How to "see"....

[MattKing]

That's sometimes hard to do when you have a mind that works the way mine does. I want to do it, and I can, but then I also want to know WHY things happen when I do them. Like I said, technical enough to pull it off, but careless enough to enjoy it.

Ah, but the rules are there to prevent understanding WHY.
Knowing and following the rules is different than understanding what happens.
Arguably the Zone system is a simplified and (somewhat) easier to understand version of a much more complex subject - sensitometry.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

Yeah, its settled. You're my new best friend. Call me every 5 minutes.

ROFL. I'll start calling about midnight pacific time. Stand by for inanity

 

[removed account4]

I've got an unofficial NY's resolution to take elevate my photography this year, and I think I'm going to start by devising some "seeing" exercises.

Christopher
instead of seeing exercises you should devise Unseeing exercises .. the moment you remove the shackles of convention, of seeing, or doing what all the books tell you do to, and what
people who wish you well tell you to do and try (myself included) you will be closer to your goal. The problem with photography is people automatically think there is some formula to seeing and doing and making great photos, they think great things will happen if they just prepare and see and all that, but the reality is that great photographs are all around us 24hours a day and we are trained NOT to see them because they aren't interesting compositions or interesting sights, we see them all the time, they are boring &c. but those are exactly the things that make great photographs. sure its great to learn and take classes in composition, the golden mean, the rule of thribby ( he was tribby the thurd ) the search and destroy mode photographic hunters are always in as they sharpshoot with their cameras .. they miss what's right infront of them because they are too busy seeing instead of Unseeing. sure read the books watch the videos, zen-out but as soon as you dump all that stuff in the gutter you will be able to do what you want.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Christopher
instead of seeing exercises you should devise Unseeing exercises .. the moment you remove the shackles of convention, of seeing, or doing what all the books tell you do to, and what
people who wish you well tell you to do and try (myself included) you will be closer to your goal. The problem with photography is people automatically think there is some formula to seeing and doing and making great photos, they think great things will happen if they just prepare and see and all that, but the reality is that great photographs are all around us 24hours a day and we are trained NOT to see them because they aren't interesting compositions or interesting sights, we see them all the time, they are boring &c. but those are exactly the things that make great photographs. sure its great to learn and take classes in composition, the golden mean, the rule of thribby ( he was tribby the thurd ) the search and destroy mode photographic hunters are always in as they sharpshoot with their cameras .. they miss what's right infront of them because they are too busy seeing instead of Unseeing. sure read the books watch the videos, zen-out but as soon as you dump all that stuff in the gutter you will be able to do what you want.

I hear what you're saying. I've heard a lot of what everyone has said and it's caused me to think a lot this week. It's also gotten me quite excited to receive my new 645 gear tomorrow, and get out for some shooting on Saturday.

 

[George Mann]

I wouldn't feel right crticising Lomo. They're having fun. They're using film.

No criticism. Just tongue in cheek humor amongst those that normally seek perfection.

 

[foc]

When I do venture over to Lomography and scroll though their community photos (https://www.lomography.com/photos?page=1) I'm always greeted with a good number of interesting and creative photos. Not all of course, but enough to hold my attention.

+1

I wouldn't feel right crticising Lomo. They're having fun. They're using film.

+1

 

[ChristopherCoy]

if you have't read it, the zen and the art of archery is a pretty good book about photography

have fun !

This excerpt really hit hard....

This exquisite state of unconcerned immersion in oneself is not, unfortunately, of long duration. It is liable to be disturbed from inside. As though sprung from nowhere, moods, feelings, desires, worries and even thoughts incontinently rise up, in a meaningless jumble, and the more farfetched and preposterous they are, and the less they have to do with that on which one has fixed one's consciousness, the more tenaciously they hang on. It is as though they wanted to avenge themselves on consciousness for having, through concentration, touched upon realms it would otherwise never reach. The only successful way of rendering this disturbance inoperative is to keep on breathing quietly and unconcernedly, to enter into friendly relations with whatever appears on the scene, to accustom oneself to it, to look at it equably and at last grow weary of looking. In this way one gradually gets into a state which resembles the melting drowsiness on the verge of sleep.

 

[removed account4]

This excerpt really hit hard....

yeah. ... its good stuff.
I have a few cameras that are box cameras, some big ( 4x5 and even ULF ones I have made my self that are like 22x14 ), I can't use the viewing milk glass on them I just know I push the button and it either goes click or I have it on T and I have to click it a 2nd time for the eye to close. I never know what is in the field of view I never know the iso of the film or paper that is in them, then f-stops .. no clue. I just point and push the button and develop the film or paper. like the arrow the camera knows where to go the bow knows it is flexed and the shutter is poised.. you just have to forget about everything and with all your strength but showing none just push the button. once you get good at that with a crappy box camera using this method with a nice ( like yours ) film camera it becomes really easy. its just film and paper after all... and we are given 10,000 bad ones to screw up off the mark.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

yeah. ... its good stuff.

This excerpt also resonated with me.

He sticks to this traditional custom because he knows from experience that the preparations for working put him simultaneously in the right frame of mind for creating. The meditative repose in which he performs them gives him that vital loosening and equability of all his powers, that collectedness and presence of mind, without which no right work can be done. Sunk without purpose in what he is doing, he is brought face to face with that moment when the work, hovering before him in ideal lines, realizes itself as if of its own accord.

