Comments on: Battling Expectations http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:30:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rob Knight http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-144 Rob Knight Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:25:57 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-144 Jeffery, I learned the perils of expectations on a trip to Costa Rica several years ago. I was frustrated with the pictures I was making all week. I realized that I was not SEEING as much as I was LOOKING for photographs that I had seen before. I was so hung up trying to make "good" pictures that I was missing the whole experience. It's tough to make compelling images of your experiences when you're not paying attention to them! The next time I went to Costa Rica I made fewer photos, but I made more photos that I liked. More important than that, I had an amazing time and made some great friends. When I travel somewhere new I like to have some idea of things I want to do and (especially) places I want to eat, but I don't put much thought into images I might want to make. I like to focus on what's going on around me and let the pictures happen naturally. The best way for a photographer to prepare for a trip is to know your camera gear! If you're busy trying to figure out how to change your aperture or which lens to use, you won't have the chance to capture that once-in-a-lifetime experience. great post... safe travels, Rob Jeffery, I learned the perils of expectations on a trip to Costa Rica several years ago. I was frustrated with the pictures I was making all week. I realized that I was not SEEING as much as I was LOOKING for photographs that I had seen before. I was so hung up trying to make “good” pictures that I was missing the whole experience. It’s tough to make compelling images of your experiences when you’re not paying attention to them! The next time I went to Costa Rica I made fewer photos, but I made more photos that I liked. More important than that, I had an amazing time and made some great friends.

When I travel somewhere new I like to have some idea of things I want to do and (especially) places I want to eat, but I don’t put much thought into images I might want to make. I like to focus on what’s going on around me and let the pictures happen naturally.

The best way for a photographer to prepare for a trip is to know your camera gear! If you’re busy trying to figure out how to change your aperture or which lens to use, you won’t have the chance to capture that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

great post… safe travels,

Rob

]]> By: james dawson http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-143 james dawson Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:29:42 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-143 This idea of expectations of forced awareness is somewhat addressed by Gross and Shapiro int heir book "The Tao of Photography - Seeing Beyond Seeing" "The practise of mindfulness, especially in the beginning, can be experienced as a conflict between two forces; the will (effort and discipline) to remain consciously aware pitted against the habit of unawareness. To facilitate the practise of mindfulness, one can engage in activities that either reinforce the will to be conscious or reduce the habit of unawareness. Camerawork practise has the potential to do both. It fortifies the photographer's will to remain alert so that an exceptional moment can be captured on film and it helps to reduce the habit of unawareness because the camera can only capture an image in the here and now: the photographer is compelled, moment by moment, to remain in tune with the present." page 123 .. from "The Tao of Photography - Seeing Beyond Seeing" by Philippe L. Gross and S.I. Shapiro with forward by Duane Preble This idea of expectations of forced awareness is somewhat addressed by Gross and Shapiro int heir book “The Tao of Photography – Seeing Beyond Seeing”

“The practise of mindfulness, especially in the beginning, can be experienced as a conflict between two forces; the will (effort and discipline) to remain consciously aware pitted against the habit of unawareness. To facilitate the practise of mindfulness, one can engage in activities that either reinforce the will to be conscious or reduce the habit of unawareness. Camerawork practise has the potential to do both. It fortifies the photographer’s will to remain alert so that an exceptional moment can be captured on film and it helps to reduce the habit of unawareness because the camera can only capture an image in the here and now: the photographer is compelled, moment by moment, to remain in tune with the present.” page 123 ..

from “The Tao of Photography – Seeing Beyond Seeing”
by Philippe L. Gross and S.I. Shapiro with forward by Duane Preble

]]> By: Jeffrey Chapman http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-142 Jeffrey Chapman Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:15:34 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-142 David, hmm, light and slow… like one camera, wine money and a comfy seat with a view? Sign me up! David, hmm, light and slow… like one camera, wine money and a comfy seat with a view? Sign me up!

]]> By: David duChemin http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-141 David duChemin Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:11:06 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-141 I think more than NOT having expectations, there's a bigger principle at work here. Expectations close us off, they blind us to what IS there because we're too busy looking for what ISN'T. As photographers and travelers it's important we remain open, present, observant, and anything that stands in the way of that should be forsaken. That might be expectations, it might be rushing through a place instead of stopping a while, and it might be - probably is - too much gear weighing us down. I think more than NOT having expectations, there’s a bigger principle at work here. Expectations close us off, they blind us to what IS there because we’re too busy looking for what ISN’T. As photographers and travelers it’s important we remain open, present, observant, and anything that stands in the way of that should be forsaken. That might be expectations, it might be rushing through a place instead of stopping a while, and it might be – probably is – too much gear weighing us down.

]]> By: Jeffrey Chapman http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-140 Jeffrey Chapman Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:04:02 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-140 Shun-Luoi, the things you mention are all important for a traveler, but they are not unique to photographers. Being aware of the weather, culture, food, etc. doesn't have to lead to imaging the photos that you hope to capture. I always want to be prepared for my destination, but I'd prefer to avoid photo expectations. I know that a lot of photographers cyber-scout locations in order to predetermine the kinds of photos they hope to capture. I think that's a recipe for frustration. Seeing the photos of another might spark an initial interest in a location, but I hope to have those photos out of my mind by the time I arrive. (Note also that I'm talking about random travel/street photography here. A commercial, even editorial, shoot would obviously be a completely different undertaking. And in that case, showing up without clear ideas and expectations would be a recipe for failure.) Mark, thanks. Shun-Luoi, the things you mention are all important for a traveler, but they are not unique to photographers. Being aware of the weather, culture, food, etc. doesn’t have to lead to imaging the photos that you hope to capture. I always want to be prepared for my destination, but I’d prefer to avoid photo expectations.

I know that a lot of photographers cyber-scout locations in order to predetermine the kinds of photos they hope to capture. I think that’s a recipe for frustration. Seeing the photos of another might spark an initial interest in a location, but I hope to have those photos out of my mind by the time I arrive.

(Note also that I’m talking about random travel/street photography here. A commercial, even editorial, shoot would obviously be a completely different undertaking. And in that case, showing up without clear ideas and expectations would be a recipe for failure.)

Mark, thanks.

]]> By: Mark http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-139 Mark Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:03:20 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-139 Beautiful post. Travel safe. Beautiful post. Travel safe.

]]> By: D. Shun-Luoi Fong http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/2010/04/13/battling-expectations/#comment-138 D. Shun-Luoi Fong Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:03:17 +0000 http://www.jeffreychapman.com/culturalphotographer/?p=423#comment-138 Jeffrey, I can definitely appreciate what you are saying about the unrealistic expectations. However, how do you keep the unrealistic expectations at bay, yet also be well "prepared" to engage your destination, i.e. becoming familiar with the geography, being aware of certain cultural do's/don'ts, knowing what the weather is like, when the sun rises/sets, etc. It seems that it is important to know some of those specifics in order to be well prepared, yet those specifics can also contribute to unrealistic expectations. Thoughts? Jeffrey, I can definitely appreciate what you are saying about the unrealistic expectations. However, how do you keep the unrealistic expectations at bay, yet also be well “prepared” to engage your destination, i.e. becoming familiar with the geography, being aware of certain cultural do’s/don’ts, knowing what the weather is like, when the sun rises/sets, etc.

It seems that it is important to know some of those specifics in order to be well prepared, yet those specifics can also contribute to unrealistic expectations. Thoughts?

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