Still painting after all these years.
My background is not in photography, in fact I didn’t take a serious photo until I was twenty-one. What I brought to photography was a lifetime background in painting and design. Among other classes and studies was Art History, and Impressionism was my preferred period in art.
These painters were the first to “color outside the lines”.
Among the impressionists, Degas was one of my favorite painters and to this day his dancers are among my most -loved subject matter. As a photographer, I still enjoy looking and studying all the impressionist painters and will jump at the chance to see an exhibit in a museum. I can still always find ways and the time to.
Not too long ago I came across one of his quotes, and it really hit home as far as how it applies to what I tell my online students with the BPSOP, and also in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around our planet. Degas once said, “Painting is easy when you don’t know how, very difficult when you do”.
I teach my fellow photographers that we are all artists and that a camera on a tripod is like a blank canvas on an easel; we’re painters so let’s paint. I show my students how to incorporate the ‘elements of visual design’ and composition into their imagery…as my background studies dictated to me a very long time ago.
At the end of the part I and II four week course, they will walk away with what I refer to as the Artist Palette. On this palette are: Shape, Texture, Pattern, Line, Balance, Form, Color, and Light...on it are also Negative Space, Vanishing Points, Silhouettes, Shadows, and Perspective.
Since most of my students have never thought about any of this stuff in the past, they have always gone on their merry way taking pictures without thinking of the how and why; how to create strong, memorable images, and as to the why these images work and become memorable.
They would just bring the camera up to their eyes and take pictures, and always at the same height…the height from their eyes to the ground. In my classes and workshops we work on how to make pictures from a different point of view.
That’s all well and good, but here lies the biggest problem with photographers that have always seen things the same way, and are now looking to see things with new eyes.
In the past, taking pictures was easy to do, and because they were easy, they would often lack substance…but that was ok in the beginning; who knew any different? They would lack that which is necessary in keeping the viewer around longer looking at the image…visual interest and tension.
Now once my fellow photographers start getting it, they start getting hungry for more. They begin to put more and more pressure on themselves…to deliver the goods!
As my students eyes becomes more refined, and they begin to see the how and why, it becomes more and more difficult for them to take pictures. They expect more from themselves and think that every time they go out shooting they should be coming back with great images. It’s just not the way things are. Now, they see that it takes work and time to create just one good image.
Now they have to think and work harder than they ever did, but as I’m constantly told through my testimonials, it’s well worth it…learning new things and becoming a stronger photographer is a tough job, but the payoff is a job well done.
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my 2015 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. I have one spot left for my “Autumn in Provence” workshop to be next October 21st. We’ll be shooting during the Fall foliage, and I can tell you from experience that it’s magical. In conjunction with the Santa Fe Workshops, I’ll be leading a group to Cuba for the third time next March. Come join me in what I’ll guarantee you to be an amazing experience, and you’ll return home with memorable photos from a wonderful country.
JoeB
