Wonderment and the power of being amazed. by Dale Firth

After a recent conversation with a co-worker, he helped me understand one of the main principles that drives me to do what I do.

Scooter and wall

Scooter and wall

Wonderment. noun. A cause or occasion of wonder, Astonishment, Surprise, Curiosity about something.

Commuter bike

Commuter bike

I realized that the feeling I get when I experience wonderment is what keeps me interested and pushing forward. Much of what I do is in search this feeling. Tasting new food, watching movies, looking at art, music etc. I search for this feeling in everything I do. I believe this is what keeps me connected to something and makes me search out answers to quench my curiosity. There is a lot of research out there concerning wonderment, some of it makes comparison to seeing the world with a child like awe. When you grow older you naturally lose your sense of wonder as you learn to understand how things work and start to ignore regular things in life as we concern ourselves with “more important” tasks.

Triangle of light 2

Triangle of light 2

There have been many sayings that we take from literature that warn us from ignoring the small things and all that makes up our regular day to day lives. Some of these quotes can be deep and some are simple. They all try to some up that wonder, being one of our human emotions, can be easily experienced just by changing the way we see things or simply paying attention to the mundane. What we thought was just part of our environment can add beauty and connection to our lives. Street photography does this for me in many ways. It makes me slow down and look at what is going on, I look at how people interact with whats around them and how the light moves between the buildings. I see an interaction and create an image of that moment, removing what I don’t want in the scene to simplify and create interest. The story is always one filled with questions, who is this person? Where are they going? what are they doing?

Triangle of light 1

Triangle of light 1

The one thing that I take away from each session that I photograph, is that few people seem aware of what is going on around them, The amazing light, how the buildings look at a certain time of day. I always wonder what they are looking forward too? Are they just avoiding the people directly in front of them? Are they just trying to get somewhere? I recently made a shot of people crossing an intersection. The light was reflected from the windows of a building, It made the scene seem staged almost. I purposely shot with a slow enough shutter speed so that it blurred the identity of the people as they were not the main subject matter of the images. They just became props in the image as it was all about the surrounding scene and the light. Almost as if it were a city landscape and the people were blades of moving grass. These are the types of images that create that sense of wonderment for me, did the architect of the buildings know that the light would do this? Is it just a happy accident?

Magical light in the crosswalk

Magical light in the crosswalk

I feel that acknowledging this is important when you want to see things in a different way, Don’t accept the conformity that leads you away from seeing the world in a different way. This sense of wonder can lead to a whole different way of understanding, generating a whole new level of curiosity. Stay young and see things in a whole new light. I allow myself to be amazed by things and that feeling keeps me searching for the next thing that will amaze me.

Never too old for a teddy bear

Never too old for a teddy bear

I will always be looking for things that others may miss.

Light and the stairs

Light and the stairs

Why pick up a camera? by Dale Firth

Its a common story in photography. Picking up your first camera at an early age and being taken in by the process and the magic of capturing images and creating prints.

A walk in the reflected light

A walk in the reflected light

For myself I first saw the process of a photogram being developed in a darkroom and that drew me in, I was amazed at how the print developed right in front of me in the tray, it felt and looked like actual magic. From that point on I wanted to know how to do everything, develop film, make prints and create images. I have never viewed the camera or the equipment used to develop film or make prints as just tools. All of the pieces involved served as inspiration to try new things and get better at the process and enjoy the wonderment of everything involved.

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I always saw the camera as an amazing machine and marvelled at the small parts and the precision at which everything worked. Even when I wasn’t taking pictures I was always holding the camera and seeing how everything worked. As I grew with photography the need to create images grew. Trying new films or lenses, using different filters to change how colours were represented when printed. Experimentation always kept the desire high for me to keep shooting.

The mix of old and new

The mix of old and new

Expression is one of the greatest reasons that I have found to pick up the camera. It took time for me to realize that you could say something with a camera. Create images that could send a message or relay an emotion. Always on the lookout for the image that shows what I see in my head. The way you see the world and what you see in it is unique and is worth sharing with people. There is so much visual content in the world today and so many photographers, there is no end to what you can see. Sharing how you see things adds to that conversation and to the community of creators and keeps you picking up the camera.

Behind the mask

Behind the mask

Photography evolves and so does the camera. It is more accessible than ever before. Smaller cameras, even the camera in your phone can provide a professional level image, there are very few reasons to not pick one up.

