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Seeing Your Neighborhood In A Fresh Way

Lesson 16 from: Masters of Photography

Joel Meyerowitz

Seeing Your Neighborhood In A Fresh Way

Lesson 16 from: Masters of Photography

Joel Meyerowitz

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Lesson Info

16. Seeing Your Neighborhood In A Fresh Way

Next Lesson: Portraiture

Lesson Info

Seeing Your Neighborhood In A Fresh Way

(gentle music with prominent bassline) Maybe you're driving through a town and something catches your eye. Out of the corner of your eye you see some old buildings, dilapidated buildings, a factory, a smokestack, something, and you're curious. I say when that happens, go in there and wander around. And right here we have an industrial zone, it's spare. You could hear the wind go (whistles lightly). Sometimes there are saws or machines in the background. And interior, you often see incredible spaces. So let's go for a walk and see what we can find. Whoa, look at this space. I come into this space like this and my heart quickens for a moment, it's like (gasps). What's here, what am I gonna find here? And everywhere I look, it almost feels like a museum, like an installation in a museum. Some artist made all this. But in fact an artist didn't. Some guy, whoever works here, he pushed all this stuff around. So let's take a walk and see what comes up. It's a little like an adventure, you k...

now. I mean come on, look at this here. We have just a bunch of bags sitting here, probably full of sawdust, but the light coming through the bags makes a still life in a big space like this. So how do you approach it? Do you just photograph the bags? Not bad, a good start. But at the same time as I see the white bags with the sunlight coming through, I also see that dark pile of wood hanging around in the background. And I think photography isn't only about the object. Photography is about the combination of elements, the associations, the relationships. So I'm gonna try to make a picture, first of the bags, and the bags and the sawdust, and then maybe the bags and the wood, and then maybe the wood. My process is to have a sense of awe. And when I feel the awe, I'm just ready, I'm just ready to enter. And now I'll see what happens from these. So you just keep your eyes open and let's see what I discover. It's like a church in here in some way. (shutter clicks) (shutter clicks) Mmm, beautiful delicate piece of light on the ground. (shutter clicks) Oh it's beautiful. How fantastic, it's so simple, it's so simple. It's a pile of wood, it's a corner column, but up above the darkness above the white makes a V like this, and the pile of wood at the bottom makes a V like that. And suddenly there's this incredibly formal and powerful portrait of a corner of a piece of industrial space no one is going to see, except us, we're here right now and it's incredibly beautiful to me. Look at the light. It's an invitation to just explore for a while. There's no resistance, it's like, it's like a playground in a way. (shutter clicks) (shutter clicks) Look at that. (shutter clicks) You never know, you enter a place, and then a little bit of magic happens, and that's photography. If you follow your instinct and you just go where desire sends you, you're likely to see unexpected, magical things. Like a gift, think of the camera as giving you a gift because the camera's saying to you, "Go, go, take me some place, take me on a little adventure." And I've been following the camera for 55 years. I have seen things that, they don't exist unless I see them. It's all for you too. All you have to do is say I'm hungry for seeing. And you'll get pleasure, whether you're in a plaza or piazza in Paris or Siena, or whether you're in an industrial place outside of a small town in Tuscany. It's all there waiting for you.

Ratings and Reviews

Kingbingo1
 

I have an all access pass and thought oh no, I have to pay for this one? I bit the bullet and I am so glad I did. Joel has a great deal of wisdom and experience because of his age. BUT, despite his age, he exudes a fountain of enthusiasm, playfulness, curiousity and constant wonder surrounding his subjects. He opened within me the possibilities of exploring different photographic subjects and allowing myself to experience the fun in pursuit of those subjects. I love the way he shows how someone can take the same ho hum scene, but then look around for a different point of view. He is indeed a Master and I thank Joel for the class.

rorofot
 

This is a absulutely fantastic class. Joel Meyerowitz takes you on an journey of little but important advices. In each short video you got some jewels to improve your approach, your view and your art. I own a lot of classes here on CL, but this one is one of my favourits! Gentle and human. Thank you Joel Meyerowitz, you helped me a lot on my journey to develop my photography.

Cosmin Dolha
 

What do you do after you learn all the mechanics, the technical stuff, exposure triangle, lights, where do you start? Because I am starting, now! You will find encouragement and guidance, and real applicable wisdom. If you are new to photography as I am, this course will point you in the right direction. What a treasure! Thank you CreativeLive for this and thank you Joel Meyerowitz for taking such a gentle approach to such a complicated subject, that is photography.

Student Work

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