Things I'm actually thinking about when I'm taking a photograph. Based on me paying attention to my thoughts at the time of exposure, this morning.

 

Before I regale you with what I actually think while out clicking the shutter I have to say just how thrilled I was/am that the swimming pool was back open today after being closed the previous three days because of the nasty weather. Actually, the weather wasn't that nasty. It was just cold. And we did have ice and snow for a couple to days so there is that. Anyway, I made it to the pool a bit early. We have a scheduled masters workout at noon most days but I rolled into the parking lot at 11:30. No big deal. I pulled on my Speedo Endurance Jammers, grabbed a pair of Speedo Vanquisher II googles and headed to the pool deck. It was about 50° and we did have a bit of wind but none of that really matters because the water temperature today, as in most other days, was 81°. Too hot for competition racing but just right for a regular practice. I got in a mile before coach Annie and the rest of the swimmers showed up. The sun was shining, we soaked up ample amounts of vitamin D and everything was right with the world just then.

It is amazing how cranky we swimmers get when we have a forced break in our routines. As a disciplined group who will gladly show up and swim even when there are icicles hanging off the starting blocks we deeply resent anything that breaks training. For no other reason than that we value routine and always following through on intentions. No New Year's resolution posers here. There is also the social component. It's nice to get a daily dose of friendship and camaraderie from a dozen or so swim friends, many whom I have known for, well, decades. Pretty much an unmatched social safety net...

There have been a lot of blogs written lately that make the argument that photographers are mostly out shooting to flesh out or add to similar images which all spring from a single, dominating "idea". An idea that each artist must possess if they are to be taken seriously. I, of course, emphatically disagree. While it might be comforting to pretend that everything falls into order with acres of rational thought and planning behind it,  my experience after knowing an outrageous number of writers, artists and photographers over the last five decades screams otherwise. I have to give credit to Dogman (blog enthusiast) who found this tidbit about Elliott Erwitt. It goes like this: "When Elliott Erwitt was asked what he was thinking when he took a certain photograph, his answer was, "Thinking? Photography's not about thinking. Photography is about seeing." And that's exactly the way I understand photography as well. 

But as a thought experiment I thought I would take a shiny, black Leica M240, a 35mm lens, and a couple of hours and just walk around on the main street across from the University of Texas campus, take photographs of "whatever caught my eye" and try, in the moment to take note of what I was thinking right then. Seriously. As I was taking a photo (but not before!) I would try to catch the fleeting thoughts going through my noggin. I even brought along a small paper notebook and a pen to jot things down for accuracy. Here we go: 

"Jeez. I hope my car doesn't get towed. I never have gotten a ticket when I've parked on West Ave. but there's always a first time. Maybe I should have paid the meter. On the other hand I don't really care if I do get a ticket. They are only $20 and I can pay it online...." 

"This building has been here forever. I remember when I lived right round the corner back in 1976. It was falling apart back then. We all thought it would get demolished. I guess the Austin boom made a lot of these older buildings more valuable. Can't believe it's now a hotel with a starred restaurant. Maybe B and I should go to dinner there sometime soon." 

"Really? That's a P. Terry's? (hamburger restaurant chain) I love those shade structures. They look so 1950's atomic age. A throwback. And the neon on them rocks. Glad to see some style in a fast food restaurant. Should I cross the street to get them bigger in the frame? Naw. Too much trouble. I'll just crop them. No one will know the difference..."

"I want to get the whole building in so I can correct the verticals in post. Otherwise that guy who hates keystoned images will bitch about it in the comments and I'll have to pretend that I don't even notice stuff like converging lines. But shit! I'm right on the curb. If I back up anymore I'll be right in the traffic lane. Love the "Gimme Danger" logo on the front of the building. Works for me.

"Well, that's a really shitty composition but I only brought a 35mm and if I cross over the four lanes behind me the wall will be too small in the frame. But I really want to get a tight shot of the "Gimme Danger" logo so I'll remember that I liked it when I saw it and then I see it again. Maybe I can do something with it in post... Weird, I've noticed that this Zeiss 35mm Bright line finder isn't very accurate. I always get more on the edges in the final files. I guess that's better than the other way around. I guess that's why we also chimp."

