Experiencing Your World: Page 1
Here is something you can do with no camera to learn photography.
Before we start playing with our cameras I want you to first learn to experience reality a little differently. In our fast past world we often forget about the importance of deep and rich experiences. We forget about noticing details. We walk with our heads down as architecture and faces with stories pass us by. As a photographer you need to practice slowing down and being significantly more aware. You are going to need to be conscious of what it is your are trying to freeze in time and you are going to need to be more aware of the elements you want to place significance on. For instance many would glance at the picture of a portrait and simply come to a conclusion about it being “attractive” or “non attractive”. However, a portraits main purpose is to speak about the person in the frame. It’s about facial expression, posture, the look in the eyes, the texture of the skin, the wrinkles in the forehead, the attire of the model and any other features which might provide a glimpse into the character of the individual.
What I want you to do for your first exercise is to find a living plant in or around your house. This exercise will be a true testament to your dedication to self education. While it is possible that you simply skip this exercise and all proceeding exercises, it is in your own best interest to follow the instructions within each lesson. Online learning requires a sense of self discipline and drive that offline courses can force in the classroom. 90% of your betterment as a photographer will come through the application of these exercises. By not completing each exercises as it is asked of you, you are simply robbing yourself of the potential to become the best possible photographer you can be.
So… Find a living plant around your house. It should be small enough that you can move it around. What I want you to do now is to explore the plant with an open mind. I want you to get in really close and expose colors you initially didn’t notice. For example, while many people may look at the plant and see “green”, you may be able to uncover hints of brown, yellow or reds. Take a look at the earth the plant is potted in. Look for irregularities. Get as close to a leaf as possible. Notice it’s shape, notice the fuzz on the leafs, notice the structure and shape of the stem. What you’ll soon realize is that 1) you’ve probably never been this close to a plant before and you uncovered some details you didn’t know existed but 2) this particular plant is much more complex and interesting than you initially thought.