I really enjoyed this set of readings and felt like it had a lot to apply to my photography, as well as my life in some ways.
Anne Lamott: I love her writing style! She's honest and funny, so this was a really fast read. I thought she made some good points about having to just get started, take a project in little pieces, and get over being perfect. It took me a little bit sometimes to connect how this to photography, but I think it's like writing in many ways. You have to let yourself just get started on a project, in small pieces, but just take any photos you can on your initial shoot, because you never know what might grow into something more. You don't always need a solid focus on a long term project at the start. Shoot so you have options, then do better on each successive take. I really liked the chapter on not being perfect, and needing to let it go so you can discover new and wonderful things in the chaos and clutter.
Gross and Shapiro: I thought this went well with what we talked about shooting a picture story. You have to change your perception so each picture is interesting and new for the viewer. It had some good techniques to reconstruct reality, and then gave examples of each. I liked what it said about changing perspective, trying to think of how different creatures would see the same world that we see. I do find myself viewing things from the same lens and the same height, instead of moving up or down, back and forth.
Lenswork Podcast- 10,000 Hours: I liked how this one talked about how you have to work hard. Talent does count for some things, but it's when you put in the work that you really get good. You train your eye to see a style, and to see what works or not. That's developed over time, and not many people are just born with it. I think it's encouraging in a way to people who have to work a little harder at photography, that we really will be better in the long run. Talent can be learned, and you can get further if you work hard at it, instead of coasting on natural talent.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
No Greater Love, by Carol Guzy- The Washington Post
The best picture stories to me are the ones that move you, make you feel something intense. It can be happiness, anger, or sorrow. And I love stories of people overcoming obstacles, or just having the strength to do something I don't think I could.
This story, "No Greater Love," I came across as I was looking at the Washington Post website. The short little summary under the thumbnail caught my attention. It was about a 104-year-old woman taking care of her 92-year-old bedridden sister. That was enough of a story to drag me in.
The multi-chapter piece that followed just broke my heart when I watched. I actually ended up crying at the end of both chapters I watched. There were several aspects of this story that I thought made it better than just a slideshow of still photographs.
The audio was one of the first things to jump out at me. I honestly feel like that was the stronger part of the piece. There were times it was hard to understand what they were saying, but you could tell that was what it sounded like. These two very old women had a hard time communicating at times. The quality of the audio was flawless though, both the interviews and the natural sound that was recorded. The nat sound was actually what made the story seem more intimate to me. You really felt like you were there. There was so much of it built into the piece that it created an atmosphere, and it was woven together beautifully.
The story also had a strong central character and a compelling story. This woman, Classie, had been taking care of her bedridden sister for over 20 years, when she herself had health issues and was over 100 years old! That's quite a strong woman. It gave the story a central focus, and the relationship between the sisters just added to it. I think stories like this resonate with all types of people.
I am always amazed when a photographer gets such intimate access with their subjects. It shows a lot about their personality, determination, and how committed they are to the story. I appreciated that the photographer continued with the story of Classie even after her sister had passed. That clearly wasn't the end. Guzy followed Classie as she then focused on her own health issues, and was even present when she finally passed. The level of trust and respect she received from the whole family, not just Classie allowed her to do that. I think that commitment, telling the story all the way to the end, left me feeling like I understood the whole story better. I would have wondered what became of Classie if it had only been told in the first chapter. The completeness impressed me.
I think all the reasons I liked this story are good aspects for me to think about when finding my own stories. I think finding a story I have a strong emotional connection to will help me stay focused and dedicated. I think finding that personal connection will make it much more rewarding than just a class assignment.
This story, "No Greater Love," I came across as I was looking at the Washington Post website. The short little summary under the thumbnail caught my attention. It was about a 104-year-old woman taking care of her 92-year-old bedridden sister. That was enough of a story to drag me in.
The multi-chapter piece that followed just broke my heart when I watched. I actually ended up crying at the end of both chapters I watched. There were several aspects of this story that I thought made it better than just a slideshow of still photographs.
The audio was one of the first things to jump out at me. I honestly feel like that was the stronger part of the piece. There were times it was hard to understand what they were saying, but you could tell that was what it sounded like. These two very old women had a hard time communicating at times. The quality of the audio was flawless though, both the interviews and the natural sound that was recorded. The nat sound was actually what made the story seem more intimate to me. You really felt like you were there. There was so much of it built into the piece that it created an atmosphere, and it was woven together beautifully.
The story also had a strong central character and a compelling story. This woman, Classie, had been taking care of her bedridden sister for over 20 years, when she herself had health issues and was over 100 years old! That's quite a strong woman. It gave the story a central focus, and the relationship between the sisters just added to it. I think stories like this resonate with all types of people.
I am always amazed when a photographer gets such intimate access with their subjects. It shows a lot about their personality, determination, and how committed they are to the story. I appreciated that the photographer continued with the story of Classie even after her sister had passed. That clearly wasn't the end. Guzy followed Classie as she then focused on her own health issues, and was even present when she finally passed. The level of trust and respect she received from the whole family, not just Classie allowed her to do that. I think that commitment, telling the story all the way to the end, left me feeling like I understood the whole story better. I would have wondered what became of Classie if it had only been told in the first chapter. The completeness impressed me.
I think all the reasons I liked this story are good aspects for me to think about when finding my own stories. I think finding a story I have a strong emotional connection to will help me stay focused and dedicated. I think finding that personal connection will make it much more rewarding than just a class assignment.
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