Rural Street Scene
This may not be the most amazing photograph but it's a decent composite of what I am seeing repeated over and over in Ohio and Indiana. Those marquee-type signs, little ice cream-slash-burger joints, and grain mills. While there are endless miles of corn and soybeans, it's the human scale stuff that I find more interesting. I could be riding around in the early morning hours looking for the perfect farmhouse but that wouldn't be a realistic portrait of things. It may sell postcards and milk but it's not what I'm finding.
Frankly, this trip hasn't been overly photo-centric., I've been riding quiet back roads at odd times of day not overly conducive to strong photographs, I've been having conversations, and I've been thinking about the state of things in our economy and food system. Portrait opportunities aren't popping up as I might have expected. It's fine.
Yesterday, while talking to a sheriff about the cattle he raises and sells, I thought about making his portrait but held off to privilege the simplicity of conversation. While I never think of making portraits as anything short of a gift, it is a vibe-changer akin to getting folks to sign a release. There's a time and place for such things and that wasn't one of them. What he looked like is irrelevant in comparison to what he said.
Make pictures when you feel like it.
Frankly, this trip hasn't been overly photo-centric., I've been riding quiet back roads at odd times of day not overly conducive to strong photographs, I've been having conversations, and I've been thinking about the state of things in our economy and food system. Portrait opportunities aren't popping up as I might have expected. It's fine.
Yesterday, while talking to a sheriff about the cattle he raises and sells, I thought about making his portrait but held off to privilege the simplicity of conversation. While I never think of making portraits as anything short of a gift, it is a vibe-changer akin to getting folks to sign a release. There's a time and place for such things and that wasn't one of them. What he looked like is irrelevant in comparison to what he said.
Make pictures when you feel like it.
4 comments:
That was really thoughtful
This picture (and many of the ones on your Vespa Tour slideshow) are like fading memories from my youth. These places and structures once vibrant but now drained of life reflect what I see and feel when I return to the places in which I grew up in Western Pennsylvania.
I've only started going through your blog but already I admire how you think and work as a photographer.
Good luck and safe riding!
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Hi Clay, just found your blog with the video you put up on Wired and with David Hobby's post at Strobist.
I love your photos and your blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, you're an inspiration!
Regards from the Philippines,
Diego
http://diegojosephoto.com
I appreciate that last bit of advice very much.
Post a Comment