Mistakes and Achieving Goals

Life is about trial and error. We make multiple mistakes in the hopes of a possible solution. In my case, my photography continues to be a series of ups and downs, as well as periods of not being able to capture interesting scenes.

With that said, I reached one of my goals of having my work featured by a photographer I admire. Steve Huff, who runs the website SteveHuffPhoto.com and has documented tours with the singer Seal, shared an article of mine on his website alongside three of my photos from a recent trip.

Needless to say, I have been almost speechless since then as this has been a great source of pride and a humbling experience as well.

Below are the three photos that were featured, and the link to my essay.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/08/01/leica-rangefinder-philosophy-for-the-real-world-by-jean-pierre-vazquez/

Insight, Definitions, and Therapy

So I’m sitting here thinking and can’t stop the thoughts. I’ll go ahead and share my thoughts with you, my kind readers, in the hopes it’ll be appreciated in some way. This’ll also bring down my stress level because this is my form of therapy.

Photography is a means of communication. It transcends time, distance, and memory. An image, or series of images, can bring you closer to someone else’s country, town, kitchen table.. smack dab into the middle of their lives. Through social networking sites, we can watch someone’s pet or loved one grow up. On Flickr I follow many proud dads and moms that bring their kids up in the social network spotlight. I see their kids as THEY see their kids. I see the good and the bad, the cute and the sad, as well as the surreal. I learn how to improve my photography by seeing amazing photography. Furthermore, by seeing others put their hearts on the line I’m less afraid to do so as well.

For the street photographer, documenting those ordinary moments puts the entire world into perspective. The interesting strangers they encounter become my characters- the scenes are their stories. There’s a fine line to street photography’s delicate simplicity. If the image is too simple there’s no story; too much disorganized chaos and there’s no story either. The images that just ‘work’ have a scene, story, and its characters. All these parts coming together form a balance that puts me, as the viewer, both as a spectator in the scene and a participant.

The macro photographer, like the street photographer, also documents ordinary moments. They need to look for an interesting character, a scene, the right light, and a story. For my macro, I try to find that sense of personality in my subjects. They may be tiny insects, but it’s not until you see them face to face that you realize how inquisitive and intelligent they are. Not to mention fast! Like a street scene, these moments come and go in an instant. If your eye can align the frame into a weighted composition, followed by your finger pressing the shutter, then there’s a proud moment indeed.

I really enjoy looking at photos. Before I started this visual/documentary hobby, I collected automotive photos. I loved the sleek lines, the motion, and how the photos gave such life to these inanimate objects (as opposed to living/breathing organisms). I still look at thousands and thousands of photos every month. I love the scenes and the stories, whether they are of the photographer’s mind or literal in nature. I look at the beautiful, the ugly, the dangerous, but am always moved most by the surreal.

So, how do I define surreal? Well, let’s start with what I don’t mean. I’m not talking about taking different images from different photos and making something new. This is definitely surreal, but basically in the ‘unreal’ realm. There’s no right or wrong, and there are many photos like this that I like. As far as not being surreal, I’m don’t get excited by things that you can tell are staged (such as forced perspective). Again, not that it’s wrong or bad, but that’s not what moves me the most.

Jean-Pierre’s (that’s me) definition of surreal: The scene, character, and time of day are all normal each by themselves. Everything in the image, on an individual basis, would be perfectly normal. It is moment in which the world aligns itself so that everything shows up within one frame at the same time in a way that’s not contrived, only captured by an astute eye, in an easy to digest way. The photo depicts where, who, and how, but makes you question them all the same. You are still asking yourself the why: why are they there? Why is the scene so integrated with the character? Why is this mood depicted, and why isn’t there any other mood?And that’s really it, a surreal image is a strong composition that creates a particular, storylike, otherworldly mood.

So all these meandering thoughts and words.. but to what end?

Your guess is as good as mine. But if you see the world any differently, or if any of this makes any sense, I think typing all this out was well worth the effort. I’ve just a learned a bit more about myself, and my photography, through this stream of consciousness article.

Thoughts, concerns, disagreements? Let the world know in the comments below.

As usual, thanks so much for taking the time out to visit my site and read my article.

JapanFest

I'm a realist and a dreamer. This difficult dichotomy permeates how I interact with others and my photography. On the one hand, I like saying things how they are. My choice of words are blunt; the image I may make has no underlying statement. Likewise, I also want to hope for the best and create images that move others; to create images that make me proud to have created them.

With that said, visiting JapanFest was a chance for others' words, actions, and art to move ME. Part of it was the welcoming culture. As if I were a close friend, the people there gave off a positive vibe. Their body language was kind and comfortable. Their smiles were genuine. It was a completely different pace than most day to day encounters. Most people, even at work, barely notice your "Good Morning" and "How are you?", let alone even acknowledge you with a response; so I was at ease being submerged in this setting.

And the art, wow. I don't mean art in the quote-unquote drawings and images. It's... style. The way one man shot an arrow at a target. How, with care, vendors made and served food. Kids dressed in traditional clothing while their faces were painted as Japanese cartoon (anime) characters that would bring an instant smile to my face. Then there were the photos of the devastation in Japan. It was, honestly, surreal. They inspire me to document what I see. They inspire me to appreciate what I have and move past what I've lost.

