic celibacy.
I can relate to much of what you wrote here Earl. The few times I’ve been out this spring, I just kinda wandered my yard. Lately it’s been more just handheld and a single lens. The past few years, I haven’t even wanted to go to some wildflower spots I used to frequent.
I worry a bit internally as I think the work outweighs the reward in some respects, not that I have any expectations, but I think it is always in your mind somewhat.
Your setup with Bonnie is much like we have here. :-) I’ll weed and such, but usually at the risk of being chastised for pulling something I shouldn’t have.
I certainly still admire some works I see – from the subtle and quiet to the dramatic. But also flick past a lot. It’s kinda hard to figure out what and describe why something catches your eye at times.
Thanks for sharing some of these glimpses into your yard!
Mark, your statement about “the work outweighs the reward in some respects” hit a note with me. I think of photography in the context of work or effort these days, where I use to consider it in terms of recreation or fun. I think I’ve let my attitude and relationship with photography change and not in a very positive way. I’m not sure of the how or why for the change, but maybe it’s just where I’m at in my life.
The analogy of trying to sip from a firehose applies when thinking of sampling photographic works from the Internet these days. There certainly are some excellent works out there, but sadly it’s often pure chance finding them.
Thanks, Mark!
Yeah it’s kinda weird. I know there are always new things to see and discover, and can be rewarding. But visiting for the same flowers or lacking any creative ideas leaves me feeling it’s more work than it’s worth. I go back and forth on this A LOT.
I know just being out in nature is reward enough, and lately it’s been more without a camera. If I am in a state of mind where I see something really cool I can come back to, I might photograph it later. But otherwise I just let it be.
I don’t look at a lot of other photography. The super formulaic landscape photography in particular is such a useless exercise of mostly technical skills nowadays, it bores me to death. Photography practiced as a means of meditation, in your own backyard or somewhere nearby, is so much more rewarding, and I enjoy seeing those photos, like on your blog, together with the words, much more. I really like the spillway photo, and can’t say why. Just lovely!
I agree with your take on mostly technical formulaic photography. I mentioned photography for being fun and recreational in comment replies above, but you reminded me it is most importantly a meditation means. Perhaps that’s a part I’ve somewhat let slip through my fingers recently.
On the spillway photo, I’ve always been attracted to paths and pathways, even it seems when they are for water. :-)
Thanks, Alex.
I have fallen prey to comparison of my images to others then getting down on my abilities, which is not true at all. I need to spend less time at this stage of photography with comparison to others and focus more on the images in my own backyard or natural area in my case. Three cheers for Bonnie and three cheers for you!
Monte, I believe most of us have been influenced by others. Sometimes positive, sometimes negative. It’s human nature. Your writings and photos are Monte, and that’s what I like and enjoy seeing. Thanks!