Bustin' Shots

There has been a storm cloud positioned over my head this whole semester. Shooting pictures of Worcester has been a goal of mine for a long time now. It just hasn't been as fulfilling as I thought it would. Basically, I haven't enjoyed myself. Producing images last semester was more fun then I had anticipated and I hoped the joy would carry over. But its tough. I was having trouble with every aspect of my work. So this week I reconsidered what it was that made my previous photographic forays fun and set out to recreate those experiences in a new environment. And then I saw it, perched atop Vernon Hill, shimmering in the daylight like a beacon of hope, glistening blue, radiating promise. So I climbed into the rubble of a semi-demolished hospital wing. Immediately the surge of excitement hit me and I felt compelled to take pictures, as opposed to forcing my self to do so. I've found that the more natural it feels on location the better the results. This may be a no-brainer but it is a component that has been missing in my endeavors as of late. I've also felt a refreshed sense of motivation. It compels me to learn more and absorb everything. So what am I going to do with these new urges? Learn to pick locks. I'm a rebel.

Special Bulletin

Excerpted from the esteemed Telegram and Gazette: "This past week the Pope of Wormclown made his first official visit to the tiny island of Jamaica. The trip marked the Papacy's fourth excursion the Caribbean. This historic event was marked by emotionally charged meetings with top religious, social, and horticultural figures in the Jamaican community. As the week drew to a close the Pope convened an impromptu interview. 'Jamaicans are a vibrant and animated people' he said ' I just wish that they would stop trying to sell me tee-shirts.'e"

The Jamaican experience alternated between relaxing, stressful, and all-encompassing bliss. The first day I arrived there I was so overwhelmed by the bustle, the colors, and new atmosphere that I couldn't even comprehend taking photos. As I settled into my surroundings my attitude changed. All I wanted to do was shoot. Where at first I had been wary of taking my camera out in public at all, by the end of the trip I was walking around with a strobe and a second lens. Shooting with accessories or even a wide-angle lens was a new experience for me. By the end of vacation I became a much more confident photographer hoping to put my new gains to use here in the WOO.

I liked this picture of the church because I was able to grab some of the beautiful color of the sky, which was usually too bright to accurately depict. I fell in love with the intersection of the lines in the foreground which I felt complemented the semi-crooked palm tree and the stark church. Ideally though I would have liked some separation between the church and the tree.