Photographs and Snapshots
I’ve been a photographer for almost four decades. During that time I’ve not only taken many photographs but very many thousands of snapshots too. There is a big difference between a photograph and a snapshot. A snapshot for me is a recorded image to perhaps document an occasion or to act as aide-memoire. You can pick up a camera that is stuck on auto, point it in the general direction of what you want to record, push the button and something will come out. Since the advent of mobile phones we all do this and post the results on social media, share them with our friends, family, etc. I have snapshots of the kids as they were growing up, holidays, cars and bikes I used to own, houses I used to live in, etc.
A photograph, for me, is something completely different.
I probably don’t take that many images that qualify by my definition as a photograph. When I do I know it immediately. Sometimes whilst still looking through the viewfinder I see the printed image before me in my mind’s eye. An image that is worthy of being looked at again and again, an image that will also connect with some viewers in some way.
Although not one of my favourite photographers, I like to quote Ansel Adams: “Twelve significant photographs in one year is a good crop”. The photograph above is significant to me and one of this year’s crop.
The photograph is of Franco Miotto, an Italian living in London, who decribes himself as a Designer/Maker. Although I met Franco only recently, as we have many things in common I feel like I have known him for a long time. I knew immediately that I would be taking his portrait and I also knew where and how and what the finished photograph would look like. This is because the idea for this image has been in my head for many years. Taken as a moving tube train leaves the platform with two partially shown strangers. There has been no cropping or modification to the image. It is as it came out of the camera and what I had pre-visualised. It took seconds to take and seconds for my computer to spew it out, but is it has been many years in the making.
The other reason that I am happy with this image is that it marks the beginning of a new period of creativity that has been encouraged by meeting Franco and having long discussions with him. Creativity should not be limited to one specific field. After a long period of lethargy my interest in architecture, design, music, writing, film and everything to do with the arts has been re-kindled.
Grazie mille Franco Miotto.