Before observing and noticing there comes "seeing" - so often I come across people who, to quote one of them, believe "there's nothing here, just blackbirds and sparrows". I have come to think this blindness is because we often only see what we expect to see. Ignorance and lack of education and exposure are at the root.
Ooo, that is a great point! Seeing, in the philosophical sense, may imply an appreciation of what is observed, built upon understanding. And that idea that we only see what we expect to see. I agree, but that notion is deep and something I want to think on. Thanks for this!
One of your other readers mentioned seeing before observing and noticing...my experiences tell me that at least 80% of people never get to the first stage, much less further. I found out on trails, that most hikers were destination oriented, rather than enjoying all the things one could see before arriving to their destination. Maybe they started seeing when they got to their destination, but they sure missed a lot before that!
I think the converse of that, is I spent so much time stopping and doing all three, that I annoyed some of my friends that were a bit more destination oriented!
That’s another great point Sheryl! Destination orientation like that can definitely cast focus strongly into the future and make us miss the present moment. It seems somewhat tied in with the notion that we see what we want to see.
I try to find a balance when I’m out on a hike. I try to maintain a state of open observation, still knowing that I do have an objective to get to. But, if anything stands out, I begin to notice and maybe see what it is.
Haha, yeah I didn’t articulate that very well. The skull was one he found while out and about earlier. He gave it to me as thanks for letting him come onto my property and helping him find the doe he shot.
There are some nice restaurants around my town. My idea was to offer photo services to vendors at local artist markets and farmers markets. I’ll still give it a try, but I’m afraid AI has already made that type of work obsolete.
Don't fear AI! Make that your angle....you specialize in HUMAN and real. I feel that eventually, those who flex our humanity will become a total niche because everyone relies way too much on AI.
Yeah, I think that leveraging humanity is the only way something like this could possibly work anymore. AI can do this exact thing I’m offering, instantly and possibly better. I’ll just have to see how it goes.
I did have a lot of fun with this. No one has mentioned the avocado yet, but I really put some effort into it. I wanted to make it look like it was in the middle of some action, like there was a suggestion of a story to it. I’m glad to hear that it stood out to you! Thanks Jess!
I love the very last paragraph. How applicable to photography as well! The light only works because of the contrast of dark shadows...."the embrace of light and dark..." Total neutrality. No rightness or wrongness to either.
Thank you for the information you’ve shared on this genre. I would like to be able to have a side hustle with product photography, but it’s rather uninspiring. Still life seems like an artistic way of developing the same skills necessary!
The thing about product photography is that it is a great way to make the money to spend time on still life. And if you can shoot still life, product photography is pretty easy.
Excellent description&photograpic examples of darkness& light Erik.
Also enjoyed one of my favorite Ansel Adams' quotes.
I really appreciate that Charlotte! Thanks!
Thank you Erik for sharing your insights.
Always look fwd to reading your posts :-)
Before observing and noticing there comes "seeing" - so often I come across people who, to quote one of them, believe "there's nothing here, just blackbirds and sparrows". I have come to think this blindness is because we often only see what we expect to see. Ignorance and lack of education and exposure are at the root.
Ooo, that is a great point! Seeing, in the philosophical sense, may imply an appreciation of what is observed, built upon understanding. And that idea that we only see what we expect to see. I agree, but that notion is deep and something I want to think on. Thanks for this!
One of your other readers mentioned seeing before observing and noticing...my experiences tell me that at least 80% of people never get to the first stage, much less further. I found out on trails, that most hikers were destination oriented, rather than enjoying all the things one could see before arriving to their destination. Maybe they started seeing when they got to their destination, but they sure missed a lot before that!
I think the converse of that, is I spent so much time stopping and doing all three, that I annoyed some of my friends that were a bit more destination oriented!
That’s another great point Sheryl! Destination orientation like that can definitely cast focus strongly into the future and make us miss the present moment. It seems somewhat tied in with the notion that we see what we want to see.
I try to find a balance when I’m out on a hike. I try to maintain a state of open observation, still knowing that I do have an objective to get to. But, if anything stands out, I begin to notice and maybe see what it is.
By the way, I especially liked your egg photos playing with light and shadow, and the grass photos. The tans against black really spoke to me!
Oh, excellent! Thank you!
Great reflections (shadows?), Erik! Everything is connected.
(PS — nice looking rack on that “doe!”)
Haha, yeah I didn’t articulate that very well. The skull was one he found while out and about earlier. He gave it to me as thanks for letting him come onto my property and helping him find the doe he shot.
You know as soon as I posted that, I figured that was the case. Either way, photographs beautifully!
Thanks!
Erik, great Ansel Adams quote - simple to say, hard to do! Love the grass photo.
Thanks James!
Your words make me see photography and life differently. Thank you
I hope in a good way! 😆 Seriously, though, that’s a powerful statement and greatly appreciated. Thank you Kyle!
I see death everywhere because of you… haha no it’s definitely in a good way! You’re the best
These are fabulous!! You could easily moonlight as a food photographer.
Love the subtle difference between the egg photos.
There are some nice restaurants around my town. My idea was to offer photo services to vendors at local artist markets and farmers markets. I’ll still give it a try, but I’m afraid AI has already made that type of work obsolete.
Thanks Kristi! It means a lot!
Don't fear AI! Make that your angle....you specialize in HUMAN and real. I feel that eventually, those who flex our humanity will become a total niche because everyone relies way too much on AI.
Yeah, I think that leveraging humanity is the only way something like this could possibly work anymore. AI can do this exact thing I’m offering, instantly and possibly better. I’ll just have to see how it goes.
Wow. I love this piece.
The play of shadow on the eggs, the small slice of avocado still intact giving the feeling of preparing the avocado in process.
And grasses! I absolutely love a good backlit pompass grass on my drive home from a special hiking place in the Fall.
And the capture of death and decay yet the bones, the structure, remains.
Really enjoying your studio art and reflections as much as your trail journeys!
I did have a lot of fun with this. No one has mentioned the avocado yet, but I really put some effort into it. I wanted to make it look like it was in the middle of some action, like there was a suggestion of a story to it. I’m glad to hear that it stood out to you! Thanks Jess!
It seems you had a lot of fun foraging for photographic objects!
I love the very last paragraph. How applicable to photography as well! The light only works because of the contrast of dark shadows...."the embrace of light and dark..." Total neutrality. No rightness or wrongness to either.
I was actually wondering what you’d think about that. So glad to hear that it resonated!
Fantastic depth in this piece, Erik; both the words and photos go really well together.
Thank you Jesse!
Still Life is one of the most exciting parts of photography for me.
And entropy is the only constant in the universe. It always was and always will be.
Thank you for the information you’ve shared on this genre. I would like to be able to have a side hustle with product photography, but it’s rather uninspiring. Still life seems like an artistic way of developing the same skills necessary!
The thing about product photography is that it is a great way to make the money to spend time on still life. And if you can shoot still life, product photography is pretty easy.