Photographic Stuff: Stephen Cysewski

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

quarlo -- photos -- new york city

quarlo -- photos -- new york city Another site of excellent photography.

Monday, July 18, 2005

Everything we see is new?

I was trying to describe to a friend why Thailand was so interesting to me. I told him that "Everything that I saw was new.". As I thought about that statement I realized that no matter where we are, everything that we see is new, the light, the time, the thoughts, it is always new.

We, and I, do not see it that way. Our minds tell us that it is the same: I already saw that; I already took that picture etc. etc. Our minds and our thoughts organize and inhibit what we see. The more I thought about "everything that we see is new" I realized that it illuminates that fuzzy area between what we see, and what we think about what we see. Navigating that border of perception is where we make photographs. Photographs are an interaction between what we see, what we experience, what we feel, and what we think. Even our intentions can determine what we photograph.

Remembering though that, no matter what we think, the actual fact is that "everything we see is new."

Dead Dogs!

Years ago I was taking some photographs around Seward, I was wandering around near the end of a road and discovered a dead dog. I turned away, but then thought about it, stopped, and went back and took the photograph. The dead dog made me feel, and if I feel I should take a picture of what it is that is catalyzing that feeling. Photography is not only for the beautiful or the funny, it can even be for the bored. I have used this experience to remind myself, as I walk around, if I feel something, or have an inclination to take a photograph, take it.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Alex Majoli points and shoots special techniques

Rob Galbraith DPI: Special techniques

This article provided the inspiration to try to use a digital camera for street photography. I had just accepted the shutter lag, and beep and fake shutter sound, and the slowness of the process. I had a Canon G6 and modified it to use manual focus. I could not see the focus confirmation light in bright light so I needed the beep sound. For manual focus I could not see the LCD in the sunlight, but I could see if the manual focus was in the range for depth of field at 35mm EFL. I looked at the Olympus 7070 and bought one, the viewfinder is much better, I can see the focus confirmation light in the sunlight, and I can even use the LCD for making settings. The key to the Olympus though is setting up customized settings using the My Settings menu. I have four settings, color outdoors, black and white outdoors, indoors black and white with minimum light, and manual focus at 28mm with the hyper focus distance set. It really works. Even though I can convert color to black and white in Photoshop I like to take pictures in black and white, it feels better. Anyway this article started this whole exploration.

Mike Johnson's Sunday Morning Photographer - July 17, 2005

Steve's Digicams - Sunday Morning Photographer - July 17, 2005 Modes
I basically agree with this column. Sometimes people take themselves way too seriously. Photography should be fun and somehow in tune with how you personally experience the world. When I go to "photography art" shows the quality and presentation can be excellent, but many of the pictures are boring or contrived, I am not surprised or puzzled, or even bemused. Many of the photographs and photographers that I share on this list are creating fun, unexpected, and non-artistic work. Photography, to me, is sharing a way of seeing and thinking, a spontaneous interaction with the world. The subjects of photography are not necessarily fun, but the process of discovery and sharing is an exhilarating joy. Looking at photographs should be like meeting an interesting person or having an interesting coversation. Even if the subject is shocking, the discussion can be exciting, and even fun.

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Foundphotos

Foundphotos
Check it out, I bet you wont stop exploring. There is inspiration in these photos.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Nuts & Bolts by Bill Pierce- The Digital Journalist

Nuts & Bolts by Bill Pierce- The Digital Journalist
Interesting and thoughtful look at digital and film. I love using rangefinder and small point and shoot cameras. In Thailand many of my photographs were with a Contax T3 and a Ricoh GR21. Lately though I have been experimenting with an Olympus 7070 and it can also do quick street photography. I used a Canon G6 during the solstice celebration in Fairbanks, but I think the Olympus will be much better. See the previous blog links about using an Olympus as a Leica.