Lens-Artists Challenge #154 – One Photo Two Ways

green, plant, curly leaves — HORIZONTAL CURLS

“A photographer’s eye is perpetually evaluating.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson said that a photographer is continually shaping and changing his or her perspective to create a capture, but at the speed of a reflex action. This week, we’d like you to think about the various ways you create your images. Show us the same subject captured using multiple, different approaches. For example, my opening images, above and below, are a horizontal and vertical capture of the fresh curly plant leaves I captured in my yard last week.

“Too often in life we pass by important things. Let’s pause, change perspective and see things more clearly.”
Sergio da Silva

The next example illustrates the difference a big picture image versus a close-up can make, and how important your choice can be in conveying your message.

“I encourage playfulness and experimentation with both camera and subject. Never be satisfied with an obvious perspective.”
Michael Kenna

I captured the egret above and below earlier this month as it strolled across a bridge on our local golf course. Typically with birds I like to get as close as possible. Below however, I photographed the bird from a larger perspective which presents a completely different message. Sometimes the big picture is more interesting than zooming in, other times a close-up is preferred.

egret, comical — Can birds read? Apparently so!! Sometimes the big picture has more to say.

“I do not document anything. I give an interpretation.”
Andre Kertesz

The next set of three images, each with their own strengths, focuses on the impact of an image’s mood. I was committed to photographing the visiting family of a good friend last week. I don’t know about you but I find capturing 16 people of all ages in a single image to be a very daunting challenge! We typically have only one chance to create images that will capture memories for all of the family members. We depend on the weather, we avoid sun glare, and we work hard to position people so that everyone can be seen. YIKES!

family, portrait — 16 Happy Family Members

“Photography… offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.”
Ansel Adams

In the image above I positioned the family in a traditional way and was fortunate that everyone actually looked at the camera at the same time 😊. In the image below I thought we could have a bit of fun by posing the young boys higher in the trees, which also allowed me to move slightly closer, creating a somewhat more intimate scene.

family, portraiture — Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

“Sometimes I look with telephoto eyes, sometimes with wide-angle eyes.”
Alfred Eisenstaedt

Lastly, I created some black & white images for the family, which to me seem a bit more timeless. As an aside, I was facing a bit of a crisis at the time but my friend’s family only gathers once each year so I decided to go ahead with the shoot. For its duration I forgot about my troubles, focused on the task at hand, and shared in the joy of the family’s gathering. It turned out to have been an excellent decision and the diversion couldn’t have come at a better time.

“In black and white you suggest, in color you state.”
Paul Outerbridge

Below and finally, a favorite photography subject, the beauty of a wonderful garden, such as that of Charleston’s Middleton Place. Surrounded by nature’s glory, we may choose to deliver the big picture , to play with software that creates an impressionist perspective, or to zoom in on the details of a single bud. Ultimately it is the photographer’s choice – lucky us!

“Every photo I take is a piece of my life that I will never get back, but that I will be able to see again and again.”
Malcolm Flowers

garden, path, impression — Impression of the Garden

“A picture is the expression of an impression. If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?”
Ernst Haas

flower, pink, green — Up Close and Personal

“Photography is as much about what is left out of the frame as it is about what the photographer keeps inside the frame.”
Daryl Oh

This week, please join us in sharing images that you’ve captured in more than one way. Except for the B&W and Impressionist images, all of those in this week’s post were created in camera. It’s up to you to choose your own approach to your subjects, including the use of editing tools. We look forward to seeing the results of your vision – please link them to my original post and use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you in the WP Reader.

An important announcement. We are excited to announce a special event for the month of July. Several of our previous Guest Hosts have agreed to lead the Lens-Artists challenge. We’re sharing their themes in advance and hope you’ll join us and them in the coming weeks. They include:

July 3 John Steiner of Journeys With Johnbo will present “On the Water”

July 10 Anne Sandler of Slow Shutter Speed will present “Black and White”

July 17 Rusha Sams of Oh The Places We See will present “Getting Away”

July 24 Beth Smith of Wandering Dawgs will present “Along Back Country Roads”

July 31 Ana Campo of Anvica’s Gallery will present “Postcards”

Please be sure to check out their always-interesting and beautiful blogs, and join us in supporting them as they lead us each Saturday in the coming month. Until then, please remember to stay safe and be kind.