I once told the acclaimed author David Lodge that I was admirer of his work, only to be told to get lost as he was busy food shopping. It was only meantas a passing compliment rather than a demand of his private time, but nevertheless, from then on I decided to never meet my heroes. However, as the grim reaper continues to binge on our cultural icons this year, that particular rule has gone out the window.
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Behind the image #12
Sometimes the margin between success and perceived failure can be measured in 1/100s or even 1/1000s of a second. I was there like some visual gunslinger ready to draw and be ready for whatever little moment may present itself. And, then quick as a flash, it duly did.
However, I felt so annoyed that I missed this opportunity to make this image sharp and 'technically' perfect that I didn't look at it for months after. I keep it because I thought I may soften my feelings to it and, thankfully, I have. I may even go far to suggest that its imperfection actually adds rather than detracts from the final look and feel. There may also be an analogous lesson about being easier on yourself, accepting imperfections and realising things aren't as bad as first percieved...but I'll leave that to you.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Attention!Attention!
You may have noticed on some photographers' images, there's a discreet or in some cases indiscreet name or logo watermark to indicate copyright ownership. I completely understand that in competitive markets you may want to protect the income and integrity of your work, and a watermark is at least one, although not fool proof, way of doing that. For me though, they end up being an unnecessary barrier to looking at and enjoying the image (in the comparatively rare occasions you did need to question the use of your images, you can always prove ownership with either the digital meta data or good old film negative). With over 2 billion images uploaded to social media, and other platforms daily, it is not so much a matter of protecting your images that's important; it's getting them seen in the first place. And if they are seen how long is that for? I'm guessing a few seconds at the most.
The pace and voracity of our media consumption and the demands on our ability give it our attention is changing our behaviour both as consumers and creators. Magazine and news articles, with the exception of The New Yorker, are getting shorter and more image laden to help us cope. Sharing your TV viewing time along with your tablet / internet enabled device is now often cited as the prime example of our diminished focus.
There is a more scientific, Nobel prize winning answer to all of this. According to psychologist Daniel Kahneman's studies, our brain differentiates how we focus or provide attention in to two 'systems'. The first attends to things we can do without additional thought, such as reading or driving. Once learnt, these activities become automatic processes that can be performed without barely being noticed. The second system is brought in to play when we are tasked with more complex tasks such as long division in your head or working out the fine print in a contract. It's why driving and talking on a mobile are such a bad mix - if your second attention all system takes over it affects the performance of your first.
Looking at images, especially in a high volume, is dealt with your first attentional system as you automatically know what an image is and,in the vast majority of cases,what the subject matter is about without additional thought. The effect on photography, I believe, is twofold. Firstly, it can create a pressure to constantly make images with immediate impact, whether through the use of filters and effects or subject matter. Secondly, it means there is less time taken to study the quiet, more subtle images.
Some my own favourite pieces of work are, at first glance less obvious and are not the images favoured by others. But if you take the time to really look, I believe they can offer much more.
So, for this blog then all I ask is to slow the viewing process down, engage your second attentional system and spend just that little bit longer with each image and then judge them.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #10
He's foreign, only works one day a year, expects both himself and reindeer to be fed from every household with your hard earned mince pies, carrots and sherry; takes credit for all the toys purchased and now has eyes on your beer. Surely there must a reactionary, half baked, under the influence of medication UKIP policy about this man?
Merry Christmas and a Happy, Tolerant New Year.
Till 2015...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #9
Like some Forest Gump with a camera, I seem to be accidentally wandering in to some couples' special moments ( no, not those kinds of special moments). In the summer it was a Dutch couple in New York and a few weeks ago, walking through The Custard Factory this fine groom and his new wife were by their chauffeur driven car ( a pristine classic Hackney cab) waiting to be whisked away. Although, when I saw them the whisking away was delayed as, ironically, they couldn't find their photographer. Whilst they were waiting, I took a few shots of them and handed them my card. I've not heard from them since, so if you know this groom, let him know I've an extra wedding present for them.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #8
It's my second visit to the hospital that day and to be honest I was glad of the distraction. Over the years I've had lots of " I've been left stranded, no way of getting home, I will pay you back as soon as..." requests for money, and to be honest I usually dismiss them. This time though, I let the disjointed and inconsistent story wash over me and offer the change I had - £3 - in exchange for a portrait. I'm sure he didn't realise how intimidating he looked when not speaking as he was actually quite softly spoken. Touchingly, when he said goodbye, he thanked me for being interested enough to take a picture and not for the £3.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #7
After spending my available time editing the images from a hugely enjoyable family photo-shoot, you realise that, like life, photography is really just about paying attention to the details...
Till next time,
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #6
Coughing and spluttering with man- flu, I couldn't wait to drive home and crawl in to bed. And yet, the evening light was as good as I'd seen in a long while and tempting me to stay out. As some sort of compromise, I decided to drive the long way home, hopefully to spot some interesting photographic subjects bathed in this glorious light. I knew I didn't have the energy to be out for much longer, but there, like some kind of prayer being answered, I got my reward. Standing in such away that it looked like he was trying to open the graffiti car, I knew this was it.
