Any excuse to post a photo of my handsome fella...
If you read this blog with any consistency, then you probably know more about my dog than you do about me. People, who are not dog people, tend to think a dog is a dog. If you’ve owned one, or been close to one, you know they’re so much more than that. They have personalities as unique as yours and mine, complete with quirks and oddities.
Sam is still young so I’m still figuring him out. He’s not my first dog but he’s the only dog I’ve owned that’s been truly mine. I’m his human, no ifs, ands or buts (even if he is a shameless attention whore!). For the most part he’s a very smart, social, happy fella, always ready to play a game or fetch a ball.
But he has this ridiculously stubborn streak that’s started showing itself recently (I think this is one of those instance where he’s taking on his owner’s character traits…).
If you take a photo lying on the ground, it will look different than if you stand up to take it...
We have a local trail a few blocks from home that we walk around a few times a week. There are two trail heads, separated by a street entrance into the park. If we start at the first trail head we come across, we’re forced to go around counter-clockwise. If we cross the road and take the second trail head, we walk the trail clockwise. Whichever direction we walk in, it’s the exact same path!!
I usually start out on the trail head closest to us… it’s just habit. Once or twice, I’ve crossed the road and started from the other direction for whatever reason. Sam has suddenly taken a notion to only wanting to walk the trail from the second trail head.
As soon as we get close, he starts pulling gently on his lead to the crosswalk. I tug back. He pulls a little harder. I pull a little harder. He digs in, and at 75lbs of muscle, he can, if he chooses, get the better of me. He’s been trained to sit at crosswalks before crossing so he will plant his little bum down on the curb and do his absolute prettiest sit-stay pose – totally pretending that he has no idea I want to go the other direction. If I pull him back my way, he resists but eventually comes along and then sulks for about the first quarter of the trail (which is actually hilarious).
Gardent tomatoes, coca cola bottles, sunflowers and my dad's old ballglove from the 60s
I really have no idea why he’s so insistent that we take the clockwise route. It’s the same trail. And then I started thinking to myself, why am I so insistent that we go counter clockwise??
So, we’ve started walking his way the last few weeks. And here’s the thing: it’s NOT the same trail!
It’s a completely different trail. It’s the same path, yes, but you see it completely differently. The angles and shadows are different, light falls differently.
A different perspective.
And that’s when I realized Sam’s a pretty smart dog. He knows when I need to shake things up a bit (and oddly enough, this week, he’s been totally content to start at the first trail head!).
It’s so easy to get caught up in doing things the same way every day. Photograph a dish from the same angle, in the same room, on the same table, with the same light source and the same rustic wooden board or tabletop. Over and over again. Because it’s just what you do.
Early morning light, Cherries (used this to frame a photo for my DSLR), Sam, home from a long road trip
Does it mean you’re taking a bad photo? Not at all. The walk from the first trail head is a perfectly lovely walk.
But it does mean you’re seeing everything the same way and not even noticing. Who’s not guilty of that? Sometimes, I’m busy and I just need to get Sam walked and so I do what I always do. Just like some days, I need to take that photo and write the post.
Sometimes, it’s good to stop yourself (or get your dog to do it for you) and say “what would happen if I went this way?” And then do it!
The Mobile 100 Photography Project
Back in June, I started a mini photo a day project using only mobile devices – either my Blackberry or my iPad. Originally, it was just going to be a 30 day project but I extended it to 100.
Most of these never saw the light of day outside of a Facebook album I created so I thought I’d share a few – all taken with my iPad.
The Ikea catalogues, blueberries (framed for a DSLR shot for a blog post), Sam, old English beer coasters
I thought it would be a great way for me to learn some of the neat iPad photography apps and play around and join some of the fun on instagram. And it was! It was a great way to improve my framing and I enjoyed messing about with the post processing goodies that come with so many of the apps out there. I actually took a few photos that I retook with my DSLR because I liked the framing I’d achieved so much!
It was a very interesting lesson in changing my perception and vision.
I took some of my favourite photos that I’ve taken in a long time with those toys.
