21 de Julho, 2010
The Situation
One very common question asked by lazy photographers is: "why do the photographs that we made last month look so cool and now it's difficult to get images like that again?". Been there, done that, that's why I can talk about it comfortably in my chair.
You can buy a great camera, you can buy an excellent lens, you can buy a very steady tripod, the best lightning but YOU CAN'T BUY A SITUATION. I'm convinced that one of the big differences between a good photographer and a great photographer is the "creating the situation" ability. A great photographer builds the environment for great moments. Sometimes you just have to go out and look for something, or go somewhere just because you know something is going on there. For example, this weekend I was invited to a farewell party of a flat. I didn't know anyone, not a single person so I said "yes, sure I'll go!". Why? First because I was bores and wanting to meet new people; second because I've learned that taking pictures of someone you just met can be really interesting.
So I packed my stuff, sleeping-bag included, and put myself into a situation which I could come out with some new pictures or could come out without my camera, but steel a potentially funny situation. As a result I met a lot of cool people and got some portraits of Íris, a really cute and happy girl.
This bridge was built by her grandfather some decades ago.
I believe these are not my best portraits, but I can tell that one of them is going to be on my wall soon.
CREATE situations for your subjects.
BUILD the environment for your photographs.
GO OUT THERE and stop being lazy!
