This photograph has been coming up a fair bit in my presentations in the past few weeks. Each time I see it, I am struck by how much I love it. I am sure it is mainly because of the ‘Painterly’ look and feel it has. If I had painted it I would be proud. Creating it in camera, the lazy instant way of painting. Laughs to myself. Yes I often think that photography is a lazy art. Comparing how much time I would put into a drawing, say 70 plus hours, verse the few minutes I put into a photograph. This one only took about ten seconds of exposure and a about a minute or two of processing I recon.
So much of photography isn’t lazy of course. It requires study, and hard work being out in the elements (well for me and my love of nature photography). But, you see when you love something it isn’t ever hard work is it. It is engrossing. It really takes your head away from your worries, and the world slips by as you create.
So when I say photography is a lazy medium, perhaps I am wrong. I might be better served to say it is a speedy medium. For it often doesn’t take very long to make something that has the potential to live on for a lifetime or more.
I must admit I treat post processing of my work in the same way. Quick and simple. I worked hard to replicate the controls I had in the darkroom. Do you know I mainly process through the tone curve. A few clicks and drags and I am done. My love for my own preset is also driving my quick and easy processing approach.
This all gives me more time out in the bush, where, honestly, that is where I’d prefer to be.
Last night I gave the forth talk in the composition series. It was about how our eye is steered around the image using tone and contrast. It is really lovely being able to talk about these issues in depth, rather than the usual skimming through so much about photography. I do love it. I have been spending hours writing these new presentations. They are aimed at the intermediate photographer. Beginners will find them illuminating. And surprisingly some of my most advanced students are telling me over and over that they are learning so much from these presentations. Only 26 more on composition to go. I spend most of the week thinking about each one. What a delight. This series will be a seminal work for me about photography. I suspect that it will be watched by many for years to come. Mainly because it is so unique in its content. A lifetime of experience, analysis and teaching is behind it.
I have started another series about ‘Style, Vision and Look’ - a much shorter series. Freely available to Len’s Club members, and will also be able to be purchased on pay per view or outright. I will wait until these are finished before we put them out.
Len’s Club is all about taking your photography to the next level. Please consider joining our community.
It is fascinating who gets the most benefits out of my teaching. Usually intermediate and advanced photographers who want to learn more, to push themselves. Those that want to take their photography to the next level. They are able to see something special in my work. They don’t join to learn to photograph like Len. They join to learn to photograph more like themselves. Helping them grow into artists. Unique creative individual photographers. It is what I do best. Mentor. Facilitate. Encourage. Support. Teach.
Here is one lovely email I received this weekend past.
“Hi Len, Thanks for another great week of learning.
All your efforts and your generosity of spirit in wanting to see us grow as artists is appreciated.
Have a lovely weekend,
Geoff and Jan”
Thank you Geoff and Jan, I hope you realise that your work inspires me too.
Abstract Impressions at Port Stephens taken during the Abstract Photography Workshop I run with Shirley Steel. This years is going to be in Jervis Bay. It is currently looking good to be able to run it.
Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2020