I have tried so many photographic grooves – portrait, long exposures, flash photography, macro, still life, wildlife and pet life, sports, forced perspectives, landscapes and night skies.
I first got into the groove of photography when I was ten and bought my first camera- a Brownie Starlet. The only film choice was black and white photographs at that time. (Yes I am that old)
Once the film roll was finished, I had to endure a long wait before I could see the developed and printed pictures. This was even more difficult as I had to wait till my next week’s pocket money was in my pocket too. My pocket money was spent on developing and printing those first humble attempts.
Back then, my photographic groove was family, friends, pets, and ponies. I guess it could be called portraiture.
Much later, when there was an option to take colour photos, I still preferred using black and white. Especially after I learned to develop and print my own films. All that dodging and burning in the darkroom was a steep and fun learning curve. I was highly commended in a conservation competition prize for a black and white print of two of my sons collecting plastic rubbish off the beach.
In my first job. my photographic groove became hand-colouring black and white aerial photos. They were mainly rural landscapes, and I became fascinated with the braided rivers, acres of farmland and forest-filled gullies of rural New Zealand. I loved the colours and patterns of ripening crops divided by the fence lines. I intricately painted in the white sheep dotted against a background of green pastures and undulating hills.
I was so excited when I got my first SLR. It was a Pentax P30N film camera. I had a 70-210 zoom lens bought especially to capture whale images. There I was out off the Kaikoura coastline on a whale tour with my 2 cameras; a Pentax P30N SLR, and a video camera. And just as the iconic whale tail arose from the waves, another tourist stood up in front of me with his point and shoot camera, and photobombed my shot.
I decided that street photography might just be my next photographic groove instead. At least I would be intending to capture tourists in my images!
Travel photography often consists of stereotypical, iconic images but I tried to capture these but add a twist in editing. Travelling in different countries can sometime be time-limiting and waiting for the good light can be challenging. So it is tempting to snap that capture regardless of the light – something I am exceedingly guilty of. And whilst statues at the very least stand or sit still, they just don’t normally smile for the camera.
Long exposure photography came next in the long list of my photographic grooves. And that meant painting with light at night. So I just make my own light. After all, photography is just writing with light, isn’t it?
I got into the groove of flash photography to capture special effects.
Landscapes became my groove. Landscapes, sunsets and anywhere else where there is great light, I am there with my camera.
Night sky photography – Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights , and the Milky Way! At last I have a wide lens so the night sky is no longer a limit! I have found my photographic groove – (at least for now)
But wait…. are these grooves or techniques?
Actually, I think my photographic groove is to try many and varied techniques as they all build my knowledge, hone my skills, and extend my creative interests.
I may not have a specific niche but neither am I in a rut.
It’s just my photographic groove.
LightWriteLife 