Barrett, Criticizing Photographs, Ch 5: Photographs and Contexts, 3rd ed, 2000

Having explicated his classification scheme, Barrett proceeds in Chapter 5 to explain that without prior knowledge it is often difficult for the average viewer to place any one photograph in one of his six categories (which we will recall are:  descriptive, explanatory, interpretive, ethically evaluative, aesthetically evaluative, and theoretical).  This contextual information can be internal, original, or external.

Internal context is provided by the photograph’s subject, medium, form, and the relationship between them.  Barrett cites the rather obvious example of one of Edward Weston’s peppers.   We understand the pepper is displayed as an object of aesthetic appreciation, rather than as a botanical description.  (If we know something about the photographer and his work (an example of original context), this interpretation is even more obvious.)

Which way to go?

I feel best about my photographic practice when I'm not reading the opinions of others.  Inevitably when exposed to these, I get anxious and distraught.  I think I should be doing something differently, that my practice is somehow deficient, that maybe I'll never learn anything and I ought to just give up and do something else.

Should I be planning my work, or should I let the work emerge from my time with the camera?  Perhaps there is some balance to be found here.  I tend to like working spontaneously, seeing what the camera reveals.  I don't like faffing about with all the dials and controls, but perhaps that's because I don't have a strong vision, because I don't see any images I want to produce.  Maybe it's because all that faffing about requires quite a lot of knowledge and practice to get right and having them only in small quantities I get frustrated and retreat.

This may also be part of my character and habit.  I don't spend lots of time on any one thing.  I move around a lot.  I change jobs.  I don't have a lot of long-term relationships. I prefer variety, uniqueness, spontaneity.  For me the camera has been a tool of exploration.  With it in hand, I have reason to get out and visit a neighborhood, a village, a landscape.  The process of creating images involves me in place.  It helps me look at and evaluate in ways different from walking around without a camera.

I think the key here is persistence.  Working repeatedly and diligently the knowledge and skills slowly accrue.  The key is to keep moving, keep thinking, keep exploring.

And not listen too closely to the gaggle of opinion.

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Workshop: The Working Photojournalist (Gulf Photo Plus May 2013)

Yesterday (03 May 2013) I attended the first of a 2-day workshop at Gulf Photo Plus entitled The Working Photojournalist.  The program as advertised is pasted below. 

My initial impression is that while all three speakers had interesting things to say about their experience of being photographers, I did not really learn any skills that can be deployed in current or future photography projects.  In essence, the “workshop” was little more than a chat show with working photographers.

The day ended with participants being given photographic assignments to complete in advance of next week’s lectures.  These were handed out in printed form with instructions about the number and type of images to be provided.  My brief is for 15 photos of the Dubai Metro demonstrating how it is integrated into the life of city.  From several hours of talk, here’s what I learned to help prepare me for my assignment:

If you had to choose one photo to represent the species "human"...

...which criteria would you use? The article suggests color, ethnicity, and occupation.

Getting to Know the Sony RX100

After a bit of research I decided on the Sony RX100 as my pocket-camera.  Nothing wrong with the Nikon I've been using the past year except for the sometimes inconvenient size.  I wanted something easily portable and a little less conspicuous.  I am also interested in the landscape feature on the new pockets and look forward to using this during my upcoming summer travels. What follows is an exercise in getting to know the camera, something I picked up from a Better Photography course.  And what a better way to get to know something new than by comparing to something you already know.  What follows is a comparison with my Nikon D5100.

Exploring the possibilities - Assignment 4

I started building on a set-up for Assignment 4, which involves demonstrating a variety of lighting techniques, and shot a few preliminary images.  My idea is a series of self-portraits.  Ironically, a coursemate is considering working with skulls.

More images below the break. Click Read more>> below.

Test Driving the Sony RX100

I wanted a small camera to carry just about anywhere.  Research showed the Sony RX100 to be the best pocket-size available.  Having used a Sony for five years before switching to the Nikon about a year ago, I found the RX100 controls to be not at all dissimilar to what I was used to.  I can see, though, that it will take some time to develop a feel and a handling technique for the RX100.  It's quite tiny and doesn't have a comfortable handle or grip. I was out in Satwa this morning to visit the Arabic scribe and wandered about for a bit of trial shooting.