My very first post on this website was Top 10 Best-Selling Photo Books which featured Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Exposure in spot number one.
Bryan Peterson is also the author of another great book titled Learning to See Creatively which is a great book about design, colour and composition in photography. It’s full of great examples of what to look for when you’re doing photography – examples of how to see.
I have made it a habit to practice seeing wherever I go. I’m always looking for images even when I don’t have a camera with me. It helps me keep my vision sharp (pardon the pun). About a year ago, however, I purchased my first serious compact carry-with-me-everywhere type camera; the Canon G9 which – despite its small body – is capable of spitting out 12 megabyte RAW files!
The Canon G9 has since been replaced by the Canon G10.
While I have made a number of images with this camera in the past year I have not been the best to carry-it-with-me-everywhere. However I took it with me on a walk today together with the family and used it to make some portraits of my one year old as well as making a few images for myself including the one above (click the thumbnail to view large version). I have titled the image ‘Unexpected Symphony’.
Personal Photo Challenge Starting In August
Since the Canon G9 is a great little compact camera – and to push myself to practice seeing even more – I have made the decision to challenge myself to make more photos with it and carry it with me more often. So throughout the month of August I will make sure to carry the Canon G9 with me every day wherever I go and I will then make at least a few images with it everyday. I will be uploading one image from each day here on the site so you can follow the results.
Update: See the images from my August Snaps project.
This is not the first personal photo challenge I have thrown at myself. In 2006/07 I took on a personal – fairly substantial – photo project called 52 Weeks, 52 Photos. Before that I have also challenged myself to get up at sunrise throughout the whole month of November to make images. Giving myself challenges like this helps me stay motivated and focused.
For me photography is like a sport. You have to practise to become good at it. Throwing yourself photo projects is one way to challenge yourself to stay creative and to keep shooting on a regular basis.
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26. July 2009 at 12:52 am
Love Bryan Peterson. He was featured speaker at NW Council of Camera Clubs many decades ago. (Pacific NW, USA).
“I have made it a habit to practice seeing wherever I go. I’m always looking for images even when I don’t have a camera with me.” Best quote of the week! I agree. Arthritis has slowed me way down at 73, but I always practice “seeing.” My biggest inspiration was Ruth Bernhard.
I was privileged to take Ansel’s workshop 2 yrs before his death – he said he’d send every budding photographer out for a year, with a view camera and ONE lens, to learn to see.
Thanks for your website and inspiring comments. I may do the same w/my Panasonic 18x P&S!
Carol
26. July 2009 at 8:14 am
Thank you for your comments and kind words. I appreciate it Carol!
Your flower photography is stunningly beautiful. Perhaps you are also familiar with Tony Sweet who is another favourite of mine – he also makes a lot of fine art flower images. I took his online course ‘Fine Art Flower Photography’ a couple of years ago.
It seems Ansel Adams inspired most people who spent some time with him. You are indeed fortunate to have taken a workshop from such a legend, thanks for sharing those comments here.
I’d love to see some of your images if you decide to take the August challenge with me!