life behind the lens

I am fascinated with photographs.
the ability to capture the essence of a second in time.. the colors and the action and the movement - proof of days lived. Time is mysterious - ever fleeting.

I have a friend that is convinced life would be much better if we were to live in a state of obliviousness. She says, that people who are unaware of truth, live content and undisturbed lives - they have nothing heavy on their minds, nothing to keep them occupied except their daily predictable routines.
I sometimes agree with her.

I have been thinking a lot about her statement.
Honestly, part of me agrees with her. I can see the allure of being oblivious to the difficult questions and answers of life. There would be so much that I'd never have to concern myself with!
So simple! So safe and defined.
I could follow someone else's path, work my way up the corporate ladder, get a nice home, etc. Sounds like a good, comfortable life.
I think sometimes, I would like to me more unaware.



My twin brother sent me some new photos of his adventures. They are amazing pictures - full of life and energy!
Immediately though, those photos made me think about the comparison between taking photographs, and living a life.


In my experience, there are two types of photographers.
The first, and most common, are people who use the camera's "auto" settings. No matter how intricate or sophisticated a camera may be, you will always find people who are happy to just click a button.
There is one thing on these people's minds - getting a photograph.
This type of photographer could defiantly be compared to the "oblivious" group of individuals that I envy so often - people who are not at all interested in the depths of thought and discovery. Much like an amateur photographer, there is no thought as to how life happens, or why the photograph comes out the way it does - they are content with not knowing.
If they want to photograph an amazing "sunset", they will simply set their camera's mode to "sunset".
If they want to photograph waves crashing on a beach, they will set the camera for "movement".
If they want to take a photograph of fireworks, they will obviously choose that setting.
The interaction and intimacy with their camera is very limited; they know how to follow the guidelines, but not how to create. for these photographers, the camera is only a means to get the shot they desire.
This is mirrored in the actions of oblivious people. We follow the rules, we work our lives away, we accept what is handed to us... and we never take the chance to create our own unique life. Like the camera in the hands of an amateur, our days become only the means to an end - routines that get us ever closer to comfortable retirement, nicer stuff, and "happier endings". The beauty of life slips by, because we are so focused on the final product, instead of the moments that comprise life.




The second type of photographer is much rarer.
This photographer has studied and researched, they have practiced and listened, they are aware of what they are doing. They know truths about their camera and they are interested in learning more.
When I think of this photographer, I think of a person that is climbing though the branches of existence - looking at the beautiful leaves, playing with monkeys, eating the fruit. Life for them is mysterious - they want to explore it, find answers, ask questions. These people MUST ask "why?" - Why will I get old? Why is suffering bad? Why do we all wear clothes? Why do we experience pleasure? They want to understand the beautiful complexities of this world.
These people question everything because they don't want a pre-set on their life.
They want to create their own photos.
Advanced photographers are people that want to know everything about their camera; they want to know how it works, how it is built, and how to make it work correctly.
Instead of just snapping a photo, they consider elements - they take into account the f-stop, the ISO, the color balance, the aperture.. To them, just taking a photograph is not the point; it is the entire process that brings fulfillment.
I really love the similarities!
The photographer who is excited about learning, is like a person excited about discovering truth. They don't want to be bound by the camera's settings and modes, just like a person who doesn't want to fit into a mundane existence or be limited by standard choices. Their photographs might look different, their lives might challenge the ordinary - but these photographers and these individuals are able to choose, because they have a deeper understanding of the flow of life.




I will be the first to admit, it still sounds good just to remain blissfully ignorant of life; to not have to pursue thoughts, or ask why.. just to accept things the way they are.
Knowing, seems like a lot of work; it seems confusing, and it seems hard.
And it is.

So, why even try? Why look for answers, and travel to desolate places; why pursue truth at all?

When a photographer knows how his camera works.. he can do things with it that an amateur could never dream of.
If we understand how this world functions on a intimate level, how life is strung together, if we understand "How" and "Why" we do the things we do - then we can do things that other people could never dream.
Limitations disappear.
For every piece of truth that we discover, we have given ourselves more power, and more freedom. Every photo we take.. we created. Life is no longer just a "click", it is a series of deliberate choices based on truth.
That is infinitely cool.
How far are we willing to take our questions?
How many, "why"s will we ask before it gets to uncomfortable?
What would I trade in order to know a few more answers?
In the end, are we concerned with the pretty photo.. or the process of taking our own?
Would you be blissfully ignorant, or exhausted, aware, and completely free?







(Andrew Tipton)