This is a beautiful piece, Michael. As I get older I feel this urgency all the more, the things I take for granted changing or disappearing before my eyes. Such a good reminder to capture now, don't wait.
Thanks, Diana. Age certainly has me feeling more urgent lately. I wish I had felt that same urgency in my youth—far too busy then waiting for perfection, and often disappointed when I couldn't find it.
‘This is the truth about making photographs that matter: urgency’
I too think that time is as important as light when making images but I only partially agree with the statement above. Some photos I have taken have been months in the making. I work around my immediate surroundings which means I have the luxury of spotting a setting and deciding when the time is right for that fraction of a second to happen.
You make an excellent point about patience and time in photography. I meant "urgency" not as a call to rush, but as encouragement to begin creating now rather than waiting for perfect conditions. I love how you describe working with your surroundings. That's exactly the kind of active engagement with photography I was trying to encourage. Better to start now and keep returning, than to never begin at all.
Yes, guilty of it as well. And I certainly think there's great value in re-photographing something and telling different stories of the same subject over time, too! I have started taking this approach instead of waiting for the "right" conditions.
Ha! Thanks, yeah, when I was a kid I used to stay up listening to FM radio and dream about being a DJ. Still mad that didn’t pan out. I guess this will have to do!
I love this. I’ve honestly never thought about the viewpoint is a capture of a moment in time. What seemed interesting then as opposed to now. I’m not nearly as good of a photographer as you, but I’ve been trying to take my point and shoot film camera on runs with me. A lot of the times I pass up photos I think are interesting with the idea of “another time,” but I’m trying to change that. So yesterday I ran up the east side through McElderry and up to Biddle Street, stopping to take photos of things I found interesting. I’m glad I did it.
Thanks Robbe. I don't think of myself as good, just practiced. And even then, I have a lot of time to practice, still. I hope. Carrying your camera with you everywhere is a great way to chase the urgency and get practiced, yourself. Maybe someday we'll be "good!"
And that stretch of town is gorgeous, great for photos. I'd probably be stopping every few steps to make a photo. It's why I gave up running on the west side!
Reading this has shifted my photography mindset, perhaps making a big imprint if I take the teachings into practice. Already I'm looking around with a keener eye to what will be no more yet could be vaulted for years to come. Thank you very much for this
Great points about photography, and a great beginning towards the BIG question, why do we photograph??
"Why," indeed! And I mostly hope we never find out—some things are better as questions than as answers.
This is a beautiful piece, Michael. As I get older I feel this urgency all the more, the things I take for granted changing or disappearing before my eyes. Such a good reminder to capture now, don't wait.
Thanks, Diana. Age certainly has me feeling more urgent lately. I wish I had felt that same urgency in my youth—far too busy then waiting for perfection, and often disappointed when I couldn't find it.
‘This is the truth about making photographs that matter: urgency’
I too think that time is as important as light when making images but I only partially agree with the statement above. Some photos I have taken have been months in the making. I work around my immediate surroundings which means I have the luxury of spotting a setting and deciding when the time is right for that fraction of a second to happen.
You make an excellent point about patience and time in photography. I meant "urgency" not as a call to rush, but as encouragement to begin creating now rather than waiting for perfect conditions. I love how you describe working with your surroundings. That's exactly the kind of active engagement with photography I was trying to encourage. Better to start now and keep returning, than to never begin at all.
There’s just so much game here!
Thank you, Miles.
Who is they?
That’s classified.
A very welcomed reminder to shoot now. I call retell many moments where I put off capturing a shot to wait for a better "story".
Yes, guilty of it as well. And I certainly think there's great value in re-photographing something and telling different stories of the same subject over time, too! I have started taking this approach instead of waiting for the "right" conditions.
This is terrific. And so well-written. Thank you.
Chris, it’s an honor. Thank you.
I’m ready for your NPR debut. I feel healed listening to you.
Ha! Thanks, yeah, when I was a kid I used to stay up listening to FM radio and dream about being a DJ. Still mad that didn’t pan out. I guess this will have to do!
Beautiful piece. Almost feels like an homage to photography!
Thank you, Susanne. I think you’re right, whether I meant it that way or not! To photograph is such a powerfully loving act.
I love this. I’ve honestly never thought about the viewpoint is a capture of a moment in time. What seemed interesting then as opposed to now. I’m not nearly as good of a photographer as you, but I’ve been trying to take my point and shoot film camera on runs with me. A lot of the times I pass up photos I think are interesting with the idea of “another time,” but I’m trying to change that. So yesterday I ran up the east side through McElderry and up to Biddle Street, stopping to take photos of things I found interesting. I’m glad I did it.
Thanks Robbe. I don't think of myself as good, just practiced. And even then, I have a lot of time to practice, still. I hope. Carrying your camera with you everywhere is a great way to chase the urgency and get practiced, yourself. Maybe someday we'll be "good!"
And that stretch of town is gorgeous, great for photos. I'd probably be stopping every few steps to make a photo. It's why I gave up running on the west side!
I enjoyed your perspective. I agree 100%. Thanks for posting.
Reading this has shifted my photography mindset, perhaps making a big imprint if I take the teachings into practice. Already I'm looking around with a keener eye to what will be no more yet could be vaulted for years to come. Thank you very much for this
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