20-Shot Assignment: Tree

In fact I took perhaps 30 images, but many were variations, and many simply unremarkable and unpresentable.

Two notable issues, the first being focus.  Standing under the tree looking up, everything seems in focus to the eye.  In truth, the eye is rapidly readjusting to the many layers to which to the mind brings its attention.  The camera cannot do this.  It typically locks on to one or two layers and the rest, while clear on the lcd, is out of focus in the capture.  The only remedy for this is physical distance and zoom.  Unfortunately, there isn't enough distance to be had under the tree.

The other issue is finding and bringing out some kind of pattern within a subject that has no easily identifiable shape.  A leaf against the sky is easy.  A shape emerging from a bramble of branches is not.  Part of the problem is seeing, of isolating a shape, the other is using focus properly to capture it.  I tried a couple of these and they were absolute failures.  Maybe I will have to have another look at Friedlander's The desert seen.

#

20-Shot Assignment: Automobile

Like the parking meter shot only moments before, I couldn't produce 20 images of this yellow Camaro.  I actually shot more that 20, but many were variations or not worth reproducing.  Sixteen was a good number for creating a 4x4 collage.

Perhaps the biggest impediment on this exercise was not being in the moment with the work, but feeling put upon to complete an exercise.  I didn't linger as long as I could have.  One concern was being found out by the car owner or some passerby.  It may also be because I was working on an assigned subject, rather than something one of my own interest.

I very much appreciate this type of exercise.  Too often we are in a hurry and don't give ourselves time to see all the interesting little facts of a subject.  I'd like in future to do this with a tree.

#

20-Shot Assignment: Parking Meter

Like practicing Buddhists everywhere, the complaint of boredom leads to calls to investigate the condition of boredom.

“Boredom is merely a symptom that you haven’t open your eyes wide enough."