When I think about my photographic "career", the best work I ever produced was when I was working in the studio that I shared with my sister in law. I had a method for every time I photographed. Before the client would get there, I had my lights set up, camera settings dialed in, backdrop extended and cleaned. The client would come in with their dog, I'd get to know the dog, I'd introduce the dog to the shooting area, fire the flash a few times to get them used to it, and start in shooting. Throughout the session I never worried about key lights, fill lights, camera setting changes, it was just all there, set up, and I worked with what was there. And it worked. I wonder what is was that made me forget about that process and how satisfying it was.

This shoot was extremely hard. The child wasn't happy, the dogs weren't happy with the unhappy child, and the mother yelling over my shoulder and the unhappy child and dogs wasn't helping much. But in a fraction of a second, I snapped this expression, and this photo remains one of my most proud moments. (ignore the watermark, I thought I was a professional back then.)

DaneParty by Christopher Coy, on Flickr

 

[Michael Firstlight]

This excerpt really hit hard....

I read all that with far fewer words. Put much more simply, learn mindfulness and use meditation techniques to focus better and be intentional.

If that doesn't work, take a hit of 420.

MFL

 

[MattKing]

I wonder what is was that made me forget about that process and how satisfying it was.

It was the dogs - they don't judge, and you don't expect them to.

 

[foc]

And it worked. I wonder what is was that made me forget about that process and how satisfying it was.

I think you answered your own question here:

I had a method for every time I photographed. Before the client would get there, I had my lights set up, camera settings dialed in, backdrop extended and cleaned.

Because you were shooting in a controlled environment, you only had to concentrate on your subject.
Everything else was set up beforehand (camera settings, lighting, exposure) and your subjects were familiar with the setting, so all you had to do was press the shutter at the right moment. (sounds so easy, if only)

BTW great shot of the girl and dogs. The expressions of the girl and the dogs say it all.

You mentioned the mother shouting over your shoulder. When I shot in my studio, I only allowed 1 parent in (for child safety reasons) and they had to sit in a chair behind me and keep quiet and not interfere.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have never been able to see a minimalist composition on my own. I think I need to get my brain retrofitted.

 

[Peter Schrager]

learning to see? just open your eyes!!

 

[Vaughn]

learning to see? just open your eyes!!

That is sort of like trying to learn chemistry by just sleeping with a chemistry text book under one's pillow. It actually takes a little time/studying/effort to improve. For some of us, anyway.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That is sort of like trying to learn chemistry by just sleeping with a chemistry text book under one's pillow. It actually takes a little time/studying/effort to improve. For some of us, anyway.

Knowledge migrates from the region of greater concentration to the region of lesser concentration.

 

[Sirius Glass]

learning to see? just open your eyes!!

There is a big difference between visual seeing and seeing to compose. I have not been very successful on the latter and better on the former.

 

[removed account4]

This excerpt also resonated with me.



When I think about my photographic "career", the best work I ever produced was when I was working in the studio that I shared with my sister in law. I had a method for every time I photographed. Before the client would get there, I had my lights set up, camera settings dialed in, backdrop extended and cleaned. The client would come in with their dog, I'd get to know the dog, I'd introduce the dog to the shooting area, fire the flash a few times to get them used to it, and start in shooting. Throughout the session I never worried about key lights, fill lights, camera setting changes, it was just all there, set up, and I worked with what was there. And it worked. I wonder what is was that made me forget about that process and how satisfying it was.

This shoot was extremely hard. The child wasn't happy, the dogs weren't happy with the unhappy child, and the mother yelling over my shoulder and the unhappy child and dogs wasn't helping much. But in a fraction of a second, I snapped this expression, and this photo remains one of my most proud moments. (ignore the watermark, I thought I was a professional back then.)

DaneParty by Christopher Coy, on Flickr

yeah that's it. its about tuning in your intuition because everything is 2nd nature... it has less to do with seeing as it does with being in the moment

 

[glbeas]

Knowledge migrates from the region of greater concentration to the region of lesser concentration.

Practical experience has demonstrated to me that quite often the reverse is true. The dumb ones just seem to get dumber and refuse to listen to any common sense.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Practical experience has demonstrated to me that quite often the reverse is true. The dumb ones just seem to get dumber and refuse to listen to any common sense.

The famous: Knowledge migrates from the region of lessor concentration to the region of greater concentration. AKA The dumb get dumber.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The dumb ones just seem to get dumber and refuse to listen to any common sense.

As a 911 operator and law enforcement dispatcher, I can most certainly say, without a doubt, that you sir are entirely CORRECT.

 

[Sirius Glass]

As a 911 operator and law enforcement dispatcher, I can most certainly say, without a doubt, that you sir are entirely CORRECT.

Life is wonderful. Just when you think people cannot be a bigger moron than the last one, life prove you wrong.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Practical experience has demonstrated to me that quite often the reverse is true. The dumb ones just seem to get dumber and refuse to listen to any common sense.

If common sense is common, why is it so hard to find in the real world.

 

[Vaughn]

If common sense is common, why is it so hard to find in the real world.

It really isn't all that hard to find...perhaps our sampling techniques just need refining. Common sense does not make the news nor appear on "fail" videos.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

It really isn't all that hard to find....

Having answered 911 lines in the past only to be asked “yeah buddy, you know if Walmart is open right now”, I’d say common sense is QUITE difficult to locate.