...then take pictures of it.
(all photos are from a stroll down South Street, Philadelphia)
Nothing more than that. I COULD tell you that I am attempting to elicit what I sense and experience at a given moment. But I'd be lying. Truthfully, I just see stuff that intrigues me...and click. To make it even more ambiguous, what catches my attention one day, I could totally walk by and not even notice the next.
Seems that recently, I've been asked more often the question "What do you like to shoot?".
I COULD say I like to focus on travel, portraits, street scenes, landscapes, architecture, every day life. And it would be true. Because I will shoot anything that interests me. I specialize in nothing. I appreciate the potential of everything.
I've never taken a photography class beyond a photo-journalism course during my college years. AKA the years of 35mm cameras and an antiquity called "film". I learn by shooting. Shooting a LOT. I like to explore. I find I "see" things as photographic images. My eye is weird that it works that way. I kinda like it, but it has the potential to annoy those I'm with. I like to believe it's an endearing idiosyncracy.
One thing I DO know is that I like to shoot in natural light. Not because of any artistic leaning. Mostly because using my flash yields AWFUL results. I should probably learn to remedy that. But truth is, I do not know half the things my DSLR is capable of. I don't even know, or use, the majority of buttons on my camera. The choices overwhelm me. My photography is pretty basic and bare bones. I'm okay with that because I don't like to "think" too much when shooting. It's visceral for me. Technical "thingies" make my eyes glaze over. And I need my eyes when using my camera, it's often the only thing I have going for me.
I am totally okay with asking another photographer "What settings are you using?". Or using Google to find out what settings I should use for shooting in certain conditions. I often need help. I'm not above having someone throw me a bone so I don't have to resort to "The light's just not right" to explain that I am all out of ideas and my photos s@ck! Help is ALWAYS good...when offered. I'm good at asking.
Truth is, I always get a bit uncomfortable when told something nice about my photography. I feel I should have a better understanding of the whole photographic process to merit compliments. The only thing I believe I'm truly good at is...my "eye". The rest? I see stuff...and then I take a picture. That simple. That uncomplicated. Maybe someday it will be more than that. But for now? I'm good with simple and uncomplicated. Two things this self-professed "high maintenance" girl isn't often accused of.
Here's where I'm linking up today ..."The Party's On"
Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.
This week's song title is Counting Crowes "Big Yellow Taxi".
Looks like this might be grafitti day and all of it is wonderful. Kathy you might have bare bones photography, however, your eye for this is definitely NOT BARE BONES. I think you have a wonderful eye for all that you see.
ReplyDeleteYou can learn technical stuff, but the eye is something that you've either got or not. You've got it! I'm trying to learn more of the buttons on my camera. I'd dearly love to be able to go into more portraiture photography.
ReplyDeleteThat is all you need in photography really...the eye is what makes a captivating image everytime. Love all the art...
ReplyDeleteIt's been way too many years {decades!} since I've walked down South St. Oh, how you've taken me back! I love how you describe what you do behind the lens. Your photos really do bring lots of joy - and I think {perhaps} it's because they connect us to you in a pretty "pure" way...if that makes any sense. {Also, I'm glad your title wasn't "I see..." Cause, for a split second I thought you might be seeing - you know - dead people}
ReplyDeleteYou always wow me and I enjoy your seeing stuff and clicking. That's the fun and pleasure of seeing with a photographers eye. I don't think I saw half of what I now see because of photography. Your images make me happy and what better goal is that of the photographer? The technicals come with time, but the eye is a gift!
ReplyDeleteHelp is always good!! These are AMAZING. Quelled my South Street craving (-:
ReplyDeleteBeautiful scenes
ReplyDeleteOhhhh South Street, one of the my favourite places in Philly. I have a picture of the door with the 'art' quote on it too that I have not posted yet and I took pictures of the recycled house but the light was bad and they didn't come out very well, so hopefully another time.
