PHOTOGRAPHY. INSPIRATION. CREATIVITY

From Near and Far

A photography challenge about perspectives and depth

Photography. It’s not just the activity of snapping pictures. Photography is much more than that. It’s seeing the world with different eyes. It’s about seeing things from various angles. It’s about shifting the focus and zooming in on the detail.

Photography has been a passion of mine for countless years. Most of the time I was just a person taking pictures. But sometimes I got lost in the moment and was transferred to a different world. Through my lens.

Today I don’t care about what others think while I squat down in nature. How else am I gonna get that specific shot I have in my head? Sometimes it even requires that I lie down on the ground. Whatever it takes — I’m all in for the shot.

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” — Ansel Adams

It’s been an interesting one. The latest photography topic Shruthi Sundaram challenged me. I had to take pictures on the street. Precisely being named as street photography. And while living in the countryside, my response was a little different.

I’m enjoying the photography challenge I started with her. One week I’m the one giving the topic, the next week she names the style or direction we need to photograph in.

The interesting part of it is that we live on different continents, in very different surroundings. While the passion for photography and writing connects us both, everything else about our lives couldn’t be more different.

Therefore, the topics we give each other, are always something that challenges the other person. And of course, as well ourselves.

Her topics drag me out of my comfort zone. So far, she’s pushed me to take pictures in the kitchen and pulled me onto the streets for some street photography.

This week it was on me again to set the topic. I was inspired by Kim Baker‘s “5 Fabulous Life Lessons from Travel and Photography” and used one of her suggestions as our new challenge for the week.

“Take a photograph of a whole scene, then zoom in on just one part of that scene. How does your understanding of what is happening there change? Does the mood change? What do the two images make you think about?” — Kim Baker

So, here I am again. Standing out in nature looking into the distance. It’s been a windy day. And still is. The trees in the forest next to our trailer park are making cracking sounds. The wind is still howling.

Apparently, it’s just another normal day in northern Germany. Strong winds are here the normalcy and won’t be called a storm. Something else I have to get used to.

However, despite the cold, I’m putting on some clothes to force myself to go outside with my camera. The wind is strong and the branches aren’t standing still at all.

It’s not easy to take the shot I want to. But this is pretty close to it. A scene of the field behind the park. I had hoped for some deer in the distance because they cross this place every afternoon but I guess they don’t like the stormy weather either.

I turn my lens and zoom into the scene. The branches disappear and a normal photograph of a field in spring appears.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• The second image doesn’t show a stormy sky. It appears to have blue skies in the background. Also, the field just turns into a meadow made of dry blades of grass.

Does the mood change?

• It does for sure. From an almost scary feeling looking at the daunting sky in the first image, I feel more at peace and relaxed looking at the second one.

What do the two images make you think about?

• Standing at the same place, I took these two images with the only difference of zooming in or not. Yet the two photographs represent two totally different days, weather situations, and feelings in general.

Turning my head to the right I see the setting sun. Half covered by clouds, half shining into my lens, I take a picture of the landscape lit up by the setting sun.

Then I turn the zoom and focus in on the field.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• The second image purely focuses on the seedlings growing in the field. Only in the first picture do you get an idea of the weather and the time of the day.

Does the mood change?

• It does. From gloomy to bright and light.

What do the two images make you think about?

• The cold I was feeling standing at the edge of the field.

I turned my head away from the sun and saw something moving in the field. I took a picture of the landscape but only once I used the zoom I could identify the creature as a bird.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• In the first image, I don’t have the feeling anything is happening. It’s an empty field. Only when I look closer I can see a black spot in the field. And in the second image, I can clearly see the proud bird looking around.

Does the mood change?

• I wouldn’t say the mood changed. It just unfolded the scene.

What do the two images make you think about?

• How many more creatures are out there that I don’t see?

It was getting too cold for my comfort and I decided to turn my back to the field and walk to the trailer again. Just as I was passing the edge of the forest something white stood out to me. Something bright in the dark pine forest.

A tree full of white blossoms.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• In the first image, I just see a pine forest. Only when I know that there is a blooming tree at the bottom I do see the white in all the darkness. The second image hides the forest and only shows the blossoms.

Does the mood change?

• The first image gives off a dark and cold feeling. The second one, for which I walked closer and zoomed in, gives off a much warmer feeling.

What do the two images make you think about?

• There is a big difference between looking at a landscape and walking into the landscape. You see much more of the details when you step closer.

One day later, the wind was still blowing but the sun was out. On a bicycle/ inline skating tour with my husband, we explored the fields again. I was just letting my eyes soak in the beauty of the landscape when those deer appeared in the distance.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• The first image appears to be a usual landscape photograph. The deer only come to the scene in the second one.

Does the mood change?

• It makes me even happier. I love seeing wildlife. But to see the animals in the wild, it often requires one to slow down and focus in on the landscape.

What do the two images make you think about?

• That I definitely would have missed the animals in the first image.

I decided to try something different and practice this exercise in town. I was admiring some old buildings and brick walls when that tiny house came into my view.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• Looking at the first image I only see an old house with roots and or vines growing over the wall. Only when I step closer do I see the tiny decorative house on the brick wall.

Does the mood change?

• The love for detail. That’s what I feel looking at the second image. A small little souvenir or sculpture. Only visible to those who slow down along the wall.

What do the two images make you think about?

• At how much I miss seeing because I don’t look close enough.

This one about street art on an old building required me to pull off an emergency brake on my inline skates because I was past the building already when I realized the smiley face. I had to capture this one

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• I can see the smiley in the first image but the surrounding building and the overgrown wall also tell a story to the scene. In the second image, the focus solely lies on the graffiti.

Does the mood change?

• I guess yes, I just smile a little more when I see that smiley looking at me.

What do the two images make you think about?

• We should all share more happy vibes out there. No more hate but a smile instead.

Last but not least I had to include these cobblestone roads because apparently, they like them in this part of Germany. I don’t like them so much, because well, inline skates don’t do well on them.

How does your understanding of what is happening there change?

• The first image represents a rural town with a black cat sitting on the side of the road in the shade. The second image focuses on the cobblestones.

Does the mood change?

• It kind of makes me feel nostalgic.

What do the two images make you think about?

• Whatever looks nice from afar isn’t always as nice once you come closer (just because I don’t like cobblestones when out with the skates).

This was another interesting challenge where I learned a new thing or two. I’d love to implement all these lessons in my future photography but I know it will take some time to create new skills and routines.

But with time comes practice. And then a new skill is being formed.

“Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop.” — Ziad K. Abdelnour

Like always, if anyone is keen on joining the challenge, I invite you to do so. Don’t feel forced, it’s voluntarily. But if you do, please tag me in the post. I’d love to see your result.

Dennett | David | Barb | Erika | Shruthi | Diana | Kim | Ellie | Juan | Pene Francine | Barbara | LensAfield | LucianoSphere | Susan | Mary | pockett | Vidya | Ian | K. Barrett | Joel |

More about my photography challenges and life in nature:

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