Skip to main content

"Insist on the composition"

Adrian is one of my favorite photographers working today. He writes:
I found this old building under construction and a bird that was hanging out on top of it.
I stopped there for a few minutes and started taking some exposures. Then the bird took off and I got a shot I loved.
I knew I had gotten something I would like, but I kept shooting for a few more minutes. If you are in front of a scene with elements that keep changing (here, not only the birds but also the Sun), be patient and insist on the composition.
Emphasis mine. I particularly like the admonition to "be patient and insist on the composition". That feels like something worth printing on a pin or button, or a sticker for your camera case.

It's something I don't do often enough. Particularly when shooting on the street or anywhere I'm around other people, I feel this (internal) pressure to move on, to make room, to not draw anyone's eye, to not be the asshole photographer getting in everyone else's way. It's a tendency I'm working on fighting so that I can insist properly on my composition.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gearing up for Hyderabad

In just a few short weeks, I'll be taking my longest ever trip out of the United States: 30 days in Hyderabad, India. I'll fly from Detroit to Charlotte to London to Hyderabad, where I'll be living in a corporate apartment for the duration of my stay. It's going to be quite the experience.

While I'll be working quite a bit, I'm planning to take my trusty Nikon D3300 (kit lens plus 35mm prime) and Google Pixel to document my adventures. I'll be traveling alone, though I'm not sure I'll ever really be alone in a country of billions. I'm looking forward to spending time with my colleagues and experiencing life in Hyderabad while I'm there.

For the curious, the rest of my bag will include:
Bose On-Ear Wireless HeadphonesAnker SoundBuds CurveGorillaPod DSLR tripodGoogle PixelBookTwo spare battery packsChargers, adapters for international outlets, and cables out the wazooAn assortment of pens, pencils, a Sakura Koi watercolor kit, notebooks, and a …
1 comment
Read more

Harry Styles, Detroit

What a show.
Post a Comment
Read more

One and a half weeks down, three to go

Since I left Michigan on the 15th, I've taken three flights, survived food poisoning and a cold, and weathered brutal heat. I've also done a ton of work and met a ton of wonderful people.

The first portion of the trip is over. I'm more or less acclimated, and adjusted to the time change. Of course, we decided to switch to nights on Monday, so I'll have to adjust again, but for now I'm enjoying being a bit more settled.

Speaking of Monday, I'm going to be late to work. One of the team here is getting married, so we're all taking it in shifts to attend the wedding! I'm looking forward to the experience and sharing it with the team. I didn't bring anything wedding-appropriate on the trip, so I'm heading off to the mall today to pick up a blazer or something.

And as for clothes, I made a friend at work this week because of my shoes. Yes, my shoes. I'm not much of a shoe person, but I recently bought a couple pairs of Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81s.…
Post a Comment
Read more