In this series of articles we learn how to pick out a frame from a scene. We learn how to truly see in the world around us before even picking up the camera.
I always find it interesting how we often don't think about the original scene when looking at the final product of a great landscape image. Very often, more-so earlier in my photographic journey, I could not understand where the beautiful vistas to shoot were. I spend a lot of time learning from other photographers on YouTube mainly. I took particularly to Nigel Danson, William Patino and Mark Denney for their landscape photography. guides and tutorials.
Even the videos of them just walking around in nature looks so much better than the nature around me when I go out to shoot. It is not for lack of a beautiful country. I live and shoot in South Africa, where there is plenty of opportunity for great images of nature and the landscape. I have proven this to myself in recent months, having discovered scenes in my own home town that I had no idea were even there. I just did not know what to look for, or how to truly see.
So, with this series of articles we will look at what the scene looked like around me and compare it to what I eventually capture through the lens. I think learning to pick out a frame from the scene in front of you is where a great photo starts. It doesn't matter if you are using a camera on your smartphone or a professional mirrorless monster, both are useless if you cannot see the final image in your mind when you look at a scene.
As a result of doing this I have found that I notice more in the world around me. Stuff that was always there but I allowed to fly by me.
So you see, photography has not taught me to capture moments, it has taught me to see them in the first place.
Your Bipolaroid Photographer...Neo