Wednesday, November 12, 2008

no pictures

I thought I'd do a rare post without any pictures. I'd be interested to know who actually reads through this instead of scoffing that I took the time to enter something that didn't include visual reminders of my children's innate cuteness!

I've decided I have a love hate relationship with photography. I love it. I love capturing images that are a reflection of who someone is... whether its the unfolding love of an engagement couple or the sweet wonder of a child, capturing that on film (okay, a memory card) can be invigorating.

I also love edgy, different, unpredictable images.... cutting off parts of the body that you thought might be vital - like half of someone's face or the bottom of their chins.... I love that its different and creative and that sometimes it just works.... even though you can't explain why.

I won't lie... I blog stalk. I love finding photographers who are doing something amazing and try to learn from how they think. I love finding ideas and recreating them. Its funny to me that everyone thinks I'm so creative - I'm really just a copycat. I heard someone say once that God is the only TRUE Creator... the rest of us are all just trying to recreate something we've seen before. I think thats true to a degree.

I also love post processing... taking an image that I've captured in camera and creating it into something more.... using editing tools to draw the viewers eye to understand what it is I'm trying to capture. I think that's why I love my photography tagline - Capturing Life. Creating art. I don't want my images to just be photographs.... I want them to be art. Maybe that's why I'm "into" textures right now.

But as invigorating as capturing those moments can be it can be downright discouraging to *miss* it. Lately I think I need to be on meds my love-hate relationship has been so intense! Sometimes when I peruse a beloved photography blog I get overcome with how much I *don't* know. I dream of living where all these incredible locations must be hiding. I wonder how there are so many beautiful people to photograph in the world. And worst of all, I lust after the Canon 5D. I insist I'd be better if I had it. I convince myself that once I do have it my photography will become instantly excellent, my house will always be clean, sin will cease to haunt me and I will lose 10 pounds. Well, okay, maybe I need to quit eating McDonalds and drinking Dr. Pepper to lose that 10 pounds...

Then there are days like Monday. Monday I had an *aha* moment. I succeeded in Manual mode. I usually fail. I almost always resort to Program mode or Aperture Priority mode because its "safe." I was doing a session as a gift though and knew I already had some rockin' images of this super gorgeous couple so I chanced it and it was.... amazing. I think I was on an adrenaline rush for half the day... and no, I hadn't had any Dr. Pepper yet. I'm ridiculously excited to process those images but for now they are waiting in line. Business has been busy.

Speaking of Manual mode... I'm pretty sure my in camera light meter is junk. I'm sure the on on the 5D is remarkable and will change my life. :)

All of that to say that its late.... my kids are at my moms so I feel justified in being online so late... and guilty for not editing pictures right now.... and amused that even though I said I wasn't going to post any pictures of my inhumanly cute kiddos that I'm struggling not to do it as I type.

Okay I'm giving in. After all... its their blog - I was just stealing a soapbox for some public personal reflection. Hope you enjoyed the insight into my mind.














12 comments:

Aimee said...

If buying that Canon 5D helps you loose 10 pounds, PLEASE let me know! I just might buy 3 of them! :D

swart said...

very interesting! great pics - were they done in "manual"?

jodes said...

You should jump on your soapbox more often. ;o)

I'm convinced that if I were to get a nice Cannon that I would take the most incredible pictures EVER!!! Maybe someday....

Unknown said...

@ jodes - you might be alone in that opinion! :)

@ aimee - i'll let you know if it works!

@ dave - nope i think Av mode but maybe Program. This was pre *aha* moment.

Cooper Family said...

you stalk photo blogs? Here are two amazing sites from girls I know of from my home town... or maybe i won't be serving your (ahem) passion by telling you about them... Up to you to discern. =) I love looking at these to marvel at their beauty.

www.kristenleighphotography.blogspot.com
and
www.lydiajanephotography.blogspot.com

Hope you get some fresh ideas!

Unknown said...

I had to laugh out loud a few times as I read your latest post. It is quite funny, isn't it, how sometimes we think for a brief moment that something we really, really, really want will somehow change our lives and make everything go into place. :) It sounds like that would happen for you if only you had a Canon 5D!!! I hope you get it one day.

Anonymous said...

i believe i can relate to you a bit in this post...but we can talk about that later. :)

and i love how i am actually starting to really notice the differences after you edit!! hehe.

Anonymous said...

Michelle

I once heard a great photographer say, "I got my camera at the same place that Shakespeare got that pen".

A camera is simply a tool. Nothing can compensate for having a creative vision (which you definitely have, Michelle) and the technical know-how to capture it. One of the hardest things to do at work was to be comfortable with shooting in "Manual" mode. I find it gives you more freedom and ability to create "those" shots in-camera which is much more fulfilling. It feels pretty uncomfortable at first, but your judgement and skill improves as you use it more often and become more familiar with it. I've in turn, learned more about how cameras and lenses work by using Manual mode and I find it to be a some-what slow, but fun way to learn. I must confess though, when I need to take a quick snapshot and it needs to be good, I just set the DSLR camera to Program mode just because of the inability to recreate the shot. :-)

I also find it's easy to feel trivial and "rotten" by getting ideas for composition/shots from other photographers or cinematographers. I will often watch older movies or study photographs to see how they captured those shots and then try to mimic camera position, lighting, or whatever I can to recreate that particular shot. I think it's more about getting inspiration from a certain style/perspective, rather than trying to copy them exactly. If you took the exact same photograph, with the exact same subject, and the exact same background and lighting, then I think you could be considered a copycat. :-)

Wow, I talk a lot but hopefully some of my rambling makes sense. It's pretty late but I just wanted to share some of my thoughts and hopefully encourage.

-Stephen

Bipin Sen said...

any good, godly christian woman will spend her hours worshipping and seeking the lord on how she can better serve her husband and raise her children... any time spent away from that is time lost...

obviously you must have *all* of that under control to have time to think about a canon 5d. ;-)

Kathy said...

http://web.mac.com/kaswart/kas/Welcome.html

Here for your stalking!!! 5D...mmmm sounds wonderful, I have been looking around. I think my father in law has one...INCREDIBLE.

Rebecca said...

And This is why I love you, You are too funny.

Mary said...

even my sister looks at your blog to check out your wonderful photos. you don't need a better camera. it isn't the camera, it is the person taking the pictures that makes the difference.