In his book The Camera, Ansel Adams says of the process he calls visualisation that “[i]t includes the ability to anticipate a finished image before making the exposure, so that the procedures employed will contribute to achieving the desired result.”
At the heart of my personal photographic journey is my desire to move towards the deliberate picture taking Ansel describes, whether the visualisation happens before I press the shutter, thus deciding my choice of camera, film type or app, or after, when I decide what type of digital processing to apply.
How to go about this shift from the accidental to the deliberate?
Debra’s post from last week reminds me of the power of picking a project, of working on a photographic theme. This is not something I have done deliberately before; I’m on my third 365, but it’s always been non-thematic and most of all a tool to keep me shooting every day.
But when I look through my 365 sets, I notice what I like to call accidental series; themes that recur unplanned in my images. Here I find the key to moving forwards: clearly these series mean something to me, appeal to something in me I’m not consciously aware of, and the trick now will be to pick one and develop it deliberately.
I don’t know yet which series to pick, but maybe it will be one of these:
It may be particular type processing, like here a texture overlay by Bocaccino together with a black and white conversion:
Or a specific subject, such as something as simple as empty chairs:
Or the same place, in diffent light, different seasons and using different processing:
Do you have any plans to develop your photography? Please let us know in the comments!
All the best from Jenny.
A thought-provoking post Jenny! I love that last mosaic of the different shots of the same place.
Thanks, Christy! It’s been on my mind for quite some time, so I was glad of the chance to write it up.
I love that you were able to find some common themes in your photos! So fun to see them together like that. I was drawn to the empty chair set. I think each photo looks like a mini story!
Empty chairs are surprisingly eloquent, aren’t they 🙂
I keep thinking I should start a sky/clouds project since I’m always shooting those subjects, anyway. Another possibility is to be intentional about shooting interesting buildings/architecture in my city, which I also enjoy.
Architecture is certainly high up on my list of potential projects. Do share with us if you decide to start any of it!
I like being open to the possibilities, and so don’t usually set myself a theme; however when you i look back at what I shoot, they certainly emerge. I think seeing the subjects you’re subconsciously drawn to over and over again is really fascinating. I love that avenue at different times of day/seasons and the empty chairs.
Indeed, I do think it’s important not to be completely tied up by a theme as you say.
i love all these mosaics, a great post jenny
Thanks 🙂 I do enjoy making mosaics, of my own as well as others’ images.
Love this post Jenny. It can be so revealing to look back on our shots and try to pick out common threads.
Indeed – I know I have argued elsewhere that I appreciate posts and sites that get me out there to experiment with new things, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful to look back at times.
Beautiful post, Jenny. I love what you have pulled together as themes from your years.
I think it’s difficult to be intentional with a 365 project. Taking, editing, and uploading a photo every day is a lot of work at times, and being stuck on a theme could make it overwhelming But a weekly project, or one where you keep in mind that you already have a collection of empty chairs, so you’ll keep looking (I have my own collection of “two empty chairs,” coincidentally) makes sense.
Quite – I don’t think I *could* do a thematic 365; I’m full of awe of those who do 🙂 And it’s so cool to hear that empty chairs appeal to more people than me.
I love the way this post and your pictures have made me think about my project for the year. Thank you.
Thank *you* – I’m happy if I can give something in return to the Muses; I think it was Kat’s e-course that first got me to deliberately consider themes in my past shots.
I love this Jenny…the accidental series! I’ve noticed this too in my work. only recently do i see it happening as i look back through my archives. btw LOVE those chairs!
I took a class last fall that had me really examining my past work to try find a common element. Calling it an accidental series makes it so much more appealing.
Accidentally on purpose 🙂
I have a few small themes running in my self portraits- I love that I can go back to the same space over and over and have it be different every time. there is something nice in the familiar (for me and the audience).
Two themes I have going are “The little black couch” (shots of me on our couch at home) and “And they put up a parking lot” (photos where I am standing in my work parking lot).