I had a wonderful experience at JapanFest and hope that next year my wife and I have more time to spend there. Whether you go for the color, the culture, or the culinary delights, it's worth the trip.

The Youth of Today

Once, whether now or years ago, we're all young. We laugh at ourselves, play in the sand, and we depend on our parents. Everything is beautiful and the problems of the world cannot touch us. Years go by and we become afraid. Fear grows as insecurities, dislike, and a lack of purpose. Mistakes are made and not learned from. Creativity dwindles as our childlike ambition becomes bitter reality. The world takes shape not as what we had hoped for, but as a place where our childhood monsters take shape.

I saw this little girl and her mom sitting together at the park. It was something simple and inspiring. A parent and her daughter enjoying a sunny afternoon. The kind-hearted, sunny days of the present are the sweetest memories of the future. And with this one chance at life, all we can do is try.

To all of those who grew up too fast, those with regret festering in their heart, and to those who are in dire need of a moment of peace, know this: we're all in this life together. Let's make the most of it. We're all important, and we can all make a difference.

A Little Fashion

It's Sunday afternoon at the park. The sky is clear and the sun is warm. A soft breeze glides through leaves and grass. Children swing and slide, parents gossip, and the weekend warriors jog unknown stretches. My beautiful model watches the going-ons while I drive through the park. I almost give up hope in finding a good portrait spot when my eyes find an empty area. My hands steer toward the turn before my mind realizes what's going on. Call it fashion photography, portrait photography, or just photos of a pretty girl. At the end of the day I don't know what to do except for make photos. These are my favorites.

Taking photos of people is a scary prospect for me. Gesture, the way skin reflects light, and all my photographic skill all come into play. Using 35mm film really pushes my thought processes while slowing me down enough to appreciate each shot. I used a $10 lens with a pretty big blemish for all of these photos, so this is  proof that you need to use what's at your disposal. Whether it's using a pencil instead of paint, a George Foreman grill instead of Oneida, or a cellphone instead of a laptop for blogging, don't limit your art because of your tools. Maximize your tools in ways no one else ever thought of. Then your art is truly yours.

Thanks in advance for stopping by! As usual, comments are always welcome.

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Seeing Without Sight

seeing beyond sight
photographs by blind teenagers
by Tony Deifell

Imagine a world of total darkness, one where the physical aesthetic holds no value. Sound and smell would be life's harmony; touch being navigation and desire. Such a world would have no place for photography.

Governor Morehead School for the Blind was the epicenter of an idea which was developed and nurtured. Blind children were empowered via the art of photography. They learned to make photos, to develop their film, and to find subjects. These students learned to photograph using their senses; their teachers could then describe to them what they photographed. These memories weren't their own until they captured what they could not see. Once they had their prints they could share with the world the beauty around them (of which they could not or could hardly see).

This paradox is the backbone of this five-section book, each with its own concept of reality. Each section has photos taken by young school children in their early teens with vision ranging from no sight to low. Many of the photos are of daily happenings: photos of the students' parents/loved ones, of their favorite objects and self-portraits. Other photos represent their fears and nightmares, their dreams, as well as their distorted reality.

This 'altered reality' comes as the photographic representation of shadow, sound, and heat. Bouncing sound was the metaphor for how light works. The direction of heat defined the intensity of light (and deepness of shadow). The stories that succeeded the photographs were the retelling of life and love.

I was deeply moved by this book. In a world of beauty and extreme necessity, this book...no... this gallery lives as a compassionate collection of truth and honesty. Fear became understanding, shadows became form, and light was merely a tool- a means to an end. If only we were all so lucky to appreciate photography in such a profound way.

"I was thinking that it would be sort of hard for a blind person to take pictures, but it's not very hard. You've just got to listen."~ John V., student

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Happenstance

There are times when I'm surprised at the impact a photo can have. A captured moment in time can inspire action, evoke emotion, or just leave you in awe. There are timeless photos that define a generation while others define a culture or sub-culture. Regardless of the intent or result, photography can be whatever you want it to be. I enjoy documenting family events, but fine art photography has a special place in my heart. I take how I feel about a subject and the excitement of the moment to create something from within me.

My preferred style of shooting is happenstance: a photo that may not have happened had I waited a fraction of a second longer. It's easy to see something interesting, but difficult to subsequently pull the camera up (while distance focusing), compose, dial in the aperture/shutter speed, and finally take the photo. Sometimes I know that something is going to happen, and just watch. At other times, I know the exposure is close enough to capture a photo to make sure I have it. Some moments are too beautiful to pass by.

Polaroid Art

Both the director and photographer’s trained eyes can take a simple tool, a Polaroid camera, and create timeless beauty. I’ve chosen to do these two short reviews together because of their complimentary nature.

Instant Light: Tarkovsky Polaroids
Instant Light is Andrey Tarkovsky’s written and photographic journal spanning the last five years of his life. His dreamy, nostalgic photos are complimented by excerpts from his journal to form a beautiful story. The polaroids include his family, a nearby lake, and snapshots of his travels. These photos are simple and striking.

The Polaroids by Andre Kertesz
A lonely romance develops within the pages of The Polaroids. Mr. Kertesz's photographs of knick knacks, glass and metal forms, are solemn and sweet. Two of these are glass busts that are photographed as a loving couple. They’re often photographed in front of windows with clouds and outside buildings serving as a backdrop. These statues take on a life of their own.