Art,  leaves

The Feeling

November 2, 2012
Fallen Leaves

“The photographic process is so simple. A gorilla took a picture used on a National Geographic cover. There is a danger in that photography is so easy. The taking is easy. The feeling is difficult.” – Paul Martin Lester

I can be drawn to a technically perfect image, standing in awe of the photographers skills. However, I most enjoy an image full of power, tugging at something inside of me or speaking to me but not necessarily a technically well done image. I wonder if that is due to my inabilities to always create technically perfect images. I have found this to be true when assessing a series of images I may have taken from one scene. Out of 100 images there may be one that just shouts. It could be due to composition, the changing light, a bird moving through the scene, the reshaping of clouds, a person walking into the scene, a boat that suddenly appears on the water, a smile or change in posture that suddenly appears in a portrait. Somehow within that one image I find a feeling. The other 99 may not have it.

Retired. Having fun with photography. Journal daily. Meditate daily. Learning haiku. Have a love for fountain pens.

14 Comments

  • Mark

    November 2, 2012 at 6:51 am

    That Mr. Lester is one wise man. What you write here is so true, and I often think about the further judgement that takes place in review of the images on the computer. I certainly ‘feel’ like I am ‘feeling it.’ in the field on most shots, but after that has passed, there are still only certain ones where the feeling is preserved.

  • Paul

    November 2, 2012 at 8:40 am

    I wish that I could take credit for the post, but my middle name is not Martin. 🙂 Yes, only some of those photos have “it”, whatever “it” is. The interesting thing about it, is that it is different for most people. It all has to do with your path through life, doesn’t it?

  • Tom Dills

    November 2, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    We sometimes lose track of the fact that “technical perfection” is that technique that adequately expresses our vision. That doesn’t always mean sharp or even “properly” exposed. This past weekend (blog post in process!) I took pictures of the children of some friends. They are mostly candid shots of the kids playing, swinging, hanging from monkey bars, etc. Some of them are horribly overexposed and many of them are blurry or misfocused. On my first pass through the photos I marked a lot of them as Rejects. But I went back later and decided that some of them had merit, so I processed some of them and think that a few of them – happy accidents they may be – really express the emotions and energy of these 2 1/2 year-olds. And at that point, exposure, focus and sharpness take a back seat to the feeling that the photo portrays.

    A great subject for a Friday – inspiration for the weekend! 🙂

  • Eric Easley

    November 5, 2012 at 8:53 am

    So, I can’t weigh in on the technical aspects, as I’m no photographer. But, and maybe this is just a gestalt thing, I see two people dancing in those leaves, and this picture has suddenly become quite profound for me. I think those pieces of art that have “it” are those that either strike a very particular chord common to us all, or are incredibly rich with available interpretations but suggestive enough to really tug at a couple. Ultimately, this will be different for each individual, but I think trusting your gut is a better guide than technicality anyday

    • Monte Stevens

      November 6, 2012 at 1:54 pm

      Yes, the gut. I’ve been increasing the size of mine, a little at a time, over the past few years. I no longer have the same waist size when I was in my twenties. Hopefully my keepers in photography has increased over time, also. 🙂

  • Earl

    November 5, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    Monte, not much more I can add here that others haven’t already said. I think it is this aspect of photography and art in general is what truly draws me — not that I often have any luck connecting to it.