The Power of Reflection

Sometimes it seems there’s so much going on that all we ever do is plow ahead to the next assignment or activity. In truth, one of the most important things we can do is to take time to reflect on what we’ve just experienced or accomplished before moving ahead too quickly. This can be especially rewarding when wrapping up a major project, completing a workshop or conference, undergoing a transformational experience, rising to a special challenge or, yes, even making a mistake or failing to meet our goals somewhere along the way. (And I’d like to add that making mistakes is often a sign of something very positive—that we are growing, being creative, stretching our boundaries and learning new skills.)

It’s nice if we can take some time off to reflect. I love nothing more than a road trip or time alone on the beach to think. But in reality, we’re probably talking more about a walk around the block or snatching an hour here or there. I had a wonderful teacher this summer who said that she likes to take one hour “mini-vacations” during the day to reflect, or perhaps to sneak away a half day. This time could be spent journaling, discussing our experiences with a friend over happy hour, or just sitting quietly and thinking about what we learned and accomplished, how we might apply those lessons in the future, or what we might change if we had to do it all over again. Doing this helps us make sense of our experiences, to learn from them, and to grow. It’s the last step in any process and can provide us with direction, helping us to figure out what comes next.

Vision and Style

As photographers, we talk a lot about vision and style. But do we really know what those words mean? These terms conjure up different concepts for different people and they are often confused with one another. But I’ll take a stab at defining and differentiating them, if for no reason other than to get you thinking about what they mean to you.

Vision is about seeing. Style is about conveying. Vision has to do with perceptions: how and what we see. Style is about the way in which we share what we see—more specifically, a consistent and often unique way in which we convey our vision.

I can stand at the edge of a beautiful garden with ten other photographers. We are looking at the same scene, but what each of us sees is very different. Vision is selective. It is based on our personal experiences, passions, and ways of seeing the world around us. What might you see standing at the edge of a garden? The broad scene or tight details? A habitat or the designer’s intentions? The growth habit of individual plants or the gentle sweep of a path? Would you be more interested in the physical aspects of what you see, or rather the way they made you feel? How you answer this question has a lot to say about your vision.

Now then, how might you convey that vision to others through your photographs? Would you work in black and white, color or some alternative process? Would you seek to capture your vision realistically, or would you tend toward a more impressionistic or even abstract approach? What camera format and lens would you choose? Which might you be more inclined to emphasize: line, space, color, texture or some other design element? Would your interpretation be subtle or dramatic? Would your framing be tight or generous? Would the composition be clean and simple, or might it be more complex with unexpected juxtapositions of elements? In what type of light might you most prefer to photograph the scene? These are just some of the approaches that, when they become common ways of conveying your vision, begin to signify your style.

It takes time to develop a distinct and recognizable style. Also, styles tend to evolve throughout our lifetime as we continue to be influenced by the visual styles of others and our way of seeing the world changes. Somewhere along the line, we must also strive for balance—exploring and even exploiting our own style without getting stuck in a rut. That means continually experimenting, and always asking our selves what we really see, how it makes us feel, and why we are compelled to photograph a particular subject.

Photos ©2009 Lee Anne White. All rights reserved.

My Favorite Journal

I know I said in a previous post that the type of journal you choose doesn't matter. And it doesn't. But I thought I'd share my favorite journal with you anyhow. I first stumbled across Moleskine journals at Artlite Office Supply on Piedmont Road in Atlanta. I was going through a phase, trying every different style notebook and journal on the market, and Artlite had the broadest selection. For me, this little black book turned out to be the perfect choice. It was only then that I discovered it had a history.

Moleskine notebooks, originally made in Tours, France, have been around for two centuries. And they have been the journal of choice for many artists, writers and travelers. In it's published history, Moleskine claims to be the journal of choice for artists Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh, poet Andre Breton, novelist Ernest Hemingway and travel writer Bruce Chatwin. In 1989, they briefly ceased making Moleskine notebooks, but Modo & Modo, an Italian manufacturer, revived production.

Moleskine notebooks come in various sizes, both hard cover and softcover. My preference is the Large Ruled Notebook, which is 5.25" x 8.25". It's the perfect size—not too big, not too small. It has 240 lined, acid-free pages that accept ink exceptionally well without significant bleed-through. (I can even use my fine-point Sharpie pens to write in these notebooks!) They are extremely well built, with sturdy cover boards and thread-bound binding that won't fall apart in day to day use, even in you carry your journal with you everywhere like I do. When you open a Moleskine, it lies flat. There is a thin ribbon page marker to keep your place, and an elastic band to keep the journal closed. And finally, though I rarely use this feature, there is a hidden pocket in the back of the book, just in case you want to tuck in a clipping, business card or other item.

Moeskine also has story board notebooks for designers, videographers and advertisers; music notebooks for, well, musicians; sketchbooks for artists; daily planners for the organized; watercolor journals for painters; and travel books for recording your latest journeys. Just don't expect to choose your favorite color. This company believes in classic black. And that suits me just fine.