Untitled-1

Untitled-1 is really a photograph that represents everything that I love about photography even though technically it carries just about every imaginable photographic “faut pas”. Still.

One of the things that continues to surprise me is the array of emotions and thoughts one can have even in the smallest of time frames.

When this photograph was taken I was actually shooting people on the other side of the street but that changed quickly when a bus decided to block my view. I then noticed the young woman, framed the shot, focused, noticed her beauty and felt her sadness. I then clicked the shutter.

All in less than 5 seconds.

I walked away a little disappointed that my image wasn’t perfectly exposed etc. but felt good about the multi-tasking that went on in my mind and what I felt on an emotional level.

Initially I put this photograph aside. I wasn’t sure if it was worth adding to my collection but I hadn’t deleted it either.

The photographs I take of people are often a challenge for people to look at and at one level, I actually do understand that. On other levels however, I don’t understand. When I see sadness, despair, poverty and other things in the people that I photograph, when I feel it, then in that moment I love them with empathy and compassion. When I see joy, then when I feel it, I wrap myself up in it and embrace it. For me it’s always a win/win situation. I always walk away having loved in some way.

If there’s one thing that I want more than anything is for people to actually take the time to look at life, photographs and art and then to allow themselves to feel.

Thanks for reading,

Rick Carroll