After all... what am I doing?

I took part in a photographic walk (or photowalk, which is how it sounds better) through the streets of Lisbon, organized by two photography collectives that I had already had the opportunity to meet before: 1/4escuro and Coletivo Negativo.

Some of us don't know each other well (there are those who came for the first time and, therefore, didn't know each other at all and there are others who are long-time accomplices in photographic wanderings) and, when holding a camera in hand, it's easy for the question to arise - obvious - "And you? What type of photography do you make?"

[It is important to note, in this sentence, the use of the verb to make instead of the verb to take, but this is a theme for another story, for another publication]

I like the readiness of those who are certain. In fact, I don't like it that much, in so many areas of life, but in this case I genuinely like it. Maybe because I envy these certainties a little. "Street photography and landscapes", simple, direct and without hesitation. "And you, what photograph do you like to take?" Well, here comes the doubt, the uncertainty. What do I answer to make sure I answer well? How do you respond to this in a way that appears credible?

They might tell me that I'm giving too much importance to other people's opinions, worried about looking "good in the photo" - an expression that really comes in handy - but no, the concern isn't with others, it's with me, how do I manage? define? The others are just the interlocutors, peers, if I decide to use a large dose of self-confidence and desire, who lead me to raise a question of my own. Who am I, photographically speaking? What have I been doing?

I think I was taken by surprise, despite already having the ghost of the absence of a credible answer to the question. I started with the negative: I don't like street photography, but I like cityscapes, landscapes in general and photographing models. The answer was terrible, embarrassingly uncertain and insecure. After all, if I spend so much time and money on photography, how can I admit that I don't have the answer to this on the tip of my tongue? I have to admit that, in photographic terms, it's similar to being asked "What's your name?" and not knowing how to respond.

Of course it was more embarrassing for me than for others. The world didn't end. A single beam of light did not come from the sky and land on me, making me the center of the biggest public-photographic scandal in history, obviously. But I felt uncomfortable.

I still think that in photography the most important thing is the pleasure you get from the process, more than what you do or the camera you use. But... the rest also matters.

Of course I had to think about it, but the answer remains difficult. Closing my eyes, following my instinct, I believe I would like to answer "emotional portraits of human and urban landscapes". I think it's mainly this. But will it be a decent answer?

I went to Google to search for a list of types of photography, just to cross out the ones that didn't apply to me.

The list has 38 types of photography. I read everyone's description and found the list incomplete. I don't think I found myself there. Despite everything, I think I relate to seven of them:

Portrait photography

Still life photography

Landscape photography

Abstract photography

Fashion photography

Fine Art

Beauty/glamour photography

Considering everything well, I think I can adopt a type of photography that may not officially exist but that defines quite well what I do, or rather, what I would really like to do, if I were given the ability to really achieve the materialization of my internal desire; I think that, from now on, I will answer - at the serious risk of sounding like a phrase taken from a self-help book! - "human emotional landscapes".

And that's it. I will talk about this topic again in a future publication.

Is photography more about learning to see or to ignore part of what you see?

When we photograph, do we focus more on what we want to leave inside or outside the frame?

Photography is a form of expression that involves both things, perhaps impossible to dissociate. Perhaps it is as important to learn to see what interests us as it is to choose what to ignore. It's the uncertain balance of making the right choices about what to include or exclude from the frame.

One of the fundamental components of photography is composition, along with light and the moment. We know that there are themes that work, such as details, patterns, shapes and movement, that have the potential to create a captivating photograph. Experience, talent, practice and knowledge of the visual language of photography are essential to making the right choice about what to include in the image.

On the other hand, ignoring certain elements or distractions within a scene is also equally important. The key is capturing the essence of a scene while making choices about what to enhance and what to exclude. It's a delicate balance between seeing the raw reality and deciding how to improve it to make the image more impactful.

When framing and exposing a photograph, we make choices about what to include or exclude from the frame. It depends on the aesthetic sense of the photographer or the message he wants to convey.

This question leads me to think of another: so, is the photographer a creator or an editor?

Villa Sousa, Graça, Lisbon

PS: Would it be interesting to see, to appreciate a photographer's artistic ability, along with the chosen image, the omited details?

Special details that are not photography by themselves but add to the magic

I am not trying to quote Julie Andrews in "My Favorite Things", but, in fact there are some things I really love about photography and some of its almost insignificant actions. Almost, but they are essential, at least for some kind of photography...

So, here are some of my favourite things:

Advancing film lever on the Rolleiflex TLR

Light metering with photometer

The shutter sound of the Bronica S2A

Extending the bellows of the Zeiss Ikon

Advancing film on the Nikon F3

Creating business cards

One of my goals is to create more in photography. And there are some self-proposed challenges that I will talk about in future posts.

For now it will be strips with an image of my portfolio and a QR code for this blog and my handle for Instagram. It's a way to provide my contacts.

Next task: place these strips - they are self-adhesive vinyl, so you can keep them just like that or stick them in a notebook, for example - inside old rolls that I will bring with me whenever I take pictures.

Step by step I'm trying to improve and keep myself motivated in this area of photography.

Organizing my portfolio or photo gallery

Now that I decided to go a little more seriously into photography, reviving this old blog and all that, it is time to have things done a step at a time.

For now, creating a portfolio, mostly with older photos.

So it means to go through my prints and computer files to select which additional photos I will need to print and which should go to my first online gallery, considering Instagram to be a social network and not a real photo gallery.

I guess this will take some time. So let's spend it then!

Working on returning

Rolleiflex Standard K2 at Jardins Braço de Prata

Twelve years later, looking at things from a different perspective, or rather, through a different lens, I return to this blog and to photography...

Maybe because I feel like I have thngs to say. I will post more content soon...