I got into photography in 2016 with the primary intent of using it to better tell the stories I felt were important to me. I didn’t feel the initial inclination to make it a source of livelihood (that came soon after I realized the cost implications… LOL) and the epicenter of my life, initially photography was simply a way to help me tell stories.
Beyond the type of camera we use, what lenses are best for portrait and the differences between natural and artificial lighting techniques, Photography has grown into an ideal emotional tether. A tether to a moment in time both for the photographer creating the image and the person been photographed. A photograph is a reminder of all that happens at a certain era in a person’s life, a time capsule you might says; that holds almost pin point accuracy to what was happening.
Most often as photographers, we get lost in the technicalities behind creating the images (I know I do). We worry about what lens would serve best, what time of day would best suit the outfit and for artificial light nut-heads like myself; we bother about what modifier to use to shape the light and give the desired effect (and in no way is this a bad thing) but beyond all of that is the subject we are photographing and what that image means to them.
I do a lot of birthday sessions and recently got into the political scene and so I’ve been trying to more actively tell stories with my pictures. Before, I believed that pictures could be taken for just picture sake (and I still do) but also, I’ve recently been reminded that beyond creating aesthetically pleasing pictures, people sometimes also hold a sentimental attachment to their photographs as it reminds them, what they looked like at a certain age, what they stood for, the battles they were fighting, victories they were celebrating and losses that they had to mourn over. Photographs go beyond image composition and lighting and color theory, they have individual souls that inexplicably link us as photographers to those we photograph and creates a unique bond.
Pye Jirsa explores this concept in a video alongside Adorama TV, use the link below to explore more;
