to make good images, we have to see them first
and to see them, we have to pay attention
this is easier when we are somewhere we've never been before
because everything is new to us
it's not the same here at home, though
because after a while, we become used to the environment, we become numb
it's like our brain turns off that what it already knows to be friendly and safe
so it can have more space and energy, I guess, to focus on other stuff
like "what am I going to be making for dinner tonight?"
I also have the tendency to get lost in my own thoughts
I disconnect from what's out there very easily
this is what makes local photography, of which I'm a big proponent, so challenging
in a way, we are blind because we stopped noticing
carrying a camera helps because I'm more alert, as I'm looking for images to make around me
the autopilot mode is not in charge anymore
at least, for a little bit
but after so many years of walking on the same streets
passing by the same buildings
taking the same paths
and looking at the same things again and again
this is sometimes not enough
so in this video, I'll share some tricks,
techniques and things that we can try doing to start noticing again
even in those places where we don't think there is anything else to notice for us
have a camera with you
I'm sure I sound like a broken record by now, because I've said this a thousand times
but I can't understate how important having a camera on you is
if only because it will make you pay more attention
don't leave it in your backpack, have it in your hands
or at least, somewhere easy to reach
we need to be present
if we are thinking about a thousand things we have to do later on the day...
it's less likely that we'll see images around us
if we are with someone else, and we're having a conversation...
unfortunately, it's less likely that we'll see images around us
if we are on our phones, we won't see anything
this is why I don't like taking pictures with my phone, by the way
it is just too distracting
if we are listening to a podcast...
it's less likely we'll see images around us
sometimes, I do listen to music, though
I find it helpful when there is a lot of noise around, human activity
so the music can isolate me from those distracting sounds
no matter what, it's about being present in the moment and the place where we are
we need to avoid distractions as much as we can
distractions that might take us away from the experience
for me, the best way to be present, by far, is to go on long walks with my camera
I thrive in that situation
and it's also pretty healthy for the body and the soul
take a photo, any photo
I shoot a lot, and I delete most of those pictures
you might be thinking "what a waste of time and energy to have to go through all of those
pictures just to delete them"
I see it differently
every photograph I take is an exercise, not just in composition but in noticing
the more photos I take with the intention of making something beautiful, of course
the better I get
it's also a great way to regain your attention if you find yourself drifting away into your thoughts
just snap a picture
that should help to bring you back to the present moment
still, life can and will get in the way
there are always things we need to think about, plans to be made
if you still have trouble and find yourself getting distracted very often,
this little trick might help
look for something specific, think of an object and look for it anywhere you go
that could be interesting mailboxes, fire hydrants,
sheds, doorknobs, power lines, patterns on the sidewalks...
you name it
the thing is that you know what you're looking for, so you'll pay more attention
there's always something you haven't seen before, I promise you
it might not give you an image, but this is an exercise on noticing
it's the first step in the creative process
I have a project of signs in general, but the ones prohibiting something specifically
like "no trespassing" signs
I have a decent collection from a few countries in different languages
it's something I always look for when I'm walking around, here at home or in a new place
and it helps to keep me engaged
this is a long-term project that I hope it will end up as a book
but in the meanwhile, it's helping me to notice things, to see things to photograph
get out at different times of the day and different times of the year
because the light will be different, you'll see different things
at night, well-lit areas are more visible
and without other objects competing for your attention, you might find something new there
maybe, all of a sudden, a subject that didn't work during the day
now, it does work and it makes for a great image
on a clear and sunny day, you'll have strong shadows
those could emphasize shapes that you hadn't noticed before
or highlight elements in the scene
streets are usually empty early in the morning
so you might notice things
that you haven't noticed when there are a lot of people and cars around
a lot of distracting things happening overwhelming your senses
also, think long term
the same place can look very different depending on the season
there are a lot of fields here that are full of crops now in the summer
like corn and other grains
but they are empty in the winter
that makes for very different images
do not forget to look down and to look up
we see the world at eye level, but there is so much more on the ground and higher up
look for chimneys, tv antennas, weather vanes
use natural frames wherever you can find them
a good example of this is the windows at your home or other buildings
or even in the car
in a vehicle, you can even use the rear mirrors
use them all as frames
move around, trying to change what you see through the window, through the frames
when you have something like this, places that were too busy before suddenly simplify
and you might start seeing images where you couldn't see any before
use your camera, look through the viewfinder
so you might know that I have my camera set to high contrast black and white
as close as possible to what the final image I'll be creating
so that way, I can have a more or less accurate preview
sometimes, I just put the camera up to my eye and look through the viewfinder
with no intention of taking a picture at all
it's just to see what some scene could look like in monochrome
use the wrong lens
if a place calls for a wide-angle lens, and that's all you've been doing there over time
try a long lens
and the other way around
if a place or a situation or a scene calls for a long lens
try a wide angle lens
and see what happens, see what you can see, see what you can find there
this is especially useful with prime lenses
because they force you to see through that focal length
there is no zooming in, or out
and that, sometimes, is all we need to be forced to see the same place in a different way
also, along these lines, give video a try
as many of you might suspect, video is as of right now a big part of my creative process
I make these youtube videos
almost every time I go out for photography I'm also making a video of that outing
even though it might seem counter-intuitive at first
because it's something else that I have to do in the field
that can steal time and attention from photography
in reality, doing video helps me a lot to find images that I wouldn't have found otherwise
the reason is very simple:
it's a departure from my black and white square mindset
when I do video it's in 3x2, and it's in color
I'm using different lenses usually as well
so I see the same scenery, the same landscape, in a totally different way
and that, sometimes, results in images that I haven't seen before
lastly, use your imagination
because in the end, it's not about seeing what's there, what it is
but about seeing what it could be
you have to see the world on your own terms
art is everywhere
anything could be art, if you say so
it's totally up to you