Currently there are two types of photography that are becoming the fads of the day.  One is pure abstract photography based on forms and light where you have no idea about what the original subject was, or is.  The second consists of pictures “made-up” of multiple elements; i.e., scenes that are almost realistic … might exist, but they don’t.  The photographer pasted different elements together to create a non-existent scene.  I’m exploring different subjects and have considered making pictures like these, but so far they don’t appeal to me from a hobbyist perspective.  If interested, you might look at a group of pictures following these themes that CNN published by clicking here.

I started my photography while traveling when there were abundant new scenes to capture at each step I took.  Now that I’m not traveling so much, I’m seeking to find pictures close-at-hand.  To do this I’m trying to keep an open mind and be receptive to all that I see.  I’m trying to open my eyes and let the pictures come to me.  It is a lot harder than just recording new scenes that appear while traveling to new places.  I have to go out to the same places and find new views that I missed before.  As I do this I’m finding interesting subjects within the bigger scenes.  I’m finding that interesting colors, textures, and light are right in front of me if I am just receptive to receiving them.  I think that I’m finding that I like elements of the bigger picture, but elements that are still recognizable … elements that are pleasing to the eye but yet still have a bit of mystery … what, why, where.

I’m also finding that these kinds of pictures need different lenses.  While travel requires wide-angle lenses for capturing the big picture, these new views that I’m seeing either need longer focal length lenses, or getting up real close.