Summary

Ian Hanson shares his experience of reinvigorating his photography by using a new macro lens to capture the familiar surroundings of his farm with fresh perspectives.

Abstract

In "Journeying from Far to Near," Ian Hanson recounts his recent photographic exploration around his farm after receiving the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens. Despite the creative slump and unchanging scenery due to the long wait for spring, Hanson embraces the challenge of using a prime lens, which requires physical movement to change perspective. This shift in approach leads to a renewed sense of creativity and a deeper appreciation for the nuances of his home environment. The article emphasizes the importance of changing one's perspective, both literally and figuratively, to overcome a creative drought and find inspiration in the mundane.

Opinions

Hanson believes that changing one's physical position and perspective can significantly impact creative output.
He suggests that the discomfort of stepping out of one's comfort zone is a crucial part of the creative process.
The author values the hands-on experience of practicing with new equipment to enhance skills before professional engagements.
Hanson implies that the limitations of a prime lens, such as the inability to zoom, can be beneficial in fostering creativity.
He expresses a sense of satisfaction and learning from the experience of viewing his familiar surroundings through a new lens.
The article hints at the idea that inspiration can be found close to home, and that a long walk can lead to further exploration and discovery.

Journeying from Far to Near

A walk around the farm with a new lens and new perspectives.

I was called today.

Called out on a mission. A mission, to change my perspective from what I experience far away, and then again up close.

Ironically, a package arrived for me. Within its peanut-packed depths, was a brand-new-to-me lens.

The Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens.

The rush of fading light has never served to give me creative energy. It simply forces me to brave weather and make the most of whatever the last light of day has to offer.

For months, I have stepped out with my new camera to explore and photograph the nearby world around me. Largely, I have been uninspired.

There are no people here. Nothing has changed for months. The buds have been patiently waiting since early March to open. The clouds have been waiting for the cold to pass so they might part and reveal the sun. Chilly weather waits for…well that I cannot answer.

Armed with a new piece of technology, the excited spirit of a new day, and the fact that I need to practice with my kit before I embark on an upcoming gig, I left the house.

With a lens that operates at one single focal length, you learn to ‘zoom with your legs’ as we like to say.

That means, instead of standing in one place and zooming to change what you see, you must move your body.

This place is my home. I know it very well. Every inch of it has passed under my feet numerous times even this spring, as I clear fallen trees and scraggly brush.

Finding new perspectives against the stinging cold that bites my hands isn’t easy. It isn’t comfortable. And in order to do the work, I have to move. To move out of my comfort zone.

That’s the ticket.

That’s the answer to a slump.

That’s the secret sauce to ending a creative drought.

You have to move your feet and see from a new perspective. You have to do the work, especially when it may feel uncomfortable.

By changing my perspective today, I may have learned more than I bargained for.

If it wasn’t such a long walk, I might have even gone further…

If you’d like to participate in the challenge, find Anne Bonfert’s original call here.

From Near and Far

A photography challenge about perspectives and depth

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