Today my attention was drawn to this boy and girl. They were hugging for a long time.
Then they talked, while the boy had his hands on the girl all the time. Hugging, talking and again hugging.
I could not figure out if it was a hug of expressing love or support. Maybe something bad happened.
I observed them a long time. I was fascinated by the strong emotion. It was so authentic.
They didn't care and see who was watching or taking photos.
The girl didn't have her hands on him.

What was going on here?​

I have been thinking a lot: what is the number one ingredient which makes a portrait great?

There are many ingredients: light, shadows, location, background, camera settings, the right lens, creativity and a good connection to the model.
All of them are important.

BUT.

Which is the number ONE?

For me the number one ingredient for a great portrait is:
AUTHENTICITY! The moment where the wall is down, being "lost in thought", not thinking about the camera, having a raw emotion.
That's why I don't like portraits where you smile. A smile is like a wall. One exception: if the smile is natural, then it's ok.
Do you know what I mean?

We all walk around with a walls. I hear somebody screaming: "No, not me". Ok, there are exceptions. But I believe we all walk around with walls, some bigger - some smaller.

For my taste, you can sacrifice all other ingredients, as long as you get an authentic, raw moment with the model.
There are so many beautiful portrait photos out there. Everything is perfect, but the one ingredient is missing: authenticity.
And I have been guilty of it, too. Most of my portraits have this missing ingredient. Because I was not aware of it.

This is what I want to focus on more. Catch the authentic moment.

"..forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses."

On my lunch walk around my neighboorhood I started laughing seeing that cone.
While capturing that moment, the security came and asked why I'm taking a picture.
I told him "Take a closer look"
It took him a second but he started cracking up as well and took also a picture.
I took a picture of him taking a picture, for proof that is not only me.
How can you not see that?

Imagine what this cone looked like in the late afternoon!

Today I got invited to fly. So I packed my suitcase and passport.

Called an Uber and went to the airport.
When I arrived I realized I won't fly anywhere.....

BUT I

- had an excellent BBQ
- great conversations
- got known to a new Amiga in Uber
- got a nice tan (and red nose)
- learned new things about flying

I didn't leave the city but it felt like vacation!

Thank you!

A long time ago I closed a dark chapter of my life. A chapter full of drama, pain, destruction & no future.

After closing that chapter I withdraw myself. Until my dad gave me a small compact camera.
That moment changed history, my history.
I became curious about life. I went out to see the beauty around me. Through photography I learned to be more attentive,
to leave the past behind and focus on the moment.
Also the camera brought me where the action is. I felt so alive!
Photography connected me to interesting people around the world.
I want to decicated that post the photographers I met along my journey.
Thank you for all those beautiful moments, walking together and looking for motives.
Talking about life and technical stuff, inspiring and challenging each other. You play a part in my journey. You are in my photos and in my heart.

Thank you.

Dictionary: "a person who refuses to conform, as to established customs, attitudes, or ideas."

The SYSTEM wants people not to stand out. Followers are not a danger and easier to control.
The programming works. People keep a low profile, follow trends, don't give contra and COPY to be part of it.
What happenes to those who go against trends and who think their own thoughts? Exactly!

Look at the pictures! Where did your focus go? To the "followers" or the nonconformist?

There is beauty going against the flow.

Writing this article I just realized, that the one doesn't exist with the other.
So in order for the noconformist to shine, we NEED followers.

But a few more noncoformists wouldn't hurt, no?

"Every photograph someone takes is also a type of self-portrait reflecting them,
because each contains information about the person who made it.
Its visual contents metaphorically represent what was important enough to the photographer's eyes
at that moment that they chose to freeze it permanently.
Even though they may well not be in that picture themselves,
every step of choosing where, when, who, how, and why to take any photograph
says as much about its creator as it does about the subject matter being recorded on film."​

How do you feel if you see a button and it says: "don't push it"?

Doesn't a "DON'T!" make you feel more like a "DO"?

When I walked by I and saw that sign I felt a strong urge to take a photo!
Without the sign I would not have bothered.
I did nothing wrong. The law says, that you can take pictures in public.
While taking that picture I was on the street, so totally legal.

After I took the picture I thought:
"Maybe they shop who sells the dresses does it on purpose!"
On purpose? Yes! Maybe they know about "Reverse Psychology".
Or maybe not. However, it could be used as a strategy to get people to take photos of the store and to share it with others.
I am sure this technique is used in marketing!

As a photographer I CHASE motives. Walking around, being very alert while having the finger on the release button of my camera.

On that particular day the Mexican sun and hours of walking slowed me down. I drank an energy drink to recharge my batteries.
I didn't work. I wanted to stop but also I did not "catch enough fish" to be satisfied.
So I was looking for a good mix of background, light & shadows.
I found the perfect setup! So I just stood there and waited for people entering my setup.
No need to move and chase motives. The motives came to me!

This applies to other areas in life as well. Sometimes you have to chase. But there are times where you search for to be "at the right time at the right place".
Look for the opportunity and be patient (note to myself)!

