I Hate People
The last few times I’ve photographed, I’ve wandered under the elevated tracks, so many trips there that it’s turning into a project all on its own.
I think when you photograph people it helps to have energy, a pep in your step. But eventually, it becomes more second nature. You see someone interesting and you can’t help but stop them.
But not all the time. That’s a state of mind that’s much easier when you’re into it. It’s an interesting question of whether it’s important to go through the motions or not. Or wait to feel it again.
And in the meantime, what do you do? You go wander the tracks – you daydream about living there in a trailer, quiet except for the highway above and streets beside.
You use the camera to go where you want to go, and if that is as far off the end of the universe as you can get, then wonderful. If it’s the corner of your couch, wonderful. Just bring a camera.
I’m going to keep this post short. We’re going to go on a little side tangent. Photographs without people, share more of those, and make them interesting. Or boring. This type of photography, whatever it’s called, is fascinating because you can create interesting boring photographs.
If you look at photo books, that’s all the rage these days.
We’re going to share some non-people inspiration for the next few weeks, with some great help from Peter. A very significant portion of the interesting stuff shared on this site comes from him, or asking him for book examples. We all salute you Peter. And if anyone ever has some interesting non-people inspiration, please share!
The portrait challenge we’ll let go on for longer as well, and I will keep pushing that. I just want you all to get to the point where if you see an interesting person and you have your camera, you stop to say hi. To push yourself into more interesting situations.
And I think we all need a little more time to warm up to that.
But one thing that has troubled me for the last few portrait challenges is that they force you to focus so much on people. We need to develop both sides of things in tandem. And it’s not an inspiring challenge for those who aren’t feeling like interacting right now. What’s important for those of you like that, is to get your ass outside with your camera.
I know, it’s so much easier said than done.
But just get the hell out there.
And I don’t hate people, obviously, but sometimes I just hate being around them.