Welcome to Alone with my Camera: Against Hockney, For Photography

Welcome to Alone with my Camera! I wanted to begin this blog as we are in isolation however in times of all crisis the thing that gives me absolute joy is picking up my camera.  Therefore today I was quite distressed by the article on Hockney today in The Guardian there he is 'sequestered' in Normandy, France surrounded by lovely quiet countryside and on his little [drawing] chair I imagine suggesting that we shouldn't take photographs!  He states; 'Question everything and don't think about photography'  - well I state really do think about photography the gist of his 'advice' seems to suggest we are not seeing properly if we are holding a camera.  Every true photographer knows that this is how we see!  Although I admit wholly to being jealous of the man drinking french wine and being somewhere lovely at this difficult time, while I am in my flat in the middle of Leicester City Centre, the man has forgotten that the majority of us are not looking at the beautiful countryside. 

So in 'homage' to Hockney this morning I trotted down to my city park and took this:

'Homage' to Hockney

See below his picture...

David Hockney: 'Painting every day in Normandy, France'

In my image the blossom is like cotton wool, fluffy and may I say painterly almost! The contour of the tree and the branches beautifully captured in all their natural glory - I say it is better!  

It also stated that Hockney 'thinks deeply' about his work and considers his paintings 'philosophical investigations of what it is to see something fully and “depict” it – his chosen word – with an intimacy the camera can’t give.' - he doesn't think the camera is intimate - the camera is very intimate as I put my eye to the viewfinder and move my fingers to adjust the light, the composition, the aperture, it is very intimate.  Once I have taken the image I have captured this forever, it exists at that moment only... Hockney, you are very very wrong!

So, while the rest of us are slumming it in Britain in our flats and houses, some of us with no garden or balcony (I don't have one) we can still experience the joy of photography and I can 'see' clearly.  I may have to work at home (I must say this is no fun!) every day but I am can still make time to experience the thing that will keep me going through the isolation.

So for my further pictures today from my one walk a day ....

These images were all taken on my little (but one of my favourite cameras) Olympus Stylus SH-2

I use the Super macro on the flowers and this camera has one of the best macro settings in-camera that I have ever had. 

The settings for this image below on the super macro were: ISO 125, F12.4, Exposure 1/200, focal length 11.9mm

The settings for this image below on the super macro were: ISO 125, F4.4, Exposure 1/1000, focal length 11.9mm

I had quite a few pictures of the ducks on the boating lake however I really thought I captured the water here so that you could see the swirls...

Settings for this image were: ISO 125, F6.1, Exposure 1/320, Focal Length 40mm (I didn't want to scare them away!

I liked the line of the ducks here (I am hoping that no animal expert is reading this as I am calling them 'ducks' but I am such they probably are either a specific kind of duck or something else!) Anyway settings for this one below: ISO 125, F5.2. exposure1/800, Focal length 20.9mm 

The camera has a pinhole setting that I am rather partial to in the right circumstances so the one below (look a person!) ISO 125, F5, exposure 1/160, focal length 19mm

And the heart of the weeping willow, an intimate study! Setting here: ISO 125, F5, exposure 1/160, focal length 19mm 

I thought I would share my settings for those that are interested just so you know how they were captured.  I hope you enjoyed my first post Against Hockney, For Photography!