November 5, 2006
A Distraction is Welcome
I am in love with photography. I love it like a dorky 14-year-old who believes that photography will transform her into someone cool loves it. I love it like the uncreative, unartistic, unvisionary loves it. I love it like the stereotypical touristy type snapping photos of yet another Hard Rock Cafe loves it.
I have thrown myself into my online photography course with a passion rather unbecoming. As a junior higher awkwardly joins the drama club to follow her first crush I delve into the world of photography. I love photographs and cameras and tripods and gadgets and camera bags and lenses and apertures. In short, I love it all. Unconditionally. Clumsily.
I am not an accomplished photographer. The finer points escape me. The basics give me pause for inordinate amounts of time. Infrequently I hit upon the correct answer through no fault of my own. I puzzle over the critiques and the recommendations. "2 f-stops darker" lends hours of rumination.
It remains to be seen if I have a good eye. My peepers are slowing down. The transition from close to far is rough. Blurry. But The Eye. The eye of an artist. The eye of someone with something compelling to share. How I yearn to be that person. I am not her. I am not she. [We shall discuss grammar another day.] I am not that person. Not today. But perhaps another?
My love, speak to me of f-stops and histograms and my heart will be captured. Expound on the Rule of Thirds and I will sit at your feet and drink in the loveliness of your countenance. Appreciate along with me the Exposure Triangle, the best is yet to be.
Thank heavens for photography, the distraction provided by it's complexities has kept my head firmly attached to my shoulders, my brain firmly in place in the cranium. Photography transports me.
I may not be cruising around the space-time continuum at will, but escape is largely a matter of faith. And determination.
Awesome picture! I feel like I get to benefit from your course because I get to see a beautiful picture that you created. Nice work!
Posted by: CathyC at November 6, 2006 6:34 AMMy friend, you need to get into the darkroom. You think you are in love now, wait until you get your hands on paper and chemicals and toner (ah!). I do think you would love it. I actually love printing more than I love photographing. But alas, no time for that for me right now.
I took a few documentary photography classes in graduate school and nearly went broke experimenting with different kinds of paper.
Your photos look great. I think you have the "eye." Are there particular photographers you like?
Posted by: Heather at November 6, 2006 7:25 AM