This is going to be an unusual post for me, as instead of breaking down some type of technique or photography secret sauce (there is none; incidentally), I am going to tell you to do something completely different. In a world that is connected by glass lines that transmit data at the speed of light and where news happens on a minute by minute basis, I will tell you to stop. When is the last time you put the camera down, and enjoyed the scene outside of shutter speed, correct white balance, and aperture settings?
Hence, my article will be brief this week, spurred on by a recent visit with my in-laws. I see my in-laws a fair amount as they live a little over an hour away. What was different on this visit was the knowledge that they are in the process of moving hundreds of miles away, separating my wife and I from them by two full days of driving. This means that what little time we can easily spend with them now becomes ever more important.
I had packed a bag full of gear and toys with every intention of shooting various spring photos during our visit. The tulips are in full bloom, the Magnolia tree had gorgeous flowers at the ready, and the weather was spot on for some great sunset shots. Yet, I never unloaded my gear or snapped a photo. No, I spent the day enjoying the conversations about things I cannot recall now. I stopped thinking at four frames a second and let one long exposure rule my mind. I had stopped to enjoy the moment.
It doesn’t matter if you are a street photographer, a landscape shooter, foodie, or even a portrait photog. Stop and let the moment sink in! Enjoy the life that is happening around you every once in a while. We tell all kinds of stories with our images and get wrapped up in the technicalities, yet when was the last time you let the camera just go unused so you could enjoy the scene, uninterrupted by the sound of a shutter?
My challenge unto you is simple. The next time you are out and enjoying the same scene you have captured time and time again, let the camera stay still, let your mind develop the scene, and enjoy the fundamentals of why it is that you brought the camera in the first place. Listen to the world, watch kids run on a sidewalk, or talk for a few minutes with the person with whom you will take portraits. Five minutes of letting your mind process the image maybe all you need to see your ordinary scene in atypical light.
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This is where you would expect me to tell you about my life, how awesome I am, or why I am so superior to other people in this line of business. I would enjoy telling you how I have wrestled grizzly bears 10 feet tall. Maybe you would like hearing how I have taken on Velociraptors in my days as a young man. Even better is the story how I have traveled to the furthest reaches of space to stop catastrophic alien invasions. The problem will be that you might not believe my awesome stories.
I will keep these awesome stories for the campfire though. I’m just a man, taking pictures, trying to make a living. I ditched my education in computers in favor of pursuing my passion for photography. I enjoy a good cold beer on a warm day. I have a fondness of the outdoors.. I have enjoyed years capturing life’s unscripted moments. Hopefully, I can enjoy many more years of slacking off without fear of those grizzlies taking me out before my time.
My Philosophy is to capture those non-scripted moments. To capture the little details that this world really has to offer. From weddings to insects, I enjoy capturing the life, the details, and the moments that come and go in a flash.
I love this post. This is me and photography daily. People who do this professionally have the best job in the world. Me? I’m just having a blast every day taking pictures then blogging about it!