So much Visual Tension
This is one of my favorite posts to write on. Whether intentionally or just stumbling upon something that either I’ve heard or read in various publications or when I’m searching Social Media looking for ideas to write my posts on.
I’ve been doing this, teaching workshops both in person with my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” classes and with the BPSOP, since 1983.
I would strongly suggest you read “The f64 Group, as it talks about the early careers of some of the most famous photographers there ever was. One of these was Edward Weston. He once said, “Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph it.”
When I’m conducting my workshops and walking around with either one or a few students, we are looking for things that have Visual Tension or represents one of the basic elements of Visual Design.
When I see something that sticks out from it’s environment, it’s like a magnet drawing me in with it’s energy. It could be anything, dappled light on a wall, objects that create one of the basic shapes: triangles, squares, circles, and rectangles, or a person about to create the “Decisive Moment”, by altering their surroundings.
My job as their teacher is to point these occurrences out so that they can spend time creating their own POV. I love this part, watching them going about their creative business each one looking for that elusive ‘wall hanger’.
So, my fellow photographers, go out and look for those things that excite you. If it excite you, there’s a very good chance that it will excite others. My only advice is to make sure they know what they’re looking at.
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/barabanjoe. watch for any upcoming workshops. They fill fast so they are not up on my blog for very long.
JoeB
