Sunday Edition: Papiorek and Clay

PHOTOSNACK #151

Mar 10, 2024

Every Sunday, I reach out to photographers previously featured on PHOTOSNACK and ask them to send me their spontaneous thoughts, observations, reflections, or advice.

Today, I am sharing with you the messages I received from Nina Papiorek and Langdon Clay.

This is a free preview version of PHOTOSNACK Sunday Edition. Please consider supporting my work (and getting all future Sunday Editions!) as a paid subscriber.

Nina Papiorek

This photo was taken on the ferry from the mainland to the island of Texel in the Netherlands.

The ferry ride only takes 20 minutes and I actually didn’t even want to take my camera out of the trunk for such a short time.

In front of the large windows, two sisters were playing and had a lot of fun in anticipation of their vacation. Unfortunately, they were fooling around the whole time, so I couldn’t get a good shot.

But I was absolutely fascinated by the light and wanted to photograph her silhouettes.

Suddenly, the older girl moved away from the window and left the smaller one behind. She was obviously very fascinated by the white foam that the ferry left on the water and paused for a moment.

This was the exact moment for my shot. Additionally, everything came together in these seconds when the country completely disappeared in the background. I absolutely love the position of her hand. It’s enchanting in my eyes, and so the picture leaves a feeling of longing.

Sometimes, you have to work on a scene to make everything come together the way you want it to. It often takes patience, work, and thought to capture a moment in the best possible way.

Nina Papiorek was featured in PHOTOSNACK #093.

Langdon Clay

Sight is the sense that humans rely on most. For dolphins, it is sound; for dogs, it is smell.

So it may seem obvious to say the key to the enjoyment of photography and the making of photographs is the simple act of seeing.

But for those of us immersed in this world and hoping to excite others with what we think we see, it is important to learn to look at all the apparent levels of what fascinates us. In close to almost blurred and all the way back out where your focus is as much of a speck in the world as you are. Then, of course, turn around and look the other way. All that is necessary before even turning on a camera.

Once you are looking at a photograph or several or a whole book of them or even on a computer, which propels you to rush, take as much time as you can. Try to sort out reverberations between images, what is implied that is off-frame, and even what is written that gives context. Is there something, some revelation there, that draws you in and leaves you with more than you started with or never would have guessed?

It is probably unfair, and certainly hard, to compare photography to other visual arts, but often enough, there are worlds in it we don't know, subjects we hadn't considered, habits of attention, and ways of seeing that may be alien enough that our curiosity keeps us coming back for more. That is as it should be. We just need to open our eyes.

Langdon Clay was featured in PHOTOSNACK #109.

Sunday Editions connect you with photographers whose work you previously explored through PHOTOSNACK.

I want to reveal some authentic parts of the people behind the cameras.

I don’t ask them any specific questions. I ask them to share whatever pops into their mind when thinking about YOU - the readers of this newsletter.

It makes their responses genuine and personal.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Sunday Edition.

Until next time,
Tomasz