There is much to ruminate on here and I found joy in listening to you read your composition. As tired as you may have felt making the recording, your voice comes across as strong and true. The few missteps only serve to make it more personal, and in some ways, better than a perfect read through. The pace is nice and I like that it allows me to soak up both your beautiful words and images as I follow along.
Photographer, artist, feelings. They are all such big words, so loaded with preconceptions and expectations. I hate artist statements by the way. They are too intellectual for me. As for feelings, it is perhaps because I am a man that I find feelings difficult to relate to linguistically. I had no language for them growing up. Was not really aware of them consciously. They occurred within me without my classifying or indeed understanding them and they remain somewhat elusive to this day. I do recognize their importance, but I find it difficult to relate feelings directly to photography. I prefer simple attraction as my guiding light. To follow my nose. To be led where I wander. To photograph as the moment suggests. To always seek out beauty either in the subject or the composition or in some other undefinable way that photography allows. Beauty is at the core of my attraction. I may not be able to describe it but I know when I see it. Beauty is magic made visible.
This interplay between reality and my subconscious while seeking out beauty is largely what brings me joy in the process of shooting. My brain is kept busy with the technical, but my body is directing how I move, my point of view, how I frame the shot. I try not to think too much as I work although I will allow myself to suggest something clever, a change of f-stop or shutter speed perhaps, to change the effect. For the most part, my brain knows what it is doing. I let it get on with things.
Instead, I focus on my attraction and play with the beauty I see before me. That may create a reflection of who I am or may reflect my feelings, but I won't see it or understand it at the time and I will leave it to the viewer to interpret what I am showing them. I believe viewers will also project themselves upon any photograph and so their experience in viewing it may be quite different from my own. It may be as much about their reflection as my own.
Thank you John for such a thoughtful reply, and for your kind comments. ‘I had no language for them growing up.’ Yes, I recognise this; we were not an emotive family and I learned to keep feelings quietly out of sight. Perhaps that is why so much is poured into making images. As I write around them, a little more of me is exposed; as the years pass I worry a little less. You write beautifully about your process, if that is the right word. There is much I relate to, from following your nose, to instinct, and for a while putting to one side an over-active mind to lose yourself in relating to the moment. I’m glad you shared this.
What a beautiful post! Yes, I believe the eye of the artist is a reflection of the heart. The key word for me here is “artist.” Anyone can take photographs or write words. An artist is differentiated by the lens (eye or camera) through which they view the world, and the connection to their heart that follows.
Thank you Cathy, I’m really glad you enjoyed it. It’s very definitely the message rather than the medium, which is one reason why I’m now less comfortable with ‘photographer’ - everyone is, to the detriment of the craft.
What a beautiful and thought provoking post, Michela! I especially enjoyed listening to you read it; your voice is so soothing! I hope very much that my eye as an artist is a reflection of my heart! In considering all that you said, I am inspired to be even more intentional about asking my eye and heart to be in deeper conversation with one another. When I teach drawing, I often tell students that it’s about letting the eye and hand have a conversation without letting the brain chatter get in way. It seems to me that this is a similar practice. The image that comes to me is one of eavesdropping on the whispering between my heart and my hand and encouraging those exchanges. By the way, I found you through Dan Blank’s community and I’m so glad I did! Lots of best wishes from Oregon!
Hi Tara, it’s lovely to know how you found me. Thank you for your kind comments; they are great encouragement. Ah yes, brain chatter - I recognise that!
Thanks Juliet - I have a feeling they will call me back. Everywhere now seems more dreich. I studied and worked in Edinburgh for 12 years; I remember winters being cold but often sunny. Here in Aberdeenshire winter 21/22 was cold, dry and often sunny but the last 18 months have been unusually wet and windy.
Hi Michela, when I first lived in Edinburgh the winters were always cold and sunny, then about 10 or 15 years ago there were a couple of very snowy winters but since then winters have been much wetter and warmer. One thing has not changed is that it's still a very windy city!
Hi Martin, it’s good to hear from you. Glad to have broadened your vocabulary with that one 😂 It’s great to hear that you enjoyed it all, thanks for letting me know.
Another beauty Michela. You write so thoughtfully about what you observe and the effects of observing, also the importance of the medium - words or image or both.
Thank you Margaret, you’re very kind. I’m finding it good practice - and discipline - to write each week. As Sam has said in the past, it’s good to have a reason to do so.
What a beautiful post, lots to reread and contemplate. Indeed I too believe that it's an axis you move along. I can think of projects by artists at specific points in their lives and their work reflects that moment and what they were going through. Weaving your photography with words brings a deeper understanding and joy to the reader. I certainly don't have the eloquent ways with wordcrafting you do but the dance between the words and the images really engages the reader further. Thanks M x
Thanks Charlotte, very kind 😊 It wasn’t the easiest to write, so if it reads well I’m happy. I think there’s a value in trying to explain something to another, it evolves your own thinking.
There is much to ruminate on here and I found joy in listening to you read your composition. As tired as you may have felt making the recording, your voice comes across as strong and true. The few missteps only serve to make it more personal, and in some ways, better than a perfect read through. The pace is nice and I like that it allows me to soak up both your beautiful words and images as I follow along.
