Rick Allen Photography Blog

Last Sunday was the first time I ever walked away from a shoot.  Fortunately, it was a group meetup and I was not even missed. 

I was to participate in a model shoot at a local car dealership.  In the days prior to going, I wrecked my brain trying to come up with a unique idea of how to shoot models at a car dealership.  I arrived on time (actually a little early), and started watching others shoot.  Unfortunately, nothing seemed to catch my fancy; worse, some shoots tweaked my anxieties around stereotypical photography.  At almost the exact correct time, I was saved by the bell (actually my cell phone).  A friend was calling to talk about a trip coming up, and it was the excuse I needed to step away from the other photographers.  A rationalization for sure, but an excuse nevertheless.    (Steve and Josh, is this called a synchronicity?)  I couldn’t resist looking online at the group’s images, and indeed there were a couple of quite unique shots.  In many ways, I wished I had perservered and found one of those unique images. 

The inevitable question: how does one find one’s own voice in a sea of well documented scenes?  I recall Micahel Reichmann with his camera at his side (as opposed to next to his eye) in the middle of Antarctica, with his inner voice seemingly telling him the same thing, all the while I was shooting like a madman.  Did I shoot anything truly unique during that time?  Probably not.  Michael had the eye to know what would work and what wouldn’t.

I wouldn’t be so bold to say that I “have the eye,”  but maybe, my eye is improving.  That said, walking away from a shot probably wasn’t the most productive.  I could’ve hung around and assisted others.  A realization and a lesson. Isn’t that what’s life is all about?

Rick