Let’s Start Something New
For the year 2025, I am going to work on two projects. One is pretty much the major project of the year and the other is just something extra I want to learn. So it’s more like one and a half projects. Let’s start with the smaller project, which all starts with an old camera collection.
Just three of many old cameras in my collection.
As the collection grows. With some of the cameras still completely functioning like they day they were released. The thing about older cameras is that they function much differently than the cameras I know how to use. They are all film cameras. I’ve only ever shot on digital. So as the collection began to grow and I came across this Pentax ME, and immediately wanted to know how the process of taking film photographs differs from the photographs I take now on my Sony digital camera. So I’ve ordered a roll of film and I’m very curious to see if I can pick up a new (technically old) way to shoot photos. Basically I’ll just be trying to shoot the entire roll over time, while working on my main project for the year.
My current digital camera set up.
There are a lot of instances where an image comes to mind and I’d like to create. They aren’t just images either, they represent something going on in my life, or a feeling I have that I know others can relate to. Then I came across a photographer called Greg Williams. Greg is a well known photographer among celebrities, having worked on photography for the Daniel Craig, James Bond movies. He is also the go to guy to shoot major award shows and do very interesting features on people. His description of photography and the advice he gives on how to approach the craft really resonated with me. One thing he talks about while photographing a lot of behind the scenes work is whether you, the photographer, are an Observer or a Participant in the photo. Which is all about your contribution to the photo. As an observer you shoot what you see, a moment in time captured from the outside. As a participant you capture the subjects attention, they’re aware of you and also interact with you behind the camera.
This description made me think of an interesting idea. While not completely the same concept. Many photographs are candid and many are staged. I, along with many people, have seen thousands of examples of both kinds. I’ve taken both kinds of photos even. Whether it’s someone posing for the camera or just shooting a photo of something happening from an outside perspective. I then pondered the question. Do I have a preference? Candid or Staged? I’ve shot a lot of both. So why not spend 2025 figuring out which one I like most, with fresh images, of staged photos I’ve had written down in my notebook for a while, and also shoot behind the scenes to capture the candid side of the project. After all these shoots, I plan to compile them into a photobook and by then, hopefully, I’ll have my answer.
Should be fun!