This post is going to be extremely difficult to write mainly because I have so much to say but really need to keep it right on topic.
I have been spending a lot of time defining my vision in general as well as in each specific area that I want to invest my photographic time. Recently I have been working on my portfolios and that has really helped me in defining my vision. In fact I have started and will be writing a post introducing my vision for each area, from fine art and street photography down to couples and teens and using it as way to showcase my portfolio.
One of the areas that is most clear to me in vision is my street photography. It has gone through the most amount of refining and testing. So the challenge I am taking on from here on out is to only be shooting that what furthers my vision. This is extremely stretching and requires me to be very proactive, but I believe this can only improve my photography and more importantly grow and define my vision even more.
Most Saturday’s I am taking time to be out and about in my city and after busy days at work it is such a great opportunity to try and move my vision forward in street photography. I’d like to share a little bit of my process here and let you see how my vision is being accomplished.
For my street photography the vision and goal in a nutshell is to showcase a portrait of the person that captures their heart and personality, tells a story, conveys emotion and is presented in black and white. The last point is not something all of them will have but right now a vast majority does so. One of the largest parts of this vision is that it requires me to take time and get to know the person. There is a lot more to the how of this but I want to keep it a tad more personable in this post.
When I first began to engage this man, Mr. Yang, I was attracted to his posture. He wasn’t leaning against the wall, nor sitting on his stool but was using his stool to lean on against the wall. To me this showed dignity. He was a man who carried himself with honor and this was confirmed in the more than half hour I spent with him. He was standing in the shade and had his pant legs rolled up. He was hot and trying to stay cool. Not an essential part of the story but part of it non-the-less.
He listened to you talk with a quiet reserve but smiled big when excited or talking about things he cared for: like his son and granddaughter. Dignified and filled with love for people. That is what I saw.
I observed his mannerisms as I listened to him talk and interacted with him. He did a strange thing with his tongue and would stick it out every few minutes. He shifted and looked around a lot yet was very attentive to you when you spoke.
Now obviously there was a lot more that happened in my time with Mr. Yang and a few more photos were taken but in reality, these 4 are the core of what I took. As I explored his personality with the camera these were the markers and the ones that really lead to my final image. The one where I feel I captured in a single frame all that I had seen down to bag he carried, the stool, the interesting rings on his hands, the hands themselves, his smile, the way he held himself and moved a lot and the joy!
And interestingly enough that image was the very last image I took of Mr. Yang. All of these shots were dictated my vision and accomplished by pursuing my vision. I am so honored to have shared that part of my life and to be able to share in Mr. Yang’s life if for no more than that brief moment. So one more time let me share my friend Mr. Yang with you.
Thank you for bearing with me as I took you on my journey! I hope it was not too long and congratulations for making it this far! I hope you enjoyed the journey and the photograph as well!
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Enjoy!
