syn·es·the·sia

Synesthesia is a perceptual condition of mixed sensations: a stimulus in one sensory modality (e.g., hearing) involuntarily elicits a sensation/experience in another modality (e.g. vision). Likewise, perception of a form (e.g., a letter) may induce an unusual perception in the same modality (e.g. a color).

Here is hoping the word is the correct one for a rather profound experience. While down in Detroit I took it upon myself to explore a little, find that urban decay so many speak of. Akin to an experience in Cuba Cuba experience I hoped I would be able to delve a little deeper than the superficial visions often photographed. Where to start? What to consider? All this while creating a plan on the fly! Safety, open mind just a couple of thoughts that flowed through my mind as I approached some of the buildings. All together a harder task than I initially thought, however one I will continue to pursue.

Illustrating the word. While diving we used an example of synesthesia in jest when we came upon a huge lobster asking if one could smell the garlic and taste the butter.

On to the relevance of the word as it applies to my Detroit experience.

Abandoned building Detroit

I came upon an apparently abandoned building that seemed to tell a story of the areas history. It was a warehouse style building with a lot of windows. With not a soul in site I started toward the building. All the while stopping to capture the view before me. As I approached the front door, which I must add I had no intention of entering, this loud persistent clanging started. Looking up at the windows I expected to see a face, nothing! I turned to walk away and the clanging stopped. I stopped to take a few more exterior images and it started again. I raised my hand in a friendly greeting, lowering my camera and it stopped. While this was going on I was shooting from the hip so to speak. Creepy, eerie you name it, a fairly daunting experience. Moving back to my car I got in relieved to be done and leaving.

Still why synesthesia. Well this came later, some days later as I was sifting through the images. I scanned the numerous windows for a glimpse of someone who had been looking at me, no one there. Then I opened one particular image and the sound of the clanging repeated itself like it was occurring at the moment. The other images sure have the connection, however not nearly as vivid as this one. There you go, synesthesia. So in closing I guess I could photograph more apple pies in the hopes one will trigger a taste sensation of how good grandma’s used to be.

Is there someone watching me?

I listened to a podcast by Brooks Jensen on Lenswork where he brought up a very interesting point regarding practice. He noted that musicians, painters, writers and sports professionals spend a lot of time practicing their skills and or craft. That is to say they are active even when not on assignment. His point following that observation was that photographers are often inclined to sit back waiting for a commercial project or an event to come along to carry on with their craft. Now this I add is my take on his message in that it almost sounded like he was addressing me. I must apologize for the broad general reference to photographers although if the cap fits feel free to wear it. Ironically the next podcast I went to was an introduction to photo meditation, or again as I interpret it keeping your head in the game. Now normally I would have nodded my head, and committed to a  resolution to be more active outside my commercial work and moved on. However the two presentations must have left a bit more of an impression than I thought. That sort of mind muscle exercise I need to be more active in.

A couple of days later I was on a mission in a big box hardware store when a shape caught my eye. I began scanning the area for shapes, textures and lighting effects. At first thinking if only I had my camera with me I took a number of mental notes. I have not got used to remembering the camera on my phone, when I did, I must have presented quite a sight. Plunger in one hand and camera in the other I can only imagine what the other customers must have thought. Honestly the plumbing and lumber isles made a whole new impression.

I looked at somewhat ordinary scenes and viewed them from the angle of shapes texture and lighting. What started out as just an ordinary trip to the store turned into one of the best photography exercises I have ever done. One of the most interesting observations was that when I began to see and accept the simplicity of the subjects I was looking at. It became very easy to accept the results without the constant questioning that I go though when usually trying to find the shape or texture of the subject I am looking at.

Each month I plan on a self assignment.  Working a large part of the year photographing events I plan to keep subjects very close to home. Who knows what each will be. I do however look forward to the challenge.

It may take more than one image to tell a thousand words. Triptychs and Diptychs, templates for adding multiple images to a single frame are a great way of doing this.

#7 Submit your work for constructive critique.

One mediocre photograph displayed and shown beats one hundred amazing photos hidden in the drawer, or hard drive  today.

We all want to hear the. “Wow you are so talented” remarks, however, the you could have improved the shot by……… Is often a bitter pill to swallow. The fact that we climbed a mountain battled a lion and crawled over shards of glass to get the shot, is not necessarily significant if we are showing our artwork. If it is a self portrait of you doing the above a different story.

Handing over my babies for a person to tear apart. Dare I? Truth is, without input from your viewer, you are missing an important part of photography education. After all, your images are there to tell your story, if there is an element that could be improved upon with constructive and meaningful critique, you owe it to yourself and your viewer.

Hand in hand with this are submissions to competitions and publications. Given the odds you face there is a good chance you will receive a number of rejections. The lesson however may be in knowing how you fared against other submissions, thus helping you in your future work.

Note to those that offer critique “Tread lightly  because you tread on my dreams.” W.B Yeats

Although not the correct title of one of the ten, it is an explanation for the following
#4 There are 24 hours in a day.
Thinking you have to limit your photography to early or later daylight hours is a great rule to experiment with. Shooting in the middle of the day has you thinking on how to avoid the the negative outcome of shooting in this light. One that comes to mind are Raccoon eyes, the eyes in harsh shadows while the rest of the face is lit. Something as simple as having your subject lower their face to be completely in shadow could be an option. Simply, experimenting in different light can produce interesting results. At the very least after studying the results you may just know for sure why you do not want to work in certain conditions and if absolutely necessary what you can do if you have to use tough light times in the day. Darkness is another time, personally I try to offer something in the background. Lighting your subject with flash with a pitch black background can often be improved upon by exposing something in the background. This takes knowing your cameras controls. #5 in the list.

A friend sent me his video of a wedding I shot last week. It is kind of strange looking back. I do know why my laundry bill is so high!

During the days of film photography, this was a practice somewhat discouraged, however with digital photography there is a whole  different ball game. Being a photo raconteur today is significantly easier than in the days of film. Shoot images of the activity and if need be tell a visual story of an event or activity. Way back we would bring out the photo album or pile of photos and wonder why our audience got that thousand yard stare or sudden urge to depart. Yes it was the photo we took and the ensuing commentary on what and where it was  and often an explanation of the real purpose of the shot, the one we missed because we were not about to take up another shot in the limitations of the medium. No more, although not video, you can now hold your viewers attention by letting a series of images talk or at the least have the image you had intended showing be the subject. Getting this will often mean capturing a series of images to not miss the action.
In another light, there are subjects that need more attention, not only composition, but light and exposure too. Even if it is not a moving subject it may well be deserving of a number of images that will give you that. “I got it” shot.
In closing, I can not guarantee your audience will sit through your presentation, by following the above tip you may keep them entertained with some drama in your photos, hopefully you will not have to continue the verbal explanation of the shot you wanted them to see but missed.

Pictures tell a story.