Decisions, Decisions or Making Photographs

“Making photographs, which we often call “taking”, is an intentional act of putting together too many decisions to name, each of them changing the experience of the photograph itself. The best of them, the ones with which we resonate, are made.”

David duChemin said that in his book ‘Start Ugly’* and it resonates. I’d even go so far as to point out that there are decisions that are made at the “taking” point in the process that are made to aid in the process that sees a photograph as object as the end result (a print, for example) or an image that is something beyond the technical capabilities of the camera/film. Decisions that will render an image out of the camera to be quite different from what you want.

Once an understanding of how a camera and film – or sensor – is obtained, the moment of capture may be done such that the capture is altered to facilitate a result that doesn’t end with the pressing of the button. The ‘taking’ (out of the camera) may have little resemblance to what the envisioned image will be.

I may ‘expose to the right’ with a digital sensor to ensure I have all the data my sensor is capable of, given certain lighting. I would have greater latitude with adjustments after the ‘taking’. Or I can expose for the highlights or for the shadows when shooting film for similar post-shooting adjustments or printing with the negative. Should I blow out my highlights or block-up my shadows?

When duChemin mentions “too many decisions to name” he is also referencing decisions that are going to have an image in the camera NOT be the image being made in the end.

* I have read two of David’s books and they are both great. Highly recommended, if you want to get inspired about your craft (whatever your craft might be).