I have always enjoyed looking at old photos—newspaper clippings or photo albums from my past or other peoples’ past. There is a kind of comfort in it—a chance to connect with the old days, to see and experience history without going there.
Throwback Thursday, with hashtag #tbt, has been a phenomenon since 2011 with people posting or reposting older photographs on social media. It turns out that Throwback Thursday has a positive psychological impact. Colleen Leahey writes in Fortune, “Sharing old photos is a fun way to remember the good ol’ days, but it may also help people counteract feeling alone. A 2008 study published in Psychological Science found that nostalgia alleviates feelings of social exclusion.” The study’s authors wrote, “The past, when appropriately harnessed, can strengthen psychological resistance to the vicissitudes of life.”
So that’s a good reason to post and view those old photos of bell bottoms, and peace signs; or Pokemon, and flash mobs.
Aerial photography has been practiced since Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, known as Nadar, photographed Paris from a hot air balloon in 1858. Drones are just the latest method of doing aerial photography. New Canadian regulations make recreational drone photography more difficult, and, in many cities, downright impossible. But taking photographs with a drone is considered commercial, as opposed to recreational, so different rules apply.
Transportation minister Marc Garneau pointed out in a CBC interview that “people who use drones for commercial, academic, or research reasons already have to get a special certificate, and most fly them safely.”
Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky uses helicopters and small aircraft for breathtaking aerial photographs that call attention to environmental issues. In China, he had a lot of problems with slow-moving bureaucracy and decided to experiment with a drone. In a story in the Telegraph, Burtynsky explained, “The whole process started from the question, ‘How can I stand where I want to stand and shoot from where I want to shoot, in a place where I can’t get up in the air?’”
Drone photography has many potential problems. Lucy Davies, writer of the Telegraph piece, pointed out, “Drone photographers are on the increase, but the number of people who are getting decent results from them remains low. There is a saying in the industry that every production company has a broken drone in the cupboard, which is fairly accurate. It’s not as easy as it looks.”
Additionally, there are all the security and privacy issues. Tiny drones already exist, and they are only likely to get smaller. Every time I read a drone story, I remember Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slapstick, with miniaturized people zipping around undetectably.
Ultimately, it’s good to keep in mind that art is produced by people, not by machines.
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Phototip: If don’t have a drone to capture photos, try to find a high rise with a glass enclosed elevator.
Don’t you feel inspired whenever you travel? Seeing the world with “fresh eyes” provides wonderful photo opportunities, and you may get some of your best photos when visiting a new place. A little research and preparation in advance can make for a more trouble-free experience when photographing.
Photographer Jim Richardson relates, “Philosophically, photographers seem to divide along that fault line. On one side are those who desire only to be in the moment. For them, forethought only distorts perception. On the other side are the planners. Most National Geographic photographers I know do both: research extensively to prepare their schedule (and their minds) and then become existentially in-the-moment once on site.”
Some of the preparations may involve looking through websites, photo or guide books, or Google Maps to get a sense of what the place looks like and to learn good shooting locations. You can also research seasonal events in the destination, so you don’t miss an important festival or event. Also, with social media, you can meet up with other photographers who are native to the area. It’s a great way to learn the ins and outs of a place, and connect with like-minded people.
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Photo tip: Connect with other photographers on Flickr or Facebook to join a photo walk. It’s a great way to socialize and learn new things.
The Japanese are crazy about fish. Not only do they enjoy eating fish, they also enjoy catching them. At urban fishing centres you can pay 600 yen (about $7) to go fishing in a concrete pool. (The fish have to be put back to be caught again by another customer.)
There is something zen about fishing. In a Huffington Post article Abigail Wise lists the ways in which fishing makes you a better person. It reduces stress and helps keep you fit, not to mention the health benefits of eating fish.
In my years spent in Japan in the 1980s, I saw people fishing in rivers, canals, and lakes. There was something calming about just watching them fish. And, of course, it made for interesting photos.
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Photo tip: The world looks different from above. Try looking for high vantage points to get dynamic high-angle shots. Russian photographer Alexander Rodchenko was a master of using both high-angle and low-angle photography.
