April 21, 2011
Stay Inside on a Rainy Day
Cannot get out to create because of the weather? Only have a little time? Try photographing the objects in and around your home.
That’s that Paul Caponigro did when confined to his home due to illness. He turned to the common objects from around his home and yard. The images are stunning and may never have been created if it were not for his illness.
The image above is one that I created on a rainy day, using leaves and nuts from the yard and using available light. I’ll use whatever is at hand such as a dried dandelion, a house plant, a dahlia or a violin. Sometimes the results are predictably routine and sometimes they are special. That’s the fun of trying something new and different, you never know what you’ll find!
It is my belief that there are great images everywhere, if only we can see them.
Cole
So, I have to ask given our recent discussion, do you feel your image was influenced by having looked at Paul Caponigro’s work?
I had the idea of shooting indoors because of him, and I did take fruit up to the cabin that day, so I definitely was influenced by him and his experience.
To what degree it affected the image, I cannot say. Maybe the influence was good because I tried something?
I appreciate you sharing your insights and inspiration with us. i gain a lot of confidence in my own photography by exploring other people’s ideas, but I have to be watchful that I don’t copy them. They do get my creative juices flowing.
Patrick, I do understand!
Cole,
I so agree about trying something new and different. It is really neat to surprise yourself when you go over images and bam! you got an awesome image. I think its fun to try different things.
What’s the worst that can happen when trying something new? Failure is all, and failure often teaches us more than success.
Frieda like, in a way. I can dig it. Also reminds me of of poor people using paper cups for a baseball mitt when young, then one day becoming Gold Glovers because of it. Breathe in trash, exhale treasure. Take care, Cole.