As part of a small photography group we are given assignments to challenge ourselves, learn, and grow. It’s a neverending journey going outside your comfort zone to develop as an artist. I normally do not share images like this since it’s not always understood. But I think it’s time to let some out. In this assignment I was to take a style element inspired by a famous photographer and then create an image based on just that style element merged with my own. Photographer Lee Friedlander was my assignment. I really didn’t understand a lot of his work, but there were two elements that stood out to me – B&W film and random images. I don’t shoot B&W film so I focused on the seemingly random characteristics of his work. Shooting random moments and images should be easy right? Not quite! I struggled with this in hopes something inspiring would just fall right in my lap. Well it sort of did, but it took effort to notice it. I basically had to be “on” all the time, on the lookout for that shot. Here it is…
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- I was cleaing a .45 caliber Glock 21 handgun at my house to get it ready for test firing this week. To the left of me was the rising morning sun shining through the window. On that window is my kids’ sticky plaything that’s the shape of a yellow sun – it’s supposed to stick to glass and windows for fun. I think it’s been on that window for a few months now and I never gave it much thought. As I was finishing up cleaning the gun I decided to take a few photos, most of which looked like it was right out of a handgun magazine or something. It looked trite at best. So as I was about to take a break, I cleared the action of the gun and while doing that I noticed the shadow it cast on my desk. The muzzle of the gun just happened to fall in line with the reflection of the sticky sun play toy on the window. It was an “a-ha” moment. I took one my .45 caliber rounds, aligned it with the muzzle, and created this unsual image. For the record I do have basic and advanced firearm safety training. No cameras were damaged in the shooting of this image =)
Just my 2c
by Armin
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