Sometimes I take pictures that are a little bit odd, but I think other photographers will understand. Many years ago, I was showing my mother some of my photos and she looked at one, and said, “Why did you take that picture?” I didn’t know how to answer that. I was a little bit insulted, or surprised because she never said anything negative about me. I still don’t know why she said that, but it stuck with me.
Why did I take these? Well, why not?
The sunshade was triangular and cast an interrupted shadow on the picnic table and grass.
The oil lamp distorted the shapes behind it, and reflected the windows at the bottom. Perhaps the lady in the picture was wondering what I saw in it.
Sometimes the eye just notices something—light, shape, distortion—and you capture it not to explain, but because it asked to be seen.
ReplyDelete...why not is a good answer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tom - why not? The shapes are great.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked why he wanted to climb Everest, Mallory replied, “Because it’s there.” That’s why you took your picture.
ReplyDeleteThat’s what I was thinking.
DeleteI agree with Tom too, why not is a good answer.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a great weekend.
I agree, because it's there...and you have a way to save what you see through your lens, a bit of art. When art began to be "non-objective" it taught us to wonder and experience what an artist sees and perhaps get inside the mind of someone who wanted us to stop and pay attention to a new way of seeing.
ReplyDeleteI think people in my neighborhood must think I'm odd, especially when I'm out taking pictures of shadows or clouds. Why not is the answer I will use if anyone ever asks me. If we didn't, I wouldn't have had your oil lamp picture to admire. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteBoth lovely captures!
ReplyDeleteJ’aime cette explication de Wim Wenders « l ’instant exigeait son image »
ReplyDeleteWhatever catches the eye can make such a lovely photograph, and if you like something 'why not' photograph it :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I am with you on taking photos others might wonder about. As photographers I think we see a little beyond what others see. I was thinking about your mother’s question. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be negative, maybe she was genuinely curious and it just came out that way.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely why not?
ReplyDeleteYou always take interesting photos! The bottom one reminds me of Cracker Barrel.
ReplyDeleteIt is!
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