Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Y Is For Yellow

It’s Not What You Shoot, It’s HOW You Shoot It

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


One of the joys of individualism is the ability to see things differently, to have an independent opinion and to have a viewpoint while respecting the views of those around you.

Precisely because human beings are blessed with intelligence, no two people will ever share exactly the same perspective, whether it involves a description of an event, the artistic rendering of an object or scene, or the photographic depiction of any sight.

Show a brief film clip to a room full of people and each of them will notice different things about the clip. Play a soundtrack to them and each will have a different opinion on the harmony, the instrumentation or even the quality and delivery of the lyrics.

That’s the thing about viewpoint. Difference is good. It is a sign of an independent mind.

There is no correct way to bracket your art. What you interpret depends entirely on your brain. If you sent two dozen photographers to shoot the Sydney Opera House at exactly the same time, they’d all come back with different images.

I’ve probably said this before, but only you can define your art. Follow your instinct. Dare to depict things the way you see them, or the way in which they catch your eye. Unfetter your imagination.

And if you’re wondering what I’ve shot here, the answer is very simple. They’re not UFOs. They’re not mutant glow-worms. They’re ceiling lights at Freshwater Place, here in Melbourne.

For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place.

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