An Idea Is A Greater Monument Than A Cathedral

Today Luke let me shoot with his camera. From what I remember it was a Canon 5D Mark II. I've never shot Canon before, so it was nice to use something out of my comfort zone. I was also able to use the 70-200mm lens. That was the first time using that lens, after dreaming about it for months and months via pictures on the internet. I was so excited to use it. I wasn't allowed to look at my pictures right after I took them, which made this task a bit more challenging just because I'm so used to doing that with digital. Obviously when I shoot film I can't look at the photo right after it's taken, and I had to deal with the same thing today, only digital. I came across some difficulties when shooting. At times I'd go to take a picture, the camera wouldn't take it. I'd adjust the focus, exposure comp, shutter, aperture, etc. but it still wouldn't give. It was SO frustrating, especially when I had so many opportunities to take great pictures. 

This was the first time shooting long range, and that could be easily seen in my pictures. If I were given a chance to shoot, I would change so many different things about my shots. I would definitely focus on composition a lot more. I think I totally neglected that today, and that was stupid of me. 

As I'm reading Art and Fear and doing this project, I'm finding myself relating to it even more. The authors speak about materials, and how they have potential. They do what your hands make them do. Having this super expensive camera with a super expensive lens was thrilling. They were seducing me with their potential. Having a higher quality camera makes a difference in the photos you shoot, but not entirely. The quality of the photo may be superb, but the shot itself may not be that all impressive. I can relate to that for sure. 

Going back to shooting without seeing the pictures right after, this was the uncertainty I was faced with. I had no idea if my pictures would come out with a perfect exposure. "Photographer Jerry Uelsmann once gave a slide lecture in which he showed every single image he had created in the span of one year: some hundred-odd pieces- all but about ten of which he judged insufficient and destroyed without ever exhibiting." I took 112 pictures today, and I liked MAYBE four or five pictures. Uncertainty is inevitably, and makes working a bit more interesting. 

PS: I think this book is one of the greatest, and reading it has helped me understand myself and art a lot better.