Bending Time
I had the privilege of attending the latest Ed Tech Posse podcast earlier this week, where they interviewed D’Arcy Norman. They asked me to be a part of the podcast, and as I waited in the wings, I kept messaging Rob to let D’Arcy go on, as something magical was happening in the chat, and the level of audience engagement was not something I wanted to interrupt. Fortunately, I believe they will remove my content from the recording to preserve the integrity of the moment.
While the questions were relevant and drew great audience response, I wanted to follow up with a new level of understanding as to what D’Arcy is doing with the 366 photos group. In the interview, I called the group a “gift” from D’Arcy, and I truly believe it. Questions in sessions like this tend to focus on the techniques, tools, and training of the photographer, but to me, it isn’t about photography at all, it’s about bending time.
While a photo only captures a split second in time, sharing it, examining it more closely, reflecting on the moments before, during and after the shot, can turn the split second into an eternity, especially when there is an audience. Even the poorest quality photos have a story and multiple dimensions. When I take a washed out photo from the beach, I’m thinking about the people on the islands in the distance. Is there someone over there with a camera getting shots with better lighting? Or is there someone near me wondering what I’m doing? Are they afraid to ask?
When I get home and share the photo with my family, they want to know what it was really like. I don’t give them a one second answer. I tell them how I got to the location, what was going on around me, and how I felt. This bends my split-second experience and creates new dimension. When I share it online, I’ll get questions and comments. I can share my story, or leave them guessing. Every photo I take has some element that will always remain a secret to me, and this makes it eternal. It isn’t about the photography. It’s about bending time.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
If you keep writing about the conversation this articulately, I will have no choice but to keep you in the podcast.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Thank you for so perceptively capturing the essence of the 366 photos group. I agree wholeheartedly that D’Arcy has given us a gift. I not only see many perspectives in other’s pictures, but now I also see them in my own.