Lessons Re-learned
The only true voyage of discovery, the only fountain of Eternal Youth, would be not to visit strange lands, but to possess other eyes…”
Remembrance of Things Past, Marcel Proust, 1923
The number of self-proclaimed photography teachers, advisers and fine art practitioners posting content on various media probably exceeds any likely guess I could make. As with most any genre or field of expertise, the range of quality of work and value of teachings offered is equally broad. Within the group that is clearly at the top tier in photography, I think it is interesting that many of these professionals have a few, very similar topics that they all seem to find significant, each delivered from their own hard-earned perspective. Now, as we slide into the early days of winter, where it can often be more productive to study and think about craft, rather than actually going out to shoot photos, there are a couple of lessons that I seem to need to re-discover and re-learn every year. I suspect that will resonate with a lot of other photographers.
The first lesson is reminiscent of the real estate adage about “location, location, location”. Some excellent professional photographers make a living jetting around the globe, dropping in to exotic “honeypot” locations. In short order, they seem to magically capture images readily recognizable from magazines, books and commercial advertisements. Some others, however, take a more localized approach to their craft. They appreciate the value of returning to the same places, often close to home, shot repeatedly across multiple seasons and even years. Repetition, done with deliberation and care, often leads to revealed nuance and a deeper understanding of the subject and environment.
The second lesson is related to a different, more philosophical adage. This one is all to do with looking at the world through “fresh eyes”. Easy to say, but not so easy to understand and accomplish with skill. The implementations in this toolbox are many and broad ranging. The simple and obvious ones may include mechanical adjustments – a change of lens, handheld or tripod supported orientation, long exposure, flash frozen action, intentional camera movement… the choices go on and on. More subtle and demanding changes may involve re-imaging a scene through a different perspective or angle, shooting at a different time of day or season, or in different weather conditions. Again, the choices are numerous, but harnessing those tools effectively to deliver the vision in the photographers mind is challenging.
Re-learning the same lessons over and over may sound a bit like a Groundhog’s Day nightmare, but in this context, it seems to me to be the paradigm of the pursuit of true, high photographic art. Anyone, present company included, can take a photo. Clearly, only a very few can claim to be a “Photographer”, in the highest sense of accomplishment in this medium.
To that end, I have been trying in recent weeks to, once again, re-learn these lessons. In the Gallery page for this topic, I posted a few photos of new looks taken of subjects I have visited before. All were taken within a couple of miles of home, proving to me the wisdom of these two lessons. I had no particular theme in mind, other than to practice these lessons. Hopefully, in the coming weeks I will continue to revisit these same paths and re-examine these same subjects. Then, if the stars align just right, I’m hoping my photographic vision and skill will continue to evolve to a new level and enhance my craft. Along the way I may not find the secret to eternal youth, as imagined by Proust. But just maybe I will discover a new world, all while saving the price of an airline ticket. Here is wishing you success in your own travels along this road.