From Newfoundland, an island of rock

** Books mentioned have Amazon affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.

One of my favourite writers (and photographers) is Guy Tal. Tal lives and works in the desert southwest and his photographs are inspired by wildness and his intimate connection with nature. He has a deep grounding in visual elements and aesthetics, which allow him to express personal meaning.

Guy Tal’s blog essays are always well written and thought provoking. Recently, he came out with an e-book called More than a Rock, a collection of his blog posts organized by subject. I must admit the title drew me in, as I recently wrote about my own obsession with rocks. These essays are quite philosophical in nature – on photography, art, and creativity. For a couple of weeks, these were my morning reading, and I wrote pages and pages of notes. Here is a sampling of my favourite quotes, ideas, and takeaways. All quotes are by Guy Tal, unless otherwise noted.

On Art

“At an early stage it is worth trying to articulate the concept in actual words. This helps bridge the gap between the spoken language, which most of us are taught to communicate effectively in, and the visual language. This may be the equivalent of learning how to translate simple expressions from your native tongue to one you are not as fluent in. Still, it is worth keeping in mind that, like any language, the visual language also has its own expressions and nuances that may not be expressible in others.” ~ The Concept, More than a Rock

Like Tal, I believe that knowing why you photograph what you do and what emotional responses your subjects evoke is an important step in uncovering your artistic vision. Being able to talk about your photographs – beyond “I liked it” or “it was interesting.” These phrases tell us nothing.

In the first selection of essays from the book, Tal focuses on what it means to be an artist, especially one whose medium is photography. Art comes from our emotional response (or relationship) with a subject or place. We need not worry about certain subjects being “done before” because each of us brings our own unique sensibilities and meaning to what we photograph. We must trust that what draws us is worthy. Our art (photography) will flow from that trust.

“What makes an artist? Not education, what other’s think, or even what they produce. What identifies an artist is passion, creativity and philosophy. By philosophy, I mean it becomes a metaphor for life. We begin to see and interpret and engage with the world through it; it is not something we do at random times andplaces between other activities. It is a constant in the way we experience the world everywhere, all the time.”

On Craft 

Tal begins this section of the book by talking about teaching. He teaches workshops in the desert southwest, where he also lives.

“Teaching creativity, inspiration and personal expression are especially challenging. There are no formulas. The way to finding your artistic vision is to search your own mind. It’s not easy. Progress requires personal investment. There are no shortcuts.”

As someone who teaches workshops in seeing, I know that we first have to go within. What are we seeing, hearing, feeling? And, why is that important to me?

Craft is about more than learning composition or having the right equipment. It’s about learning how to communicate. It requires presence and deep looking, as well as self-awareness – of resistance, judgment, attitudes, emotions, ideas, concepts. It requires visualization and storytelling.

“A concept has significance – a message, emotion, a statement, a metaphor, a story. Many photographers never consider the need for a concept. Instead, they set out in search of aesthetically pleasing subjects and compositions, without considering any greater meaning.”

Be confident and truthful about who you are and what you want to explore and share.

On Experiences 

In this section, Tal encourages us to be clear, deliberate, and passionate about how we live our lives and experience each moment. He left a corporate career to live on his own terms. He posits that the experience or process of photography is its own reward. How do we measure this type of reward?

“These experiences are another kind of retirement savings – the moments and memories I will some day look back upon with the same bittersweet joy and immense gratitude as I did when experiencing them, and know that I had truly lived.”

The life of an artist is counter-cultural and not easy. Yet, it can lead to appreciation and gratitude for life. It can lead to a new definition of happiness.

“I’m not interested in any outcome. I’m not interested in any achievement. I’m not trying to get somewhere. I’m not trying to succeed in my life. My life is not about success. It’s about self-realization and fulfillment.” ~ Satish Kumar

With regards to photography, Tal encourages creating photographs that reflect our experience, not just the aesthetics of the scene. Rather than focusing on how to make an image, focus first on the why.

Guy Tal has a love for wild places and their preservation, which is reflected in some of the essays in this section. He says that preservation is not just for recreational use; that the experience of being in these wild places is good for the soul. And, we can photograph these places in a way that reflects their mystery.

Meditations

The final section of the book contains meditations on life, art, and meaning … and how they’re intertwined. I thoroughly enjoyed his meditation on the significance of rock.

“It is hard to argue with a rock, and harder still to argue with a rock that used to be a living being, that has seen the rise and fall of species no longer in existence, and the feeble and fleeting lives of humans like ourselves. The rock is the great equalizer and the great liberator, the great reminder, the great setter or priorities and the great debunker of illusions, dissonance and delusions of grandeur.”

These meditations remind me that a meaningful life is about following your own hero’s journey and resisting the pull of conformity. Be your ordinary self, without concern of what others will think. Experience each moment of your life. Follow and trust your own discoveries, inspirations, ideas, and experiences. Learn focused attention. Be grateful and humble.

There is so much more where this came from. If you enjoyed these excerpts, I think you will find the essays as inspiring as I did.