As a photographer you have to see moments before they happen.

No, a photographer can't see the future.
But with practice you can predict chances for a great moment.

I saw this man with the doughnuts waiting for the green light.
Right behind him. With the man standing there, it was already a great setup (for my taste).
But I was expecting something more. So I was patiently waiting.
And "BOOM" he turned around. You can't imagine how happy I was. He looked straight into my camera.

I saw a great opportunity and expected more.
Can it be that if we expect something (good or bad) that our expectations influence our surrounding?

I like to believe that.
AND
Be aware what I think and expect.

Have you ever tried it? Wow!

So easy and effective!
Why didn't I listen to all those hippies who tried to convince me?

ENLIGHTMENT:

In my journey as photographer I have never liked the idea of "self portraits".

BUT

I know what a big impact photography on my life had.
So I want to experience all types of photography and see where the journey leads me next.

With the right angle boring ordinary moments can become interesting.

Through the years as a photographer I have learned that there is not only "one" version.
A situation, a problem can be different than it first appears to us.
We are used to believe (through experience) our notions. But can we be wrong?
Yes! We don't like to admit it, but yes we can be wrong about a feeling or impression.
Does it mean to doubt everything? No, let's not get paranoid!
It means that EVERYTHING has different versions.
For example: "confirmation bias".
If we believe something, we are looking for ALL the evidence which confirms our belief.
BUT we leave out the evidence which contradicts our current belief.
So to be on the safe side, we should gather evidence pro and contra ABOUT a belief we have.
AND than make a judgement.

I believe I got my point across or didn't I?

Ok to be sure let's look at an example:

If you believe your partner is unfaithful. Look not only at the things which confirm your belief.
Look also on actions & "evidence" that shows that your partner is faithful.

Whatever the truth is (you probably won't ever know), you should rather act and believe in any situation the positive.
It's better to be proven wrong believing the positive than being proven wrong believing the negative.
Your beliefs influence your actions BIG TIME.

Perspective.

Where I live there is not much inspiration for photography. Boring.

That's what I thought. But then I realized that if I am more conscious and stop being robotic about my routine (daily walks around my neighborhood), I "see more".
Habits. The routes we walk, drive or the people we see on a regular basis become flat.

Very attractive. In many areas. Also in communication. Not many words necessary. Where in YOUR life can you use LESS?

We all heard that term. Back in the past I associated it with meditation, which wasn't interesting to me.
But I kept on hearing that word many times and did not notice that I have been practicing for years!
Every time when I went out shooting I have being present without knowing it.
We all have thoughts all day. Around 60.000 thoughts in one day!
And mostly those thoughts are about yesterday and tomorrow. And we are not aware of it!
When I go out taking pictures my mind is blank. I do not think about yesterday nor tomorrow.
I am being present. And it is intense. Also I feel more relaxed and happier during and after taking pictures.
Focusing your whole attention in the moment is intense!
How many people are walking around like zombies every day? Being with there thoughts somewhere else?
We are not experiencing the present! The past and the future does not exist! But still we are so occupied with it.
How can you experience the present without meditation? Easy! Right where you are look for things which are red.
Keep on looking. You will suddenly see so many red things! Try it!
Or are you to occupied with your thoughts about "time" which does not exist?
Try it! How did it feel to be present? Did you think about yesterday or tomorrow?

Today I saw this man and pulled out my cell phone very fast. What I liked in that moment, was his shirt matching almost the color of the bus. Plus the reflection. This moment made me so happy. I got the picture I wanted!

After I took the picture I sat down with some ice cream and realized how much joy photography gave me over the years.
More than anything else.

This realization is also a benefit of photography. If you keep taking a lot pictures over time, you will get more attentive with your surrounding and with yourself.

When I started taking pictures of strangers in the street, I did not feel comfortable doing it. That was the period when people approached me after I took their picture.
Most of them were not so nice. However, it is legal and I don't use the picutres to put strangers in a bad light. So I kept on doing it.
At some point I felt very comfortable doing it. When I was confident taking pictures from strangers in the street, no one said something!
Isn't that intersting?
That taught me something about confidence! You can read many books about how to be more confident. But that won't make you more confident. No way!
The only way to be more confident, is to do things which are not comfortable for you. That will make you more confident.
And the things which made you nervous in the past will bring you joy one day!
What are you afraid of? Public speaking? Whatever it is, do it. You will feel uncomfortable. But that feeling will stop and you will enjoy it one day!
For photographers: How do you deal with people who complain?
Be nice! Show them the picture you took and explain your project. If someone is angry: Just keep on walking and don't react. Or you can pretend like you took a picture of something behind of them.

Just got a thought about portrait photography.

Every human has several faces and moods. You can take many photographers taking a portrait of the same person.
With each photographer you will look different! Not only because the photographers have different styles and experiences.
MAINLY you will look different, because of the connection you have with the photographer.
Which kind of face you see in portraits, is the face someone shows the photographer! And others get to see that particular face, too.

It's fascinating.