"Okay. So this is a really weird composition but I want to show the old church building in front of that new dorm tower. They really should tax churches. I can't save the shot entirely with the transform controls in Lightroom but I guess it's worth a shot. Happy I set up the review on this camera to engage when I keep the shutter pressed after I take the shot. It's helping me take fewer frames since I know what I just got."

"This place has been empty since the pandemic. And it's right across from UT. I'm pretty amazed some developer hasn't done something with the space yet. I remember the shop that was in here from a long time ago. They sold "lingerie" and my goofy engineering roommate bought his girlfriend some. She hated it and I think that was why she dumped him. It would have never worked out anyway. An east Texas republican engineering student and a hippie, Peace Corps, non-leg shaving feminist. Who could have guessed a break up was in the cards? The real mystery was always how they got together in the first place. I hope I comped this correctly. The sun is glinting off my glasses and making the finder tough to see. Oh well, it's not a great shot to begin with.... where are all the students today? I thought classes changed at 9 a.m. Not very crowded out here and it's such a nice day..."

"Love this sign. I love donuts. Okay, so here's my dilemma. Do I go ahead and shoot this while college students are walking past underneath? Will that make me look like a creepy, old photographer? How long do I have to wait until the scene is clear? Would it work any better if some really attractive girl was in the frame? I know it would but it's not worth it to find someone. It's the sign that I really like. 

Donuts. Now I'm thinking about coffee but I don't really, really want another cup of coffee. Maybe I can find a place to get a cup of hot tea. That might be better. Love the saying though. I can send this to my friend who always, always overthinks shit."

"Yeah. I actually like this closer shot better. It's all about the saying and not all about the rest of the street. Donuts are sounding better and better. Love the feel of this camera. And I love the fact that it has enough nicks and brassing that I don't need to baby it. I wonder where there's a good donut shop around here...

Does walking around with a camera make any sense at all? Is anything about photography still really relevant? Am I just out here spinning my wheels because I'm bored? 

What time is it? I don't want to miss swim practice."

"I always love this Dylan mural. Reminds me of the people at UT who chained themselves to 

trees to try to keep them from getting cut down, way back when. Everything felt so strong and so real back in the 1970s. When did we get so jaded and cynical? I like the converging walls. Did this club used to be Raul's? Oh rats! I need to change my f-stop. Maybe f8?  At least I'm in focus...

All these college kids and not a single one of them has a camera. Really? That's so strange."

"I can't believe Dirty's is still open. I should call Greg and see if he wants to have lunch here next week. It sure would be a change from Maudie's or the Salt Trader. I haven't been in here since the 1980s. Doesn't look like much has changed. I wish the blue barrel wasn't there on the right lower corner of the frame. I guess, if I like the photo enough, I could make it disappear in PhotoShop. Which reminds me of the big brew haha about Steve McCurry PhotoShopping trash out of a photo. People should just fucking get over it. Digital manipulation is here to stay. Old schoolers bitch too much about stupid stuff. 

No blue barrel? Not a problem if it's not a documentation of a crime scene..."

"I love the sign about the hippies. Should I go tighter? Naw... I like seeing the wall at an angle. It would look pretty dead if I shot it head on and flat. Plus there are so many clues. I really have to be a bit wider if I'm going to get the line of type at the top that says, "Celebrating 99 Years." Can't believe it. That would make Dirty's the oldest surviving restaurant in Austin. Kept alive by frat rats and hippies."

"Sue me but I think there is something romantic about Coca-Cola signs. Tragic, but romantic." And I guess my cameras are addicted to clean, blue Texas skies. Just need to make sure the white siding doesn't burn out...."

"What the heck? I've never seen this mural before. What's it doing at the back of an Urban Outfitters store? Makes no sense at all. I love the colors but I really love the deep black of the stairs and the foreground. And always the Virgin Mary. Better by far than a brick wall. I need to move right to keep the sunlit background out of the scene. Too much difference between the light on the mural and the light in the far background. Oh shit! Is it already 11? I'd better wrap this up and get over to swim practice. 

Thank God I don't have a real job I have to go to. That would be most inconvenient. 

One thought. Happy to have only one lens and one camera. I have so little patience for carrying too much stuff around with me. Now it's crowded with students. I forget that they flow like rivers at 

intersections and crosswalks. Photography is based on big ideas? Not likely.

Experiment ended for swim practice. 

Want to read what I thought about during swim practice? Me neither.