February 27, 2013

It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer.  You need less imagination to be a painter because you can invent things.  In photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary.  – David Bailey

Focus:  Still Life

A few weeks ago I went to a ‘canvas and cocktail’ type of painting class with some dear friends of mine (shout-out to those friends – woohoo!).  These classes are set up for everyday folks to gather and enjoy some good wine while learning some basic painting techniques.  Personally, I hadn’t lifted a paintbrush (other than the home improvement variety) since grade school.  When faced with the blank white canvas in front of me I was struck by two things:  1)  Where do I start? and 2) Where do I end?  With painting you really can invent things.  The old adage ‘the world is your canvas’ is literally true with painting.

Photography is different.  With photography, instead of inventing things I have learned to really SEE.  I am now continually drawn to light, pattern, colors and textures that already exist all around me.  The art is there – everywhere – just waiting to be captured with a click of my shutter.