Sunday Edition: Rots and Rovenko

PHOTOSNACK #172

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 Maarten Rots and Andrew Rovenko.

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

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Maarten Rots

When I began photographing urban abstractions, I aimed to create minimal compositions that consisted of clearly divided shapes and lines. I eagerly used textured and often colorful stuccoed walls as the building blocks for my photographs. Light and shadow provided an additional layer of shapes, preferably with sharp edges that emphasized their man-made origins. Decidedly, I discarded any reference to nature. This rigid view provided a level of control that helped me single out the elements I deemed necessary for my photographs.

Over time, however, the stubbornness that initially paved the way for a new development began to stand in my way. Dappled light passing through the crisp leaves of an autumn tree, covering an essential part of the composition, would cause me to dismiss an otherwise perfect situation. I realized that, while I had no control over the circumstances, I did have control over the rules I had set for myself based on the aesthetic I was striving for.

As I loosened the reigns, a new element started to sneak into my photographs. Initially, I accepted it as insurmountable, as a necessary evil that I reluctantly allowed to be part of the composition. But the more I opened myself up to this ‘visual noise,’ the more I became intrigued by the possibilities it presented and started seeing its beauty. The unpredictable character of this botanical interference (the slightest bit of wind causes branches and leaves to move, so the shadow shapes continually change) slowly won me over, so much so that I now often find myself actively pursuing it as a central element of the composition.

Through this experience, I learned that tightly clinging to a standard that proved itself over the years may blind us to potential opportunities, whereas an open approach toward uncertainty provides an opportunity to see a variety of options. New possibilities are hiding in plain sight, by changing the way we look at things we become susceptible to change and allow ourselves to grow. Trust the process and embrace the surprising nature of uncertainty.

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Four times per year I self-publish March & Rock, a magazine with my own work, currently at its 32nd edition. Presenting my work in print is a labor of love. I’d really appreciate it if you'd take a minute to check it out.

Maarten Rots was featured in PHOTOSNACK #146.

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Andrew Rovenko

What makes a good photograph?

I believe a good photograph is a portal.

Sometimes, it's a portal to a different place. Sometimes - to another era.

Sometimes, into the soul of another person. And sometimes - all of those things at once. 

But to travel there, you need to bring one essential ingredient: your own imagination. Only imagination can make a single frozen moment come alive and weave a story around it. And this is what good photographs do so well: They leave space for the imagination, make the viewer complete the picture, and, of course, make them feel.

My own daughter had to remind me about imagination. For children, it's just natural. 

I feel lucky that she took me on her journey and let me capture some memories along the way. Unexpectedly, the collection of postcards from the little worlds discovered on our adventures went on to become a book, and I hope she'll be proud of it even after growing up.

Andrew Rovenko was featured in PHOTOSNACK #156.
You can visit his website here.

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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