Talking at The National Photography Symposium last week I was reminded how important photography still is to me. I never really forgot. I’ve just been preoccupied with my experimentation in multi and realtime media.
Chatting with the photographers absorbed in their long term projects reminded me that documenting the moment can, if you like, take longer than that moment. That images needn’t be disposable, transient or lost in a mass of data. Sometimes the documenting of a story should take longer than the story itself. I need to remember the adventures I have had, learning, discovering and slowly understanding what photography means to me.
I learned how to take pictures whilst working for a local newspaper. A day crammed with jobs would see me rush from one location to the next thinking.. fill the frame.. get the shot.. take a backup pic.. and move on to the next location.
It was only after I left the papers that I would really enjoy taking pictures. Where I could get to know the subject or the story, to take my time and use my head a little more. I am thankful for my initial experience as many of the photos I like are moments snatched from the street or from a story that’s playing out before me. Seeing the instant in an instant is important here. I have also been lucky enough to experiment in the longer form of documentary photography. It’s the conversations and observations around this that have re-inspired me to momentarily put away my sack of tech and concentrate on just my camera. Maybe even dig out my old cameras and lenses.
The geek in me would like a new eye for my new eyes and to be equipped with the Nikon D3s. Nikons flagship camera with extraordinary low light performance. I’d have to sell my eyes to afford it though and that just won’t do. No, I have decent cameras and need to do some tech recycling before I indulge myself in any more ‘latest technology’.
Some of my favourite photos were taken on my phone. The images above these words were taken with a wide range of devices, from phones, to compacts, to SLR’s. A new camera may enthuse me, or allow me to take photos faster or easier in some way. Right now though I want to forget about the tools and think about the process.
Whether i’m snapping my breakfast to share online, snatching moments to remember later or documenting a story to archive for the future.. These are all my adventures in photography.
There is so much of yours in this gallery that i hadn’t seen before.What an amazing collection – I’m taking away from this the fact that I must use my camera(s) more often!And when did I miss the backstory of you working for a newspaper? It’s remedied now at least.
The shots in the gallery are amazing. I definitely need to get practicing and continue to save my pennies for a DSLR. Thanks for sharing. Inspiring as always.
Hi @Londonfilmgeek Thanks. I worked at the Leamington Observer then the Rugby Observer & Then the Northampton Chron & Echo before going freelance. Not the biggest of names but great experience.
Hmm.. I’ve a horrible feeling that the Leica M6 i’ve been snapping with this last few days has no film in..
I absolutely never get tired of your photographies. I feel so lucky that you share them easily, what a gift!
Thanks @Otir Once on Flickr photos are easy to share. I’ve just uploaded loads that have sat on my desktop for ages.
Wow. Some cracking and powerful images in your gallery there Christian. I’ve just spent a good 20mins poring through them, thinking about the tales behind them and the people’s lives they show, what other people might get from them… A great picture can prompt 1000 words 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to comment @Minxlj maybe I will take the time to jot some of the stories down. 🙂