Exploring Saint - Hilaire Abbey using black and white squares
Turning up at a new location with your camera can be inspiring. But it is just as easy to feel over awed and wonder where on earth to start or what to photograph. If you have ever felt this way, you may have responded with photographing everything and anything. Possibly leaving with a feeling of not really getting under the surface of the subject matter or at worst feeling disappointed that you were unable to focus. Visiting a location briefly, or knowing you have a limited time, or a one off chance to create images in one specific situation can also lead to a fear of missing something if you don't cover all angles, so this is a very natural response.
However, there is a way to explore a new location and come away with a set of images that tell a story of your experience. You may even find that what I am going to suggest is a useful way to approach photographing a location if you have limited time, or are within a group of individuals who (lets just say) are less excited by photography than yourself!
Its about eight years ago, since I was introduced to the concept of cohesivity within my photography, and what a game changer that has been. I've recently doubled that up with an awareness of taking time to consider what i'd would like to achieve with the images I make - creating an intention, and I find I am almost guaranteed a more fulfilling photographic experience.
So how do you introduce the concepts of cohesivity and intention into your photography?
Believe it or not, it all starts with slowing down and giving yourself some time to think and notice (rather than immediately forcing or expecting a response) - next time you arrive somewhere to photograph, see what happens if you leave your camera in the bag for a few minutes and take the time to just notice. A small amount of time invested engaging your awareness will repay you fourfold later. Use all your senses, close your eyes to heighten your senses of sound and smell.
Take the time to ask yourself what YOU are actually being drawn to.
This is completely different to turning up somewhere with an expectation of what you are going to find to photograph (either from research or social media photographic opportunity suggestions). The latter often leads to disappointment when the reality does not meet expectation.
In this post I share some example images of a visit I made to Saint - Hilaire Abbey near Lacoste in Provence recently. I hope this will show you how I put the concepts I have introduced into play.
I have to let you in on a little secret here - the images you see in this blog post were made during a second visit to this location, because guess what, on my first visit, I completely failed to follow my own advice! On the first occasion I found I was being drawn all over the place when I first arrived. Photographing all over the location in every imaginable technique and composition. I left the visit with a collection of images that were shallow responses to the location of what I saw and nothing more.
So returning the second time, I knew I wanted to keep it simple... and follow the advice I would give to others.
When I made these images, I was actually with a group of 11 other photographers, within a time limit of an hour and a half - two elements, neither being conducive for a relaxing and creative photographic experience! So its the perfect example to show you what is possible.
On arrival I took myself away from the group and walked quietly around the location... just noticing... the way a shaft of light was falling through an open door and spotlighting the floor in front of the alter. I noticed the intriguing holes in the ancient wall and the way a chair seemed to have been so perfectly placed it draw me to stand and stare like a moth to a flame. I noticed light and shadow, I noticed contrast, and I noticed the feeling of peace and the way my mind was contemplating being immersed in a piece of history, wondering what the walls might have experienced in their long life.
It is unlikely that I would have noticed any of this if I had arrived with a pressurised 'need' to 'capture and record' the location before moving on. Or if I had seen specific images on social media that I felt were my aim to create. Exploring a location or opportunity with a mind open to possibilities, is a lot different than arriving with an expectation and ned to realise it.
Once you have recognised the element or elements you are drawn to, the next step is to ask yourself how you might respond to this with your photography. This is where you can ask yourself what you want to say with your images. This should give you an indication of the technique/s you might use or settings in your camera that you might employ.
A location with contrast, structure, shadows and lines may lend its self to black and white. A subject with movement may offer ICM opportunities. A simple composition may be perfect for a traditional sharp image, with care taken over the composition. If you take the time to think about the subject matter before you, I promise your images will be made with greater intent and you will be able to make them unique to you on a personal note.
Using the concept of cohesivity
If you consider the concept of creating images that work in a cohesive manner (complimenting and relating to each other) before you start to make your images, you may find this offers a hook or a focus for your photographic experience. It will help you to help create a ‘set’ of images rather than a collection of individual images. Something as simple as choosing just one orientation of your images, or one crop dimension can really help. Taking a step further, you could consider making all the images black and white, or using one specific technique whole you make your images. Choosing just one lens , a certain standpoint or shutter speed can also help.
I often find that choosing maybe two or three elements before I start to photograph can give a strong focus. Sometimes I make my first few images in whatever manner I wish, then take the time to review these on the back of the camera, trying to recognise what I like about them, with a plan to using that as an element to run through all my images.
During this photographic experience I chose to set my camera in the square 1x1 size and orientation, and then I chose to also work with one of the black and white presets in my camera, so help me visualise as I made the images. I knew I wanted to just respond to anything that caught my eye, but also to explore the way the light and shadows caught my eye. Finally I knew I wanted to make images that would tell a story. Which leads me onto intention.
Intention can help guide your photographic experience
Having an intention before you start to photograph can be really valuable. However, before you panic, sometimes my intention is simply that I want to enjoy the act of 'making' the images with absolutely no expectation that I will do anything else with them. So if you just love making (and not sharing or even post processing) there is absolutely nothing wrong with this as an intention. The days I identify this as my plan, I feel the weight of expectation lift from my shoulders, so I can highly recommend trying it.
However, it may be that you have a plan for your photos after you have made them. If you take a moment to mentally note this plan, this can also help your focus when making your images. Maybe you are making a photo book and you want just 4 images to include, maybe you want to share just a few photos to Instagram or other social media, or maybe you want to put one image on your wall. Possibly you want to document your experience in words and photos. Making 10 or more images to show a story is very different that just one to sum up your experience! If you have an intention of what you would like to gain from making your photos, you can couple this with your choices regarding cohesivity to focus your photographic purpose.
When I made these images, I had in mind a blog post of maybe 10 images to share a story of what I saw at the abbey. This helped me to make a selection of images that encompassed wider shots, and details. I knew I wanted to show the hidden beauty, but I had multiple images to do this in.
In the end I chose to use my images to illustrate this blog, but also to create a slideshow that you will find the link to below. I hope you will enjoy the flow of the slideshow as it takes you on a journey through the abbey through my eyes. Maybe if you had been there with me, you may not have even seen half the things I did, who knows.
I hope you have enjoyed this blog post and it has given you an insight into possible ways you might approach a new location or photographic opportunity, if you are finding your butterfly mind fluttering, or you are frozen in panic of where to start.
Here is the slideshow of my story of Saint - Hilaire Abbey.
If you have enjoyed this blog post, you might enjoy this blog I wrote about my experience of visiting London and trying to find focus there! https://charlottebellamy.com/exploring-london-with-in-camera-multiple-exposure/
Here is a link to the Abbey website as well if you are interested in finding out more about this beautiful location.
https://www.abbaye-saint-hilaire-vaucluse.com
