endless learning
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 10:54PM 
one of the many things i love about photography is that there is a constant cycle of learning. whether it is a different type of film, camera, lens, digital or analog i regularly feel like a beginner then get to dive into learning something and come out feeling confident in understanding it only to try something new and feel like a beginner again.
with polaroid film each type of film invites you to tell a story in a different way. sure, the basics are the same but each speaks in different tones and asks you to look at your subject in a new way. with each toy camera i try its a whole new world, some of which i'm nowhere near mastering. being able to gain confidence while retaining 'beginners mind' seems like such a good creative balance to me.
this was most clear last year when i started taking darkroom classes and started to shoot in black and white. when i developed my first few rolls it was oh so clear that i wasn't getting it. photographically, i saw things in colour. it was challenging and exciting to try to shift that to pay more attention to contrast, light and shadow and shades of grey.
i think that is why i'm so entranced by photography. the learning feels endless.
some of it is looking to the past at film photography and it feels like there is such a rich history of photography to explore (and that i've only touched the surface) while at the same time there are constantly new seriously creative advancements in digital photography.
so, one of my newest toys isn't officially a camera, but is in fact my iphone. i must confess i probably would have been able to avoid getting such a fancy phone had it not been for the awesome camera capabilities but after a half a year of resisting i finally just went for it.
and i'm thrown back to when i first discovered i liked taking photographs, when all i had was my old camera phone. i often carry my big camera or a polaroid with me everywhere, and the poor things are sitting on the shelf much more but its so very nice to have so much photo potential in such a little thing.
this week i've been exploring doing self-portraits with it, downloading a free app to allow me to step away from the camera and be able to take photos with it beyond arms reach.
here's a glimpse into what my phone is capturing on my travels and these days:
Reader Comments (8)
S-a-w-e-e-t!
love these photos!!!
and yes yes yes to all the learning...
These are so beautiful, Viv!
Gorgeous shots! I haven't caved and gotten an iphone yet, but if people keep taking such cool pictures with it, I might have to!
I admire your learning all the new and fabulous things about photography and being open to still learning. I sometimes get so hung up in the not knowing how and just quit. But I do enjoy the experimentation of it all and should just have fun with it all.
xo
I second what Stef said. Sometimes I'm too impatient to take the time to learn, but easing my way into film photography is teaching me otherwise. And I'm finding the joy in it. Thanks for the reminder to keep at it. :)
there's nothing quite like being in a darkroom is there? i love the smell (one of my photography teachers thought i was crazy for that). still though, i'm LOVING my iphone camera lately too (thanks for the free app link, that will come in handy big time!).
kitty cat up there reminds me of one of my furry babies :)
p.s. i've tagged you on my blog for the beautiful blogger award ;)
p.p.s. ADORE your shoes in the Toronto Hydro pic.
You were in Toronto!!--yay!! next time you are coming through let me know---I would love to share a hug and a cup of something!!
xo, eliz