Lately I've been inspired by people who can take photographs of the more subtle, un-art-directed moments and still create a really rich narrative around them. I think My Suitcase Heart and Sandra Juto are great examples of this. I want to be more skilled at capturing the more candid, real-life moments, in a really beautiful way. This is me practicing.
I think part of capturing these slices of life comes down to having a certain amount of confidence behind the camera. Most photographers I know feel most comfortable hidden behind their lens - but when I pull my chunky camera out in public I get almost self-conscious.
What do you think? Do you feel comfortable behind your camera in real-life scenarios?
This is why I'm so pleased with the iphone and its camera. The quality is decent enough to let me capture snippits of life in a more subtle way.
ReplyDeleteI love my Nikon but sometimes it's frustrating. I can be witnessing the PERFECT. MOMENT. But as soon as I take out the camera everyone in the room stops what they're doing and stares, or runs away and hides. Or I could be shooting something random that I thought was interesting and someone will walk by and go "why are you taking a photo of THAT?"
You'd think people would just get used to a blog-friendly world where everyone is constantly recording and sharing things, but they're not. Especially since my boyfriend and his friends don't even have Facebook, and I'm basically the only one I know in person who has a blog. I'm always the odd (wo)man out with the huge camera.
This is so hard for me too. I am 100x more confident sneaking a photo with my iphone than I am by pulling out my slr.. I simultaneously feel like I'm being ostentatious and that I'm an idiot because I have no idea what I'm doing with that bad boy yet.
ReplyDeleteBut, the only way to learn is to do. So, I guess somehow we have to figure out a way to push through.. yea? :)
Thanks for sharing, at least, it makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one with big camera issues.
ps. you take great shots. please don't stop.
good links. I agree! I really try to do this, but I never seem to have the eye for it. My boyfriend does, but he rarely takes pictures.
ReplyDeleteI also feel super self-conscious behind the camera in my day-to-day life. This summer I have given myself the challenge to shoot, shoot, shoot with the idea that just doing it will help me get over those self-conscious nerves.
ReplyDeleteMan, I wish you were going to be in Chicago in about three weeks! We're stopping there for a few nights before we head over to Michigan for a week at the lake. Before you get all jealous, my husband's entire family will be there too, so it's not going to be all hang-out-by-the-lake-reading-magazines-without-a-care-in-the-world time.
ReplyDeleteI remember feeling more self-conscious when I first started taking my camera out. Now I do it so often that it feels normal. Except when I'm having dinner with non-bloggers who don't understand why I'd ever want to photograph my vermicelli bowl.
One place where I LOVED having my camera to hide behind was the last night of Alt Summit at the mini-parties. My brain was so wiped and I'd reached my social interaction level much earlier, so it was nice to just relax behind the lens.
For me it's like I go through phases. If I'm somewhere social/for fun and taking pictures, it's never just a couple shots. I either didn't take out the camera the whole day or I documented the whole damn thing from start to finish.
ReplyDeleteI think historians are going to have an amazing resource with all these Instagram/iPhone photos - if they are preserved somehow. We can hope!
I'm totally self-conscious. Another commenter here said she felt ostentatious, and that's exactly how I would describe it. But at the same time, the results I get make me so happy. It's taking that first step to pull it out of my bag that is the hardest part.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that I'm so worried that someone (a total stranger, no less!) will think I'm a total nerd?
Francine - I feel like I also need to learn how to juggle enjoying the perfect moment while at the same time capturing it with a photo. I seem to have been treating these things as if they're mutually exclusive but I don't think they have to be.
ReplyDeleteJen - Yes, I do love my iPhone for this reason too. But I love the idea of being more intentional with my photographs. I also feel like I would become less distracted with my camera than I do with my phone. And thank you for the compliment - I'll keep on keeping on!
Jennie Bee - I think Jeremy has a fantastic eye too! Sometimes I hand the camera off to him just to see what he'll capture.
Vanessa - Practice makes perfect, right? Even in attitude...
Melanie - Ah, we'll meet one of these days! I think if I could think of myself as a "photographer" (or even just pretend) I would feel less self-conscious. I don't know how fashion photogs do it - asking people to take their picture!
