Frames: Cultural. Physical. Psychological. Each of us relates to the world in a way uniquely shaped by our origin and experience. The images we choose to make are shaped by these personal ‘frames’.
I once ran educational programs at an aquarium set on the Indian Ocean. A child of about nine was visiting from his home more than 700km inland. He was seeing the ocean for the first time. I witnessed his wonder contemplating this expanse and was staggered by his response to a friend’s comment: “Big, isn’t it?” his friend said. “Yeah,” he replied, “and that’s just the top.”
How deep the world must be to those who come to it with fresh eyes and perspectives. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons we follow the work of other photographers. To explore the world through their frames…. And perhaps to have our own world view expanded.
But the format of our views is largely pre-defined by the media we use. A world seen in rectangles and squares. The former directing a view, the latter pemitting a degree of freedom. And in our subject the choice to challenge or reinforce linearality.
Images: St Kilda Pier Cafe: Fuji X-Pro 2, 27mm, Acros; Masthead Island (from Erskine Island) Nikon F4, 105mm, Kodachrome 64; Victoria Falls: Hasselblad 500C/M, 40mm, Provia.
