Given that one can only exist in a shoebox for so long, I wanted to make sure I did something to commemorate my view before I give it up. I decided to repeat my snowy lamppost photo in the remaining seasons.
Spring came on fast this year and I didn’t want to miss it, but the light never felt right. I woke up this morning to a gloomy sky and light rain and a subtle backlighting that was fucking perfection. And then I looked down and there was a single figure visible with a white umbrella and sneaks and Strand said do the fucking thing in my head.
I go and get the camera and do it. Photography is a medium in which if you don’t do it then, very often you don’t do it at all, because it doesn’t happen twice.
Paul Strand
It’s entirely likely that the technical aspects of my camera settings are crap for the job, but I would rather have a clumsily executed version of my composition than a vague idea that never gets off the ground.
In the meantime, I’m happy with the contrast of yellow green to wet grey pavement. It also contrasts nicely with the winter palette. The brick brings in a hint of warmth and grounding. Shooting more mature summer leaves in sunlight should separate them nicely. Fall, of course, is riotous and easy peasy. I’m thinking golden hour evening light but I guess we’ll see what the muses say when the day arrives.
I found some natural light exercises on my memory card. I really should get back to that class. This was early morning – the only time I get any direct sunlight. I remember rushing to flip the base mat over before the light changed, because the original pictures with the wet-work green side were a hot mess. There are a couple that are ok-ish. I see what she means about diagonal light.
