As many of you know, I have this theory about the way memories are stored, and I suppose I will go off on a little philosophical tangent here. So, in meta-thinking about my brain, the way memory works is nothing like the way photos are stored in your directory on your computer. Since all of us use computers (obviously), and we organize photos into hierarchical directory structures, we tend to assume our memory in our brain kinda works the same way.
I think many of us, especially those of you that are regular and semi-regular visitors, have a mild form of synesthesia, where sensations get cross wired. In extreme cases, people can "taste" shapes, associate colors with days of the week, and that sort of thing. They get by fine, so it shows the brain is perfectly capable of such multi-functional wiring. After talking to many many groups and presenting my kind of art to countless people, I think that about 70-80% of us are comfortable with how these images are presented because their brains store memories like mine. The other 20-30% of people, I notice, reject them outright because it is simply not the way their brain works.
Take for instance this barn. When we think of a barn in our heads, it's not just a series of shapes and textures... it's every barn we've ever seen - it's every weather condition we've seen the barn encountering - it's every feeling and emotion we were encountering at the time - it's imagining living in and around the barn - and it's also empathizing with the barn itself, imagining what it must be like to be a barn. So most of this is on the subconscious level, and it's why a boring, plain, predictable photo of a barn, while nice, does not really ever evoke anything deep in the viewer. Once you flip a few bits and allow the brain to make mistakes in interpreting an image, it allows some personal emotional context to come into play, letting the photo become more about the "viewer" and not about the photo itself.
Ahhh that was a long blog post I see... sorry about that... everyone in the house is asleep and I get lost in my thoughts.
from the blog at www.stuckincustoms.com
maryboz, dee_r, Idjpg, ecstaticist, and 78 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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wishiwsthr 55 months ago | reply
When I look at the barn, I get jealous because I want to be creative and popular like you; then I get frustrated because I'm not creative or philosophical like you and I never will be so I put on a helmet and pound my head against the wall while reciting generic soothing litanies from the dark ages.
I'm much better now, thank you.
neilalderney123 55 months ago | reply
Time to rest now Trey...
:-)
I agree with what you say. If you presented this image "out of the camera", it would be a nice image of a barn (It is a well composed shot, and , if well exposed) most people would say something like, " That's a nice photo of a barn & a river.".
When you take that shot & tweek it in the digital darkroom, (and give it more "life", you get a far more emotional response from viewers, "Wow! that's the best barn shot I have ever seen!. There used to be a barn on my Uncle's farm when I was a kid".
Why is that? I don't know, but your theory has merit mate.
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Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
e.breizh 55 months ago | reply
you have incredible technique and a real sense of composition :-)
~ CarLee Photography ~ 55 months ago | reply
I love your words, I think i read it three times lol
I like words :)
I used this hairspray back in high school when BIG hair was in. I wore it when a group of girls went away at the end of school for a last time holiday.
I bought this brand quite by change many many years later and when I used it ( not for BIG hair though) it brought back all those memories of that trip...
your thoughts reminded me of this.
Lovely barn for storing thoughts and dreams :) Car
LE POULAILLER 55 months ago | reply
BONNE ANNÉE – Happy New Year
_davidh_ 55 months ago | reply
Superb capture, really well done.
Congrats on Explore.
wottheduk 55 months ago | reply
Great image and thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. I tend to think of memories as filters in the sense that memories, which go hand in hand with beliefs, stops us from seeing what is there in it's pure form. Memories tend to superimpose ideas, biases, beliefs etc onto the image and masks it's... pureness, I guess. I doubt I'm making much sense but suffice to say that there is a moment when something is seen/perceived and before it is conceptualised that allows an unfiltered/pure seeing which is quite... magical.
Anyway I like this image and the treatment you gave it. I specially like the way the roof of the barn forms part of the mountain range. Genius.
janruss 55 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Color Photo Award - PREMIER -- Happy Kwanzaa!!, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
----------------
Your fantastic color picture is my winner!
Please add this photo to Color Photo Award - PREMIER
The road to BRONZE, SILVER or GOLD starts at PREMIER!
invited with SICI (2008-12-10)
Linhy 55 months ago | reply
it's like reading a story (picture story) =)
todd- 54 months ago | reply
awesome photo. love the texture. it did accomplish a deeper engagement. thanks for sharing the blog post here too! makes perfect sense.
*Yεss* 54 months ago | reply
Yesss, like a dream!!! Beautiful blue landscape, I love it.
StafbulCZ 54 months ago | reply
Beautiful!
Monday Morning Photography 54 months ago | reply
The texture is a wonderful addition to a beautiful location
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called SLR 100/1 ~ Photos of Beauty, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Lollygagging 54 months ago | reply
You speak to my soul Trey, through your words and your images :-)
I loove love loveee this. The Grand Tetons hold such a special and memorable place in my heart... I absolutely adore how you captured them. :-)
maduroman 54 months ago | reply
Es cierto lo que dices. También ocurre con el resto de las artes. No es sólo lo que son sino lo que transmiten.
✪ patric shaw 54 months ago | reply
very trippy!
greensake 54 months ago | reply
brilliant as always!
noprayer4dying 54 months ago | reply
this is what we called beauty
joshhikes 53 months ago | reply
a group called dream images - rêve, dreams of having this added to the group!
New Clear [deleted] 42 months ago | reply
Great photo! I also like the effects. Great job!