Feeling the love

I think that I am falling back in love with photography.

I spoke with a man this morning who was horribly in love with the Canon 1D Mark IIN that hung from my neck equipped with a 16-35mm F/2.8. I listened to him bad talk Nikon but I was in to good of a mood to care. We spoke about photography and what I liked to photograph.

He told me about his passion for landscape photography. I told him that black and white landscapes may have led me to the place I am now, and that they still hold a place in my heart. More importantly I told him that my photographs feel empty if void of people. I’m in love with documentary photography. I’m in love with meeting people and learning new things.

Sometimes I guess you just need to bounce words around with another person to realize something you have forgotten.

I’m currently amidst a new project for the paper. I think we’re calling the series An Illinois Postcard. It will consist of feature picture essays about the small towns in our coverage area. I chose the town of Waverly about 20 minutes southwest of my home in Chatham.

The town has inspired me to come out and shoot everyday. I’ve been inspired find stories and tell them. My biggest struggle has always been to find stories. I’ve proven to myself that it is as easy as walking into a town you’ve never been in before with a camera. All I had to do was show up curious.

I need this. This town is more than pictures. I think it will become another learning experience for me as a photographer.