And that's what I love that about street photography; sometimes you ask for something to happen and the Gods of Photography provide.
Till next time
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #5
We all know the adage about not judging a book by its cover, but most of us regularly do, if we are honest. When I approach what I consider to be 'interesting people' for a street portrait, I can't help prejudging the reaction I'll get just before I approach them. Last week I approached two people in the city centre, the first was an old sea dog at a bus stop that had just started to smoke his pipe. World weariness and tales form the sea were deeply etched on to his face and ideal for a portrait. We chatted politely for a while,but at my request of a photograph his face contorted with rage - along with the demand of £100 and the threat of calling the police. Although I thought he was a shoe-in, all the Werther's originals and friendly banter in the world wasn't going to get me that portrait.
Four days later, when I saw this young Mum and her brood, I assumed it would be a flat 'no thank you'. I thought her alternative look, including facial piercings and tattoos, may leave her guarded about how she is perceived by the older generation. She was in fact by far the politest and most considerate person I met all week.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #4
There's an image by photographer Siegfried Hansen where white tape winds round a lamppost, blending perfectly with the white painted line on the road. It's a clever play on composition that, I argued in a group discussion, was definitely set up. Not that being set up is such a bad thing, but it does make you question as to what is real and what is constructed or digitally manipulated. The reason why it is so good, I was told, is the very fact it wasn't set up. Much as I still admired the image, I still would have bet the house it was set up - I mean, how often do you see things like that in the everyday world?
The very next day I was dining on humble pie, as I spotted this yellow tape and double yellow line combination in Shoreditch.
I don't think it's anywhere near as good as Siegfried's but maybe it's taught me not to be so cynical in the future.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #3
It’s early evening on 14th Street and my better half and her sister are enthralled in a marathon shoe shopping session in a shop called Shoegasm ( where yes, at the end of your purchase, they really do say “thank you for coming!”). I wasn’t too bothered as the early evening light was still good and I was happy to see what interesting subjects might come my way. Within moments of deciding to find a good street portrait subject, Candice sashayed down the road with her two friends. Her buoyant curls and performers' confidence made her an ideal subject to photograph - which is something she is quite used to, as little did I know she is an extremely accomplished opera singer ( have a listen at www.candicehoyes.com). After an exchange of emails and edits in both colour and black and white, this is her favourite image.
Till next time...
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #2
This is André and Suzanne and they are engaged to be married. I only know this as I was standing by them on the top of the Rockefeller Centre in New York as he popped the question. Unbeknownst to them I started to photograph the special moment ( it seemed clear that she was overwhelmed with joy rather than an awkward, "I’ll think about it") and allowed the story to unfold. Carefully picking my moment I handed them my card, and since then we’ve been in touch and they are delighted with their candid proposal images. Here’s wishing you a long and happy life together.
Till soon…
Matt Peers
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Behind the image #1
At a similar age my two boys hated having their hair cut, and so wandering past a local barbers I recognised that young cry only too well. Sometimes the only weapon a parent has is distraction - mine was my camera, his Dad, however,decided on an ear tweak instead...
Till next time...
Matt Peers
Me & I Photography
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A camera shy kinda guy
In my experience of family shoots you will often meet one or more of the group who does not like having their photograph taken. Even if someone doesn’t say outright you can tell the signs almost instantly. Or maybe I can because I'm one of them too. If you looked on my phone you wouldn't see any selfies or an extensive choice of profile pictures for social media. As a kid, I couldn't wait for the packet of photos to be returned from the developers to see myself in a photo. If it didn’t have me in it, I wasn’t interested. Those youthful care free times however, were soon replaced by teenage insecurity and self consciousness. My early twenties concern about whether I looked 'fit' enough was then dwarfed by the realisation that my once thick mane of hair was now rapidly thinning. Consequently, countless images of significant times of my life have been either ripped up, deleted and never to be seen again. Each of these events was met with the recurring thoughts of ' next time I'll look better and then I'll have lots of photos taken'. Occasionally I was happier to have my photo taken, but more often than not the imagined ideal ' next time’ never arrived. Of the images that somehow made the cull, I now look back and think, OK, I'm not model material, but, hey, I wasn’t that bad.
I'm a parent now, and parental stuff and extensive sitting on my backside working and studying for a degree have taken their toll. Of course, now more than ever I’m the one to be taking the shots rather than appearing in them. I realise, however, things have got to change. It's not just a matter of next time it’ll be different anymore; I will simply never get another chance to be in the photos with my boys whilst they are this age. And, truth be told, I don't have enough of me with them as babies and toddlers to carry on waiting for tomorrow.
So, if you recognise yourself in my tale, let’s not wait for next time. Take your selfies, be in the picture, and have something to look back on.
Making up for lost time.
Till next time...
Matt Peers