We went for a walk today, the beast and I. I need to get a handle on using it. Even after a couple of days I forgot how to adjust settings, so I had a play with that and one of the benefits of photographing digitally is you can play about on the fly. Rather than having to wait to process film, make contacts and look at your images, you can check exposures, make compensations and see as you go but I found myself drawn to the same visual stimuli as ever which isn’t the object of the exercise.
I bought this camera for predominantly for portraiture, so as I stood on the beach observing, I thought I need to push myself to ask people if I can photograph them. It’s not hard, yet it is. Photographically I’m comfortable as an observer, not as an active participant directing subjects, so I find photographing people extremely challenging. The biggest hurdle, initial engagement.
I got close with a couple on the bench, but I stood back or rather sat back and sneaked a few under the radar. The un-consenting voyeur.
Walking home I did meet someone I know. We had a chat and as I was about to leave I asked the question. And Steve was willing. Unsure of my settings we had a quick session and as I walked away I felt happy to have confronted a challenge.
