I’m not sure if this is a rant or rave…
TAKE – to get into one’s hands or one’s possession, power, or control
MAKE – to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material, to lay out and construct
Over the past two weeks, I’ve experienced a range of emotions. It all began when I attempted to draft an article to post it two Sundays ago. Unfortunately, I was struggling to come up with ideas, which is a common issue for me. Instead of pushing through my frustration, I decided to take a break for the night.
In the middle of the night, at 3 a.m., I woke up with a head full of ideas. I made myself a cup of coffee and got out my computer to start writing. Have you ever experienced a struggle with modern technology? I had an issue where the autosuggestions kept taking over my writing. Every time I typed “make a photograph,” it would quickly suggest “make” to “take.”
Don’t get me wrong, I do both. However, I consider my snapshots as the starting point of my work – David DuChemin refers to them as ‘sketch images’. To create a fine art photograph, we study these snapshots for factors such as lighting, composition, movement, and color. This is just the first step in the process of creating the final work.
My computer is suggesting that I change the sentence “I got out my computer” to “I got out of my computer”. It’s interesting to note that despite all the advancements in AI technology, it’s not always perfect. However, it’s still helpful in catching my spelling and grammatical errors.
I finished an article, uploaded it, and added the image discussed in the article. However, upon previewing it, I discovered that the latest software update had cropped the vertical images, ruining the composition and discussion. Bummer!
I spent a few hours trying to fix an issue with my current theme, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a solution. To make matters worse, I noticed that the previous articles featuring vertical images were also getting cropped. So, I spent the rest of the day and evening searching for a new theme that would complement my journal and not crop the vertical photographs. It was a classic case of my older software not being compatible with the newer software.
I am excited to announce the launch of my new personal website, NormanSchillawski.com. Although it is still a work in progress, I am thrilled to explore the latest web design capabilities that have emerged since I last worked on a website.
I am confident that I make my photographs. However, I am aware that I use a lot of technology to produce them and maintain my website. Ultimately, what’s important is the end result and the process that goes into creating a beautiful photograph.