Getting out of your comfort zone. by Dale Firth

When we spend enough time working at anything, there comes a certain amount of comfort. We work on the same process in an attempt to master it and we create a habit. Once we have that habit, we have secured that comfort.

Walking through the shadows

Walking through the shadows

Sometimes our work starts to suffer because of this comfort. It becomes routine and we just produce the same work over and over. Changing things up from time to time and learning new things can can improve our processes. Pushing ourselves to do things that we wouldn’t normally do and making ourselves uncomfortable on purpose, really pushes us to improve our craft.

A discomfort for me was pursuing street photography. I always liked the images that I saw others shooting but was terrified of the prospect of photographing strangers in that setting. I was worried about confrontation that might happen when taking pictures of people in public. At some point, the desire to be able to create this style of imagery overtook my fear of possible confrontation and I went out in pursuit of scenes. What I found was that people didn’t really care what I was doing. I am still cautious when making images. There are certain things that I don’t shoot when I am out. I want a creative scene that has a person interacting with that scene. I am not out to take advantage of anyone. The initial reason that scared me and kept me from doing it earlier, really wasn’t an issue.

Walking the dog between the trees

Walking the dog between the trees

What this has done for me has allowed me to look more at scenes and be more aware of what people are doing and when there might be a moment that would be interesting to a viewer. I have also been able to adjust my vantage point better and understand that you cannot control all aspects of a shoot like I can in a studio. I have to be quick and ready to make the shot. There is still a lot of creative control to how you want the image to look and what part of the scene is more important than the other. The discomfort that I felt and the initial fear that I had was mostly due to my lack of experience with this style of photography. We should be open to try new things and embrace the unknown.

All the reflections

All the reflections

Ultimately something as simple as going out and doing some street shooting has improved and changed my view of photography. I have grown from that discomfort, I have learned that I feared something just because I was unfamiliar with it. It has expanded my technical vocabulary and creativity as to what might be interesting to a viewer and improved my photography in many ways.

Walking too fast for my camera

Walking too fast for my camera

Who am I shooting for by Dale Firth

When I am growing as an artist I always ask myself, who am I creating for?

What gets me up to do some work? The answer should be myself.

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In every case of artists that have a hard time finding success or enjoying what they do, that dissatisfaction often stems from trying to please others. When I spend my energy trying to make people happy with my work, my work suffers. The final product doesn’t have the same shine that it once did. I’m not excited about it and people can see that. There isn’t enough of me left in the work. When I put too much effort in thinking what the viewer might like, I ignore what I really want to do. I’m being driven by the desire to make my viewer happy, I lost sight of what I wanted to do and what I needed to make for myself. Many will say that you need to make the client happy, which is true. I can’t forget what got me the job in the first place. If I showed work that made me happy, that is what my client saw, that is what my client wants.

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When I create for myself, I show my intent and the end product is better as a result. What I do is a creative process and like I have said before, the biggest difference between myself and others is my own unique vision. When people are drawn to my work, I strongly feel and believe it is because of that unique vision and look that I have in my work. I feel this way as I have changed my work for a client. What was the result? Silence. The client never responded to the work that I provided. To myself, I thought the work was good and that the client was going to like what I showed. Looking back on the work that inspired them to get a hold of me in the first place, That work was on another level. They wanted to see what I could do with a different subject matter and I didn’t deliver.

In photography there are so many ways to show the same subject. When you have an opportunity to show what you can do, don’t get overwhelmed by what you think people want. Just do what you do. If they don’t like it at least you will have some more images that you like. I will always choose to make the shot that I like, I will work with in the parameters that may have been set out, in the end it is my art, I’m not just there to push the shutter button and carry the camera equipment.

Always shoot for yourself first. No apologies.

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Your vision is unique. by Dale Firth

It has been said that everything has been done before and that there are no original ideas anymore. Depending on your viewpoint, it is mostly true. Most things in the modern world are a variation on a theme. Despite all of this, people keep creating. I’m sure this blog post has even been written before by someone else.

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Not technically correct but still makes a statement. Depending on what people know about me determines if the the image is accepted or not.

Not technically correct but still makes a statement. Depending on what people know about me determines if the the image is accepted or not.

