“Media Day” featured an irresistible seminar on angling photojournalism and I couldn’t resist, as feeble photography and halting punctuation are two of many growth areas for me.
I’m scrubbed and coifed, sitting in the front row listening attentively to some eye-opening subject matter; which pastels clash best with bankside foliage, pink is the new green, and how judicious use of mouth to mouth can sustain a salmonid until the lighting is perfect.
Periodically, I’d raise my hand and ask about composition, post shot doctoring, preferred software to stretch a fish yet preserve aspect ratio, and why we reserve “Grip & Grin” for traditional fish, and the counter cultural “rifle” pose for anything else.
I got answers, and they were meaningful to my “toy” camera – chosen by waterproof versus optics, and I remained riveted by the discussion on f-stop and SLR focal planes. I caught up with the speaker at break to discuss composition, the subtle play of light and dark – and how the subject can be juxtaposed with it’s surroundings to convey meaning.
… all the really cool artsy stuff.
Prior to learning lighting, staging, and message, I would’ve simply snapped the pretty flowers and mentioned how nice it was to spy a hint of color on the landscape.
Now that I’ve learned the nuance of the cover shot, how to mix overtones with the piscatorial pinup, a vast new world has opened up.
Instead of editing the picture as before, I prefer the Grip and Grin pose to all else:
… and while the “Professor” was clueless, I’ve an inkling why Brownliners prefer the “rifle” pose …
Point and shoot waterproof camera – $250; peeing by the truck with nice flowers in the foreground – priceless.
I go to all the trouble to write a Zen Photography hints series for you and you throw it all away and start seeing another photographer?
Photo ho.
And you haven’t been “scrubbed & coiffed” in any civilized sense for decades. Just saying is all.
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A true series on Zen and Photography would contain more than, ” Ooo, sunbathing Hotties – to hell with the fish..”
As Mark pointed out, it’s best to utilize a waterproof camera when peeing is involved.
Film at eleven here: http://sanddollaradventures.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/the-great-fishless-fish-safari-part-ii-never-bring-a-fly-rod-to-a-gunfight/