When I recently took an introduction to photography class, my teacher challenged me to take a photo of something so that it is unrecognisable. We had to see with fresh eyes.
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Just before the class, I’d seen videos where photographers talks about how they went to a location where there are many other photographers, but they manage to see it in a new way and grab a unique phot that stand apart from the rest.
I knew the importance of seeing something from a unique perspective but when I was set my photography challenge. I failed.
I did something average and then my tutor helped me to see the scene differently.
Seeing things a fresh
This afternoon, I was in my back garden relaxing on a Mat. I’ve done this many times, and see the same scene. I’ve occasionally taken my camera and hoped to snap a bird or something. But today was different. As I sat there I saw the scene a fresh and had to take pictures.
Normally it would be one or two but this time I took dozens. Normally I’d try to compose a tree or flower but today everything was fair game.
I became so engrossed that I didn’t flinch when a wasp buzzed passed my ear (I have a phobia and can’t stand their buzzing).
Here are some samples.
Why did I see things differently?
There were a few factors at play here but I think there were two big factors.
- the weather was different
- I got close
Of course the weather was a factor, the fact that it was bright and flowers had bloomed helped to create some more interesting scenes but there is more to the weather that I’ll mention in a second. If you look at most of the photos, they are of closeups not wide shots. This fits with a quote from
If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough. - Robert CapaClick To Tweet
When you’re close, you pay attention to tiny features, you can remove distractions and show only a glimpse creating more mystery. The truth is though. I only got close because of the weather.
Because it was hot, I was out in the garden resting on a matt, because the sun was moving round, we moved to get into the shadows. Because we had moved I was in a different position and noticed something I had never seen before. As soon as I then saw that one feature, the whole scene changed and I saw it afresh.
Challenge: Shoot something with fresh eyes
So my challenge to you. Take a regular scene. Something you see everyday. And shoot it with fresh eyes.
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