What Choices Do You Make?

2 May 2009 #13 (again)

2 June 2009 #169 and 3 May 2009 #103

Or, more accurately, what decisions do you make? I have been trying to make a bit more sense out of my photography and the process I have for making pictures. One prominent aspect of the process is that it is about choices and also about choices. Choices when photographing to represent the choices of life.

Decisions I make when photographing:

• Subject matter--typically trees. Very life-like things.
• Location--typically the busy street by my house. This is where my life is.
• Time of day--though I try to minimize the effects of sunset lighting and such so that the photo is more about the subject than the light. Life isn't always the golden hour.
• Lens--usually my Canon 70-200mm f4.0L. Sort of like putting one's best foot forward.
• Proximity to my subject--usually less than 5 feet away from the tree trunk. Life surrounds you. You're in the middle of it.
• Focus--mainly sticking my lens in the branches and adjusting the focus on the various branches. It's all about choices.

What am I trying to communicate?

All life has beauty, and no beauty is without flaw. The choices we make create harmony and balance, or dissonance and discord. Usually a mix both. The choices before us are unlimited, and there is no right path. Enjoy the beauty you see and appreciate its complexity. Everything is the way it should be.