{"id":128764,"date":"2019-02-11T13:34:06","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T21:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=128764"},"modified":"2019-02-11T13:34:13","modified_gmt":"2019-02-11T21:34:13","slug":"the-photographer-is-a-visual-explorer-and-transformer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/11\/the-photographer-is-a-visual-explorer-and-transformer\/","title":{"rendered":"The Photographer is a Visual Explorer and Transformer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have more fun in photography and life by using the camera to explore the world, and to transform the world according to your own artistic vision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

My thought<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019 #selfie<\/a> #ricohgrii<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We as photographers might have once been explorers and conquerers of the past (imagine Christopher Columbus). But now, we use our camera as our tool of exploration. We have an insatiable desire to SEE MORE, EXPERIENCE MORE, and to conquer more.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Why do we disdain the same?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019 #ricohgrii<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It seems we easily get bored of the same. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My theory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is in our human DNA to want to conquer the unknown.<\/p>

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This is what drove us human beings to BECOME more, DISCOVER MORE, and to gain more wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A human who would be too satisfied with their current lot would probably still be in a cave eating (cold) acorns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exploration of the visual world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Buena
Buena Park, 2019 #ricohgrii #flash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is the fun thing with photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world looks different as photographs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This is what I thought about a lot when shooting digital medium format<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ordinary\/mundane world looks MORE INTERESTING when shot on digital medium format.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019 #fujifilmgfx50r<\/a> #texture<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So perhaps one of our delight as photographers is to discover a NEW WORLD — a NEW world which is created when we make photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do photographers prefer the real world, or the world rendered via photographs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019 #fujifilmgfx50r<\/a> #texture<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When we make photographs, we become little mini demigods (photo gods<\/a>). What this means is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we photograph the world, we control a small portion of it. We can create a NEW world, according to our own artistic image as photographers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019 #fujifilmgfx50r<\/a> #texture\u00ef\u00bb\u00bf<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I think the mistake that a lot of us photographers make is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We want to photograph the world as we see it in real life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

However to me, this is more interesting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a NEW<\/em> world (create our own reality) with our photographs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This means: don’t make photographs that look like ‘real life’<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019 #fujifilmgfx50r<\/a> #texture\u00ef\u00bb\u00bf<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This means, employ all photographic tools to TRANSFORM and mould the world according to your own vision. This means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Embrace extreme post-processing<\/a> in your photos<\/li>
  2. Experiment with different camera formats (film<\/a>, digital medium format<\/a>)<\/li>
  3. Embrace distortions and macro<\/a> photographs (use a wide-angle<\/a> lens like 28mm<\/a>, shoot super close)<\/li>
  4. Shoot with flash<\/a> (flash makes the world look different)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Explore more, conquer more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Little
    Little Saigon, 2019 #selfie<\/a> #ricohgrii<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Explore more of the world, with your camera as your companion and tool of analysis. For me, street photography is visual sociology<\/a>. Use your camera to analyze the world around you, and transform the world (composition\/framing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SHOOT ON!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Photolosophy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Discover more personal meaning in your photographic life with my course: PHOTOLOSOPHY ><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n