ReplyDeleteI think we share a lot of the same photography styles in that I tend to just go for it and I have never taken a photography class in my life but I do play with my setting on my camera and unless I am trying to shoot something that is moving I never use auto focus now. I like the manual settings as I can play with the light and the focus more.
Mollyxxx
A wonderful series of shots, Kathy! Those mosaics are amazing.
ReplyDeletePlease know that I have SUCH admiration for your photography. You have a wonderful and unique "eye" for it, and it's definitely a gift. I don't say that lightly. I mean it.
These are amazing shots Kathy, I want to follow you around! I do believe having an "eye" is one of the most important tools we can have - they just don't have THOSE buttons on the back of a camera. And if you don't have that, not even a $$$ high dollar camera is going to do anyone any good. I have seen photos from so called professionals with expensive gear that didn't do anything for me really. And speaking of taking a lot of photos....I have just darn near worn my sensor out I think...Niki is not acting herself and I'm inbetween the clicks my camera is supposed get. :(
ReplyDeleteLet me ask you this. Do you ever feel weird when taking pictures? I see beautiful things in Chicago everyday but I feel like a tourist loser if I stop and take a pic.
ReplyDeleteMy family might feel weird about it, but I don't. I like feeling like a tourist in my own city...helps me see the beauty others might take for granted :)
DeleteWow Kathy, awesome shots of those mosaic walls and all the other fun stuff. Seems like you took a very interesting walk. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou "saw" a lot of color and fascinating shapes and bits of this and that. And you captured it beautifully! I think you were born with your camera eye. No need for classes. Isn't it great that with digital cameras, it's possible to shoot so many photos and if only a few turn out, that's fine. Nothing like the days of film, when we had to wait for our few pictures to come back, and each one cost money. I still have trouble taking shot after shot -- seems decadent somehow!
ReplyDeleteI like to take pictures of anything and everything that catches my eye. Thank God for digital because I have literally transferred over 20 thousand photos from one computer to another...no kidding. I think of my camera as a pictorial memory bank of things I like, I've seen or found interesting. I'm one to notice almost everything and stop dead in my tracks, fish out my camera and begin taking pictures. It makes my husband a bit frustrated from time to time...but not me. I think of taking pictures as making the most of living in that moment.
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Kelly
LOVE THESE PICTURES!!! All I have to say is, "you are a natural!"
ReplyDeleteLOVE the colors! Great composition. :)
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to this post! I photograph in much the same way. I like to shoot what is really there and while I do add some texture on line I don't normally "set up" photos or do photo shoots. I enjoy the nitty gritty of the camera more than the fiddling around on line. By the way those are beautiful images...what settings were you using? ;)
ReplyDeleteI, for one, am VERY grateful for your eye...it's truly awesome. And this: "Technical "thingies" make my eyes glaze over." PERFECT. Me, too!! :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, I'm so envious -- you found the best stuff. I would love to shoot all that stuff too.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing wall art work. Love your explanation of your shooting style, free and easy very nice work.
ReplyDeleteI love that wall of junk! great urban finds!
ReplyDeleteI love what you see and capture, and I don't understand the half of what my camera does either ;). Have a beautiful weekend. Happy shooting!
ReplyDeleteYou really have a artistic eye! And that´s the most important thing of photographing.
ReplyDeleteI would SO love to come on a photo walk with you. These are outrageously fun. You do have a good eye for sure. I'm still learning(big curve) my camera!
ReplyDeletehehe...i see stuff too!! i like the stuff you see!!
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing in photography is to develop a good eye and I just love what you see. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI so totally agree and understand what you say. True for me too and I'd suspect most photo blog followers. Love you bringing me along.
ReplyDeleteQuite an amazing walk. Without the "eye" and passion for what you're doing, the technical stuff doesn't really do much.
ReplyDeleteThese are fabulous shots - you have a great eye for seeking out the unusual and interesting. I'm with you on the technical thingies - it's not really that I don't understand them but more they're so boring and my eyes do glaze over.Apologies for the late comment -I just can't seem to catch up with myself at the moment.
ReplyDelete