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Principles of Classic Photography

7/25/2013

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I created these principes of classic photography and as it turns out they can form the foundation upon which to build a life. Much I learned from such classic photographers as Dorothea Lange and Sam Abell. I offer them for your pondering.

Principles of Classic Photography, and

the foundation of a creating manner of life

1. Follow the leadings that come many times every day.

2. Bad weather makes good photographs--opportunities.

3. When a leading brings you to a certain place, get everything ready, stay put, then wait, wait, wait to see what unfolds.

4. Get up early before anyone else in the house, make coffee, sink into the uninterrupted stillness/silence, and write whatever comes out of you in a journal.

5. Photograph low with the sun on the left or right; look from angles that are not the usual and customary; for example go 360 degree around a flower; use every lens in the bag to practice looking from every possible angle.

6. Cause no harm. Put everything back.

7. Ask permission of a person. Do not sneak a photograph. Do not steal.

8. Stay connected to the kind, thoughtful, gentle ones who laugh at themselves with ease; human and other than human.

9. Create a simple, focused photograph; create a simple, focused manner of living.

10. Portraits: ask gentle questions, answer any question. You have nothing you have to defend about yourself. Nurse a glass of water for an hour or more—Dorothea Lange. You will catch glimpses of the best in the other person, and yourself as well. Expect to see those glimpses of the best. That’s your portrait you are after; and that your portrait too.

11. Practice photography every day; practice your best gratitude and generosity of spirit every day.

12. You have been given everything you need already for creating the patterns and rhythms of classic photography, and of your life. You are your own best teacher; you are the expert about you.

13. This moment is as perfect as it needs to be for you to love; this moment is as imperfect as it needs to be for you to serve.

Is it important to ask permission?

7/22/2013

Yes, and for several reasons.
Let's take some very different situations. I'm walking down the street and see a remarkable moment between two people, or the face or the dress of someone that I find breath-taking.
I could stop, turn around, and catch up and say something like, Excuse me, but your expression, or the way your dressed, or ? looked so beautiful or stopped me in my tracks, or was so memorable, i don't think I'll ever forget it..... Begin with something honest about why you want to photograph them. We are then giving them respect and kindness, which is very rare in these days, especially from photographers. Then we might ask without intensity, "I'm wondering, would it be OK if I took your photograph?" That's about what happened with the two bikers. "I was driving by and saw how beautiful your red bikes look. You make an amazing scene. Would you mind if I took a photograph? I promise I'll be a quiet as a mouse." "Yeah, sure." No problem. But some people will say no and I just let it go. I say thank you, smile, and walk away. Maybe I leave with them a kind word or something that expresses, you look terrific.
In some cases, people have emmigrated to our country because if they stayed in their own country, they would have been killed. They will move away from any camera, so they don't endanger themselves or family that are still in danger.
It doesn't matter. What does matter is that I respect their wish not to be photographed, and move on with a smile and a kind word.
This applies especially in Ohio among the Amish. It is well known that to photograph an Amish person is offensive and disrespectful. So sneaking a photograph in any way, no matter how long a telephoto lens, is called stealing. I don't have to ask permission. I know the answer in advance. And I put my camera away in the car when I travel in Amish counties. Or I photograph landscapes from country roads, but never people. Stealing a person's image with a camera is an act of violence. But waving from my car to their buggy, passing by their buggy just a little faster than they are driving, is respectful and kind.
Yes, it's immportant and it really matters to ask permission, and sometimes we know ahead of time, the other person will not want to be photographed. Kindness, thoughtfulness, being neighborly, that's what I'm writing about, isn't it?

"Beauty" one response to schools cutting art and music

7/2/2013

I was so upset by the cutting of art and music from so many school curriculum that I grumped for many days. Then I asked myself, "Self, what small thing could you create that would make a creative, constructive contribution to the negative atmosphere?" The book I have loved the most that speaks about Beauty is by the Poet, John O'Donohue-- Beauty, the Divine Embrace. I created a lovely Power Point with Scottish music, lovely images, and quotations from John's book. This became the basic for my little response to an American culture that dismisses Beauty as unimportant, easily expendable. An abbreviated Power Point is on the home page of my website: Beauty, Nudges from Our Inward Teacher. Click here to go directly to the slide show; at the top click "slide show;" at the top left click "beginning slide." In a few seconds the Point Point will appear; wait...wait... the first few slides slow us down, and then the music and quotations about Beauty begin. May it spread like a happy spring vine.

Principles of Classic Photography

Is it important to ask permission?

"Beauty" one response to schools cutting art and music

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