"Write what you know" for photographers
Jun. 18th, 2012 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janestarzWhile reading the complete guide to digital photography I ordered from the National Geographic shop, I was struck not only by inspiration but also gained some valuable insights.
For writers, one of the golden rules is "write what you know" -- you can never write about something if you don't know how exactly, it happens. Don't write about driving a car if you've never done so. Don't write about sex if you don't even know what goes where.
For photography, there's such a rule of thumb as well. It goes "photograph the things that interest you". See the light reflecting off a puddle in the street? Can you capture it just as beautiful as you can see it with the eye?
If anything, this book has once again opened my eyes to the beauty of the world around us. I lost ten years of my life and again gaze in wonderment at the world. I get lost in colours and shapes and patterns.
With smartphones, a new world has opened up and everyone has a camera in their pocket. I decided to use it. Tonight saw me in Rotterdam and I finally captured the one picture I've been wanting to make for a while. An update of Rotterdam CS -- and no, the city isn't becoming any more beautiful by the addition of this grey lump of steel that looks like a prop from the Men in Black movie.
The facade of the new Rotterdam Central Station rises amidst the chaos of building equipment while the towers of Nationale Nederlanden reflect the summer sky in the background.
(I take pictures that are zoomed in far too often. With phonecams, there's no such thing. You only have a digital zoom so your best option of zooming in is stepping closer. It's good to practice not to zoom in.)
Take pictures. Take a thousand pictures. Look at each one critically, and decide whether you really want to share them with the world. But above all: take pictures of the things that interest you. You might not succeed every single time, but you'll never look at things the same way ever again.
For writers, one of the golden rules is "write what you know" -- you can never write about something if you don't know how exactly, it happens. Don't write about driving a car if you've never done so. Don't write about sex if you don't even know what goes where.
For photography, there's such a rule of thumb as well. It goes "photograph the things that interest you". See the light reflecting off a puddle in the street? Can you capture it just as beautiful as you can see it with the eye?
If anything, this book has once again opened my eyes to the beauty of the world around us. I lost ten years of my life and again gaze in wonderment at the world. I get lost in colours and shapes and patterns.
With smartphones, a new world has opened up and everyone has a camera in their pocket. I decided to use it. Tonight saw me in Rotterdam and I finally captured the one picture I've been wanting to make for a while. An update of Rotterdam CS -- and no, the city isn't becoming any more beautiful by the addition of this grey lump of steel that looks like a prop from the Men in Black movie.
The facade of the new Rotterdam Central Station rises amidst the chaos of building equipment while the towers of Nationale Nederlanden reflect the summer sky in the background.
(I take pictures that are zoomed in far too often. With phonecams, there's no such thing. You only have a digital zoom so your best option of zooming in is stepping closer. It's good to practice not to zoom in.)
Take pictures. Take a thousand pictures. Look at each one critically, and decide whether you really want to share them with the world. But above all: take pictures of the things that interest you. You might not succeed every single time, but you'll never look at things the same way ever again.
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no subject
Date: 2012-06-19 07:05 am (UTC)It might even be an idea to use a camera with film some time. Because you have only got 36 photo´s on one film, and can´t go making hundreds of photo´s; you'll go looking even more for the better pictures. You can always put those developed photo's in an album with extra info, like what the settings are, and what you plan to do better.
And keep your eyes open; you never know when you'll find that next "Kodak-moment" - know what I mean?
I might probably find another couple of ideas that might help you - poke me if you'd like to discuss photography... I'd love to, it will very likely help me improve as well. And maybe I can give you new ideas as well.
Sorry about the long comment, by the way...
no subject
Date: 2012-06-19 08:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-20 03:54 pm (UTC)