I like to post series of threes or a maximum of four images on Flickr. There are a number of reasons for this. Usually, of the photographs I have taken of a scene or location I am lucky to get three good ones that I am pleased with and when posting images in a series I find that interest on Flickr wanes after the third image. But the thing with the images I got that Thursday night in late April is that I love so many so much. Is it OK to say that? OK to say I love my own photography? I think it is. If I don’t like the images, why do I want to share them?
Today’s image was made/taken (what is the correct verb to use here – see note below) by the pedestrian crossing that connects the entrance to Mark City in Shibuya to Shibuya train station. It is located under a bridge and the light at night is the light I love. I never use flash, but just work with the available ambient light. When I was in Tokyo in 2012 I got one of my all time favourite images in this location:
Committed to the future (Tokyo: 2012)
And I see the title I gave it Committed to the future is another theme that runs through my photography. The image I am posting today is taken from the same position, quite possibly at the same time of day. The characters most likely are not the same people, but in its essence they are. I worked this image in black and white to give it its high contrast and striking impact. The image above, taken in the rain, worked better to allow for the colours to run.
Tokyo
Trying to match up images taken in Tokyo with the iPhone with those taken with the DSLR is not so easy at times. Very often the images look fine on the iPhone, but large on the screen they lose something and I discard them. Today’s image is one I like; hard not to with that cuddly teddy bear overlooking us all, comforting us all.
Comfort
Heard a podcast on whether we should say take or make a photograph. Argument was when we say take a photo we are actually taking something from the scene or person; when we make a photo we are using what is there to create something. I think it is bullshit. Take or make a photo, it is all semantics. The photographer always takes something from the scene or person, just like the viewer always takes something from viewing the photograph. Similarly, with make.
Beautiful!!
Oh I agree with you on the semantics and we take and give and preserve all at the same time. I love your approach and yes if you didn’t love the results why keep them or post them? I still haven’t worked out how to blur in iphone? would love to know.
Hi Ilse,
It is semantics and a wish for photographers to elevate themselves higher than those mere snappers who just take photos – they make them!
For blurring with iPhone – have you seen this – https://vimeo.com/89090088
You can see my technique for blurring there.
In your favorite photo, you seem to take it beyond what it actually is -a crossing- and turned it into a motivational “towards the future, let’s brave the rain, light is a then end” kind of image.
Did that image above come from you responding to the scene or was it just there?
Let me suggest that you created the image…..because the final image that you have up there, is not what others saw. Everyone saw a crossing, like a million other crossings but you saw differently.
Hey Olivier,
Thanks for dropping by. I enjoy your podcasts a lot. I feel the debate about make or take photographs is a silly one. It is a matter of collocation, frequency of use and semantics. Take has always collocated with photographs. The use and meaning is open to interpretation.
I find photographers like to distant themselves from snappers and feel the verb take is weak when describing their craft.
I have zero problem with that.
The takeaway point here (pun intended) is that I really do not make that much of the difference between make, take, shoot, create, capture, frame… these are just words. I get that take implies active action on the part of the photographer, as does make, but the difference being that take can be inferred as not changing the object or scene, whereas make can with the action of the photographer imply some change.
But does it matter? Really?
What next? Is it a photo or a photograph? God forbid we call it a snap.
Let’s get on with photography.
But I guess the positive thing is – while I feel the debate is a silly one, it has sparked thought and conversation about photography and that can only be a good thing.