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The Expatriot : No. 5 |
Download ( pp. 2007-2030 ) PDF
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May 1995I am reminded of a relative of mine who always travels with various forms of photographic equipment. While on the road, he’s always in a hurry to get to the next attraction so that he can make a permanent image of it, adding it to his collection of places visited. While actually at the attraction, he does very little being in terms of absorbing the ambience of the place and actually living it. One might argue that he does not even see the place he records with his own eyes, instead seeing it only as mediated by a viewfinder. To me it seems that what he really likes is not travelling, but rather collecting. Travelling is simply for him a means to that end. To some extent I can relate to this; looking at photographs and mementoes of one’s own journeys is pleasant. But of greater importance, for me, is to make an effort to be aware of where I am while I’m there, to soak up as much of the flavor of a particular place as I can. I usually do not immediately photograph anything. Circumstances permitting, I study the place; I put myself in various points of view to learn what’s special about it. I look up, down, and around, sometimes to the great consternation of my travelling companions. If I even decide to take a picture, I try to frame it so that it will do a good job (for me) of bringing back the memory and feeling of the place later, when the photograph is all that is left. ... Read more by downloading the file. Notes Printed in an edition of 100 on a 300 d.p.i. PostScript laser printer; reprinted as needed in smaller editions. |
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