Boynton Beauty Saloon. Old Georgia Highway 2, Catoosa County, Georgia
It occurred to me today that it's been a long time since I've written about something that has always been a major element of my photography -- serendipity.
According to Mr. Webster, serendipity
is "an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries
accidentally." Have you noticed that some
photographers seem to have a monopoly on luck? Or at the very least, a downright
uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time?
But is it really luck--or
chance--or fate? Partly, perhaps, but I think there's something else involved
as well. Something I call the serendipity factor. It has been responsible for
many of my best photographs, and I believe you can learn to use it to improve
your photography also.
I can't do much about controlling fate, but I've
found serendipity to be a most agreeable muse, and one who can be courted by
the photographer who is willing to spend some time with her. In fact, it takes
only three things to win her favor: preparation, presence, and awareness.
First, prepare. Simply carrying a camera (ready to
shoot, of course) is the most basic form of
preparedness. The more advance thought you give to such matters as the
equipment you're likely to need, the kinds of subjects you may encounter, the
probable lighting conditions, and possible problems which may arise, the more
likely it is that serendipity will bestow her favors upon you.
Second, presence.
Or to put it more simply, be there. Old-time press photographers used to say
that the key to great pictures is "f8 and be there!" But where is there? I don't know. You'll have to find
that out for yourself. But I can tell you this: if you're enjoying a leisurely
breakfast at your hotel in Bangkok
as the sun rises and the streets begin to come alive with people, you're not there. There is out on the street, taking advantage of that glorious light
and the relaxed, early-morning mood of the people.
Where's there? There is anywhere
things are happening. "Theres"
are infinite in number and you can't cover them
all, but if you pick one and pursue it good things will happen. If you want to
meet serendipity you must go where she is.
Third, be aware. Let yourself be loose and sensitive to the things and
people around you. You can't do this if
you're uptight or in a hurry, so slow down and tune in. The great French
photojournalist Robert Doisneau, who had more encounters with serendipity in a
month than most of us have in a lifetime, said "My way of working is to relax
and take things slowly. I enjoy just wasting time...I believe I have gained
most in life in those moments in which I simply wandered about without any
fixed purpose in mind."
Prepare, be there, and be aware--and
serendipity will find you. And you'll find that the more diligent you are in
practicing these three things, the luckier you will become. Here are a few principles to help you court her favor.
Assembling the raft, Madras Beach, India
Get Out Early Some photographers prefer evening
light, but I often find my best pictures early in the morning. There's a
different, softer quality of light, a calm freshness in the air, and both
people and nature seem more relaxed and approachable. On the city beach at Madras, India,
the pictures come early or not at all, because the fisherman lash their raft-boats
together and push them out through the surf at first light. (Olympus OM,
35mm Zuiko, Fujichrome 100.)
Early morning, Mayalan Village, Northern Guatemala.
Go Where the Action Is In third world countries, the
action is out on the streets and in the market places. In the U.S., it's sometimes a little
harder to find, but it's still there if you look for it. The northern
Guatemalan village
of Mayalan is a beehive
of activity in the early morning as the people go to their work and the
children to school. Situations like this are so loaded with possibilities that
you can almost get by without serendipity!
(Olympus OM, 75-205 Vivitar zoom, Fujichrome 100.)
Bottoms Up! Swans on the Berry College campus. Rome, Georgia
Just Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Brain Turned On This is the most basic and effective advice I can give you. As the great sage Yogi Berra once said, "You can observe a whole lot just by lookin'." Look for things that are different or out of place or don't quite go together. The pictures at the top and bottom of this post are good examples. And when you see things like this, be ready to shoot.
Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia
are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.50 shipping. My PayPal
address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail me a check to 8943
Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how
you would like your book inscribed.
Check out the pictures at my online gallery: https://davejenkins.pixels.com/ Looking is free, and you might find something you like.
Photography and text copyright 2024 David
B.Jenkins.
I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless
life gets in the way.
Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.
Tags: photography travel seeing photographs serendipity India Guatemala Berry Collegs Olympus OM cameras Fujichrome film
