"You can photograph anything now." - 365 Project, Day 199

I don't know when this sentence was pronounced, but I would think it's always the case.  I suppose cameras can be so small now that anything can be photographed, or they're so powerful, nothing is impossible.  We can photograph even photograph individual atoms all the way to the entire universe (or, rather, its background radiation).

Another way of interpreting that would to say there are no more taboos (though, were there any to begin with?).  Many strange things can pass as art, especially if it's black and white, or well-lit (as the old joke goes). For better or worse, photography seems relatively free and as long as the photographer doesn't want to make money off the photo, they can take almost anything to display it.  That's a nice feeling, and it definitely allows everybody to be as creative as possible.

Here's what we took today.

Frank

His note: Peek-a-boo Mao.

Mandy

Her note: It's an ELEPHANT.  I was standing reeeeeeally close.

Shannon

Her note: Loved the sunset and I tried to get a good shot of the flag but it was to windy.

My picture

This picture is probably only special to me.  I find this little house pretty interesting for some reason.  I don't know why, but I keep trying to take a picture of it.  The family living there is always doing things outside, and indeed, just on the left side of the house was someone doing something.  I figured if anything can be photographed, I should be able to photograph this, regardless of everything.

I finally got my Canon S95 back today, on the day the S100 was announced.  Go figure.  I'm happy to have it back and I expect to use it a fair amount, as well.

"Above all, I know that life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference." - 365 Project, Day 198

Today's title, should it have been possible, would have been this song.  (Now, know it's technically possible to have what I want, but I don't want to go fiddling with random HTML code because really don't know enough of it to get what I want this time.)  It ties in to my own picture and the idea of flying through the air tying in to the bird in my picture.

Unfortunately, looking back at the video (and it has the same problem as Wynter Gordon's Talk Dirty video), it is simply horrible.  Low-budget videos usually, though there are exceptions;  creativity can certainly come into play (such as, well, pretty much anything OK Go has put up) and spruce up something that might otherwise be dull.  That's not to say more expensive music videos are always good, but they certainly are more polished.

There is something raw about low-budget shoots.  Everybody involved is in it for the fun of it, and there is usually lack of pressure from bean counters in studio offices.  Whatever they do, they don't think about the money, and it's all about the energy and the joy of actually doing what they're passionate about.

The same goes for photographers (or, to be fair, any kind of artist, or anything where there's a distinction between amateur and professional).  They never shoot something they don't find interesting in some way.  If they don't like the scenery and end up shooting it, they try different lighting, exposure or focus to make the scene interesting in some way.  Nobody takes a picture unless they like the scene, or they want to convey some sort of emotion by it; whether it's a drunken snapshot in a club or a majestic vista showing a tremendous valley, every picture is there for a reason.

Here are the reasons we grabbed our cameras today.

Frank

His note: Two Harleys for sale close to home.  Wish I had the money!

Mandy

Her note: AAAAAAHKK!!

Shannon

Her note: This guy tied a shopping cart to his scooter and drove away.

Me

I decided to go walk around downtown and on the way back I caught this.  The reflection of the sky in the river, with the colours was nice, and the bird flying overhead gave it something extra.  To be fair, I've taken a picture of this river and buildings two or three dozen times, so I know how to frame it, but I liked the way it looked.

I know the kind of picture I want to take tomorrow.  Now, will I end up taking that kind of photo?

"When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice." - 365 Project, Day 197

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling my best and fell asleep way before I intended, which is why I'm putting this up a day late.  I feel better now, in case you're wondering.

Quickly to the pictures.

Frank

His note: This flower garden is near the back door of the apartment building.

Mandy

Her note: I found the leaning tower of pomodoro on my floor!

Shannon

Her note: Always Coca-Cola!

Me

I find it strange anybody, especially in Ottawa, would try to grow sunflowers in their front lawn.  Also surprising that sunflowers would actually grow on anybody's front lawn.  This is a day I really had nothing to post, so I have this silly picture.

Tomorrow will come quickly.

"The camera’s only job is to get out of the way of making photographs." - 365 Project, Day 196

If the camera does get in the way of the photo, you can always crop it out.  Photography purists will say they never crop or edit the file in any way.  I've talked about editing before, but this would be a nice time  to mention cropping.  I don't really crop my photos - today would be the second picture I've cropped this project (the first one being 'Bland' from a few days ago) - not because I don't want to, but just because I generally get the framing I want with the lens I have.  Any good photographer will somewhat adapt their style to the equipment they have.  I generally don't do tight shots, and as such, my 17-40mm suits me fine without any cropping.

