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Great Photographs, Part III
March 18th, 2008We began this conversation with me asking What makes a great photograph. Many of you chimed in, and I still hope to revisit this in greater detail at some point. Then we moved on to HOW. Now I have one simple question:
What single thing is standing in the way of you making great photographs, the ones in your head and heart that are screaming to get out?
You can answer in one word, one sentence, or one paragraph, but you may not mention gear that you don’t have. Unless you don’t have a camera at all; we’ll let that one slide.
*As with many conversations, the questions are as important as the replies – I’m not asking this to get an answer, I have my own replies to find. I’m asking because I think we do too few things with great intentionality. Perhaps the more questions we ask, the more intentionally and courageously we’ll look at the answer. I ask this question specifically in the hopes that as you and I find answers we’ll go about removing those barriers. That said, I do want to hear your replies; who’s going first?
..practice…
Fear of not making a great photo is the greatest enemy I battle when in the field. Fear paralyses. I have to rely on the author of creativity if I ever hope to break free from fear that always wants to make me settle for mediocre.
Time, forever bound to it and always in search of it but rarely found.
Eye. I need to develop my photographic eye more. Get more practice and experience in knowing what will make a great picture.
I hate this question.
There is no ONE SINGLE THING that is preventing me from making great images. Every time I think of one, three others come to mind.
But, at risk of sounding arrogant (as if I have everything else sorted out, save this one thing), I would say “opportunity.” The images in my head and heart that are screaming to get out…I just can’t find them in the limited “free time” I have when I get home from my day job, in between household chores, making dinner, etc.
Does that make sense?
Time, shyness/self-consciousness, not having my camera with me at the right time, too much intention or pressure on myself…
Hmmm…I feel like I’m getting there. It’s practice that’s holding me back — but not just “familiarising myself with my gear” kind of practice, more like the “familiarising myself with the moments” kind.
I want to major on people, but it’s tricky to just aim a camera at people without developing relationships first. I’m working on that end — I’ve now met several people who have expressed eagerness(!) to be photographed. Now it’s just arranging the time so that the moments can happen.
If that all comes together, and things don’t turn out well, then you can bet I’ll return here with more reasons!
One of the most amazing things that’s happened recently is meeting someone who shares this as a passion, and who wants to push to create new, better, stronger, faster — so we’re (gently) pushing each other. Maybe advice is going to be Part IV of this series (so whatever, I’ll repeat myself), but mine is to find someone on your level (not easy) who will help you stay motivated (not easy) and crush through whatever blockages you face (of course, also not easy).
Some of my concepts include a setting or characters that are not available to me right now, otherwise it’s not that difficult to get it realized – just takes experimentation. I keep a file for my concepts, do the ones I can right now, and work towards the others. Sometimes it’s just a matter of repuposing what I already have.
I think what keeps me from taking great photographs a lot of times is plain laziness and complacency.
Other obligations I can’t seem to extricate myself out of right now. Things that require my time and attention, which in the end sometimes dilutes my vision. Sounds kinda lame, but there it is.
Plain and simple…Commitment.
What I really need is to commit to something (a plan, a project, etc), and not just make that commitment to myself, but to someone/something else that will not let me turn tail and run. I know that once I get through that first commitment, I’ll realize what is possible and what’s not. Right now it all seems rather impossible as I have no experience to base my expectations on.
Lack of resources including money and time.