(guest entry) role of the subconscious...
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 11:22AM 
"portals" NO click to embiggen
In the comments of the previous post Mike O'Donoghue opined that "location is everything". That rings true for me, but I also added that for me, extreme lighting and my mood also contribute to when and where I shoot. But after beginning this new series of photographs, I began to notice a bizarre and unexpected consistency in the images that was either subconscious or simply coincidental. In the compilation above (portals have been emphasized), you will notice doorways or openings just right of center, all but one containing the main character either inside or outside the opening. Now, it may be a case of simply reading too much into it, but the fact that there are doorways or openings and the premise of these images is dreams (which could be considered gateways) and being shutoff from family and friends, I can't help but be elated with my subconscious or happy about this coincidence.
Now that I have discovered this element, I doubt it will continue through the series (consciously). I don't like to have guidelines or required elements when I shoot. I would consider my photograph style to be elaborate "snapshots". Anyone who has every seen me shoot, will know that I don't spend more than 5-10 minutes on my photographs...upon finding a location, setting up the camera, posing, and shooting, it is all done swiftly and without any preconceived arrangement or storyboards. Therefore I would have no interest in composing any future scenes that would require composing a shot so that a doorway or opening would be needed right of center (or my 4th image of a panoramic left to right). I consider my style of shooting more akin to snapshots because of the lack of forethought. For instance my friend and peer Cornelia Hediger (link) spends hours sketching ideas, repositioning items, lighting, etc... as does Gregory Crewdson (link) and many many others that shoot narrative "staged" photography . I suppose It all depends on what works best for you.
Here is a quote from Gregory Crewdson regarding subconscious elements in his photography...
“It’s funny, when you’re making pictures you’re not really – I’m not – conscious of really the motivations behind the photographs or what they mean, ever. It wasn’t until much later, I was producing the show, that I realized there’s a lot of cars with doors open. I thought, ‘Whoa, strange. I wonder what that means.’ "
Question:
What about you out there? How often do you preplan your photography and to what degree? for example... do you just shoot what you like? Do you plan on shooting only blue houses and seek them out? Do you storyboard?
Also, have you noticed elements in your images that might be placed there subconsciously? If not, maybe you should go back and look for some... they may be there?
Reader Comments (12)
Freeman Patterson always says, the best place to photograph is where ever you are.
I had something of a surprising revelation over the weekend, in a similar way. I don't often plan my images, other than planning perhaps the location and content, but not the visual structure. In that I mean I'll plan to go and shoot 'something' but not how I'll shoot it.
As part of a workshop, we were asked to consider the first 2-d image that we could remember, having an impact upon us. Could be anything, but whatever that first image was.
Since then, I went back and looked at some of my personal favourite images over the last year or so - and the same theme echos through them all. Was a bit of a slap on the back of the head.
Happened to read another reference to Freeman Patterson on another blog today, quoting him as saying the 'conscious always follows the unconscious by 3-5 years'
On your point now about deliberately avoiding portals or doorways, just to the right of center. Doesn't it seem a little perverse to go out of your way to avoid what you naturally seem to need to do?
I wouldn't say I am going to "avoid" that element, I just have no intention of seeking it out to keep it going through the series. If it
If you look at these two images (after I was aware of the portals), you'll see you can still openings in similar positions, just not as obvious as the first images.
http://aaronhobson.com/dreamsofenddays3.html
http://aaronhobson.com/dreamsofenddays4.html
I think it's just going to be inevitable, since I am looking for extreme light contrasts in these shots and that typical will involve light coming through windows, opening, etc...?
great Patterson quotes btw...
Love the new series Aaron! Unlike you I don't shoot staged scenes (not many do). However, like you, I shoot from the hip when I am at a location I find interesting. I don't plan ahead, but I shoot 90% of my stuff close to home, so I really don't need a storyboard. I know most locations by heart and seek them out when I anticipate light is going to be good for shooting. Mood is extremely important to me and I never go out unless I am inspired.
As for the unconscious part it plays a role I think (I might be reading too much into it myself). How? Well, I rarely work on a specific project. I snap away and after a few years I begin to see patterns and common themes occurring. In the end I have a portfolio of images that magically fits together.
Perhaps it is just down to my lack of experience or skill, but the best way I can guarantee bad photographs is to have a plan and an idea of what I want to picture.
I can only make decent photographs when I am reacting to what is there--any attempts to direct the scene fall desperately flat.
"I snap away and after a few years I begin to see patterns and common themes occurring." - svein
falls right in line with the Patterson quote from Gordon... "conscious always follows the unconscious by 3-5 years"
@ Tommy... me too. I think it's a completely different type of person that has that ability. I imagine that is why I'm not a commercial photographer following the direction of art directors and set designers.
I am curious how the awareness of shooting this structure has on you. You go from not being aware of it (and having it happen a lot) to being aware of it (and maybe consciously trying to not do it)
So 'not avoiding' and 'not explicitly doing it' are quite an interesting balancing act to keep going in the head. The awareness of it must certainly change what's going to happen, one way or another.
I'm just interested in if it is a positive or negative thing. I can see being very aware of a theme can help you move towards it more strongly. But it can quickly become forced.
Good question Gordon. At first I was worried about being too aware of it, but I eventually just got "over it" and didn't think the element of doorways/openings positioned right of center was necessary for this series. I was reading into it a bit much.
Plus, like I said, because of where I shoot and the type of light I'm looking for, there are definitely going to be "openings" for the light somewhere in all of the shots. I don't think it will bother me when I'm composing future shots. It hasn't yet and I've done a few since the discovery. I think it was a fluke that the openings were lined up in the first images.
"I snap away and after a few years I begin to see patterns and common themes occurring. In the end I have a portfolio of images that magically fits together." - svein
So thinking about this and along the lines of Gordon's last question to me... After you (svein) see these patterns emerge and you have a cohesive series/portfolio, do you actively continue a certain portfolio pattern or do you leave it and just start shooting anew again?
It varies. Sometimes I have a collection that feels complete, but more often I end up with a portfolio that lacks a few shots and I will then actively go out and try to complete it. I'm restless though, so I will quickly burn out on a project and tend to start several new ones before I can finnish the old ones. However, my greater body of work fits toegether as a whole since what I essentially do is document the nature, culture and people of the island I call home. What's interresting though is that I have never before thought about my process this way before you raised the issue. There are just so many ways of reaching ones photographic goals, and in the end I think our workflow says more about the person we are than our pictures do.
The closest I've come to planning a shot is when I've been somewhere that's taken my interest and the conditions aren't favorable so I think, "I'll come here again." Often I'll actually go back when the conditions are better (like when I have a camera along!)
Pretty cool how once you've got a body of data together you can find things that escaped you on first glance.
I, too, am more of a snapshot guy - see it; like it; take a picture. Even with the 4x5 camera it was like that.
Keep enjoying yourself.