The other day I was out photographing some widflowers, specifically Columbine and Buttercups, in a local park. As I was composing my images, I couldn't help but get the feel that I had done this before. I don't mean taking these particular photographs of these particular flowers. In fact, I had never previously photographed either Columbine or Buttercups. But I had photographed using that particular style many times.....maximizing depth of field, looking for a nice close up composition, even a spritz of water for 'drama'......and I really felt that I wanted to try something different. I thought about the shoot wide open with selective focus technique, and, likewise, I have recently been doing more and more of that. Done well, both techniques can produce stunning images.
However, neither style satisfied my desire of the moment, which was to do something totally different; something that I hadn't done before. So I thought about what it was that really drew me to the flowers and made me want to stop and spend time with them. It wasn't so much their form (which was beuatiful) as it was their color. That was what I thought the essence of the scene was, at least for that moment. How could I isolate just that one attribute of the flower?
I decided to try something that was totally new or, more properly, something that was totally new for me. Why not 'defocus' the lens until the flower's color was broken down to its most basic level. Eschew form and convey color.
"Buttercups"Copyright Howard Grill
"Columbine"
Copyright Howard Grill
Does it work? Honestly, I am not really sure it matters. I think it is a good exercise to 'break loose' every so often and break convention, or at least the conventions that one has adapted for his or her self. In this case, I feel the process was more important than the actual results.
That said, I am intrigued with the images. My first reaction was that it was too simple and that anyone could simply defocus and fire away willy nilly. But then I realized that, like most things that sound simple, getting really good results takes a lot more effort than is apparent on the surface. This idea is something that I plan to at least 'play around' with some more. I think with more experimentation and effort some pleasing compositions can be had. It is too bad the wildflower season here is rapidly fading away.
6 comments:
Perhaps easy as far as the actual mechanics to create such an effect - but I think it is difficult for many to separate themselves from the 'how it is supposed to be' aspect. I think playing like this fosters creativity, even if you don't like the output. Good post Howard.
I think you really hit the idea straight on with your next to last sentence. You're dealing with a subject that has no form or identity of it's own because of the way you've chosen to photograph it. It is pure shape and colour, and as such really needs bang on composition to work.
I think that the one thing that comes to mind while viewing these two images and reading what you have written, and is "so important", is that area of "freedom" that many photographers will miss out on.
Yes, they are stuck in that world of "what it should be", and really missing out!
Keep shooting like this Howard. For me personally, ... it has opened so many doors in my photography!!
Time for more coffee! :)
Thanks , I appreciate the kind words from everyone!
Creativity is about letting loose and seeing the possibilities. Your choice as photographer is to visualise the subject and convey it - and as you point out, it was the colour that grabbed you. It worked - those shots say more about the colour than anything else, fantastic! If it were form that grabbed you, form would have prevailed, if numbers, then the shot would have brought out numbers. Great stuff.
It just takes a little practise; at least you have started on that road. As an abstractist (if there is such a word), you already do it to some extent with the macros of the flowers, eg on your website. Perhaps try one of those types of pix and turn it into just a colour-scheme, if you can understand what I'm trying to say here. Something that will have good light, shade, texture.
Just one question, to do with the camera you use and what you see before you click: What do you see (in the viewfinder or LCD screen) BEFORE you click the shutter? How much time do you give yourself to arrange the image before clicking -- in this regard, I agree with Chris Sheppard -- it needs 'bang on composition to work'. Don't hurry it. Trust your gut. And, have fun; that's what it's all about! ;o}
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