It has been a little over a month since I challenged myself to start going out every day, on my route to work, with my camera, to take at least one photo a day, to get back to posting on my Instagram (heavily abandoned during 2021-2022, due to personal issues, as well as lack of inspiration).
Not much has changed in terms of followers on that platform, not least because it's not sure that the photos I like will appeal to others, be they friends or followers (assuming my photos appear on their Instagram feed), but everything has changed in terms of how I approach street photography in this small town half an hour away from London by train.
First of all, I overcame my 'fear' of cropping photos. Often many people at the beginning of their photographic journey start by cropping photos to 'zoom in' on detail, losing a lot of resolution. As one's photographic journey grows, I don't know if it was just a fixation of mine or if all enthusiasts go through this phase, one chooses to try to fill the sensor (film or digital sensor that is) as much as possible with the subject or detail one intends to photograph. This is more or less the stage where everyone quotes R.Capa: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough". I am now at the third stage which I might call 'if you have to choose between capturing the moment and having all the pixels in use, always choose to capture the moment': we don't always have the luxury of being able to compose the scene in the best possible way, we can't always get close enough, for reasons of safety or time, but we can always capture the image.
The cropping of the picture, although not invasive, helps to achieve a 'cleaner' composition and helps to transport the viewer more 'into the action'.
Technology has helped a lot in this: the technique of manufacturing optics allows for ever better light transmission and detail reproduction capabilities, and the technology that enables digital sensors convert that light into an electronic format is ever more advanced. The only thing left to do is to go out and create.
The second thing that has changed is the 'creative vein'.
When it comes to creativity there are 'two approaches', which can be referred to (so to speak) two authors of novels: the Stephen King approach and the George R.R. Martin approach.
The former, when he has an idea for a novel, writes daily, almost religiously. As if it were a magic ritual, almost as if it were a job (and indeed, for him, it is).
The second writes when he is inspired. This explains the long time lapses between his various works.
There is no right approach to creativity. However, I have noticed that these days, by adopting the former's approach, it has been easier for me to identify photographic opportunities, interesting compositions, and moments of life that should be captured regardless of the weather, the mood, what would or had already happened during the day.
I feel more inspired and more ready to shoot, whether it is a self-portrait or a set with my partner, it becomes easier and easier to shoot.
Finally... this experience as a novice street photographer has pushed me to be more courageous in proposing myself for potential collaborations in the field of photography that I like most, that fashion photography. I will now see the results of this new approach, shot after shot.
Until the next post!