Photographer, artist, feelings. They are all such big words, so loaded with preconceptions and expectations. I hate artist statements by the way. They are too intellectual for me. As for feelings, it is perhaps because I am a man that I find feelings difficult to relate to linguistically. I had no language for them growing up. Was not really aware of them consciously. They occurred within me without my classifying or indeed understanding them and they remain somewhat elusive to this day. I do recognize their importance, but I find it difficult to relate feelings directly to photography. I prefer simple attraction as my guiding light. To follow my nose. To be led where I wander. To photograph as the moment suggests. To always seek out beauty either in the subject or the composition or in some other undefinable way that photography allows. Beauty is at the core of my attraction. I may not be able to describe it but I know when I see it. Beauty is magic made visible.
This interplay between reality and my subconscious while seeking out beauty is largely what brings me joy in the process of shooting. My brain is kept busy with the technical, but my body is directing how I move, my point of view, how I frame the shot. I try not to think too much as I work although I will allow myself to suggest something clever, a change of f-stop or shutter speed perhaps, to change the effect. For the most part, my brain knows what it is doing. I let it get on with things.
Instead, I focus on my attraction and play with the beauty I see before me. That may create a reflection of who I am or may reflect my feelings, but I won't see it or understand it at the time and I will leave it to the viewer to interpret what I am showing them. I believe viewers will also project themselves upon any photograph and so their experience in viewing it may be quite different from my own. It may be as much about their reflection as my own.
Thank you John for such a thoughtful reply, and for your kind comments. ‘I had no language for them growing up.’ Yes, I recognise this; we were not an emotive family and I learned to keep feelings quietly out of sight. Perhaps that is why so much is poured into making images. As I write around them, a little more of me is exposed; as the years pass I worry a little less. You write beautifully about your process, if that is the right word. There is much I relate to, from following your nose, to instinct, and for a while putting to one side an over-active mind to lose yourself in relating to the moment. I’m glad you shared this.
What a beautiful post! Yes, I believe the eye of the artist is a reflection of the heart. The key word for me here is “artist.” Anyone can take photographs or write words. An artist is differentiated by the lens (eye or camera) through which they view the world, and the connection to their heart that follows.
Thank you Cathy, I’m really glad you enjoyed it. It’s very definitely the message rather than the medium, which is one reason why I’m now less comfortable with ‘photographer’ - everyone is, to the detriment of the craft.
What a beautiful and thought provoking post, Michela! I especially enjoyed listening to you read it; your voice is so soothing! I hope very much that my eye as an artist is a reflection of my heart! In considering all that you said, I am inspired to be even more intentional about asking my eye and heart to be in deeper conversation with one another. When I teach drawing, I often tell students that it’s about letting the eye and hand have a conversation without letting the brain chatter get in way. It seems to me that this is a similar practice. The image that comes to me is one of eavesdropping on the whispering between my heart and my hand and encouraging those exchanges. By the way, I found you through Dan Blank’s community and I’m so glad I did! Lots of best wishes from Oregon!
Hi Tara, it’s lovely to know how you found me. Thank you for your kind comments; they are great encouragement. Ah yes, brain chatter - I recognise that!
Hi Michela,
Likewise and yes, we have around 10 to 15 degrees :-)
Sounds familiar. 11 degrees here!
Thank you so much Michela. I am really enjoying your letters. Very inspiring.
Greetings from Iceland, Thomas
Hi Thomas, great to hear from you, and thank you. I’m guessing that your summer weather is not so great either.
I really enjoyed your photos of abandoned crofts.
And dreich, a favourite word here in Edinburgh, we use it a lot
Thanks Juliet - I have a feeling they will call me back. Everywhere now seems more dreich. I studied and worked in Edinburgh for 12 years; I remember winters being cold but often sunny. Here in Aberdeenshire winter 21/22 was cold, dry and often sunny but the last 18 months have been unusually wet and windy.
Hi Michela, when I first lived in Edinburgh the winters were always cold and sunny, then about 10 or 15 years ago there were a couple of very snowy winters but since then winters have been much wetter and warmer. One thing has not changed is that it's still a very windy city!
I was there ‘82-94 (coughs). I remember the wind and trying to walk to college carrying an A1 portfolio! And the dust blowing in your face and eyes.
That sounds familiar, i first moved to Edinburgh in 1985.
Thank you for the text, the audio version, and the photo collection. Wonderful!
Oh, and the footnotes. Good to be acquainted with dreich. 😁
Hi Martin, it’s good to hear from you. Glad to have broadened your vocabulary with that one 😂 It’s great to hear that you enjoyed it all, thanks for letting me know.
Another beauty Michela. You write so thoughtfully about what you observe and the effects of observing, also the importance of the medium - words or image or both.
Thank you Margaret, you’re very kind. I’m finding it good practice - and discipline - to write each week. As Sam has said in the past, it’s good to have a reason to do so.
What a beautiful post, lots to reread and contemplate. Indeed I too believe that it's an axis you move along. I can think of projects by artists at specific points in their lives and their work reflects that moment and what they were going through. Weaving your photography with words brings a deeper understanding and joy to the reader. I certainly don't have the eloquent ways with wordcrafting you do but the dance between the words and the images really engages the reader further. Thanks M x
Thanks Charlotte, very kind 😊 It wasn’t the easiest to write, so if it reads well I’m happy. I think there’s a value in trying to explain something to another, it evolves your own thinking.