The post today is probably going to be scattered as it’s one of those posts where I need to bring together a bunch of things flowing through my brain and hopefully at the end they will all make sense, if only to me. Read it as if I am thinking out loud. For some time now I’ve been questioning my images and struggling to find my photographic voice or at least some whisper of it. I’ve been wanting more from my images and not sure how to get there. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not full of angst and worry about this, it’s just something I think all photographers go through on this journey. A few things have come together in the last little while that have shone a light on my path.
During our trip, Ray and I had a lot of time to discuss image making, what goes into creating something representative of how we see the world, how we make that happen, and what that looks and feels like in the end. Now that I’ve pretty much finished processing the images from my San Francisco road trip, Ray has reviewed them and given me his assessment which precipated a whole new discussion. Sometimes when I look at my images, I think they are boring. Maybe that’s not the right word to describe the image but rather the feeling I get when I look at them. It comes from comparing my images to those I see all around me and I am wowed by so much of what I see. Take for instance the work of Julie Michelle whose exhibit we saw at the SOMArts gallery. My friend Ed Brydon arranged for us to meet Julie in person while we were in San Francisco and I’m so glad we did. Her I Live Here:SF project is fabulous; please do yourself a favour and check it out.
There is something to be said to look at a whole body of work and in print–preferably big–to get a sense of a photographer’s voice. I haven’t printed out more than a few images of mine at any one time and I’ve never looked at them collectively. Ray reckons that when I do, I will see what he sees in my work. Back to boring. In the usual response to my questions or comments, I received a lengthy email talking about the “gentleness and respect” instead that Ray sees in my work. One line I want to share with you is this: I am not sure if that explains the feeling that I get from (your images) but it is a deep down expression of approach and feeling about the subject being photographed that comes through. I believe it would show no matter the subject, it is more of a sense of respect for the subject than a point of view to be pushed. During our online discussion that followed the email, we reviewed all the images in my galleries and looked at some of the images on my blog and for the very first time, I felt a glimpse of what Ray has been saying to me for a while. Then something happened this weekend that has made it even clearer to me. I want to share this story because I believe it speaks to an important part of imagemaking.
On Saturday I read a blog post on approaching people for portraits and I was appalled at the approach advocated by the photographer. People were to be stalked, hunted and trapped all in an effort to capture a piece of culture to share with others when one returns home. My instinctive reaction was highly-charged and with my blood boiling, I took to Twitter to send a direct message to Ray. Wasn’t this just what we had been talking about?! In my haste I didn’t send a direct message but rather I tweeted my indignation. Of course when I realized what I had done, I deleted the tweet because my intention wasn’t to publicly call into question the organization that had sponsored the post. Long story short, the tweet was retweeted and an opportunity for a dialog opened up between myself and several others. What I learned from this incident was that gentleness and respect is a large part of how my images are made. It makes sense to me that Ray sees this in my images even if at first, I did not.
This brings me to a comment left on my blog post by my friend Earl Moore last week. He said “The whole of life is part of our creative process. Each moment, thought, emotion, experience, joy and pain we have even experienced or ever will experience. I’m to the point where my thinking is we do ourselves a terrible injustice if we try to treat photography as something separate (from) all else we are“. I think this comment is full of incredible insight into the imagemaking process. If we are willing to stalk, hunt, and trap people in order to get an image, what will that photograph say and what will it say about us?
I also read that blog article, and agree. To maybe say it another way, just because we have the gear, the technology, and/or the access doesn’t mean we should make the shot.
Welcome Jim. I agree with you completely. There is more to making a photograph and being a photographer than just these things. That’s what makes this journey so enjoyable for me.
As photographers, we need to stop using language that describes our subjects as prey. And as humans, we need to stop treating them as prey!
Maybe we need to help develop a new language, Jeffrey. All the organizational “change in culture” exercises I’ve been involved in have had a component of changing the language around things especially values. It is long-term work though but when it’s successful, it is truly transformational.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Younes Bounhar, Sabrina Henry, laurabergerol, Glenn C. Riffey, Ray Ketcham and others. Ray Ketcham said: RT @SabrinaHenry: A new post up on my blog this morning "Gentleness and Respect" http://tinyurl.com/2elx24w [...]
Sabrina, I am just so captivated by this photograph, …solidity, yet implied movement.
I’ve noticed the gentleness and respect that comes through in your writing, it’s interesting that Ray’s seeing it in your photos too. I would guess that gentleness and respect are strong values for you and impact the way you see the world. I appreciate the way those values influence me through your blog.
Thanks for quoting Earl’s insightful comment, I love what he wrote, ..gotta remember to write that down..
Thanks Anita! When this one fell out the camera and I sent it to Ray, I think it blew his socks off. I used my film camera at this spot as well but those images are not yet back. I am curious what they will look like.
I appreciate your kind words about my words. In many ways, writing comes easier to me than photography because I’ve been doing it longer. The synchronity you see between the two is something new for me. I hadn’t really thought about it in much detail until you mentioned it.
Who we are comes through in our images when we begin to use our own voice in our images and I for one love the voice that you speak with Sabrina. I think it makes the world a much better place.
