There are times I’ve heard something as simple as a plastic grocery sack that’s stuck in a branch rustling in the wind. I’ll look up and stare at it for a while and when I bring my gaze back down I’ll notice something that I didn’t before that looks an awful lot like a picture or leads me in a new direction. I know for sure I’ve missed pictures, ignored people who tried to talk to me, etc all while wearing headphones.
I definitely agree that you can miss a lot when not listening, yet there are other times the right music is the only thing that can help me disconnect from whatever bullshit is gnawing at my brain.
I suppose I’ll say thanks for the encouragement to be more aware of the choice I’m making and for offering something of use and doing so with ease yet again.
Love love love that Bruegel painting, thanks for the visual reminder. After my first marathon (I'm on #16-ish), I stopped wearing earphones/earbuds, any kind of artificial noise - I love listening to the out-of-doors, my breath, and my footsteps. Thanks for all you do, Andy.
Thank you for articulating what I always wanted to know about photographs - “I want to know what inspired it. I have questions! Whereabouts was this? Why did you make it? And what were you thinking?” And “what photographs mean”.
I also agree that cropping photos should not be done without keeping the original. From a historical point of view, the background of an image can become more important over time.
When I was working in north London I had a long commute on the tube, and I loved to take photos of my fellow passengers. It was partly because there is such a variety of people and I loved to think of their stories. At other times it was the juxtaposition of such different people next to each other.
I only take photos for fun and for family, so my snapshots won't stand up to the wonderful photos you highlight. I take a photo to illustrate a story, which is perhaps the opposite of a professional photographers viewpoint. Thank you for urging them to tell their stories.
I've told my students so many times to not wear them when out to photograph. These days I get more pushback and I'm told that I just don't understand that it's part of their reality. Tim's point is excellent and I'd go further to say that not only would you miss an explosion, you'd miss everything from your own steps on the ground to the birds singing or talking, cars going by, planes overhead, etc. They're all part of the world you're trying to understand. I also liked his notion of backing up to photograph what he calls the "ostensible" subject. It really comes down to heightened attention and perception. Nice piece and good idea. Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome. Not just hearing what Tim had to say but also the fact that you are doing this. I have struggled looking for a photgraphy community for a while and I'm glad to say that it seems Substack may have what I am looking for, especially with photographers like you. Keep it up, can't wait to see what comes next
“Tim’s insights about composition are significant too. Robert Capa famously said, "If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” I know what he meant, but I frequently feel that closely cropped pictures lack the dramatic heft of an expansive view. And I think that's what Tim is after in his work. “Back up” is good advice and something we all should consider occasionally.”
In response to this quote I also feel that being emotionally close enough to the photograph you makes content as well as the physical closeness. Being with nature and spending time with the place or person you are making images about will connect you and make your work stronger.
I loved Tim's image and the connection he made with the painting. I'll take his advice about stepping back on board. Sometimes including the obvious subject as a relatively minor part of the composition makes a stronger more interesting image. I look forward to more of these little audio commentaries.
I totally agree with the „don‘t wear earplugs“. Not only because it stops us from being more aware of our environment, but -at least for me- it also hinders me to be in contact with myself. Latter is a big part for me when photographing.
Love this perspective, remarkable photo by Tim Davis. One of W.H. Auden's great poems on this theme, Musee des Beaux Arts, is about the Bruegel painting,
". . . In Brueghel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,
But for him it was not an important failure; . . . "
There are times I’ve heard something as simple as a plastic grocery sack that’s stuck in a branch rustling in the wind. I’ll look up and stare at it for a while and when I bring my gaze back down I’ll notice something that I didn’t before that looks an awful lot like a picture or leads me in a new direction. I know for sure I’ve missed pictures, ignored people who tried to talk to me, etc all while wearing headphones.
I definitely agree that you can miss a lot when not listening, yet there are other times the right music is the only thing that can help me disconnect from whatever bullshit is gnawing at my brain.
I suppose I’ll say thanks for the encouragement to be more aware of the choice I’m making and for offering something of use and doing so with ease yet again.
Love love love that Bruegel painting, thanks for the visual reminder. After my first marathon (I'm on #16-ish), I stopped wearing earphones/earbuds, any kind of artificial noise - I love listening to the out-of-doors, my breath, and my footsteps. Thanks for all you do, Andy.
I enjoyed Tim’s recording and the reflections it offered.
Thank you for articulating what I always wanted to know about photographs - “I want to know what inspired it. I have questions! Whereabouts was this? Why did you make it? And what were you thinking?” And “what photographs mean”.
I also agree that cropping photos should not be done without keeping the original. From a historical point of view, the background of an image can become more important over time.
When I was working in north London I had a long commute on the tube, and I loved to take photos of my fellow passengers. It was partly because there is such a variety of people and I loved to think of their stories. At other times it was the juxtaposition of such different people next to each other.
I only take photos for fun and for family, so my snapshots won't stand up to the wonderful photos you highlight. I take a photo to illustrate a story, which is perhaps the opposite of a professional photographers viewpoint. Thank you for urging them to tell their stories.
Love the Bruegel.
Great article Andy. Attention is a superpower!
I've told my students so many times to not wear them when out to photograph. These days I get more pushback and I'm told that I just don't understand that it's part of their reality. Tim's point is excellent and I'd go further to say that not only would you miss an explosion, you'd miss everything from your own steps on the ground to the birds singing or talking, cars going by, planes overhead, etc. They're all part of the world you're trying to understand. I also liked his notion of backing up to photograph what he calls the "ostensible" subject. It really comes down to heightened attention and perception. Nice piece and good idea. Thanks for sharing.
I’m intrigued by this ‘voice note’ art explainer, and would like to participate! Shall I send you a photo and a voice note?
I tried to email you by response to the newsletter but it bounced. And the 'email me' link just takes me to Outlook's home page...
There is quite a story there.
This is awesome. Not just hearing what Tim had to say but also the fact that you are doing this. I have struggled looking for a photgraphy community for a while and I'm glad to say that it seems Substack may have what I am looking for, especially with photographers like you. Keep it up, can't wait to see what comes next
“Tim’s insights about composition are significant too. Robert Capa famously said, "If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” I know what he meant, but I frequently feel that closely cropped pictures lack the dramatic heft of an expansive view. And I think that's what Tim is after in his work. “Back up” is good advice and something we all should consider occasionally.”
In response to this quote I also feel that being emotionally close enough to the photograph you makes content as well as the physical closeness. Being with nature and spending time with the place or person you are making images about will connect you and make your work stronger.
Nice 👍🏽
I loved Tim's image and the connection he made with the painting. I'll take his advice about stepping back on board. Sometimes including the obvious subject as a relatively minor part of the composition makes a stronger more interesting image. I look forward to more of these little audio commentaries.
I totally agree with the „don‘t wear earplugs“. Not only because it stops us from being more aware of our environment, but -at least for me- it also hinders me to be in contact with myself. Latter is a big part for me when photographing.
Anyway, great start into a new series!
Love this perspective, remarkable photo by Tim Davis. One of W.H. Auden's great poems on this theme, Musee des Beaux Arts, is about the Bruegel painting,
". . . In Brueghel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,
But for him it was not an important failure; . . . "
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/159364/musee-des-beaux-arts-63a1efde036cd
I'm sure the ploughman wasn't wearing earbuds, but he was preoccupied!
And fwiw there's my much more modest riff on the same painting / theme:
https://alangirling.substack.com/p/not-fade-away
Thanks