Some of my pictures in the past would definitely benefit from some sort of cropping, such as today's.  The picture shot as is was a bit too far away.  I didn't want to walk closer because I liked the way the man sitting looked.  I also knew I was going to talk about cropping and so ended up being somewhat convenient.

I have no problem cropping.  I've heard before that the initial photograph is akin to the first draft of an essay or book.  It's got the core elements that would make it good, it just has to be refined.  One of those refinements is tweaking the colours, exposure, contrast and such, and another refinement is fixing any small issues with the composition.  Its just another step in making the picture look as best as it's ever going to look.  Sometimes you don't have the exact tool (i.e. lens) you need to get the perfect shot, and so you use another tool (i.e. editing software) to help you out.

Take a look at today's output.

Frank

His note: Inside my car, inside a carwash, almost at the end of the track...kind of surreal.

Mandy

Her note: There is a world within my doorknob and look! someone that looks like me!

Shannon

Her note: Mmmmmmm I love olives.

My photo

Given my topic today, I did crop my picture, though I had another one, uncropped, that I really enjoyed, as well.  I was just leaving my building and saw this gentleman sitting on something.  With the walls on either side, the whole scene seemed claustrophobic and isolated.  Luck had it that the other guy walked by and was fast enough to be blurry with the shutter speed I was using.  It makes him seem somewhat ethereal and not completely part of the scene.

I hope I get another picture of this sort tomorrow.

"Photography, fortunately, to me has not only been a profession but also a contact between people – to understand human nature and record, if possible, the best in each individual." - 365 Project, Day 195

A link in the chain that is essential in becoming a better snapshoter is the process of, for lack of a better term, having your pictures ripped apart by people far more talented than you are.  This process is called "criticism" and is essential in expanding your own talent.  Feeling inadequate and desiring to be borderline-alcoholic seems to be the goal of every artist, and the fast and most thorough way of achieving that goal is exposing your work to much more experienced and knowledgeable individuals than yourself.

Now, such naked exposure is likewise the most direct method of learning simple (and not-so-simple) flaws in your oeuvre.  Mistakes/inadequacies in composition, exposure, focus and, most importantly, meaning, are simple things that a new pair of eyes can pinpoint, especially if you count yourself in the "wanting to learn" pile.  It is a harsh mistress, but a necessary one.  After all, if, from the start, there is nothing to learn, then why pursue it?

Any comments?

Frank

His note: The days are getting shorter, the evenings getting cooler, and it won't be long I won't be able to wear these anymore.

Mandy

Her note: My friend the wasp fell prey to my arch-nemesis: The Spider!

Shannon

Her note: Looks like I have my own salad.

Myself

I'm not sure what I was going for when I took this picture, and even in post I was kind of lost.  I couldn't find any overly interesting look for it, or any look for that matter.  There's something missing.

This week is getting a bit long and I need quality time to do something I wish to do, like eat jelly beans.

"If I have any ‘message’ worth giving to a beginner it is that there are no short cuts in photography." - 365 Project, Day 194

Like-minded people seem to enjoy spending time with each other (rather queer, I know).  For whatever reason, there exists websites wholly devoted to particular things that certain people enjoy, and those people congregate to said website to discuss various things, but by and large only that one particular thing.  

It is, then, not surprising that online communities have appeared where photography is the main part of the discussion.  These communities are a great geyser of news, information, opinions and advice.  They provide, novice and expert alike, with a great way to communicate with people of the same interests and share their experience and expertise.  With the likes of Flickr, 500px and Picasa Web, it's extremely easy to join a community with devoted followers ready to help and share, and in order to grow, it's almost essential to hear about others' experience and have them look at your work.

Today is also the return of Mandy to the project!  She's sent in a new picture.  Let's see what we have.

Frank

His note: Cool rays - actually lens reflections.

Mandy

Mandy didn't have a note for this picture but she said that the wasp was very nice and didn't fly away when she went up close to it to take the picture.  It seemed happy to be a model, I suppose.

Shannon

Her note: Looking down at my ice tea.

Pat

I had three pictures I liked today but I chose this one because it was the most aesthetically pleasing.  It doesn't really say much, at all, but it's got pretty blues and yellows.

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I'll be buying a new toothbrush!  I'll probably take a few pictures also (maybe even of said toothbrush).