I am very proud of myself for actually submitting photographs to the Oregon State Fair…. and Thrilled that two of the three were accepted for judging. My last post was about those 3 photographs and the friends that have influenced me to actually make those steps…. It hasn’t always been easy; I tend to move at my own pace and then jump off the cliff…. Or maybe just scramble down the side with many stops along the way. There is always something to stop and look at. Or photograph.
Saturday I was texting with one of those friends, Robin. We were chatting about some natural acorns leaves and other things that a friend had sent her for a project that we were planning… Eventually the conversation moved to the trip my house mate Susan and I had made last Thursday to the state fair, and my impression of the photo show because I had, had questions about some of the categories. I knew one of the best ways to answer those questions was to go to the show and study the work that was accepted. Robin asked if I got the answers I wanted? My answer was sort of…. Yes I got the answers to some of the categories but no I didn’t get answers to other categories. And much like scrambling down the cliff side, I managed to come up with more questions. The biggest question that will never have an answer but create all sorts of ideas is “What If I Did This????”
While we were texting I was photographing this old coffee pot the straw hat and a pair of glasses on my phone… My thinking was, What if I shot this in Black and White ?
I sent the color phone shot to her and her answer was” Tell me More?”
What if I added some dried cones I had picked up on our walk Wednesday afternoon, and a small crock with dried Black Eyed Susans? and I sent her the color photo but my mind was still saying Black and White
Her next question was ” what about something in the background ?”
By now I am thinking I need to go into the house and get my real camera because I don’t have my phone synced with my computer and those photos will not transfer over. I am on a roll that whole conversation was a little over 15 minutes long. I came out with the camera and a cup of coffee. Her suggestion was to finish up the photo shoot tomorrow, but I really am on a roll….
I added the cup of coffee to the shot . I actually picked that coffee mug because it coordinated with the Black Eyed Susans.
Then I spent the next several minutes deconstructing the photo shoot one shot at a time so I could re photo the process, convert the photos to black and white, and share here….
Will these shots show up in next years fairs…. Not likely, But What If I changed the background???? What if I found a pair of old battered cowboy boots or an old book ???? What If I spent the next year working on …. What If I….?
Deanne Dements Photography 