Whether it be a photograph, sculpture, painting or any other piece of creative work is open to interpretation by the viewer of that piece. Case in point above, an in focus shot with good contrast, as opposed to the blurry, desaturated image next to it. For different reasons both are appealing to me but if I had to chose my favourite in those 2 I would go with the blurry shot - it speaks to me ... life is not clear cut and easy.. it's full of blurred and smudged lines.
I'm the first to acknowledge that when it comes to art - drawing, painting and the like, I have absolutely NO talent.. and even the typical stick figure would stretch my seriously lacking artist capabilities.
I seem to have found some talent in crafts, mosaics, scrapbooking, card making, cross-stitch. Bet a lot of you can't see me sitting with glasses perched on the edge of my nose, needle and thread in hand busy with my latest cross-stitch - a secret guilty pleasure from a woman quite open to admit that she can't even sew a button on to a shirt!
However, my true artistic talent lies in my photography. I got my first Nikon D3100 just over 5 years ago. Fooled around with it a bit but never took it seriously. It was convenient to snap off photos of the kids and dogs. I then met a friend of a friend (sadly a Canon user but that's another blog altogether). He's one of those lucky buggers who gets to combine his passion with his day job. A Game Ranger at the time he was fortunate to combine his passion for photography with his job (he has since gotten even luckier and combined this to form his own Safari Tours company). While I am certainly NO wildlife photographer his images got my interest sparked and I decided to learn my camera, thus beginning my photographic journey. Having someone with experience happy to critique your work was a big plus and if you starting off on a photographic journey of your own try and find someone like that. We all need that feedback, whether positive or negative - it is how you will learn!
As with everyone I started off in my garden shooting flowers and bees.... and slowly slowly as events in my life became hugely challenging I found myself turning more and more to my camera for solace. Through the view-finder I was able to find beauty and light at a time when rage and darkness surrounded me.
This eventually led me to join our local camera club (although it did take me 6 months to strike up the courage to attend my first meeting and then outing....). My first meeting was 2 and 1/2 years ago and I've never looked back... besides the exposure to different kinds of photographers I have also made some of the most incredible friends and been blessed to have these friendships transcend just the passion for photography.
So over a period of 5 years my style has evolved. I've tried most genres of photography. I have a passion for Black & White Minimalist work - it speaks to me. I can see the beauty in the abstract. The cleanness in the les is more philosophy.
And how does this tie in with the 'eye of the beholder'?
Well I don't always follow the rules in photography.. you know those pesky ones :
I shoot what I find pleasing and in post processing I will pick out in the image what is appealing to me. I'm known to shoot from low angles. I want to find out what is unique in that image. Over time I've learnt not to worry about what others think. Even it if was a perfectly balanced, composed, exposed shot there is still not guarantee that anyone else will like it.
So follow your passion and your gut instincts. If it speaks to you then listen to its message. Uncover its secret depths and discover your own passions along the way.
I'm the first to acknowledge that when it comes to art - drawing, painting and the like, I have absolutely NO talent.. and even the typical stick figure would stretch my seriously lacking artist capabilities.
I seem to have found some talent in crafts, mosaics, scrapbooking, card making, cross-stitch. Bet a lot of you can't see me sitting with glasses perched on the edge of my nose, needle and thread in hand busy with my latest cross-stitch - a secret guilty pleasure from a woman quite open to admit that she can't even sew a button on to a shirt!
However, my true artistic talent lies in my photography. I got my first Nikon D3100 just over 5 years ago. Fooled around with it a bit but never took it seriously. It was convenient to snap off photos of the kids and dogs. I then met a friend of a friend (sadly a Canon user but that's another blog altogether). He's one of those lucky buggers who gets to combine his passion with his day job. A Game Ranger at the time he was fortunate to combine his passion for photography with his job (he has since gotten even luckier and combined this to form his own Safari Tours company). While I am certainly NO wildlife photographer his images got my interest sparked and I decided to learn my camera, thus beginning my photographic journey. Having someone with experience happy to critique your work was a big plus and if you starting off on a photographic journey of your own try and find someone like that. We all need that feedback, whether positive or negative - it is how you will learn!
As with everyone I started off in my garden shooting flowers and bees.... and slowly slowly as events in my life became hugely challenging I found myself turning more and more to my camera for solace. Through the view-finder I was able to find beauty and light at a time when rage and darkness surrounded me.
This eventually led me to join our local camera club (although it did take me 6 months to strike up the courage to attend my first meeting and then outing....). My first meeting was 2 and 1/2 years ago and I've never looked back... besides the exposure to different kinds of photographers I have also made some of the most incredible friends and been blessed to have these friendships transcend just the passion for photography.
So over a period of 5 years my style has evolved. I've tried most genres of photography. I have a passion for Black & White Minimalist work - it speaks to me. I can see the beauty in the abstract. The cleanness in the les is more philosophy.
And how does this tie in with the 'eye of the beholder'?
Well I don't always follow the rules in photography.. you know those pesky ones :
- 2/3 rule
- Exposure
- Composition
So follow your passion and your gut instincts. If it speaks to you then listen to its message. Uncover its secret depths and discover your own passions along the way.
“Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist,
for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.”
- Walker Evans
for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.”
- Walker Evans