Vision

I just came back upon Don Giannatti’s “Project 52” web site.  I had seen the site several months ago, but it slipped from my memory.  I have been a member of the flickr group for a long time, but, I can’t remember the last time I actually visited the group page.  On this site, there is a weekly photography assignment. The assignments for this year start on February 1.  So, I looked at the 2012 assignments.

The first assignment is to create a Vision Statement.  This is basically a statement describing why it is that I take pictures.  As described on the web site, “Tell us with a single paragraph what you want to be able to do with your images. Tell us what you do without telling us you are a photographer. Accompany that message with a single image taken around your home.”

To me, the reason I enjoy photography is it differs from other modes of expression, and there is something that is transcendently stimulating when I see a really great image I have taken. In 2012, my Aperture Library has over 7700 images.  Every once in a while, as the image would come up on the screen, there was a moment of awe.  Kind of, “Oh boy.  That is good!”

It is becoming easier to take technically perfect images – those with proper exposure, composition, lighting, whatever.  I can look at those and think, “That’s a good image.”  But there is the added, intangible element that is included in an image that is really great.  I take photographs because I enjoy that feeling of producing a picture that is really great.

Now, what kind of image around the house can I make that illustrates that?

Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has hit the east coast.  Last week, I sent my Tamron 70 – 200 f/2.8 lens in for repair.  I sent it to Commack, New York.  Commack, New York is on Long Island.  I really hope that I will eventually get my lens back.

Lens Repair

I got an email from Tamron.  They want $225 to repair my lens.  They will disassemble it, clean it, repair and damage, put it all back together and calibrate it.  I wish it were cheaper, but I don’t have any other choice. A new lens would be almost four times that much.  They promised a turnaround of three business days.  Let’s hope that comes before Sandy hits the east coast.  I have visions of my lens sitting in a destroyed building.