So I went back through my folders upon folders in I-photo to see if my minds eye could see any patterns and common themes. If I want to nourish my photography, I need to know what feeds it. As I perused photos my mind kept drifting to an article I saw a couple months ago on the Shutter Sister's blogsite about superpowers. And it dawned to me that I feel incredibly powerful when I am taking photos. I am in control, my minds eye can look at whatever it darn well pleases AND in whatever WAY it darn well pleases. So many of the photos I liked the best, I was asked "WHY are you taking a photo of THAT?" when I was snapping. Because I SEE beauty there, and quite frankly....I JUST WANT TO!
With my camera I am Batman's Mr. Freeze. I can freeze time and capture a moment forever. I can make an artform out of life...
Thing #3 - Barcelona, Spain
Street Entertainer - Berlin, Germany
I have a cloak of invisibility that is the perfect accessory for my camera. I have the ability to blend in and eavesdrop when I have it on. I can capture the reality of a situation and everyday life, without being noticed...
Gothic Quarter, Barcelona
Gothic Quarter - Barcelona, Spain
SOMETIMES, I can read minds...not just of humans, but animals too. They really aren't so different after all...
Thing #3 - Rome, Italy
Prague, Czech Republic
I have the amazing ability to transport you around the world, and you don't even have to leave your home (altho quite honestly...that is more fun for ME than for you)...
Venice, Italy
Paris, France
Cortona, Italy
But what I REALLY like to do, is to shoot microcosms, little bits and pieces, and leave the rest up to your imagination. I have the ability to hide the "big picture" from you, which is highly over-rated anyway...
The Eiffel Tower - Paris, France
Buckingham Palace - London, England
Parisian Bridge - Paris, France
I can bring inanimate objects to life through perspective...
Gargoyle on Notre Dame - Paris, France
Statuary Hand - Paris, France
My eyes have the power to zoom in and see the little things in life that are so beautiful, but often ignored in our haste...
Lichen on painted bench - Ambler, PA
Typewriter Keys - my basement shelf
But maybe most important, I have the ability to make you smile. My camera gives me the incentive to be aware and notice my surroundings...
Paris, France
THAT is why I take a picture of something most around me wonder what can I possibly be seeing. No one can tell me what to do. Maybe it isn't superpowers so much as just plain old power. The only place in my life where I am in complete control AND being creative at the same time...photography. It certainly gives me a free and all-powerful feeling. FYI, all these photos were taken by various point and shoot cameras. Nothing elaborate at all. The superpower is not within the cape, it is within the person...the mind's eye.
Just because...
--Kathy
Wow, Kathy, what a great post! And a fascinating collection of very cool photographs--from the sublime to the ridiculous. Your feelings of invisibility behind a camera interest me and your candid photos of people make it seem that you really are. I love the girl feeding the pigeons.
ReplyDeleteI suspected you had superpowers all along, thank you for the confirmation. This is an amazing set of photographs, but I agree with Joanna, the girl with the pigeons is awesome.
ReplyDeleteOh Yay! I get to be an early commentor on this fab post. First I am completely jealous that you're taking Kat's class. You're going to shoot your eye out and then find it. I loved the journey with Kat and I'm sure you will too.
ReplyDeleteGreat images from around the world. I love that you tlak about "power" and being able to be invisible and ease drop. Funny-me too-but I don't feel that way without the camera. Odd isn't it?
Love those 3 elderly ladies in Barcelona, thing 3 and the dog in the window, the Gargoyl POV-that's wow, and traveling the globe with you. Best wishes on your journey. It will suit and serve you well.
What an excellent array of photos! And I love your story about how you feel as you take the photos. I find inspiration in all of them - you have a fabulous eye!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Okay, 1, I am so jealous of your travels! Really, really, jealous! 2, these are STUNNING! I am in love with the one of the eiffel tower, so amazing!!
ReplyDeleteLucky you... getting to travel so much. Very nice photos!
ReplyDeleteThere's an award for you over at my place. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! and yes I believe you have superpowers too... You put on your red stilettos and your off look at you go :)
Great, great post! Food for thought! As I was reading I was thinking, yes! yes! yes! That's me too! So it'll serve as a jumping off point to think about this question for me too! Also, any post that contains this many photos of Paris (my home for 12 years!) deserves an award of some sort!
ReplyDelete...I should have said - this many BEAUTIFUL photos of Paris!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all your super powerful photos and the entertaining journey!!! You have a way with words, as well as images!
