by Gary Gardiner | May 3, 2013
Girls standing next to her spilled ice cream – My Final Photo for May 3, 2013
Graeters Ice Cream in Uptown Westerville is double test of my strength.
It’s a rare day that I don’t walk or ride my bike past Graeters in Uptown Westerville. It’s rare I stop for a photo although I often step inside to fill a water bottle. The test arrives to see if I can leave without buying ice cream.
When asked I tell people that there is no way I can go home with Graeters on my breath. My family would never forgive me for going without them. Sometimes I fear my family.
Today I shot a photo at Graeters.
Usually the benches out front are filled with kids and their parents enjoying cones and cups of the sweet creamy confection. It would be easy to photograph a youngster with melted ice cream dripping from their chin or a mom cleaning it away. Those photos are common so I very rarely take time to shoot it. The photo’s storytelling value diminishes because it is so common.
Finding a photo that creates a dialogue is primary to good photography. When I saw this girl wearing pink shoes standing next the spilled and melting teal ice cream covered with sprinkles I knew I had a photo that would create that dialogue.
The conversation may be internal, spoken and heard only by one person. There’s no requirement that it be shared. There’s no need to speak to another person about the conversation. It’s only necessary the photo be the beginning of the conversation.
Common photos aren’t compelling. They don’t have the capability to start a dialogue.
by Gary Gardiner | May 2, 2013
Earlene Wandrey during a break in her book signing – My Final Photo for May 2, 2013
One of the greatest aspects about a photographer is being able to attend private events and be a witness to other peoples lives.
Today was one of those days.
Earlene Wandrey returned to Westerville for a series of books signings for her biography “Walk in My Shoes.” She greeted old friends and family at the first signing at Old Bag of Nails meeting room.
It’s difficult to fully explain the emotional reception she received from friends she hadn’t seen since moving to North Carolina several years ago. The room filled with laughter and tears as Earlene thanked everyone for their friendship through the years and urged them all to continue to celebrate their lives as it might be the last time she’s able to come back to Westerville.
Earlene is a two-time cancer survivor.
I took Earlene aside several times for quick portraits of her to distribute to her friends. One made my Final Photo for the day.
by Gary Gardiner | May 2, 2013
Earlene Wandrey during a break in her book signing – My Final Photo for May 2, 2013
One of the greatest aspects about a photographer is being able to attend private events and be a witness to other peoples lives.
Today was one of those days.
Earlene Wandrey returned to Westerville for a series of books signings for her biography “Walk in My Shoes.” She greeted old friends and family at the first signing at Old Bag of Nails meeting room.
It’s difficult to fully explain the emotional reception she received from friends she hadn’t seen since moving to North Carolina several years ago. The room filled with laughter and tears as Earlene thanked everyone for their friendship through the years and urged them all to continue to celebrate their lives as it might be the last time she’s able to come back to Westerville.
Earlene is a two-time cancer survivor.
I took Earlene aside several times for quick portraits of her to distribute to her friends. One made my Final Photo for the day.
by Gary Gardiner | May 1, 2013
Free fiddling concert on Otterbein lawn – My Final Photo for May 1, 2005
The day was almost over. Well, the part of the day where I carry around a set of cameras was nearing its end when I spotted Phil on his bike carrying musical instruments. Of course when he stopped for the signal I began a conversation resulting in learning he was headed to the lawn at Otterbein where he would be joined by other musicians for a practice session.
I followed and made My Final Photo for the day.
Ruby sitting on her chair outside the family’s Uptown Westerville apartment
There are other photos from the day such as Ruby sitting on her chair outside the family’s Uptown Westerville apartment.
Fresh herb and vegetables plants for sale at farmers market
Also had fresh herb and vegetable plants for sale at the first day of the Uptown Westerville Farmers Market.
by Gary Gardiner | Apr 30, 2013
Skateboarder enjoys afternoon with friends – My Final Photo for April 30, 2013
Earlier I watched a conversation on CreativeLive with Joey L and Chase Jarvis who answered a viewer’s question who wondered what they thought was the most disruptive aspect of modern photography.
Jarvis said context was having the most effect on photography echoing a previous CreativeLive conversation with Robert Scoble about technology.
The broad idea is the viewer is no longer interested in just viewing the photo. More people are now able to understand and practice the science aspect of creating photographs and are more interested in the complete context of how the photo was created.
Skateboarder’s friends watch during afternoon at park
Context expands interest in the photo beyond a visual interpretation. Additional information helps the viewer better understand not only the photograph and its purpose. It also helps the viewer, if a photographer, to make their work better.
When properly done, context increases a photo’s value with a new set of facts and ideas that contribute to the creative process.
My photo for the day is an example of contextual composition where added elements other than the subject helps tell the story of the moment or creates a better dialogue about the subject.
This skater’s expression and position, without the shadows, are an interesting subject.With a slight crop it would stand as a single frame.
The row of trailing shadows adds context. It shows a group of friends watching his performance during an afternoon skate session at the local park.
I prefer the top photo because it shows the skateboarder’s joy. The bottom photo is graphically more interesting with the shapes and tones becoming primary to the composition.
Both photos without the contextual shadows would be pleasing and great photos of skateboarder action. Placing the shadows of the friends into the frame adds the element of their observation and group dynamics.
The shadows by themselves are interesting but are not subjects for a photo. Including them as contextual elements elevates an ordinary action photo to a more interesting storytelling photo of an afternoon with friends.
