There are some information about compositions and aesthetics online. So I went through several different
articles, written by writers, students, artists, photographers, teachers, students and many
other people and I learned good lessons At first, I decided to look this word, aesthetics,
up in dictionaries. So I went to the website: www.dictionary.com; and there are 8 results in
that website. I decided to pick one that I felt the best is related to photography field: "the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty (dictionary.com)" It makes sense for photography because it does have lot to do with the mind and its senses. If I see something that made some impacts on my emotions, such as something grabbed my eyes and take a look at it. It is the same concept for a photograph; to find a subject that will inspire me the most. But it was interesting to read articles seeing what people believed the meaning of aesthetics (in medicine, art, science and photography field).
I also started to look around for compositions so I decided to research a little on Ansel Adams as I really loved his works. I came across this blog, "Tao of Photography" and this author wrote great amounts of information on compositions and of course some of Adams. I then saw one of Ansel Adams (in this blog) quotations and it indeed make me realize that it is TRUE! His quotation is "You don't take a photograph, you make it." Photography is more of an person's view and other people may not see the same way as this person see.
I also started to look around for compositions so I decided to research a little on Ansel Adams as I really loved his works. I came across this blog, "Tao of Photography" and this author wrote great amounts of information on compositions and of course some of Adams. I then saw one of Ansel Adams (in this blog) quotations and it indeed make me realize that it is TRUE! His quotation is "You don't take a photograph, you make it." Photography is more of an person's view and other people may not see the same way as this person see.
For example, I walked with a friend at some river and we stopped on a small wooden bridge to look at water. I started to see a rock that make of a shape of an old man's face. Water would flow over this rock, but cause the "whiteness" on the socket of this rock, that made "eyes", so on. I caught my friend's attention and told her that this rock looks like an old man. However she couldn't see it at all, so I decided to take a picture of this rock in the water then went to my work's dark room (yes old times) to develop these films. I printed this very same picture and showed this to my friend. She then could see the image of old man since I MADE it as my own eyes. I am glad I saw this blog because it truly refreshed my mind and if I want people to see what I have seen, the I have to go make it to be! I also wanted to add one thing; I learned from this blog, there is a term for this "story" I just told you about: Previsualization. It seems that Ansel Adams introduced this term to Photography world. He defined it as that it is more like a "labeling the importance of imaging." It is just like the eyes of YOUR mind. So its a good example for this rock shaped of "old man's face"
I am sorry for the messy post, seems It would not let me fix its format, however after first few sentences, it should look fine!
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about the equipment that Adams used, a large format box camera with glass plates, which he lugged up narrow mountain trails to get to the spot from which he wanted to photograph. Then had a limited number of these plates that he could carry with him. He would sit for days sometimes with the camera set up on a big wooden tripod, waiting for the shot he wanted...That's intentional imaging for sure! I love this shot of him set up on his trusty woody station wagon: http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/travel/27journeys.html
ReplyDeleteI clicked on the link and yes I liked this shot too! That shot showed the good side of Ansel Adams when he is at work. Also, Yes he must have LOT of patience with finding (or as he quoted "making" a right shot he wants. Amazing..
ReplyDelete