There’s only two kinds of photography…

When anyone asks about my favorite kind of photography, I instantly recall and re-quote the great Duke Ellington. When Duke was asked about his favorite kind of music, his reply was, “There are only 2 kinds of music, good and bad.” In my case, “Theres only two kinds of photography, good and bad.”

Our Milford, CT Creativity seminar about a year ago (hosted by Milford Photo), went well, but it was the dead of winter. After the seminar, there was a photowalk. We had 12 people for our Yale campus photowalk. We had access to 2 very small areas (wardrobe and props rooms), to the theatre (preparing for a show), and the outside (devoid of color w/ a white winter sky).

Primarily a nature photographer, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to photograph. I had to change my paradigm. I went out with the intent to work with the people and with no expectations of coming back with any keeper images. When chances to shoot came up, I just kept in mind elements of nature: line, patterns, perspective, filling the frame, and special techniques. At the time, I wasn’t satisfied with anything I shot.

I let these images sit for about a year before having a closer look. After a year, those negative feelings were gone and I was able to look at the work objectively, uncolored by the emotion of the moment.

Here’s a gallery from our day on the Yale campus last winter: