OurWorldMyEye » Spring Archives – OurWorldMyEye Photography // Observations // Musings

EVER WONDER WHAT OTHER PEOPLE TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF?

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:21:09 +0000

I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT I HAVE PHOTO ENVY

I do, I wonder it all the time. In fact, I am near obsessive about trying to get a glimpse of what others are snapping.

Actually, this also relates to my previous post SOMETIMES I TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THINGS AND CANNOT REMEMBER WHY – but applied to other people rather than myself!

We have spoken about my nosiness before – and I have forced the view that any photographer worth their price in salt should be nosey. Nosiness = interesting images!!!

Anyway, my obsession means that whenever I walk passed someone with a camera in their hand, poised framing a shot – I have to maneuver myself near to them so I can try and get a view of what they are shooting. This is not a flawless system, sometimes social ethics mean you cannot stand over some-one’s shoulder and inspect what they are looking at. So more often than not, I get to a safe distance and take an educated guess at what they are taking an image of. But – I never know for sure.

Perhaps this desire comes from the fear that they are taking an interesting shot of something I have not seen or thought about. It’s basically photo envy.

What Is He Photographing? (2010)

WHAT WAS THE CHAP IN PRESTON PARK PHOTOGRAPHING?

The other day, I was wandering through Preston Park – the morning sunlight, the frosted ground and the emerging buds shouted of Spring. I was content. Then…there to my left was the chap pictured, in full crouch position taking a shot. I was distressed, not only was I running late so could not properly investigate, but my position also meant I could not really tell what he was doing. All I knew is he was crouching and looking at a beer can atop a bin. I walked on by, concerned at what I might be missing.

THEN…the day passed by uneventful and soon it was morning again, and I was trudging my well worn path to work, through the park. Remembering my distress of the morning before, my eye idly glanced to the spot I had seen the chap the previous day. Low and behold, the can was still on the bin. I saw my chance, I could actually attempt to re-create the shot my predecessor had already snapped.

A SOLUTION TO ALL MY WORRIES

Armed with the photograph from the previous day still on my camera, I zoomed in and inspected the lads pose and position. Then – I guessed at what he might be thinking in terms of depth of field, focus and composition – and shot the shot. Joy brimmed up as my torturous ordeal came to a satisfying conclusion. I had managed to exactly see what someone else had taken a photograph of. Well – almost, I still don’t know what exactly he was shooting – but I had a pretty good idea.

Perhaps I might adopt this approach and try to re-create any photograph I ever see anyone else taking! best give up my job.

Anyway, here is the result…

Beer Can On A Bin (2010)

A vivid morning

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:35:59 +0000

Technicolour Rotunda (2009)

MORNING GLORY (IN TECHNICOLOR)

I rarely take images like this one – my photographers brain kicks in and thinks the composition is too obvious or has been taken too many times before.

Preston Park is a picturesque place after all, especially at this time of the year.

But, on the way to work today, a bit before 8am, there was an unusual rest in the air. I find that at certain times of the year you get this feeling more than others – spring mornings are certainly one such occasion, as are really crisp winter’s mornings, just after dawn.

The park was very still and silent with an ambience that made it hard not to enter a reflective mood. As I walked through the rose garden, I double took at this scene as it was jumping out at me as though it were a still from a film.

I actually backtracked a few steps to have another look – and for me, in the morning, that’s saying something! Not saying I am lazy…I just hate the mornings and prefer to expel as little energy as possible.

As I looked on at the scene, neatly framed by the rose bushes, it struck me that it was almost in Technicolor – everything looked so vivid in the morning light it were though it was a movie set or this view was jumping out of the world towards me.

Sometimes I get mesmerised by such scenes – unable to put my finger on why they look so much more vivid than the rest of the world. Perhaps it’s when the light is just a certain way or when so many colours collide in a single space. Or perhaps, in this case, it’s the garish and slightly camp gold statue sitting in centre frame!

I Like Spring

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:40:58 +0000

Spring Has Sprung 1 (2009)

Spring Has Sprung 2 (2009)

Spring Has Sprung 3 (2009)

Spring Has Sprung

Winter’s shit,

& Summer’s great.

Autumn I can give or take.

But when all is said and done,

I like it best when Spring has sprung.

Boom Box Kids

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:35:05 +0000

Boom Box Kids (2009)

Brighton re-awakens after winter

Brighton is a funny old place.

Often during the winter it feels grey and slightly dead.

The child like spirit of the residents is dampened by typical British winter sea-side gloom.

However, the Spring arrives and the sun starts making an appearance. Then Brighton comes alive again, people you haven’t heard of in a year suddenly give you a call. The park fills with people determined to have fun no-matter how lack luster the weather is.

The Boom Box Kids come back out and remind me why Brighton is a great city…when its sunny!!!