Hi,
Just wondering: a while ago a friend asked me if I am growing in photography. That is: if my current pictures are different from the ones I shot three years ago.
As a matter of fact: I don't know. Of course I like to say "Yeah, I am getting more technical experience and thus manage to get more precisely the images the way I want them to be"... but I am not convincing myself with that.
Of course I like to say that my new gear makes me more versatile in creating the images like I perceive the world, or want to reproduce it. But is that true?
First: two years ago I did not yet have most of the gear I have right now. I was more into macro photography than I am nowadays, but that may switch back any moment. I still want to go as close as possible. And then: closer.
No news there.
Second: I find that I like to make portraits. But I liked to do so four years ago, too. And my technique for it has barely changed. I want the model to be communicating, to express a genuine feeling that comes from the inside of him/her.
I want to see real people. This I know now. But it was part of a plan I had some years ago, too. I practiced on my friends.
For instance this picture on Flickr:
It was taken years ago. But I would still be most proud of a picture like this. So: did I grow? Dunno.
Do I make other images than I did before?
Dunno. Still try to capture the essential.
Still fail most of the times.
What may be different is that nowadays I have a clearer vision of "what is essential to me" basically.
Does this make any sense to anyone of you folks?