Astonished at the Car Wash
The day I took this photograph at the car wash, normally considered a mundane place, I discovered an new source of play with my camera. This is what a pivotal photograph does; takes you to a different level, a new place, or offers an insight not previously considered.
We are constantly changing and evolving. Every time we click the shutter we’re transformed in some way. Yet, life is full of stops and starts, times when growth seems stalled and times when we take a sudden leap into new territory.
Pivotal photographs are symbols of those leaps.
Over the past year or so, I’ve been writing about my experiences with photography; what I’ve learned, why I photograph, the obstacles I’ve encountered and the leaps I’ve taken. Part of this process has been to identify those pivotal photographs, the ones that made me see my life, photography, and even myself differently. While they may not necessarily be my best photographs, they sent me in a new direction. Below are three examples.
Learning to See
It was October 2001. I stood helplessly in the midst of a field of dying plants at the property of renowned photographer Freeman Patterson in New Brunswick, Canada. What was there to photograph? I felt the pressure of being in the company of other more skilled photographers (in my opinion). Who was I to be here?
Freeman sensed my dilemma. He came over and gently advised me to get down on my belly and poke my camera in those plants; to focus in close and see what was there. I did as I was told and my heart leapt with surprise to see the beauty underneath the brown and brittle exterior. This photograph was pivotal for me because I realized that there are many more ways to see than at first glance. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning to see.
Expanding my Repertoire
For the Love of Rust
At some point along the way, I became enamoured with rust. It’s everywhere and always comes in a new array of colour combinations. I find it simply beautiful. This led to a fascination with old and aging subjects in general, the discovery of wabi-sabi, and the study of abstract photography.
My repertoire of subject matter expanded exponentially. To this day, more than half of my photographs are abstract in some way.
Simple and Contemplative
Rake Shadows
In 2010, the term ‘contemplative photography‘ came onto my radar. So, I purchased the book, The Practice of Contemplative Photography, and started doing and blogging about the exercises from the book. While at a retreat in Kentucky, sitting on a bench, I suddenly saw this simple scene and recognized it as a fleeting moment and a true, contemplative perception.
Seeing ordinary reality as extraordinary has opened my eyes and enhanced my life.
I hope you’ll take the time to consider the pivotal photographs that have transformed you over the years. Create a folder or album on your computer or online to store them together. Write in the description how each one changed you.
See my online album of Pivotal Photos on Flickr.