Monday, January 31, 2011

SEEING HOW WE SEE, CAN BE EYE OPENING!

My wife Phyllis and I do most all of our photographing together. It doesn't matter if it's weddings, events, portraits, landscape, nature or travel, we are together photographing the same images.
Two people, four eyes, two cameras and two different ways of seeing the same thing. We will be married 24 years next month and share many of the same ideas and values. We were raised by parents who were friends and have known each other all of Phyllis' life.  Phyllis thinks we agree about 90% of the time, I'm not sure I agree with that. But the point is we are very close and yet when we photograph we "see" the same event differently. Why, I'm not sure. I would guess it has to do with parts of us of which we're not even aware: a combination of our hearts and souls and our physical differences. I am a larger person, I have better eyesight,  I'm sure all these factors influence how we see artistically.  I wonder if it is more intrinsic to who we really are. Do past relationships we have had in our separate lives help shape how we see? Maybe different artists we have studied and admired, influence us more then we think. Not that I think, "How would Galen Rowell have photographed this landscape?", when I'm in the act of photographing a mountain range. But I have wondered if photographs by Rowell, Neil Van Niekert , Scott Kelby, David Ziser, John Shaw and of course, Ansel Adams are stored somewhere in my mind so that when I see a certain scene, my 'Eye' sees the scene plus sees the same scene with the point of view of one of these great artists. Maybe that's how it works, I really do not know. I would like to think so.
As you go out and shoot with someone close to you, compare their images to yours and hopefully you will see how different (not better or worse) they are. If we all could understand that, we might see people better. See???
The images today are all Phyllis'. Enjoy




4 comments:

Alpana Jaiswal said...

“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”
“Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”
~Kahlil Gibran on love
Beautiful pictures..your post revoked a lot of emotions within me...its made me cry..beautiful..wishing you both a wonderful life together.

Unknown said...

Thank You Alphana I appreciate your words very much. It is wonderful to know your art can move people.
Stay Well!!

Aaron said...

Hey Jim,
I am loving the blog. Your images are fantastic and I am truly enjoying your candid writing.

When it comes to two people seeing the same thing differently I think it comes down to 2 things. First, I agree influences from other photographers helps seeing a potential picture but I think it our past experiences that truly shapes the photographs. These experiences shape how we see the world and thus shape how it comes through our viewfinder and lens.

I bet if you were to photograph the same thing every couple years you find even the way you look at the same scene would change because your experiences have changed.

My past year has changed the way I look at the world and inspired me to pick up a camera.

Would love to hear your thoughts.
Aaron
http://www.aaronoutward.com

JIM said...

I agree completely I actually have photographed the same scene over a period of twenty year first in film then in digital. There are many factors in play here not the least being the light. I was just using one example but experience, professional & personal influences and atmospheric conditions would all influence how you see the image.
Thank You for spending time reading the blog. I appreciate it. Keep your camera with you as much as possible and shoot- shoot and shoot some more