The thing that still stands out from all of that, is you. The way that you see your creation and what your interpretation adds to or alters what came before you. For the most part I strongly believe that works of art don’t just stand on their own but have a relationship with the artist and the viewers understanding of that artist. Discovering the meaning behind an image or painting or sculpture can change what you see and how you see that piece of art. Knowing something about an artist and what they were thinking or what inspired them to create the work also alters what you see and may help develop an emotional connection to the art.

Visual art is much like the written word. When you take a sentence out of context from the whole story the meaning can change or be completely lost. While people may say a picture is worth a thousand words, Rarely can an image stand completely on its own and tell that complete story. It may still need a title to direct a viewers thoughts or may even require a series of images to convey the original intention. In all cases, the artists vision and intention is going to ultimately tell the story.

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That is the part that is unique, it is the choices that you as the artist decided to make that tells your story and shows your vision. Some people may argue the point but I find when we look at famous photographers who have conveyed intentions and people are more familiar with that artist, when they produce work that is designed to show imperfections either technically or with the subject matter, there is a wider berth for them and that work to still be seen as a success. Put similar work in a portfolio review where the judges know nothing about the photographer, that work will be ripped to shreds and be seen as amateur and a failure. Without the clear understanding of the vision, people have a hard time understanding and deciding how they feel about the work.

Your vision is unique because you are unique. Every creator has a reason for creating. They might be at the point where the message is cohesive or they might not be. Regardless of where you are along that path, you must keep creating no matter what anyone says. Do you have a message yet? if so share that as well as your work. Always be working on your vision. What you think today may not be what you will think weeks from now. You might think that your work looks like everyone else’s right now, that may also change when everything aligns.

Creators need to create and share that work.

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Creators need to create and share that work.

Yes, gear does matter. by Dale Firth

We hear many people talk about how the camera is a tool, don’t buy what you don’t need, don’t spend you money on that new piece of gear until it makes you money, the camera doesn’t matter, it’s the photographer.

While I know there is some good advice behind some of those statements, I must say that the camera is more than just a tool and yes, gear does matter. When we talk about being a creative, we talk about having new ideas and trying to see things in a way that we have not seen before. It’s our experience that creates the unique view of the world that we have.

Cyclocross race, shot on fullframe Canon at 17mm

Cyclocross race, shot on fullframe Canon at 17mm

Gear helps us do this. that new lens changes what we see in the viewfinder, that new zoom lens you wanted (sometimes you can’t just move closer), the new camera body has styling that can inspire you to use it a certain way. For myself I have found that the retro designs that camera companies like Fuji employ have made me excited to try different styles of photography that I had never done before. Deep down I always wanted to try those different styles but I was inspired by a piece of gear, I went out and actually did it, for me that was street photography. Having that discreet camera with the quiet shutter made a huge difference for me and helped me get over my fears of street shooting. Anything in my life that makes me want to create is welcome and desirable.

Shot at the crosswalk. Camera was small and most people paid no attention.

Shot at the crosswalk. Camera was small and most people paid no attention.

If we didn’t have those options, we would still create. We should never use not having gear as a crutch to not create, we shouldn’t crap on it either though. Don’t forget there are creators just like us working for those companies designing products that elicit specific responses. They put in the work and we can respond but we should respond truthfully. If you like the rangefinder style camera like the X-Pro series, there is nothing wrong with that.

Wants aren’t needs and you don’t have to justify everything in your life. I wanted that X-Pro and it is my goto for specific types of photography now. It was a surprise to me how well it worked in situations like my street photography. It doesn’t replace anything but it has a place in my bag. That piece of gear matters to me.

A little disclaimer though, I am not saying you need a ton of gear just so that you can get started. For different types of images and styles of photography, you need certain amounts of gear to make those images. Knowing what you want to shoot and understanding the process will allow you to get only the gear you need to achieve the look you are after. Never be discouraged that you don’t have that one lens of that camera body.

Get out there and create!

13 stops of ND filter for an 80s exposure in daylight

13 stops of ND filter for an 80s exposure in daylight

New website and new subjects by Dale Firth

It was time for me to have a new website and show more of the new work that I have been producing. In the following days work will be added and some new blog posts will arrive. I am hoping to provide some content that you won't find empty that really doesn't have much to say. Whether you are new to photography or have been around for a long time, you should get something out of it.

 

Thank you and hope you stick around .

 

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