27 years ago, I remember seeing commercials for the Canon Rebel film camera, with tennis player Andre Agassi saying “Image is everything”.
And since the Internet remembers and stores everything, that thirty-second commercial from 1990 is on Youtube. Go ahead, watch it.
At the time, I thought “Well, that’s dumb. Photography is dumb. Image is not everything, substance is. How shallow, how banal.” Heck, I didn’t even know what an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera was. Cameras could…change lenses? Who knew?
Oh, I had a primitive snapshot camera, but the photos from my first trip to London around then were a pink blobbed affair that reinforced that, no, photography was not for me. I had no skill, no desire to learn photography. I could kinda look at photos and think they were nice, but, for example, in a museum, a photography exhibit held little interest. Ansel Adams was just a vague name.
Me from 27 years ago would be rather surprised at me and my attitude, today. After moving to Minnesota and unlocking the joy of National Parks in the early 2000s, those events also unlocked the joy of photography of all kinds. Digital camera definitely helped with my easing into it, but as soon as I was presented with the wonder of photographing nature, something clicked in my brain that Younger Me missed. Snapshots started to give way to better composed shots. I bought a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera. And then bought lenses. And read books. And practiced.
I discovered that while I could take pictures of holiday parties at work.
…and things right in the area…
What did I truly love to do? I loved to go to see places, and photograph the wonders there. To get into the car, or, motion sickness and all, get on an airplane and capture the places I was experiencing.
Like The North Shore of Minnesota…
Or the Ice Caves…
Or the Badlands…
Or Random State Capitol buildings…
Or Colorado…
Or the East Coast…
Or Stonehenge…
Or Rome, Italy…
Or New Fucking Zealand and Australia…
Or Helsinki…
I began to decide on styles and ideas. I liked black and white for many things. Wide was a good choice, although “human eye” focal length really was something I liked. I could take a photograph at that focal length and it would be about the composition of what I saw with my eye, or what the viewer of my photograph would see if they went there.
So, it’s a passion, now, and a source of Joy. On Black Friday, when most people are shopping, or resting after turkey, or what not, I got into a car and headed a couple of hours southwest into the Minnesota River Valley in search of an adventure. And I found it.
Waterfalls, as one might expect, are my favorite subject. I still kick myself for standing within a mile of a gorgeous waterfall in New Zealand that I managed completely to miss. Next time, lurking waterfall. Next time!
I also love mountains, especially ones with lovely definition and cragginess. Altitude sickness is a thing, and it can be like a sledgehammer, but so worth the pain. The one bad thing about Minnesota is not the cold, but the lack of real mountains nearby for me to photograph.
Architecture also interests me. I’ve my favorite architectural styles and subjects. Neo Classical, of course…
But also Richardsonian Romanesque…
And modern bridges come in for a lot of love too in my photographer’s eye…
But I do occasionally take pictures of people that I met. Yes, I am shy and reticent, but a camera does help. Especially when I am nowhere near my home turf.
So yes, I love to travel and photograph. They go hand in hand. While I do have a macro lens and love exploring with that, the ideas of photography and travel are intimately combined in my mind now. To travel is to plan to photograph my journeys and discoveries, and photography is best expressed through an adventure in travel. This does mean that I don’t photograph local area items as much as I could, though.
And, of course as 2018 comes, I dream of the places I will get to go, the things I will see, and the places I will get to photograph. 2018 looks to be a North American year, with possibly seeing sights in Canada, and California, and more. With, of course, my camera in hand.
Because, Sometimes, Image IS everything.
Note: If you want to enjoy more of my photography, besides following me on twitter, you can also visit my website: http://www.princejvstin.com
