EX 101 What does photography teach you?

This week we are giving ourselves a break from running out and taking new photographs for the exercise. This is a very different exercise. It asks you took through your work, and ruminate on it.

I believe I learn so much from my photography. It teaches me about who I am, what I love. I slowly unravel the layers of shields I have wrapped myself in to protect me from harm. Today these walls come down. One by one through my photography.

For example I used to label myself a ‘Wilderness Photographer’ because that is what I wanted to be, a defender of the wilderness creating beautiful documents to share its beauty. Then I realised that we have so little wilderness that I would perhaps be better served by being a ‘Landscape Photographer’. Yet when I look at my photographs, there are very few landscapes per say. What I see is thousands of photographs of trees and flowers. So I now tell people I love to photograph trees. Once I identified that was what my interest is, I could focus on them more and more. More and more tree photographs. I have learnt, through my photography that I love trees, and I wish to defend them. Spread some love for them. Now I think where can I go to photograph more trees the way I love to photograph them.

This is a lesson I learnt from my photography.

I have so many more examples. But this exercise isn’t about me. It is about you.

So spend some time looking at your favorite photographs. Look for patterns, feel how you react to them. Take time to sit with them. To ruminate. To reflect. To ponder. Let your mind wander. Focus it in and be very specific. See if you can identify ten things you have learnt from your photography.

Yes we are going to post them if you dare. Some may be deeply personal, those you may wish to leave out. From your list of ten. Take the three most important ones to you, and find three photographs that illustrates what you are talking about.

Post each photograph with the lesson underneath…. at the end of the post add your other seven if you dare.

I can’t wait to discuss this exercise with you.