On Photographic Blocks
a short read on photographing your highest form.
Something I’ve observed about my past self is that when looking back, I see the roadblocks I laid in my path. I found problems and set out to solve them. “Oh, this is hard I should face this head-on to master it.” My mind loves a good riddle, and my psyche programed to find a way out. Every game of chess starts by moving your pawn forward, but the secret to the game is getting out of your own way.
Recently, a friend sent me a set of black and white images from a walk through his neighborhood. The very first image was arresting. I quickly riffled through the remaining frames and hurriedly thumbed my way to that first image. I marveled at it. It confused me. I stared. I secretly hoped I wouldn’t find a visual footing because I loved that I didn’t know what exactly I was looking at. Have you ever been watching TV, the commercials come on, and you forgot what you’re watching? And you do your best not to remember so as to be surprised when the show came back on? This was that feeling without the commercial interruption.
Eventually, my brain recognized a shape and my eyes darted from one corner of the frame to another, and I pieced together what exactly it was I was looking at. In this experience was my own personal story of an image in a place, that I had not captured, but I was invested and enthralled with. I made a fantasy in my mind; a movie out of one frame.
On discussing this work, we talked of color vs black and white. “I feel like it’s easier,” he remarked when I praised his monochrome vision. It was his retort to my own summation that, “Black and white photography is the most challenging work to photograph.” As I gently pushed back, I encouraged him to be like water. I suggested that maybe he saw black and white as less challenging because it’s his special power.
To frame an image, click the shutter button, and reveal the beautiful colors of the world is relatable, yes. However, to compose an image that stands solely upon the photograph in its most simple form… and allow the viewer to build a story themselves, is proof that a picture is worth a thousand words. I’d take it a step further and say that no words do a successful image justice.
This isn’t my typical photo update with my work, but a concept I wanted to put forward for all creatives, all photographers, all brands, and all agencies receiving my SubStack. The point of a creative pursuit isn’t to do the hard thing blindly just because it’s hard. The point of creativity is to tap into the channel that facilitates feeling infinite. The kind of presence one might cultivate in meditation, surfing, or a warm embrace.
I challenge you to look back and observe the roadblocks you’ve set for yourself in the past. Remember when and how you finally felt unburdened by them. Lastly, I want you to envision your future self reaching back and releasing the present.
Portfolio: RyanStruck.com
Socials: @RyanStruck
