Most people can look back over the years and identify a time and place at which their lives changed significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the moments when, because of a readiness within us and a collaboration with events occurring around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live and to make certain choices that will affect the rest of our lives. — Frederick F. Flack
I am drawn to places of transit. Transit ‘lounges’ – why lounges I do not know, because for most of the consumers they are anything but lounges. Travellers are stressing over missed connections, or meeting or departing from loved ones; cleaners are stressing over their jobs, pay, and the kids at home; the building maintenance people are stressing over maintaining the building; security are stressing because nothing exciting has happened yet; or, everyone is stressing because something exciting HAS happened. And in the middle of this, there’s this guy wandering around taking photos.
While making photos of the ghost of Wellington railway station’s past, I wondered about how many people’s lives had changed inside these walls. I imagined that the entire range of human activity had taken place here at one time or other – births, deaths, marriages, conceptions, receptions, happy, sad, mad, glad. I could hear the ghostly voices, laughter, sobs. Make another photo. Click. Arrivals. Click. Departures. Click. Falling in love, in lust, under the wheels. Click. Crack ups. Break ups. Make ups. Throw ups. Click. Click. Click.
I feel invisible. I pour energy down the lens to capture the light beams reflected off the surface. We decode the data as an image. We construct meaning, and we respond emotionally, to what we believe we see. As I make each image I try to build a story idea around it. One image is destined for presentation here. It must have an associated story or it remains unused. Seeking the essence, the vital moment, the composition, that brings the shot to you. I want the shot to be better than yesterday’s. Better. I want to see a positive progression. Better composition, consideration, technical expertise, and most vitally, a better story.
And then there it is – the significant moment – the spirit is captured, a little piece of my energy is reflected, captured, and the photo is made. The choice is complete. The act of doing this has changed the universe, my life is affected forever.
Manifesto
06. Every day you make choices.
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
17. Every day look through a new lens.
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