Photography Journey Thoughts
“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.” —George Bernard Shaw
Isn’t the goal to enjoy creating compelling images?
When I first picked up a camera many years ago, I was highly focused on gear and technical aspects. I was concerned with the type of camera I used, as well as settings including aperture, ISO, and exposure times. This is a common starting point for photographers, as these technical details significantly control and influence the appearance of a photo. I would often share, in posts, those settings, along with the resulting images, taking care and pride in ensuring that the photos were minimally edited—just regular cropping and adjustments to light and color.
In those early years, improvements and innovations in equipment were significant and noticeable, serving as a motivator for gear acquisition and upgrades. However, in more recent times, it’d be hard to discern differences in the raw output of a new camera versus one that is several years old or from a different brand.
At one time or another, I’ve owned and used Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, and Fuji cameras. If asked which I liked the most, my answer would first be based on which was easiest to use and best suited to my natural photographic workflow, and secondly, on the photo quality. However, as a hobbyist photographer, I’m aware that a more professional photographer with more critical needs might certainly rank based on different criteria.
These days, gear has a lesser role, and I find I’m trying to build a more direct connection between my internal vision and how I interpret that vision in the final image. The technical aspects, which come more naturally to me now, serve a supporting role to sculpting the finished product. In my pursuit of achieving this vision, I now take more creative liberties with editing and adjustments. I also look at the raw photos from a different perspective, remaining open-minded about the ‘stories’ that might be conveyed through the images. I’ve found that most people appreciate a good story when it is well told, so when afforded the opportunity, I like to create that narrative, or the possibility of other narratives, through my images.
That’s often a tall order, and my imagination frequently exceeds my abilities to fulfill what I imagine fully. I’m neither a professional photographer nor an artist, but I’ve come to enjoy the experience as an exercise in my imagination, my limited technical abilities, and my creativity. Many of these images only find a home in my mind and my photo archives, and I’m not certain I’ve ever finished one to my complete satisfaction.
I think there is a saying about art never being finished, only abandoned. I can relate to that, though I have a bit of a different take where it is simply a conversation that’s stopped. Maybe it will continue elsewhere with someone else, maybe I’ll pick it up again when I have something more to contribute, or maybe it just goes silent for what it is – nothing more to say. Like you mention, it’s the stories that seem to resonate the most.
I find myself also wanting to simplify things, less willing to endure personal discomfort for the sake of a photo, which I would do frequently before. Hauling around less gear has certainly made my back a lot happier. Maybe just part of the growth process for all of us.
I like your take on it as a conversation. That fits better with my thinking and experiences. I’ve never been one to go to extremes just for the sake of a photo. Perhaps that’s because I got into photography later in life, or maybe I’m just not as committed. Given how competitive the field has become, I believe you need a firm commitment, considerable talent, and valuable connections to make a living from it, whether on the artistic or journalistic side of photography. Of course, there are always photos to be made of events, children and pets, but not a good fit for this introvert. 🤔
I experienced burnout with photography during the latter part of our RVing period. However, this allowed me to reframe and view my photography efforts as simply a fun hobby, which has made it enjoyable for me once again. Yelp, the older I get, the more ‘one camera one lens’ appeals to me.
Thanks for the visit and comment, Mark, it’s always a pleasure!
What a wonderful post expressing your thoughts and experience. I relate to much of what you say. Early on with digital gear my focus was learning how to use the gear along with the software. I also wish I had the money I invested in gear acquisition, learning way too late that investment in my experience would improve my photography. It seems I see a scene and quickly compose then press the shutter due to intuition and maybe instinct. How I process the images along the same line of intuition and instinct. So many of my blogging images are daily recordings of how I see the world, what I’m experiencing, and then sharing that on my blog. I do like your phrase “sculpting the finished product.” I had not thought of my photography as creating a narrative, or as a conversation as Mark mentions, but it just may be the case. I just wonder how much of the creative process also feeds the stories/narratives we write on our blogs. Thanks for this amazing post!!
Reading your response and reflecting on the ‘stories’ our photos tell made me think about how we, or I, connect an image with a blog post. Sometimes, it feels like a ‘chicken or the egg’ situation, where it’s unclear which came first. I haven’t kept track, but I believe that most of the time, I start with a photo or image that drives the content of the post. However, there are occasions when it’s the opposite. In the case of this post, the image served as the guide for my contemplation. I’m sure often, from the outside, my connection of the two is sometimes vague.
I always look forward to your visit and comments. Thank you, Monte.
I spent my entire career in technical fields and now enjoy the ignorance of it I’ve developed. It’s about what I can create now.