"In this glum desert, suddenly a specific photograph reaches me; it animates me, and I animate it. So that is how I must name the attraction which makes it exist: an animation. The photograph itself is in no way animated (I do not belive in "lifelike" photographs), but it animates me: this is what creates every adventure." (Roland Barthes in Camera Lucida)
Photography used to be an `adventure' for me because I was not sure of the consequences. I made some mental calculations about light and then selected the shutter speed and aperture. It was pre-digital age. So you had no way of assessing the quality of the pix you took immediately after you pressed the shutter release button. Here is a pix of my daughter when she was a child. I don't recall the date when I took it, but it is one of my precious photographic adventures.
What is attractive about this photo, for me, is her hair, her big eyes and her surprised expression. That was the time when I sat her on my lap, played with her, made fun of her, kissed her. Now she is a grown-up girl, more independent and a potential feminist. 
Here she is making fun of the photographer. She was unlikely to have felt that I was waiting for this funny moment to be immortalised. She was so natural and spontaneous while I was very serious about what I was doing: the shutter speed, the aperture, the light...
At that time, I was also obsessed with capturing stillness of life. Photographing events is still an anxiety-triggering venture for me. I am at home with the environment where nothing happens. Look at this pix which I keep as one of my favourites.
Those classic-looking seats, the pavement, the laterite brick wall and the sea still make me happy.
2 comments:
The candid snap of your daughter is Satyajit Rayesque. I do not know whether you have seen any Ray movies. He and his cameraman played with light and shade on close shots of faces. This photograph reminds me of Durga in Pather Panchali.
The third snap of the classically molded chairs and laterite walls was pure poetry and prose. I would like to paint it.
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Impressora e Multifuncional, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://impressora-multifuncional.blogspot.com. A hug.
Post a Comment