Hey, I'm here too.
I've been looking at a lot of work lately and having conversations with Oscar about my work on a weekly basis and getting frustrated with shooting. The topic of content keeps coming up with Oscar and that I am composing the frame too much. I keep hitting a brick wall as every time I pull my camera up I think, "Am I composing, or is this actually interesting?" I don't know if any of this makes sense but I guess I'm expressing my hardship of having a seed in the back of my head. I am questioning shots and missing them or getting down on them before I can process and see how they feel. I've tried a few recently that are less about framing and more about the moment and I guess we'll see how this takes off.
[These are cropped weird, so click on them to see them the right size]
A common problem for image makers.
ReplyDeleteOscar is correct in his query - What do you want to say?
Unfortunately, so much of what is done is by default and in response to what is in front of you.
try going out and just looking and stop being hyper about making the perfect moment. Sometimes, you need to just make work and then go back and reflect and edit it. This is especially true when you are at a tipping point - like now.
Under and over thinking simultaneously.
Not LOOKING enough.
Sometimes, you just need to learn to SEE.
- cut yourself a break and LOOK for the remains of today.
- Give yourself a focus for each venture - the moment, the smell of the air, the design elements
- Narrow the focus each time
- Work with minimal elements and then sort from there, adding as long as the frame can hold it and still speak.
I've found that I often DON'T shoot because I'm thinking about it too much. The key is to start, and then you eventually just keep going and hitting the shutter release becomes natural. Sometimes you just need to get warmed up. Start shooting, even if you don't like it. You just need to open the door a tiny bit and it'll blow open the rest of the way.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your second picture. It seems natural and has a... delight... about it. To be honest, I liked the square version that shows up in the blog better than the full version. It looks like it would work nicely in a small book.