When I started with this camera, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.. Sounds crazy if you know me right? I put off buying in for years - afraid I wouldn't make good on the investment. But something told me, it would be the best form of cheap entertainment for me. In fact, I'd been wondering what I would take photos of - wasn't really sure. I had a few ideas from years ago that I loved industrial spaces. I loved warehouses and beautiful, old buildings. I loved abandoned spaces, factories - that's the Detroiter in me bleeding out strong.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Robert Houston a few weeks ago by way of another friend and photographer, Johnathan French. I asked him what did he think was important for a new photographer to know. He told me:
“Pay attention to what you photograph. After a while you’ll see that you’re taking pictures of very specific things - probably two or three themes across all of your photos. And don’t be afraid to take pictures of everything. ”
I've spoken about changing perspectives and photography before ...but now it's changing my writing. It changes the things I'm willing to discuss. What I capture sometimes is directly related to what's on my heart.
I know we don't always give art due credit. It's place in society has, at times, been diminished. But the reality is there's real value in it - even if you never share it with anyone. What I had to do to get this photo... well that in itself is a story.
But the moment I went back and looked at this photo it made me think of this journey I've been on most recently. Not that I haven't always been on a life journey - we all have - but I've checked out and not been present on certain parts of the journey. This reminds me that for farther than the eye can see, there's always a path. Sometimes we don't know where it's leading us...other times we have the map with the notes. But for what it's worth, the trip is still worth taking every single day. But there are so many unknown destinations along the way, that I can't help but marvel at the fact that there's a plan and then there's a plan.
The basics of this location lend to the fact that I've only ever seen five other souls around the area on this street. It's isolated in a space that's dense. It's a rare space. It's a moment I get to be in the middle of a dense space, that not many pay attention to and still have a moment of peace.
I know it won't always be there - not in this form, but that's the importance of taking the journey and capturing the moment.