Last night I presented to the Crosstown Camera Club. This 36 minute video is a screen capture of that talk. The discussion centers on identifying your value system in photography and reconnecting with it when you get in a rut with your creativity. This concept is presented in the context of my Street Photography, in which I also introduce several techniques used to accomplish this style of street photography.
I want to send a BIG THANK YOU out to the Crosstown Camera Club for having me, and for making it such an enjoyable evening.
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9 Comments
It was a very moving last night. I had never really looked at it the way you go about getting the photo. I think most of us are in too big of a hurry to get the photo and move on. We miss that interaction that is so compelling that gives that feeling of connection to the photo. I know I will be looking at a whole new outlook on the way to capture and interact when looking for that perfect photo.
Also helped in a new way to get out of that slump that has had me caught up for a while.
Thank you so much for the inspiration you gave me. I left last night and couldn’t wait to push that shutter one more time and try new thing.
Thanks again
Dean Boyer
Alec, your verbal skills are as strong as your photography. I enjoyed your talk last night.
Bill Weber
Alec,
The talk hits the nail on the head. Just getting to a point where you are conscience of where you are mentally and being able to get yourself into a good state where you can connect to the moment or place becomes an awesome release. For me I have been in a position to be able to give myself permission to not worry about an outcome in a sensor or computer screen but to enjoy the moment and get connected to the place. And as a bonus more times than not I have good results at the end of the day from my photography. Good work Alec.
Travis
What do you think of the newest lensbaby, the Control Freak? After seeing your images, I feel really inspired to try one.
I think you're right that the best images are gotten when you connect with the person.
A lot of people – including myself – feel the photographer should be the 'fly on the wall.' Interesting viewpoint to think of the photographer as the high point of energy. I like it.
Hi cjs711,
Thanks for the post an being here. Like all lensbaby products, the Control Freak will give you a whole new way to think about shooting. I haven't shot with it, but here's what happens with these products. You'll get one, you use it the way you THINK its supposed to be used, then you'll find really COOL ways to use it. I'm going to be shooting a ton of LANDSCAPE images with the Composer this spring and summer, which relatively few do. Given its design, the composer can be used with filters (the Freak can as well, I've done it with the 3G design).
THANK YOU Bill, for the kind words and for stopping by the blog.
THANK YOU DEAN, I really appreciate the feedback and glad it worked for you. Come back and visit the blog again soon.
Cheers,
alec
These are powerful lessons and stories, told beautifully – THANK YOU ALEC.
This video brings home to me the richness of each moment, if we are willing to be fully present in it. And though that sounds like a cliche these days, photography has a unique way of proving it is anything but. That opening message from Tree Man was perfect.
I'm intrigued by this challenge to define my own values for my art. Thinking back over some of my favorite and/or memorable pieces, I'm also led back to the time, place and circumstances of when I created them. Yet we know that trying to recreate those elements of the past doesn't work. We DO need something else to guide our creative work.
Can values really help me be in a place I want to be? Perhaps then for me there is a mindset of discovery, exploration and wonder that helps me be in this “place.”
I wonder though, whether the kind of 'how-to's” you describe (plus my riffs) – being open, manifesting the energy, paying attention/validating, holding the camera/ego lightly – are all that's really needed to produce a satisfying creative experience.
Perhaps the values are how we define these experiences, our art and ourselves later, after we look at what's happened and what we've produced. I suspect that they would be useful in getting me up off the couch, but held too tightly in the moment I think for me they may even interfere with being totally present. Maybe we need different things in our heads at different points in the process…
What do you all think of these distinctions?
Hi Amy,
Thank you for a lovely post. The answer I have to you question is “I don't know.” This is description of my path, my process and you (the general you) may find an entirely different one. With that being said, establishing a value system and having that as a grounding point is probably a somewhat universal starting point.