Another image from my day at Steveston a few weeks ago. It’s a bit ordinary other than I found it interesting how many things I managed to find to photograph when the light was quite harsh. Another of those so-called “rules” that you can dispense with when you are just making stuff. I don’t have much to share today but I should have a little bit of news in a few days.
The ordinary makes up our world. What we find ordinary, others find exotic. I find taking photos of ‘ordinary’ makes me look at my world differently. In one of Freeman Patterson’s books an exercise he gives is to shut yourself into your bathroom for 20 minutes and take 10 images. After you have taken the obvious 4-5, then you really start looking – the drip from the tap, the reflections in the metal towel rails- and suddenly the ordinary becomes fascinating and beautiful. And of course bathroom light is not beautiful either!!
I like the image you posted – it has strenght and promise of safety.
I love that exercise from Freeman! I remember reading it when I was in a hotel room while on the road for work. Very interesting how something ordinary can become extra-ordinary. (I’m glad you like this image too.)
I’ve been pondering the whole make or take photographs line of thinking. For me this photograph fits into the take category because your impulse of interest compelled you to take it opposed to making a photograph where you’d have gone looking for to make a photograph with a charming red life saver ring. I often find that my best photographs are ones I wasn’t looking to take but those that emerge through closer observation of everyday life.