Throughout August I'll be following the current book challenge. http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/18757/aug-book-club-week-1 The book in question is Freeman Patterson’s Photography and the Art of Seeing. For the first part of this challenge there are two sections: Barriers to Seeing and Learning to Observe.
Barriers to Seeing:
“The purpose of this book is to help you improve your visual thinking – to observe more accurately, to develop your imagination, and to express a theme or subject more effectively with photographs.
Learning to Observe:
The second section is divided into two main ideas: thinking sideways and relaxed attentiveness. Try one or both of these approaches and share how it impacted your thoughts or photography.
Today's shot is one that i definitely wouldn't normally take. One of the exercises in the book discusses breaking all photographic boundaries and I'd like to think I've done that here! No super sharp focus and not a drop of colour to be seen!!
@quietpurplehaze Haha!
I just felt i needed something to get stuck into for the start of my second year here Hazel, although i think by the time next month comes around, my head will be spinning and I'll be joining the word a day list again!
@beryl I think initially it's just an exercise to get you thinking outside the box. To see things differently - observe the subject like you wouldn't normally. This isn't the sort of shot i like to take as you know, but i was more than willing to give it a go!
I can see a fork there, so I guess cutlery. I think it's important to experiment with photography and to see things in a new light, so well done Darren for trying. I'm not sure about having everything out of focus but if that is the exercise, so be it. Good job here, great to see you going for something new and experimental.
@sturnus Thanks Carol - I won't be making a habit of it believe me, and i'm only planning on a couple of shots a week for this 4 week challenge - it's an interesting read nonetheless and if i learn only a couple of things, then all well and good :)
@swilde Give it a shot Sue - as you can see from the above comments - it certainly raises a few eyebrows, but i'm happy to have stepped outside my comfort box - even if only for one picture!
It does look like I am looking at it without my glasses on, but I like it. I am doing the book club as well and was working on breaking the rule of having focus yesterday. It was tough! I think at some point I deleted all the pics on my memory card and started over. lol. I did eventually get one I could live with. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's book club shots!
Darren, it really is a beautiful abstract. I feel like it came from a story (that I'm not privy too), but want to know more about. You and @taffy have inspired me to get the book.
I see the fork, and I see the abstract. I like the marbled end result. I agree, that the point is to look at something in a new way - whatever direction that takes us in.
I think it meets the spirit of the challenges in the book. The very fact that it's engendered such a range of commentary makes me think it's effective at getting folks to 'think sideways' in ways not thought before. I like it as an abstract and like that fact that the fork hints at the original. And I really like that you are taking risks! I used to ski and ended up realizing that the days I never fell down were the days I wasn't pushing to improve. At first I used to be most proud of those days...
Interesting abstract. I can see why you said that the comments have been divided upon this image. I am reminded about my teaching training in which we were taught that sometimes the product is the desired outcome and sometimes the process is the desired outcome. For me, I think the process (opening up my thinking) is the desired outcome for me. I like how you appear to be studying the light/shadows and the forms/shapes in your image.
I really like it. It leaves room for interpretation and imagination! It has also opened up your horizons judging from your comments - and who knows where that might take you in the future...
@daisy Thank you Kathryn - I was anticipating some flack for this shot as it is unlike anything i've posted before. The book does point out that taking a shot whilst breaking all the normal rules will draw you into other details not normally seen and I, like you managed to see the light and shadows without actually focusing on the cutlery items in particular. Generally, the response I've had has been positive and for that I thank you and everyone else :)
@taffy Thanks kindly - couldn't have put this experiment into words any better! It's been amazing the response to this and I've definitely learnt a lot from this one shot than any other I've posted thus far! ! appreciate your words and support :)
@lalypics I too, deleted a lot - but felt i wanted to explore it further so bit the bullet and picked this image. Thanks for your comment - it'll be interesting to see how others interpret the book :)
I like this as an abstract Darren - I like shots which make you wonder what it is. I haven't tried this out of focus method. Sounds interesting but not sure I could live with my whole shot being out of focus. I might have a go.
Well done Darren! I can see you've really got into the spirit of this. It's quite hard to post an out-of-focus shot which you wouldn't normally do. I haven't 'broken the rules' yet, but have really enjoyed and learn alot from the other two exercises I've done.
I like this a lot, Darren! It makes me look long and think - both are good things in photography! Well done on diving into the book club. I have the book on order now, too. Hope to join in soon.
I looked at this one ..... came away and looked again. Its very abstract but you can see what it is if you look closely. I can't decide if I like it or not but it certainly takes you out of your comfort zone :)
I did look at this challenge and read about it but decided it is not for me!
I just felt i needed something to get stuck into for the start of my second year here Hazel, although i think by the time next month comes around, my head will be spinning and I'll be joining the word a day list again!
Thanks for your comment :)