Julia's Secret Photographic Technique

[foxgrrl]

There is a very simple trick I use for creating beautiful photos:

Take photographs of beautiful things

The only thing you need to practice, is seeing the beauty that is always there around you.

Keep this in mind when you catch me taking your picture.

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PART 2: Advanced Technical Photographic Techniques

The reason why my photography looks so much different from everyone else's [photos of the same subject], is because I take pictures of light, not objects.

When I decide to take a photo-graph, it is not because of whatever the object is, but what light I am seeing. (That's also part of why I don't take photos of the exact same thing that fifty other people are shooting at the same time.)

If you think that the light from the object, and the object itself are the same thing, then you probably use an on-camera flash too.

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PART 3: Delegation

Don't take a picture of something, just because it's a spectacle. Especially if there are a zillion other people takeing the same photo at the same time — even if you think that you're a much better photographer than them. And most especially if the spectacle that is the same thing that had a thousand photos taken of it yesterday (i.e. fursuiters always in the exact same poses).

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PART 4: Giving A Photo

I really hate the term Taking a picture or Taking a photo because it implies that you're taking away, or removing something; Leaving a void or depression, removing a soul, Taking advantage of, etc.

I prefer to think of what I'm doing as Giving a photo, because you create something for someone. For example, many people do not have good photos of themselves, until I come along and give one to them; I don't take their photo away from them.

This is also partially why I release all of my photos into the Public Domain, or the Creative Commons.

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[And being grammatically pedantic, pretend that the words object and subject are interchangeable synonyms here.]

Comments

[anaisdjuna.livejournal.com]

What a lovely mood in which to be yourself.

Love your comments on photo-graphs. Light is one of the most striking things about painting and portraiture also. A friend used to photograph me a lot. Among his many cameras was an early 20th century thing he used to take polaroids - often making polaroid transfers. I would have to sit very still and he would use a flashlight to paint light into the pictures. They were beautiful. He is a super cool artist and fellow. He made a pair of pants with tie dye that have cameras all over them. I've kept them forever hoping they'll one day fit me, but if they fit you & you like them... they're yours. I'll bring them next time we meet.

I agree with your semantic adjustment of "giving" a photo. Especially in your case.

And HA HA HA HA!!!! Your vehement and ongoing crusade against on-camera flashes cracks me up whenever it rears it's fiery head. :-) *raises fist in solidarity* :-)