Reflections on Seeing

[ACEkin]

I would like to share a three-part series I've published in the last three weeks. They are my reflections, but I thought some of the ideas might interest other members as well. I am sharing them for whatever they are worth. Feel free to share your comments on the articles on the site or here. There are photographs more than 50 years old among the ones I shared.

Reflections on Seeing

Seeing has been central to my photographic life. It started as “previsualization” in my early days exploring Ansel Adams’s zone system.

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Reflections on Seeing - 2

Let me walk through a few examples of how the idea of seeing shaped my photographic life. I learned about Ansel Adams in 1969 when I went to MSU. I was well into photography then, and reading a couple…

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Reflections on Seeing - 3

I would like to share a couple of more projects that captured my attention and say a few closing words on seeing photographs.

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[Dean Wilson]

Nice series. When I hear or read about the difference between, as you state "Glancing, Looking and Seeing", I am reminded of the first Sherlock Holmes story I ever read, "A Scandal in Bohemia."


Watson states: "When I hear you give your reasons," I remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours."

"Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room."

"Frequently."

"How often?"

"Well, some hundreds of times."

"Then how many are there?"

"How many? I don't know."

"Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed.

 

[ACEkin]

The parallel is surely there, Dean. Thanks for pointing to Mr. Holmes!

 

[SwampGrizz]

Cemal,

Very well done!
The third section resonated with me. Ordinary Places. I try to take a walk down my street every morning or afternoon, and I take a camera. I have looked at the same things a thousand times until I started noticing them. This street is not an extraordinary or exotic place. Its where I live. I'm still learning to see things, but there is immense pleasure in seeing something and getting a nice representation of it. I have a long way to go in training myself to "see" something as opposed to just noticing it, but the journey is fun and rewarding. I have taken a whole lot of photos along this street, and 99.9% of them are forgettable. But there are a few that are worthwhile because I took the time to see them rather than notice them. Hopefully my keeper rate will improve as I learn to see.
The last part that I connected with in your article is the idea that we appreciate what we have. That notion extends far beyond photography, of course, but in this context, I have looked back on some of my photographs with pleasure and just a small amount of pride. They are not perfect, mind you, but they show me that little by little, I'm learning. That keeps me in the game, and makes me still want to grab my camera and hit my street again. Who knows, I just might see something.

Thanks again for the post.

 

[ACEkin]

Cemal,

Very well done!
The third section resonated with me. Ordinary Places. I try to take a walk down my street every morning or afternoon, and I take a camera. I have looked at the same things a thousand times until I started noticing them. This street is not an extraordinary or exotic place. Its where I live. I'm still learning to see things, but there is immense pleasure in seeing something and getting a nice representation of it. I have a long way to go in training myself to "see" something as opposed to just noticing it, but the journey is fun and rewarding. I have taken a whole lot of photos along this street, and 99.9% of them are forgettable. But there are a few that are worthwhile because I took the time to see them rather than notice them. Hopefully my keeper rate will improve as I learn to see.
The last part that I connected with in your article is the idea that we appreciate what we have. That notion extends far beyond photography, of course, but in this context, I have looked back on some of my photographs with pleasure and just a small amount of pride. They are not perfect, mind you, but they show me that little by little, I'm learning. That keeps me in the game, and makes me still want to grab my camera and hit my street again. Who knows, I just might see something.

Thanks again for the post.

Great to hear, Dale. Seeing rewards you beyond taking photographs. There are several other articles on my site related to seeing. I particularly recommend Seeing; here is the link:

Seeing is the essence of photography, you can learn to see better

Seeing is the essence of photography and requires awareness which is a state of mind. Learning to see better will make you a better photographer.

www.keptlight.com

I suggested some simple exercises, and there is a very interesting video by Inge Druckrey.