Plus Post: Week 7

Back to the toybox

I’ve been adulting, i.e. being boring. I almost forgot that toys existed and that they are so much fun!

Glad Alex Lapidus was here to remind us not to become just another dull Jack.

There were so many things to choose from. I’m proud to say I checked pretty much everything off my list. (except the Lensbaby. That made it to my Christmas wishlist :D).

Pinhole camera (one that I owned for years and never used)

Shooting with the lens reversed (another old trick I never did try)

Custom bokeh shapes

Orbs

Plastic

Glass thingies

Jugs and Mugs

Rain

Wire meshes

Patterned windows

Leaves

I’m still surprised at all that I haven’t “seen” over the years of “looking” through these objects.

Heiko Mahr shared a link on unusual things to shoot through. Lace panties did catch my fancy (yeah, yeah, I totally believe that no one else did a double take at that one). I decided to try it. So off to the park beside work and the one in the centre of town.

Oh, you kids are so gullible. But yeah, I did shoot through a fabric.

My dress.

Just one layer of it, while my modesty still remained unimpeachable.

Which brings me to my “Photography tip of the week for the group”: Start wearing summer dresses.

Jokes aside. This week was an eye opener, quite literally.

Objects aren’t obstacles: If not translucent, they are reflective, or just make for a great bokeh. Stop seeing them for that they are. See through them, around them, beyond them.

Crayon box: I always look for colours and patterns while shooting. This week taught me that readjusting my point of view and adding just a hint of blur makes colour stand out so much more. Eg: A blue image on the monitor screen complemented by an orange sticky shot through a glass orb = Abstract 🙂 Everything around us is a box of crayons if you don’t like what you see. Rearrange your world. (not just a photography lesson, this one)

Always carry a camera: If not my main camera, I always had my phone with me. I did revisit certain places to try for a shot, but sometimes the magic doesn’t stay for the whole day, but I’m glad I got at least a version of the shot in some form. Keep a camera handy. Any camera.

The only thing holding me back: Me. I could have tried the reverse lens or the pinhole camera, but I was waiting for a Lensbaby instead. I could have shot through a fabric, but was too shy to take off my stockings. More often than not, I was holding myself back. Didn’t know that this mentorship was as much about discovering one’s self as it is about learning techniques. Guess who won’t be holding me back anymore. Me.

A few weeks ago, if anyone had asked me to take a photo at and around work, I don’t think I could have come up with more than 2. And now, I have to be asked to stop. Thank you so much Alex Lapidus Heiko Mahr, all the moderators of the community and my fellow mentees. I have never learned so much in such a short time span or been so inspired to go out and create art.