Rory - Yeah, exactly! I feel like if I'm full on documenting I'm good to go - but if I'm just wanting to grab a couple snaps I can't be bothered with lugging my camera out of the bag.
Rachel - I suppose that's what I love about the size of my little G10. I would hate to buy a G12 so soon after investing in my T3i but it might be worth it just to feel less pretentious lugging my big camera around.
I loooove seeing my city through your eyes! I hope you had an amazing time. Thank goodness I didn't go to the Randolph Flea last weekend or I would have gotten weird and embarrassed to see you. (Although, I would have quite enjoyed it!)
ReplyDeleteI take photos of freaking everything - with my DSLR. My biggest tip that I give people is that if you have the intention to take photos that day (and you really, really mean it!), don't EVERY put your camera in your bag/purse/etc. As soon as you see something you like, the moment will pass, and your camera will still be in your bag! I think of it as an extension of my arm - and my friends all say they don't even notice me taking photos anymore. (Then, they all ask me to email them my shots!) I'm not obnoxious about it; just a quick focus and click, then my arm goes back down. You'll get the most amazing photos this way. I know you will.
A bit OT, but hey, you've got Zakopane there. A bit of Poland in Chicago! I'm glad you had the confidence and took the photo.
ReplyDeleteI have to force myself to take my camera out of the bag. Seems like the real life is dissappearing when I'm trying to capture it. But there are people who manage to capture the moment. I think you're one of them. And it just makes me happy that you keep on practising.
My mom and I got into a huge fight in Mexico because of the camera. I was taking photos in a cenote while she was watching a Mayan ceremony that was taking place and I quietly said "smile." I didn't want her to move, but she turned around, fluffed her hair, and posed. I just wanted a photo of her enjoying the surroundings. She wanted to look like a supermodel. We're clearly not used to capturing candids in my family.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much the little shout out. You are such a creative woman so I really appreciate those kind words!
ReplyDeleteKim! What!? It would have been so fun to meet you. I'm hoping to make it back up to Chicago soon. We'll have to grab a bite.
ReplyDeleteUbyszka - YES! I was so excited to see that sign since we'll be in Zakopane soon enough. Thank you for the nice words of encouragement.
Corrin - Oh no! I'm probably guilty of the same though. Ha!
Janis - XO.
I was just thinking about this. As soon as I got a fancy camera, I realized how hard this photography biznass is. I feel like people assume I'm really badass when I pull it out, but when I look at the photos, I'm happy if I have a couple that I think are worthy of posting.
ReplyDeleteEither way, I am going to Chicago next week and this is getting me excited.
I am definitely most at home behind the camera. My Nikon is in the repair shop and it's a little weird how I've come to personify. It fits in my hand and the worn places on it are a familiar comfort to me. I miss it like an old friend and feel bad that I dropped it and didn't take better care of it. People have taught me a lot, and I've learned the most from them looking through the viewfinder. It never lies and I can't get enough of the stories that tumble through it. I love the bus shot. The yellow bars and the bokeh and great. I've taken 50,000 pictures over the last four+ years. I read somewhere a famous quote that says the first 10,000 pictures you take are trash. I used to be self-conscious, and then I started jumping fences. I'm probably going to die taking a picture and I'm OK with that. I now understand why people drive race cars...
ReplyDeletedear K,
ReplyDeleteWow that's great images... I like it, especially the cat. You should try different kind of lens. Do you always retouch using Photoshop or other software your photos before up load it? Do you thing is it important?
dd yuono - thanks! These images are untouched out of the camera though I'm definitely not opposed to photoshopping my images. In fact, as a designer (vs. photographer) I probably rely on photoshop to make up for my lack of photography skills. These were all shot on a 50mm lens as it was the smallest and lightest to have on my camera. But I'd love to look into learning more about different kinds of lenses.
ReplyDeleteI don't carry my camera much -- part of me is worried about getting lost behind it. But I think I may try to bring it with me for 30 days, to try and capture the beauty of my daily world, not just the special trips I take.
ReplyDelete