I asked my mother when I was younger, “Why does Dad take so many pictures?”
To which she told me, “Because he just sees the world different from everyone else.”
What is photography if it isn’t perspective? It is what makes every photographer unique. It is what leads to the rise of some photographers. There is certainly something about the way certain photographers view the world that just has us yearning for more of it. When pulled off right, people truly appreciate that perspective on something even that which they were apart of, and that is actually a big part of what a lot of us photographers do.
Have you ever sat really close to a large movie screen? You are so close that you are immersed in the screen, your neck hurts, and you have to turn your head to take the whole thing in. You fixate on something because it begs your attention, but suddenly you fear you may miss something somewhere else on the screen, but at the same time you’re afraid to look away for fear of missing the obvious? We reveal perspectives, where sometimes even the subjects were too wrapped up in the moment to even appreciate at the time.
The obvious common denominator in these shots is the little girl, it is her first birthday, and she is packed in a house with people that adore her. When tasked with hanging out at a strangers house, for a one year old’s birthday party for hours on end, you find yourself in a lot of repeatable scenarios. How many pictures can you take of this baby, who really doesn’t have a clue as to what is going on? Obviously, the correct answer from any parent is, “there is no limit!” Which, of course, your kid certainly has unlimited cuteness, but as a photographer we hope to deliver you some sort of variety.
At this particular party, it was tight quarters with quite a few people so I would end up on the wrong end of the party girl, thankfully not a recurring theme in my life! So I moved my attention to the look of adoration of the people looking at the baby. The top picture, by most standards is probably a terrible picture, given that it is the back of a guy’s head, however, I love that framed around that is people from two different rooms, three different vantages, all fixated and staring at the sweet little girl. It is actually one of my favorite shots from the day.
Don’t be afraid to jump outside of the box and truly give your perspective on something. Don’t force it on anyone, just lay it out there and if people gravitate to it, then you are on to something. If they don’t, hell, who cares? You probably took 1000 pictures anyways! Remember, your perspective is what makes you unique! Don’t shy from that. Maybe we all have a more important role too. Arts is one of the last remaining pure things about humanity. It is one of the few things where people actually truly desire someone else’s point of view, and I think there is a powerful opportunity, responsibility, and lesson in that.
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