storytelling
We Need New Specs
Speed shouldn’t just be measured in the 100ths of seconds it takes to expose an image, but in the time it takes to get your camera out and capture the moment. Exposure shouldn’t just be measured in a histogram. It should be evaluated in the ease by which
Be Honest, Not Truthful
Photography may be at its most powerful when it tells a story [http://www.alesserphotographer.com/post/585498262/tell-a-story]. But is that story more powerful when it’s a truthful story? I think that’s a false pursuit. Erin Feldman [http://twitter.com/#!/ErinMFeldman], of Write Right [http://www.writerightwords.
What Film Does that Digital Can't
Lesser photography doesn’t necessarily mean analogue photography, it just means finding ways to boost your creativity by recognizing the power of constraints, editing and storytelling. For some photographers, that means choosing film over pixels. Why? There are still some things film does better, while remaining a constraint. There are
Freedom Is..
The best books get you to rethink your approach to life, career, country…you name it. Hugh MacLeod’s first book Ignore Everybody [http://gapingvoid.com/ie/] was just such a book for me back in 2009. It was the kick in the ass every creativity-driven person deserves at least
Can a Story Be Told with a Single Image?
Sure it can. But would it be as compelling as a story with a handful of carefully chosen photos combined with words? Of course, an iconic image demands attention and, often, a backstory. But such an image is rare, even for legendary photographers. The real question should be: why do
An All-Text Photo Site?
Every once in a while, I get email about why I don’t plaster this site with my photos. After the TWiP episode [http://www.alesserphotographer.com/post/20635671881/this-week-in-photo], I got a few more. Here’s the lowdown: This site first started as a way to document my lesser
The Pros Vs The Storytellers 2012 Edition
The 2012 National Magazine Award Finalists have been announced [http://magazine.org/asme/about_asme/asme_press_releases/2012-nma-finalists.aspx] . I see the usual suspects for photography honors: National Geographic, New York Times Magazine, Harpers and TIME. What I don’t see on the list: Popular Photography, Outdoor Photographer, Shutterbug,
Drive-By Photography
Far too often, we equip ourselves to stumble upon a photograph. We get lucky occasionally and that carries us through the next several failed attempts. For years, my biggest photographic failing was my tendency to commit the crime of drive-by photography. I jumped in the car in search of as
Storytellers
Photography classes would be better served with textbooks like the forthcoming book from photographer Jerod Foster, Storytellers [http://www.jerodfoster.com/2011/10/20/new-book-announcement-storytellers/]: > Sprinkled among the 288 pages are numerous tips, anecdotes, and exercises to help challenge readers to push their storytelling abilities. To me, that could