Sometimes I find myself thinking I need to be the one telling the story when really I should let someone else.
Here’s what I’m talking about. I took this picture, then handed my camera to this little guy and look at what he got. He has a totally difference perspective.
I grew up in the era of film cameras, and because they were all we knew about it didn’t seem so strange. Now looking back it’s incredible to think about taking such a limited amount of photo’s, or even about the time it took just to get the pictures back from the shop. Growing up, “way back” (all of 20 years ago) means that anytime I want to see pictures of childhood I have to dig out old, falling-apart albums that are full of bad exposures, off-colors and so many good memories.
A quick look: Past all the film evolutions the first true digital camera was introduced December of 1989 in Japan, the Fuji DS-X. In 1990 digital arrived in the U.S. with Dycam Model 1: it failed to sell well because it was black and white with a low resolution. However, in 1991, Kodak introduced Kodak DCS-100, and the digital age was off and running. We went from limited options and paying for pictures, to a no-hassle free-for-all with cameras on just about every portable electronic device.
How has that changed photography?
Cameras still capture moments, but in the film age pictures had a different ‘feel,’ and the way people thought about taking a photo has changed. Take a look at this video (linked below) by Buzz Feed to remember the “good old days” of film cameras; if you’re a kid it will explain why there are old and yellowed family photo albums stashed around the house.
Ansel Adams once said:
“Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.”
Photography holds a lot of power, for good or bad, but the side of taking pictures that doesn’t get talked about much is taking pictures thoughtfully. Anyone can take a picture of anything, but a story that is told for a reason is the one that will influence people the most. Think about what a photo will mean to you, look for shots that show others what you saw when you took the picture. It’s better to get one good photo with a story than a thousand with none at all.
At first it will be harder, but with practice you will learn how to be a story-telling photographer. Best way to do it is start simple and with things you know. For example: look for what brings people joy, it can be something as small as a kid watching an ant work, or the way the sun reflects off water after a rain.
The camera may capture the scene you see, but you will capture the life inside the story that others will see.
As I was taking a walk I saw these trees standing side by side. They got me thinking about the difference between the living and the dead.
Welcome to The Difference Academy! We help people learn photography skills, and provide a creative tool to bring about difference in their own lives and people around them. It’s important to us that photographers relax and have fun, and find their own style because everyone has unique areas at which they do well. Our training is especially for new photographers that are excited about change and place more importance on change, rather than the tool of photography.
Never stop making a positive difference; go back out there and do it again, and again! Difference = “A point or way in which people or things are not the same.”