ReplyDeleteHi! Fancy to meet you here - in a class with Kat!! LOVE your post. Never considered the control aspect of photography. It is kinda nice to control what you want to capture & how you do it. Never thought about it from that angle. Being a little bit of a control freak, you would've thought it would go through my mind. ha! I absolutely love your shots. So glad you DIDN'T shoot your eye out!
ReplyDeletewow, Kathy, what a inspiring post! i am speechless...i love your perspective in your photos.And all the places you have been. Lucky you! i am so glad i am on this journey with you.
ReplyDeleteOh lucky you, 1) for being in that many wonderful places 2) for having your camera with you and able to capture those fabulous images 3) for having the power to see 4) for expanding your powers for taking Kat's class. And I like them all...just because!!
ReplyDeleteLove the Gargoyle. And also the typewriter keys. These are truly wonderful captures, Kathy. I loved your post.
ReplyDeleteHello Kathy, I enjoyed reading your whole post which was illustrated with an amazing array of different photos. I love the way you give little details of some things without showing the whole object (like the Eiffel Tower), much more interesting!
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed the backview of the three elderly ladies as it tells a story and I alos loved the girl at the window, so beautifully framed.
You are already an acomplished photographer! I have enjoyed my visit here!
I think you tell such lovely stories with your images. Thank you for sharing how you feel about photography...the world can look so different behind the lens.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy - I love you post. It was so interesting to read. I bet you were so much fun when you were a little girl. I enjoyed looking at all of your photos and appreciating the contrasts. The shot of the girl looking out the window and the dog looking out the window are stuck in my head. (in a good way)
ReplyDeleteMornin' Kathy, great shots. Some made me go "ohhhh, ahhhh" and some made me giggle. Great way to start my day. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are in a word: AMAZING!!!!! I love that you feel power with a camera in your hand and that you take photos of things just because you want to :) You have an artist's eye. I wonder how you got the feel of an old photo in the gargoyle shot?
ReplyDeleteThat should be your next selfie - with a cape! ; )
ReplyDeleteNot sure I have ever equated "snapping" to feeling powerful although that is an interesting thought to ponder, but I do somewhat feel that invisibility cloak when behind the lens. Although sometimes I'm found out and clarinet players find me, lol! (Greek festival) I do love when people come up to me and ask me in the most perplexed way, "What do you see"? I think that is what feels most powerful for me, that I'm able to see things others pass by.
Now, I am very jeaous that you've been to all those incredible places...I was born in Spain!
And second, I think I'm even more jealous that you are in Kat's class, I missed it by the hair on my chinny chin chin!!! : ( (I even thought about begging)
Oh, and it goes without saying that this is an incredible set of photos - wow!
ReplyDeleteAnd everything you photographed here is ...wow! First, I was flabbergasted at the range of geographic locations, but I loved the images you chose to share. Then, I identified with what you were saying about being a photographer. Great!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are AMAZING! And I love all your superpowers. Genius.
ReplyDeleteYes! A feeling of power - I love it! Your enthusiasm, confidence and personality just exude from your words and images. I love how you framed it in superpowers. :) So very fun. But really, that's what it's all about, isn't it? Enjoying what we do with our cameras, connecting with ourselves and sharing that with others. I love your response to this assignment, and that you pushed yourself beyond "just because."
ReplyDeleteYour photos are indeed art.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's reason enough for taking them.
=)
You never cease to amaze me Kathy. Amazing photographs and words that have left me much to ponder today. Thanks for blessing me.
ReplyDeleteI just love this post.. I have always said you don't need a fancy camera to take great photos and you just proved it.. But the fancy camera sure is fun!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Linda
Your photos are so much fun. I especially like the 3 women walking in Barcelona - I'm drawn to photos of women - well, just because....
ReplyDeleteOh Kathy what super post. I loved reading it and looking and all of your wonderful pictures. You are right - every picture definately tells a story.
ReplyDeleteYou have visited a lot of beautiful places and captured great images from them.
I'm looking forward to doing this course with Kat - hope you enjoy it too. :))
wow these are all really beautiful shots! I can't decide which is my favorite! I love the girl in the window...and you're shot of Paris. Just stunning images!
ReplyDeleteBtw, I'm still doing a link-up on my blog every Tuesday, you should stop by!
