Stand and Stare

Taking Time to Stand and Stare—and Shoot

Now and then when I’m in a Wordsworthian “pensive mood”, I think of something my uncle once said: “Today you might do something for the last time.” It’s one of those arresting, sobering thoughts—a truism to remember often.

Sometimes while hiking and scrambling through the mountains I’m guilty of pushing myself along rather than slowing everything down long enough to give myself the chance to see what’s around me. And I mean properly see by making the most of it while it lasts. In the context of poetry again, I would do well to adapt W. H. Davis’ famous words: “What is this life, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.” Take it all in, with the photographic vision that occasionally carries us beyond the cliché.

For me, one of the outstanding joys of photography is being able to capture what uniquely gets my attention. I don’t know about you, but as an enthusiast I need to think more about what appeals to me especially rather than skewing my creativity to suit the expectations of everyone else. Chances are if you truly serve your individualistic fancies you’ll shoot images that may well bomb on your favourite photography forum. No loss there!

Of course such an approach should never be an excuse for remiss amateurs to use lousy technique and shoot any old rubbish that grabs them. Rather it’s an opportunity to compose visual keepsakes that connect with us personally. Hopefully in the months and years that lie ahead when we look at them again we will relive the emotion and spirit of that time and place. We may not get another chance.