But here’s the thing… I’m done. I’m done with over processed square images. I’m craving sharp, clear, crisp images full of colour in a full frame. I miss taking the time getting it right in the camera. Isn’t it funny how that worked? Messing around with something different has clarified in my head what I love about photography and the type of photographs I like to take.
this is my favourite photo that I took - it's me and Sam sitting in the grass one summer night.
So, by taking the time to change my perception, I actually clarified it. Weird, eh? I’m still processing that in my head.
So, take a lesson from Sam: sure, take that same path next time you take a photo but this time, do it backwards. You never know what will happen!
I loved this post, Melissa. You have a seriously good knack of taking the words out of my head and you say it beautifully.
Recently, I’ve been thinking seriously about food blogging, and the shift from the food to pictures. And I came to the conclusion that while pretty pictures are all well and good, it distracts me from what should be the focus of the blog, good, tasty food and the creative process and the fun of cooking. I came to this realisation one day, when I calculated that I took more time to set up and a shoot a picture of a dish than I actually spent cooking and more importantly, eating it. I was terrified of losing the light, and I rushed through what should have been a long slow process that would have resulted in a tasty dish. The photographs were beautiful, the dish tasted awful, because I rushed it (I didn’t post it by the way). The incident shook me up a bit. And changed my perspective on my blog.
After that realisation, I have begun to concentrate on enjoying the process of cooking and eating. The pictures will still be worked on and I will still be constantly looking for ways to improve, but not at the cost of the actual enjoyment of the food.
So thanks for this post, and the assurance that its OK to be different.
I think it’s usually BETTER to be different! There’s enough sameness out there. I’m glad you found the post helpful Michelle. I think it’s important to decide if you write a food blog or a food photography blog. They’re two very different animals. I adore cooking but you rarely see that here on my blog because it’s messy, I have a million things happening at once and I could care less if I get a photo – ruins the fun. When it’s for the blog I either work on weekends or I photograph things the day after when I have the time and the light to think things through. The recipes that appear on here are, for the vast majority, things I have made a million times and can do in my sleep!
When you write a food blog, the photos need to be of the dish, in focus with decent light. They don’t need to be works of art – that’s the dish itself when your readers make it at home!
Thank you for writing this:
“It’s so easy to get caught up in doing things the same way every day. Photograph a dish from the same angle, in the same room, on the same table, with the same light source and the same rustic wooden board or tabletop. Over and over again. Because it’s just what you do.”
So many people I see out there post pretty much the exact same photo on every post – because they know it works. I am guilty of this, for sure but I hope I am slowly finding a style (I think) – your distinction between being a food blog and a food photography blog is very important. I am not a food photographer, I am a food blogger, so for me, I want the food to look appetizing but not intimidating. So many times I see pictures with all the ingredients scattered across the wooden bench top – lovely, yes but for the average home cook, sometimes a little too “editorial”.
Thanks for posting this reminder that different is good. Plus, we got to see lots of Sam 🙂
Sam is always happy to oblige 🙂
Great post. I find I go into different phases and just get comfortable taking shots a certain way. It is always a great idea to break out of the norm and try something new.
I love the picture of your leaves on the ground.
thanks 🙂
I have a lab too, they are the best! It’s so easy to get in a rut, this post is a good reminder to change things up a bit. I agree with Mardi, I like your distinction between being a food blog and a food photography blog, you could probably do an entire post on that subject.
the thought of a post like that has definitely entered my mind a few times. maybe it’s time to sit down and write one!
Sam is so adorable.. I’m such an animal person and I love reading about pet’s little personality things like that.
I totally agree about trying out different things once in a while to see how it changes your process.
I’ve spent the last seven days scanning the web for photography and editing resources, and then stumbled across your blog. As I have spent the last few hours browsing, just wanted to say thank you! I’m thoroughly enjoying reading your writing, and gazing at the photos. It’s one of the most informative and enjoyable sites I have come across. I fear I will have to sacrifice much of today’s to do list as I continue browsing the posts…
This is one of the best posts I’ve ever read. Your tips and the way you went about getting your message across was just perfect. This is definitely something to take into action for the long run benefit. I also think that by constantly doing things the way we do them lends to burning out faster. Thanks for sharing your project and great advice.
Sam is a such a cutie pie and so wise 🙂