Time for a new year in the
52 Photos Project! I believe this is the third year of the project.
I chose this photo because I had a short conversation with these women when they stopped me and asked if I'd take a photo of all of them together. Of course I said yes and one of them gave me their phone to take the photo. I took two shots and they didn't like that one of them had left her sunglasses on. They wanted me to shoot again. As I was trying to see them clearly in the screen (the sun was making it difficult) and
relax so that I'd get a good photo, I told them how I really didn't do well with photographing people, that I much preferred taking photos of things that did not get nervous when you put a camera in their face. The women all laughed and I ended up getting a good shot for them. One of the women said how they had seen my big camera and thought I'd be a good person to ask to snap the photo. Little did they know!
As they walked off, I decided I'd get me a good old "butt shot" out of the deal and I snapped two shots of them walking up the hill to the observation tower. I was trying to hurry because they were moving fast and I didn't want one of them to turn around and catch me! When I got home and looked at the photos, I realized one of the photos was focused on the women and the grass was blurred. The one above was focused on the grass and the women were blurred. It was my favorite.
It reminded me of the quote I'd saved from an email conversation a friend and I had. I see it all the time in articles about photography and writing and other forms of art:
You have to learn the rules well so that you can break them well. I don't doubt that that is sometimes true in life as well.
Conversations...
Nice, nice, nice. I really like that thought - breaking the rules with finesse.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly I am reminded of a charming Louisiana politician who broke the rules with finesse and still charms many Louisianians! That's NOT the kind of rule breaking we are referring to here!
ReplyDeleteLove this and dang girl.... you know we've been waiting a couple years for some good old fashion butt shots!!! Maybe this will spur you on to shoot some more.... I know wishful thinking!
ReplyDeletemy rule....break the rules! great shot!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julia!
DeleteI think it was the other one you posted before? I really like this one, too. I know this isn't where you were going, but when I saw your picture, I thought it was the way I look at life. Sometimes I concentrate so much on what's close to me, I forget or even neglect the background. Or I concentrate on things and forget the people. Both happen. It's a good reminder to me to balance my focus. Not that your picture needs to, just that's what it said to me about my life. =)
ReplyDeleteWhat you say is so true! I have a problem with balance sometimes too.
DeleteThere is only one way any form of creativity can move forward and that is by breaking the rules. I love the narrative behind this image.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tony!
DeleteLove the quote. Love the shot. Together, thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteThank you ma'am!
Deletebefore reading any of your words, i loved the soft focus of the women!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The soft focus was so accidental but I love it too!
Deletesuper capture, super story!
ReplyDeleteSo soft and lovely!! I love this image so much.
ReplyDeleteI am all for breaking the rules, especially when it comes to our art! Excellent take on the theme. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Bella!
DeleteLovely story. The softness of the women and the focus on the earth and grass gives a wonderful sense of the fleetingness of the glimpse into their lives.
ReplyDeleteI love your interpretation! Thank you!
DeleteGreat shot! (My camera and I don't always agree on where we want to focus. Sometimes the camera's idea is better than mine!)
ReplyDeleteYeah, Jill, sometimes the camera seems to have a mind of its own!
Delete