If something - anything - catches your eye sufficiently to make you want to record it or turn it into a piece of art, take a photo. In fact, take as many as you want. Whether or not someone else gets to see it or, if they do, whether or not they like it is of no consequence whatsoever. Are we photographers or seals, performing for an audience?
"Photography is supposed to be about something happening" ... not sure about that ... photography is supposed to release some sort of emotion, and an abstract piece of road can do that.
In these situations some kind of graphic quality should exist to make it worthwhile photographing. So in this photo, the sharp contrasts, the textures, the shapes and the composition containing it all could qualify. It's n ot exciting, as you intended, but there are elements that nonetheless draw the eye. I too make some of those periodically.
Photographers often vacillate between the temporal and the eternal. Photojournalists, whose work mostly revolves around current events, concentrate largely on the Cartier-Bresson style decisive moments and societal influences. While f/64 photographers, such as Edward Weston, Wynn Bullock, or Ansel Adams, turn toward the eternal or finding spiritual aspects that outlast our mortal coil. Your image is not really a non-event (the evolution of these few square inches of pavement is an event) but it is one of many similar events that happen continually, in myriad variations, simultaneously, all over our planet. In this sense, it can be viewed as more eternal than temporal.
I'm being told the image is not human influenced, and therefore the shutter click means nothing. The object seen is nothing, however, there it is. It is nothing while being blocked by command, and it could also be everything and nothing at the same time: a perception not fully formed in the eye and mind. These thoughts drive me to Thomas Merton, who's Spirt/God became him, after he submitted to a spiritual relationship formed in the disciplined presence of silent contemplation. Considering this photographer as a chain of energetic conscious evidence; holding a camera, the lens clicks. It's now in the "Third Eye of the Unknowable. It "sees" beyond what was previously determined as of no importance. So, the photographer, his arm, the lens, the shutter click, creates a previously unknown relationship, and it will endlessly recreate itself anew from new eyes and new perceptions. That to me, represents Merton's God, and its awareness within Merton previously unknown and unrecognized, who, like the photographer clicked the evidence into existence.
I want to add two sentences I found a while ago .... "The question is not what you look at, but what you see " (Henry Thoreau) and "The whole part of taking pictures is so you don't have to explain things in words" (Elliott Erwitt) .. I think nothing to add
Nothing is something, life happens in the spaces of nothingness. This photograph shows the events of time as it cracked, was repaired, and changing form again. As Carlos pointed out, many events have touched this place. The moment the shutter was tripped the photograph became a meaning to someone.
“Photography is supposed to be about something happening”
Hmm. I’ve always viewed photography as about something BEING. Maybe that’s why I’m a fan of landscape photography. Give me the still moment. Your patched patch works perfectly!
I hope you don't mind if I disagree. That crack may have seen an incredible amount of history, who stepped over? how many years of fashionable high heels and military boots have gone over it? how many protests has it made it age more. If it had eyes, what it had seen.
There is always a story, this one is a story of aging. Or may be not. LOL
If something - anything - catches your eye sufficiently to make you want to record it or turn it into a piece of art, take a photo. In fact, take as many as you want. Whether or not someone else gets to see it or, if they do, whether or not they like it is of no consequence whatsoever. Are we photographers or seals, performing for an audience?
"Photography is supposed to be about something happening" ... not sure about that ... photography is supposed to release some sort of emotion, and an abstract piece of road can do that.
Keep it up. "There is no particular reason to search for meaning." - William Eggleston
In these situations some kind of graphic quality should exist to make it worthwhile photographing. So in this photo, the sharp contrasts, the textures, the shapes and the composition containing it all could qualify. It's n ot exciting, as you intended, but there are elements that nonetheless draw the eye. I too make some of those periodically.
Photographers often vacillate between the temporal and the eternal. Photojournalists, whose work mostly revolves around current events, concentrate largely on the Cartier-Bresson style decisive moments and societal influences. While f/64 photographers, such as Edward Weston, Wynn Bullock, or Ansel Adams, turn toward the eternal or finding spiritual aspects that outlast our mortal coil. Your image is not really a non-event (the evolution of these few square inches of pavement is an event) but it is one of many similar events that happen continually, in myriad variations, simultaneously, all over our planet. In this sense, it can be viewed as more eternal than temporal.
I love this type of work. It's very interesting, lots of texture, and let's one's eyes move and mind wander.
I'm being told the image is not human influenced, and therefore the shutter click means nothing. The object seen is nothing, however, there it is. It is nothing while being blocked by command, and it could also be everything and nothing at the same time: a perception not fully formed in the eye and mind. These thoughts drive me to Thomas Merton, who's Spirt/God became him, after he submitted to a spiritual relationship formed in the disciplined presence of silent contemplation. Considering this photographer as a chain of energetic conscious evidence; holding a camera, the lens clicks. It's now in the "Third Eye of the Unknowable. It "sees" beyond what was previously determined as of no importance. So, the photographer, his arm, the lens, the shutter click, creates a previously unknown relationship, and it will endlessly recreate itself anew from new eyes and new perceptions. That to me, represents Merton's God, and its awareness within Merton previously unknown and unrecognized, who, like the photographer clicked the evidence into existence.
Welcome to the wonderful world of abstract photography.
The Beatles expressed your thoughts differently in their masterpiece more than half a century ago:
"And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning 'round." 😉
Beautiful earthly in Black and White!
"I could not refuse": Please have a look at:https://substack.com/@bas1146850/note/c-208411170?r=3bni5w&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web
I want to add two sentences I found a while ago .... "The question is not what you look at, but what you see " (Henry Thoreau) and "The whole part of taking pictures is so you don't have to explain things in words" (Elliott Erwitt) .. I think nothing to add
Nothing is something, life happens in the spaces of nothingness. This photograph shows the events of time as it cracked, was repaired, and changing form again. As Carlos pointed out, many events have touched this place. The moment the shutter was tripped the photograph became a meaning to someone.
A very interesting concept. We need new ideas, not imitation.
“Photography is supposed to be about something happening”
Hmm. I’ve always viewed photography as about something BEING. Maybe that’s why I’m a fan of landscape photography. Give me the still moment. Your patched patch works perfectly!
I hope you don't mind if I disagree. That crack may have seen an incredible amount of history, who stepped over? how many years of fashionable high heels and military boots have gone over it? how many protests has it made it age more. If it had eyes, what it had seen.
There is always a story, this one is a story of aging. Or may be not. LOL
There’s so much beauty and peace in nothingness. Thank you for reminding me that