It’s about Reaction
The necessity of reactive photography. I don’t get to control much of when I can go out into the wild and create images. Because of this, my photography is primarily what would be referred to as reactive. When I get the opportunity to venture out and create my images, I am subject to the weather and the locations. And often the amount of time I have and how far I can travel. My photography outings are just vaguely planned hikes, and I hope for something pretty and interesting to point my camera toward.
Because of this, planning is something I am rarely able to do, and as a result, I react to my surroundings. This is a great way to experience my setting and immerse myself in the environment. I merely respond to what delights, intrigues, or makes me stop and admire what lies before me. I enjoy this process. I get lost in the moment, and when I come across an exciting scene to photograph, I have most likely created a story about it before I even get my camera out. That is the excitement of reacting to what I find, the thoughts, stories, or feelings that arise when do stumble upon a scene.
Time away from distraction and immersion into a new environment can be healing and meditative. It is such a pleasurable experience to have the clarity of mind to allow oneself to create a story about a photograph or even just the potential of one. This engagement with my surroundings is the most valuable part of my photography. My freedom of mind and emotion allows me to honestly react to what brings me enjoyment and photograph it in a way that hopefully conveys that joy and that story to others.