It is my hope that the principles I hope we all stand for in how we treat others is more than just lip service. If the things we say we believe in are not put into action they are meaningless. I have removed all connections with the site that posted that method of image making. People aren’t trophies to capture while on photo safari and I don’t believe that even implied support for that is something that should happen.
“People aren’t trophies to capture while on photo safari”
I was on the receiving end of exactly that philosophy recently. Despite my making it very clear Not To F**ing Do It (‘scuse my language, but that’s pretty much how it came out).
So at the end, being treated like a trapped animal made me react like one. Snarling, claws etc. It was unpleasant for all involved (shocked bystanders included), and I’m ashamed of myself for losing the plot, because I’m old enough to know/act better, but I got seriously angry. And stayed that way for a couple of days.
It’s a shame that to so many, the ability to own expensive gear is a licence to act like an ignorant tourist. And then accuse their subject of “not having a sense of humour.” The way I see it, how the subject and consequently, the photographer respond to the first reaction to a situation is the determinant of funny and acceptable, or disrespect and unacceptable.
I learnt some things from being on the receiving end of the stick though, given the sort of photos I take. I was glad to realise after this that I do unconsciously try as much as possible to give my subjects, the opportunity to say “no” or “delete my picture.” I learnt though that I need to start engaging actively a bit more, be a little less stealthy. I have been attempting to do this of late, but I am really introverted so this is a big step outside my comfort zone and a slow journey. But I am pursuing it. But always to remember that goddamit, at the most basic level “no” means “no”!
Ok will get off my soapbox now…. you and Sabrina always manage to give some really good food for thought. Thank you
I agree with Ray, love the voice you speak with!
Thanks Monte
Great post, Sabrina. I think we should always treat our subjects with gentleness and respect, no matter if it is a person, landscape or wildlife.
yes, Yes, YES Beate! I wanted to say exactly this after I posted it. I’ve seen that same gentleness and respect in landscape images (like those of my friend Jeff Lynch) and most certainly in images of wildlife. That reverence is something I admire in a number of photographers. Glad you’re one of them!
Hi Sabrina,
Thank you for this post and for linking to my I Live Here:SF project. Like you, I am appalled at how callous some people can be regarding the subject before their lens. How can a person promote humanity when they never stop to consider it? It is never nothing less than an honor to have someone pose for me and if I ever stop thinking this way will the minute I stop taking photos of people.
And like you and your other commenters have said, people can sense gentleness and respect that is fundamental to the creation of an image. I think your work is lovely. But do start making prints. It will help you grasp even more what it is you’re trying to achieve.
Hi Julie…so nice to see you again. I am going to take your advice and do some prints hopefully this weekend!
Sabrina, this is my favourite of your posts so far. Well said, my friend.
xo
Krista
Thanks Roomie! There might be more like this…with the help of my voice coach
Hey Sabrina, another great post. I admire how you’re able to pose so many relevant questions that ultimately lead to discussions either here or off line. If our personalities flow through to our work then there should be no surprise that respect is apparent in your work – look again at your portraits from the trip to Africia, they’re all about Gentleness and Respect.
Keep up the good work.
Ken
May I join the choir to say yes, yes, yes!
Respect and gentleness is definitely a hallmark of your photography and writing. As it happens, the world needs more respect and gentleness.
Love your photograph at the top too. That enveloping sky is wonderful.
On another note, thanks for sharing the I Live Here project Sabrina. Been going through the project since you first posted the link and it’s brilliant!
That is one hell of an image up there, Sabrina.
One the subject of respecting a portrait subject… well, my experience in Cuba has left me some questions. We will talk about it over coffee this week.
over coffee?
Interested to hear about Chris’ experience and questions, and your response, Sabrina. ..hoping for a follow-up on this.
What a coincidence. I posted on the web site post in question earlier today. Great minds…
I seem to remember to have read the post in question and raising my eyebrow.
But I also recognise the feeling of imagining the shot and hoping to connect with the person a bit further down the road, especially when I first dared to start shooting people. Sometimes it takes a bit of trying and failing before finding the right way to go about it. To approch them at all or to let them “get away”.
I have one image of a woman sleeping on a bench after seemingly a hard day of shopping. I love that image, but my girlfriends thinks it is not showing her in a flattering setting. Then I have an image of four women on a “stage” in Nepal, where one sticks her hand out to ask for money. I felt it was a bit disrespectful but the group I was in didn’t think so. I had thought I had received a confirming nod, but had obviously misunderstood. I still pressed the shutter when the hand came forward.
So sometimes I find it difficult to understand where to draw the line. I assume I will be able to fine tune this behaviour when I become more experienced. Like some of your friends above here are.
If possible, I always show people the image and delete it if they are unhappy with it, like you are mentioning above. The least one can do.
Thanks for all the comments. I wanted to point to a few blog posts that speak to some aspects of one of the issues raised in this post.
http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/03/23/screw-the-photo/
http://www.gavingough.com/2010/11/people-like-to-be-honoured/
and one that I saw today http://www.mitchellkphotos.com/blog/?p=1680
[...] on photographing people with and without their knowledge recently around the blogosphere. Sabrina Henry was protesting against forcing photography on people to document their cultures. Stuart Siphagil [...]