photography
In preparation for writing this reflection, I took some time to reflect on what this course has meant to me as an instructor. In short and technically, the course was truly not much different than most other courses. That simply being: complete assignments to earn credit.
Since each of my students was asked to cover the same event, I requested one thing from each of them from the start of the semester… to just share their story.
Read MoreCreating a powerful and impactful story or image no longer requires that the photojournalist carry a bag of expensive cameras, lenses, and tripods. Capturing and sharing creative, personal, and engaging stories has changed with the technology of today.
Read MoreI sipped coffee by the lake this morning just to process this day infamously and always to be known as 9/11. Sitting in the Blue Ridge sunshine, I remembered watching the events of that morning. It remains a day of horrors as the world changed and unfolded minute by minute. Despite the ugliness of the day, the heroes were the winners - the coworkers, the bystanders, the emergency response personnel, the nurses, the single parents, the teachers, the rich, the poor, the hurting, and the Average Joe.
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While testing my new old school Gossen Luna Pro light meter for the first time yesterday, I was greeted by two highlights.
First were the rich and deliciously true light readings for my camera's exposure settings. The second came with one of the test shots, unveiling a haunting resemblance of my father through my reflection.
I have a list of favorite things that wrap themself around my life. Even after deleting a few of those faves from my youthful years, my list still stretches longer than I can reach.
Following last night’s wintery weather, I spent today’s lovely Saturday morning with a few of my listed items. Each of these faves played a big part in preparing my breakfast feast of egg, bacon, and mozzarella on thick cut fresh baked whole wheat bread; arugula, spinach, and avocado salad with balsamic and parmesan; navel oranges; and steaming pot of freshly ground java all accompanied by a soundtrack of Grover Washington, jr. arrangements.
It’s important to note that these are in no particular order of preference since each carries about the same weight of goodness in winter survival… or for any day.
cameras of various kinds
a spinning turntable
aromas from the kitchen
snow
hot coffee
warm socks
deli cheese
fresh produce
obedient pups (who also scored breakfast eggs for their good behavior)
bacon
more coffee
a record collection of 43 years
a flickering fireplace
me time
love of life
Old is New ©2013 Gary Garbett
Along with a handwritten note, a gift awaited me at my office yesterday. It was a morning of timely lost arts.
Today I submitted my proposal for my semester long independent study. Over the next five months I'll be capturing images with cameras from my personal assortment of film and instant cameras. Though they’ve not seen a roll of film in decades, each film camera in my collection is a secondhand beauty. I’m sure however with a new roll of film, each will find stories that they'll want to share. I'm happy to have saved them.
The essence and beauty of photography is found in its most physical and tangible medium. A photograph is story intended to be printed, held, displayed, and shared.
Havoc Arrives ©2013 Gary Garbett
The most memorable photographs are seldom those with the sharpest amount of image detail or the ones with the most glamorous model posed with a sultry suggesting mood. Those images that best speak to me often do so with unintended grit, beautiful flaws, and an unstaged real life essence that draws me in and keeps me there. Those are the images with heart.
A successful photograph captures that very moment with sincere emotion.