My Todo

My shooting todo/notes:

1. Record the time and location for best interesting/good light – revisit at those times
2. Keep going back till you get the ‘shot’ – don’t compromise!!!
3. Put more content in the picture (stand back more) – you’re still to simplistic
4. Record interesting spots:
• Look for bottlenecks where people need to pass by
• Look for interesting geometries (at 50mm and 24mm)
5. Think about the how & what before stepping out

98% Of All Creation Is Accident

Came across upon an interview with Dennis Hopper, actor, director, photographer, writer, as part of the Inside the Actor’s Studio series.

What really shined was his quote – according to him – by Jean Cocteau:

98% of all creation is accident, 1% is intellect and 1% logic, and [the act of] creation is learning how to make the accidental work for you.

Intent Part 2

I can’t seem to shake off this idea of photographic intent. After having researched the topic a little, there seems to be a school of thought that photographic intention should be clear. Yes, I do get that, and in many cases it is an important aspect of the photographic experience. Though I’m really struggling to reconcile that dogma personally.

Clearly, showing intent is unavoidable as you essentially choose the moment. But for me it seems to be the degree of it (if that is possible). With ‘intent’ I see something like this:

• Balance: between the style (form) and substance (content) of the photo. if it’s too stylistic the intent feels too pushed.
• The message: is the photographer pushing the idea in my face and how many stories are there?
• The obvious: ironies, forms (e.g. symmetry etc) that were framed.
• Fluidity: the degree in which the photo seems to live by itself.
• A decisive moment: the spontaneity caught of events unfolding.
• Chance: the degree to which something seems to have occurred by itself.

Essentially if the intent is/becomes too obvious a photo loses some of its magic for me. When examining my own photos it seems that I’m often drawn to the first shot of a particular sequence – the one you take with the least bit of thought…

Intent Vs. Accident And Form Vs. Content

Recently I read some things on form and content and how they both need to be part of a picture to make it successful. Though, I’m struggling more and more with the idea of intent versus accident (or the ‘unplanned’) and the motivation(s) behind it. The thought concretized when I saw a recent picture of Santa Claus exiting a bar. The intent (obvious irony) waged too heavy though it seemed it was a spontaneous moment. When a photo is clearly composed, such as a portrait, you buy into the intent and accept it. The added bonus is perhaps the odd unplanned facial expression giving away some recognizable truth. So do those two elements need to be in a photo? Still contemplating…

Documentary – The Last Roll of Kodachrome

On the plane back to Singapore I watched this little gem. It was interesting to see Steve McCurry’s working style in this documentary. Especially the time he took to ‘find’ the shots. Not sure if it was because it was the last roll but the message to me was – “shoot when you really sense you have something”. In contrast, I’m a digital wild child and will pretty much shoot anything that reflects light and filtering in post.

So the question is: how do we learn to ‘shoot in film’ in a digital world?

One way perhaps is to tape over your lcd and only use one 256kb (or less) card. Make sure you are far away from home, avoid a laptop and don’t peel off the tape!

Have fun!