Other People's Pictures

My fascination with trying to capture other people's pictures began, as most artistic endeavors, by accident. While at a football game I was getting ready capture a field goal kick when a few rows in front of me a fellow Patriots fan lifted her phone above her head also trying to capture the moment. I quickly re-framed my shot, refocused, and took the shot. The image is still one of my favorites that I have taken in a while, excluding pictures of my son.

The more I looked at the picture the more I became intrigued by the notion of taking more like it. With the development of camera phones being able to take better quality pictures more and more people have a camera on hand at almost any time of day. People are now beginning to communicate with pictures almost as often as with words. With things like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat pictures and words actually have an exchange rate (though I think a million might be an exaggeration for most snapshots).

These photos represent for me a look into how others are viewing their surroundings. Through many years of practice and many failed attempts I would like to think that I can frame a decent photo. It has always been my belief that there is a difference between a snapshot and a photograph. Maybe I sound like a snob but hear me out. Most people use point and shoot cameras or phone cameras to take snapshots. They pictures taken of people turned to look at the camera and smile for the soul purpose of saying here I was at this time in my life. A photograph is more of a statement on the beauty of a landscape, the culture of a people, or even a statement about the personalities and relationships between people.

I am not saying that you cannot take a photograph with a phone, nor am I saying that I am a better photographer than most people. For me photographs can say more than snapshots because they invoke thought, begin conversations, or have different meanings to different viewers.

My goal with this project is to take other peoples snapshots and make photographs about them. Framing a photograph is probably the most important part. When I am on vacation I try not to be a jerk about it but I take a picture of my wife and before I hand my camera to a passerby I show them the picture and ask "could you please take this picture with me in it?" Of course the next thing I usually have to say is "No you have to look through the hole the screen doesn't work like that." As more and more people take more and more pictures though they are starting to figure it out. I would be willing to say that the average teenager takes at least one picture a day, that is a lot of opportunity for failed as well as successful photos. Without realizing it the everyday average Joe is becoming a better photographer.

This whole project is about seeing the world through someone else's viewfinder. Capturing that moment of them trying to take that snapshot that will remind them of where they were that time they took that picture. It may also be a fairly safe bet to say that most pictures taken with a phone somewhere end up on some form of social media. With that in mind this project is also a commentary on communication and insight into what people are trying to say to the world.

Taking pictures is a fantastic way to preserve moments in time. They really are worth words and there is no reason that you should ever stop. Keep your cameras handy and don't hesitate to take a shot of that time you did that thing.

P.S. what does it say about me that all of these photos are framed to the left?