Confession: I’ve been binge-watching youtube videos. Why? Researching new gear. Have you seen what the Insta 360 1x can do? Mind-blowing. I’ve also been learning about video. As a photographer, video (at least for me) is an entire different mindset. To help me get flexible on that, I’ve been following a few filmmakers and photographers. One person I’ve been watching a lot – and you may be too – is fellow Canadian Toronto-based Peter McKinnon. I can see why his channel has over 4 million subscribers or that he grew it to 1 million in way less than a year. He is funny and engaging and he comes across as honest, and real. And yes, he is super informative. Gold mine.
The Inspiration Today
So I’m writing this because I was inspired by his video The Bucket Shot, and the related documentary The Mountains Won’t Remember Me. I’m not a pro like he is and yet because I do identify as a photographer, I feel what he talks about. I think every photographer does.
You see, when I look at my photographs, it’s a visceral experience, even years afterwards. I feel the entirety of that moment. It’s like the whole world both collapsed into itself and expanded out to the extreme reaches at once. Everything stood still and for me it’s captured in the photograph. Inevitably I learn something new or remember in that moment. The photo itself may not be the best technically or stylistically; the memories, the energies that are imprinted on it? Priceless and eternal.
You’ve probably felt this way, too. Maybe it’s not photography. It’s something for everyone. Just a matter of recognizing it.
Sometimes there’s this whole story behind getting that shot. Not always. I know many of my photographs would not have happened if something didn’t intervene. Like that time, we didn’t sign up for the Versailles tour and it was sold out so we spent that time walking the gardens. I have this amazing photo of the fountain, and I probably wouldn’t if we had gone inside instead.
Sometimes it’s just time. Peter’s Bucket Shot is his amazing, nine-years-in the-making, photograph of Mount Rundle and Moraine Lake at Banff, Alberta. By the way, it’s one of our Canadian silver coins. In this video he relates his story and if you are feeling a bit lacklustre, go watch it to be uplifted and inspired. Really. He’s laying down some truths, wisdom to remember.
For the Love of Photography
I’m not sure when my love for photography was ignited. In high school, my dad gave me his Minolta and I shot for the yearbook. I still remember some of those candids. Shooting in black and white and processing them in the darkroom.
I guess as an introvert, a camera was my bridge to connect with people I may not otherwise and to glimpse into a part of them that a camera lens opened up for me.
To be honest, my love affair with photography waxes and wanes. At least having dedicated camera-time. I’m definitely always taking photos as the 400 shots of my kitten in her first month can attest to. Or some random still life project I have of dried up fruits and decaying flowers.
Sometimes I’m frustrated with my astigmatism which makes it difficult to get tack-sharp focus. Mostly I’m afraid I’m just lazy. At least with the work flow that comes with getting the photographs off the camera, onto a laptop, into several storage methods, and uploading it on the website to share with you. iPhone technology may have made me a more prolific and social photographer; it’s also made me a less disciplined one, as far as habits are concerned.
My Late 2019 (or Early 2020?) “Resolution”
This, I look to remedy. It is my goal to go through all my photographs, from my trips to Madagascar, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Florida, Egypt, Spain and counting, processed and written up here on Sandra The Traveller. Maybe even Morocco from 2004, if I can retrieve/recover the images. Or the day trips to Victoria, BC or around Vancouver, because we have some stunning vistas right here. I’ve taken some amazing trips and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I suppose these past few years, I’ve been taking more of an inner journey, going through big changes in my life. And yet, when I look back at these photographs (and some videos), I’m like – why aren’t these up?
Well, first, I have to consolidate everything, from all the hard drives.
So yes, I will be adding more footage, shooting more B-roll. I’m excited to try all this for an upcoming trip in December. It’s a pretty fantastic locale for it too. My first time there. So stay tuned for that. And I’ll also start dreaming up my own Bucket Shot, maybe it’ll be from a trip on my Bucket List.
photo: Vancouver Convention Centre, November 9 2018 (iPhone 6 Plus)
