Tuesday, February 5, 2013

It's just a little fog . . .

by Kim



"Sometimes when I first wake up, I feel like I'm walking around in a fog. That's when
I usually go and unplug the fog machine. Geez, who turned that thing on?"

- Jared Kintz


Geez is right . . . my brain has been a bit foggy lately. It's been a bit difficult to get my words out in the right order, and it's also how I felt when I remember the first time I tried to duplicate the manual settings on my camera after they were set by a very nice man at my first sunrise.

So you can imagine that the next time I went out there was a lot of frustration and the only thing I think that kept me from giving up was that I was out with my camera in the presence of things I loved. But I guess it was all this frustration that ultimately helped me really start to figure it all out, and well, I'm still figuring it out as I go. I was turning dials and had no knowledge of what a correct exposure was, had never heard of aperture priority or rule of thirds. It would be pretty safe to say that I had not read my camera manual or any other book for that matter. And wow, you can imagine my ahha moment when I finally got my very first photography book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Sooo . . .that's what that circle and those little lines are for in my view finder!! 

I think no matter how or where we all start out, foggy would be a good word to describe our learning process which ever that might be. And sometimes when we are first learning something we can tend to over think a little too much on rules and techniques and correct exposures to the exclusion of the equally important mood or feelings we are trying to convey. We can get so caught up in how our photos "should" look,  that we constrict ourselves with expectations.

When we let expectations get in the way, we in some ways reject a world that lies beyond our own immediate vision and our own creativity. And this is something I learned all too well while on our first vacation in nine years this past summer. So many expectations of how it should all be {perfect} that when it started to go a different direction disappointment set in. It seems the more I expected the more I lost my ability to be open to the moment at hand, and to be fully engaged.

It would seem that life and photography are so very similar in our approach to them and in both there needs to be an equal amount of consciousness and of letting go.





13 comments:

Jeanne said...

Great photo and perfect for the early learning process of manual photography. Takes awhile for it to start "coming together".

Katie said...

Oh, you are so right! I know I have those same expectations in life, as well as with my photography. Both can be frustrating at times, but I'm also learning to breathe and just let go, to enjoy it while I'm there.

heyjudephotography said...

Perfect words for this grey morning here in NY. So true. I am glad that as I get older (and hopefully wiser) I am able to breathe a little better, to let go a little more, and to not freak out about some of the little things. A tough feat for this type A (well, type B+ :), perfectionist personality!

Deanna said...

Oh lovely post, Kim and I LOVE that foggy image. I need to get that book out, which sits nicely on my bookshelf, and re-read Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure...that seems to be my most difficult thing to conquer.

gina said...

What a fabulous image, Kim! Your post is full of wisdom, thank you.

Carol said...

This is one of my all time favorite images of yours, Kim. What a mood it sets! And your words are right on and lovely too. We all need to be a bit easier on ourselves and enjoy thelearning.

CarolHart said...

Absolutely wonderful post and a good reminder for us all. AND, I am crazy in love with your image! You captured the light perfectly. That early morning mood is right there...it beckons.

Dotti said...

OHGosh! I love that photo!! So moody, so mysterious ... so wonderful! Yes, this is an excellent reminder that we don't have as much "control" in our lives and photography as we think we do! Good reminder, Kim!

Viv@Thoughts from the Desktop said...

Expectation and frustration go hand in hand don't they .... It really can get in the way of creativity...

Claudia said...

Fog is one of my all time things to try and photograph!! Its sooo moody and quiet. The experience often times lingers with me.

Fantastic capture darlin. Glorius!

kelly said...

such a beautiful shot...love that little bit of glow on the table top.

photography brings so much joy to my life, but in all truthfullness it has brought on some pretty major frustration too. especially in the beginning. and you're right - it's so hard not to compare our work to our own expectations and/or other great photographers' work.

it's just like you said though, it's all in the balance - in life and photography. thank you for sharing!

terriporter said...

Count me among those who are in awe of that wonderful fog photo! We don't have fog so I'm doubly infatuated with it. Oh, expectations! Why do we let them spoil things for us? We had a similar vacation last summer where things didn't go exactly as expected (the weather wasn't cooperating) but I decided to focus on the things I COULD control and let go of the things I couldn't. Thanks, Kim. Such a good reminder for all of us!

Cathy H. said...

This post has perfect timing. I went out this morning to take pictures in the fog! I'm glad I didn't see your gorgeous image until tonight!! The expectations would have been to high for me! :) This is a truly wonderful image! I don't know how you ever captured that light on the table! Thanks for the reminder to let go of some of our expectations in life and in photography. I have just started reading "Understanding Exposure" and I'm looking forward to working through it!

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