Many people remember their family vacations by looking over the snapshots they take. Oddly enough, I am not one of them. I think it has something to do with being a perfectionist when it comes to photography. It makes it difficult to just knock off snapshots. Oh sure, I do have a tiny point 'n shoot and certainly take some quick shots of the kids on the beach and that sort of thing. But I don't particularly enjoy doing that because I constantly find myself trying to figure out how to make the shot better instead of enjoying the moment. Or, if I see something really nice, I will find myself wishing I had my dSLR along. I know this isn't a good habit to have, but it just is.....so instead of taking a ton of snaps I live and experience the vacation with joy but without trying to fully record it. My wife ends up taking snaps that we can enjoy years down the line.
What looking through images does for me is to remind me of the workshops and photography trips I have been on. I have many images from these trips and they are associated with memories of working hard with a group of like-minded people to try and make good photographs.
I was recently going through some shots and ran across this one, which reminded me of a terrific evening on a workshop with Alain Briot at Monument Valley.
Mitten With Moon
Copyright Howard Grill
3 comments:
Beautifully done! Fantastic color and perfect moment.
I agree with you somewhat on family vacation photos. I find myself disappointed when we didn't "arrive early enough" or "stay late (or long) enough" when I find myself somewhere that I'm sure there are great captures to be had, if only....
You've written before, Howard, on the satisfaction of photographing with a group in the workshops. I've never attended a workshop, so am still trying to make the best of family trips.
Sometimes my wife gives me a P&S camera during family events and asks me to 'take pictures.' She should have learned by now that it is usually a very dangerous thing to do. First of all, I am not a people photographer much at all, and secondly, I am never happy with just taking a posed snapshot. So she usually ends up with all sorts of crazy images wondering why she gave me the camera in the first place!
Great story Mark...she gives you a camera to take shots of family and you come back with shots of the leaves falling, the rocks in the backyard where the cookout was etc!
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