MEETING THE UNEXPECTED #2
APRIL 20, 2020
Unusual photographs for unusual times…
“When the photographic path is sparked by a curious eye and an inquisitive spirit, there are exciting discoveries to be found all along the way.”
Part of my practice through this time will be to share with you - through a series of posts - photographs that are a bit…unusual. Ones that came to me unexpectedly, as it were. I will call these posts Meeting the Unexpected.
The edge of a freezing Lake Saroma, in Hokkaido, was meant to be the primary subject matter for the early morning shoot, but after only 10 minutes of exploring the visual possibilities, my Japanese guide - legend Tsuyoshi Kato - and I were both seemingly more drawn to the esthetic potential that the nearby marina and boathouses might offer and began to make our way there to explore.
As I walked down the strip of boathouses, I was first struck by the semi-abstract composition with the brilliant red wall, snowy ground, and green structure filling in the back. I took a few frames, carefully aligning the elements in such a way to achieve visual harmony. Once it was composed and captured - I was lit. The excitement of the capture warmed me up and the 20°f cold wasn’t quite as biting.
I photograph many images like this every year. Images that light me up and excite me, but that you and my following may never see. They may not fit into any of my existing portfolios or align to how I want to express and communicate as a photographer right now, but they still bring value to my process. And they may eventually find a time and place to be shared and further expressed. Finding what compels me and draws my eye to it as I go is often hidden in the unexpected. This is the theme of this series, and an essential part of my photographic process. The love of photography was born out of the love for exploration.
I once traveled with a photographer for a week and he mostly sat in the car and read while I photographed many amazing scenes with incredible light. I honestly thought it was the most absurd thing, and could not understand it. How could a landscape photographer not want to engage with the world? It wasn’t until getting to know him a little better did I begin to understand that he only shoots essentially one style photograph under one common type of light and condition. Everything else is of no interest to him photographically, and apparently not worth engaging with at all. On one level, I appreciate this narrow vision leading to one tight style of work. But mostly, I think that it’s severely limiting to creativity, and that it’s best to be curious and inquisitive by the world and explore it to see where the unknown will take you.
I go out into the world with certain ideas of what I hope to capture, but I am always trying to be open and free to receive inspiration from new and unexpected sources. Sometimes that turns out to be an industrial red boathouse from Japan that will likely never have a place in one of my portfolios. But, learning to see the visual harmony in this scene, and the lift I get from capturing it, helps propel me forward and keeps the path fresh and inspiring and exciting. If I only photographed one sort of subject, one sort of way, inspiration would likely waiver. Not to mention the many experiences I would miss out on.
Which leads us to the beautiful fox. As Tsuyoshi and I explored further, we suddenly realized we had a friendly visitor. He seemed to appear out of nowhere and was suddenly just there, staring at us and hoping for a treat. I suspect he was accustomed to getting handouts from local fishermen. We mingled our attention with his for 10 minutes, snapped a few photos, and then went our own separate ways. This is another photo that the world would typically never see. It is also another experience that I never would have had if I weren’t following my curiosity, or if I was just sitting in the car reading.
When the photographic path is sparked by a curious eye and an inquisitive spirit, there are exciting discoveries to be found all along the way. We need to be meeting the unexpected with grace, an open heart, and a still mind. I believe this is the best way forward. And, the most rewarding way. Whether anyone else ever sees it or not is totally irrelevant.
VIEW THE OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES:
MEETING THE UNEXPECTED #1
VIEW THE POST
MEETING THE UNEXPECTED #3
VIEW THE POST