The Innocent Eye

[MaximusM3]

So...my baby daughter is now 16, and of course she's taking photography in school. She has never shown much interest and she thinks daddy is absolutely insane..but I digress...
I have armed her with my Nikon FM3A, a 50mm lens, a roll of Tri-X and some very basic knowledge so she could operate the camera. Nothing more, as she would not have listened anyway She had an assignment from her teacher, blew through the roll, and a few days ago, developed it and made a contact sheet. This was all a first ever for her. When I saw the contact sheet, I must say, my mouth fell open. First of all, each image was perfectly exposed, and I mean dead on. More importantly, every frame was fun, composed with an innocent eye, unbound by the many bullshit rules seasoned photographers live by, and because of that, the images are fresh, alive, and different.

It reminded me that the more we know, learn about the great photographers of the past, emulate them, (or at least aspire to), become entangled in rules, zone systems, boundaries, developers, film, gear, the more we lose sight of what is important. Maybe it's just part of aging, of becoming older but not always wiser, and forgetting that....the innocent eye is free to see.

 

[removed account4]

fun stuff max ... chip off the old block !

i try never to pay attention to any rules .. i guess
i should have a mohawk like i did in the 80s

probably won't since every 2nd and 1st grader
tends to have a mohawk cause its a " cute " fashion statement ?

 

[Mike Wilde]

If we look from the 80's to today I don't have enough hair left to style it in any of the ways I did then!!

Yes, it is great to see what fresh eyes can see. I find I need a new place now before I can see images. Like what going on a holiday or workshop does.

Everything around me in my everyday life feels so stale why would I want to capture an image of that?

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

''I'm a celebrator. That's why I like the Russians. They look at a tree and cry out, 'Look at that tree!' They're full of original astonishments.''

— Mel Brooks, quoted by Kenneth Tynan in Frolics and Detours of a Short Hebrew Man, The New Yorker, October 30, 1978

Ken

 

[BMbikerider]

Inexperience often brings a breath of fresh air. Not bound by rules and other matters that tend to confuse those who have been in the game a long time.

I know that when my son was about 9-10 I gave him an old folding roll film camera and helped him with exposure/focussing etc. After that it was an Olympus OM10 and well as they say is history. He's 37 now and a better photographer than I will ever be. Whats more he's come back to film after a brief 'honeymoon' with digital.

 

[mooseontheloose]

No doubt...it pains me when I come to the realization that I had a better eye when I was first starting out than I do now. Sometimes too much information can be debilitating....

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I have had difficulty lately just taking a photograph. I worry too much about whether it will meet my expectations or not. Your post reminds me of when I really didn't give a damn. Maybe I should return to not caring too much if at all.

Thanks.

 

[jp498]

She may have developed some taste and eye for photography growing up with you, but now it's her turn to do it her way.

My wife, living with me, has picked up some "these things are usually important in a photo" skills from living with me; nothing formal or rule based. My oldest daughter is but 7, so she uses a camera for documenting/fun sometimes, but not really into artistic photography yet.

 

[kintatsu]

My 8 year old daughter is shooting pics with my 1940ish Ikoflex TLR. She needs to learn about exposing, but her composition is amazing! She gets ideas and runs with them, even using natural framing. She's better at it than I am, sometimes. Kids have this ability to see the world in ways we've forgotten, and it always reminds me that everything in this world is new, even if it's ancient! Getting into LF has helped me see things differently, which makes me understand her pics better, too.

It shows that your influence is greater than you think!

 

[MaximusM3]

Yes, I think you all understand what I'm talking about. Seasoned pros, amateurs, aspiring artists..it doesn't matter. I think there is an inherent problem with the notion of growth. We always seem to be striving for growth, to become better, but in the process we also become duller and more judgmental, negatively critical of our own work, and unable to move forward in a fresh, free-spirited way. Frankly, I don't think there is an answer. Some of the issues can be set aside just by changing a few things in one's routine, but otherwise I think it is simply a matter of age, life getting in the way, becoming more cynical and negative about things, and the weight of every day's responsibilities weighing on one's shoulders. Of course, this can all be used as inspiration, but the images will always tend to reflect a more contrived, square, darker state of mind. For me, it is just amazing to see through my daughter's eyes, how life can be before "things" get in the way. I know that I cannot re-capture those days with my own, even though I do try, because I have seen so much more and the experiences of life have taken a toll, for better or for worse. It's just different and that's the reality of it.
So, my favorite exercise, being conscious of all of this, is to usually pick up my Holga and a few rolls of Tri-X. Not worrying about anything technical or being spoiled by what has or hasn't been done before. Even walking through my 1 acre backyard, which I've been staring at for 10 years, can yields surprises if I open my mind, my eyes, and think less. Yet again, what I see, of course, reflects who I am today and not who I was 30 years ago...

A tree, arm outstretched, chasing lost souls.. I can count three..maybe you can find more

 

[Dali]

200% agree with you. The most difficult once rules are learnt is to act freely and conscientiously beyond them.

 

[cliveh]

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”
― Pablo Picasso

 

[MaximusM3]

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”
― Pablo Picasso

Amen!