Well said Kathy & GORGEOUS shots. I never really thought about all those things that add to my love for photography. But they are there. Mine always stemmed from seeing beautiful images & wanting the ability to create my own. Not wanting to shell out an arm & a leg for beautiful images of my kids. I want to capture the beauty I see all around me & save it for when I need a smile down the road.
ReplyDeleteAll wonderful photos - I think the 3 ladies in Barcelona and view including the eiffel tower in Paris and the sunflowers in cortona Italy really caught my eye. You've tied your thoughts and the photos togethers so fluidly and beautifully in this post - thanks for such a good read and viewing.
ReplyDeleteWOW -- there is so much to comment on here I am not quite sure where to start.
ReplyDeletefirst of all - you are obviously living the life I dream of. I want to travel and see the world - or at least a very large part of Europe. I love all the different countries you have represented here - and using photos that are not just the typical postcard image (particularly enthralled with the three older ladies walking down the cobblestone path --- such a story captured in a single image)
Secondly - I was able to visit Paris for two weeks this summer and I am in awe of the perspectives you found of the Eiffel Tower! The aerial view with the orange trees looks like a painting - and the macro shot brings out the beauty of the details that are lost when viewing her from a distance.
Thirdly - I find it fascinating that you like photography because it allows you total control. I am a control freak and I constantly feel out of control when using my camera :) But I think that is because I am still new to this and I have not become familiar with my camera - she is not a close friend yet. And I have not practiced enough. But I look forward to it!
Oh, wow! I know that I am going to be back here to look at these again and again and again. So much to see...sheer gorgeousness!
ReplyDeleteI so relate to this post. There is just something about being able to "freeze" a moment. In only the way YOU see it. Bits and pieces. Your photos are FABULOUS and that last one did give me a good chuckle. lol Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKathy, Kathy Kathy...wow...this is really a wonderful post. europe is so magical and you have some really amazing images. I LOVE those 3 ladies walking. And the photo of "thing 3" looking our the window....is quite stirring. I can't imagine what was going through her mind at the time you snapped that shot. My dream is Paris....
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I had to laugh when you said you were ask, "Why are you taking a picture of THAT?" Ha ha, I get that all the time. Glad I'm in good company. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! This post makes me want to pack my bags and travel! I love your sunflower shot! And the gargoyle? What a view! Love the old typewriter keys, I can almost feel their texture, and remember how the ink used to always get on my hands.
ReplyDeleteYOu sure have powers. Among those above is also the power of beautiful writing that accompanies your photography. Your blog is a wonderful place for me and others to visit, relax for a moment and feed the senses. Yeay for 'Super freeze K'.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said. People have said the same thing to me. Why are you taking a picture of that? Your answer is great.
ReplyDeleteThese photos really took me on a journey today. They are all wonderful, from the vistas to the intimate closeups. And the three women walking, just fantastic!
This is a great selection of your photos. And...they make me long for another trip to Europe! Sigh...
ReplyDeleteHi classmate! How much do I love that you call your daughter Thing #3? A LOT. I also loved your post. It really resonated with me and why I do photography. Especially the word power - I never would have come up with that on my own, but now that I've read it, I can see how it also influences my own thought processes. Thank you for the wonderful words and images!
ReplyDeleteJust wow! I thought you resembled Wonder Woman -- now I know your true identity. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this post! I really did feel like I just traveled around the world! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots, I'd love to travel to all those places! Thanks for sharing, Laura
ReplyDeleteKathy you have excelled yourself with this post - and it expresses so much of what I feel about photography. Your images are glorious - and I don't think I've ever seen a more camp-looking statue than the one in Paris with the bird on his head! :O) Carry on snapping x
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy, I love your post and the others that I checked out too. Your photographs are beautiful and very creative. I especially like you street photography........in particular the three ladies walking down the street in Spain.
ReplyDeletewow Kathy, what an amazing post. i love that you see it as a superpower!! I really love your all your images but my favorites are the 3 ladies walking down the alley & the view out over paris & the eiffel tower, i dream of going to these faraway places, thanks for taking me there.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and i love all of these places . Looks like you are a traveler like i am! Just sorry that i have not always had my DSLR. Well, guess will just have to keep traveling! Enjoyed this post alot! Jeanne
ReplyDeleteI'm finally getting to see the responses to Lesson #1 that I missed last week. Your quote "I am in complete control AND being creative at the same time" really spoke to me. Your photos are very effective. I especially enjoyed the ones where you focussed on an isolated element as you did in the detail at the Eiffel Tower. And of course, the touches of humor in some photos.
ReplyDelete