Pavel P.

I started writing this post last Friday. I wrote it on my smartphone when sitting in the restaurant. I had to write the idea down,  because it would  fly away and I wouldn’t remember none of it. It is about judgments and rules. If you are a little kid you would rely on judgments of your parents. They form you and you need them. Judgments and parents. And rules. Ostrava, May 2016 If you do something creative, like photography, you need judgments and approval. You just need to know if you are doing well or not. When child grows it does exact opposite to what parents says. They need to detach to develop into individuals. I see analogy in the journey of my photography. P.

Yesterday and the  day before I was shooting with my zoom 14-42 mm M.Zuiko lens. My impressions?  It feels awkward and big. Camera feels twice as heavy. But it served the purpose. I was reading Don’s blog and he inspired me to make this switch for a while. Just wanted to challenge myself and see differently compared to what I see through 14 mm (28 mm ekv.) f/2.5 Panasonic. My always on lens. And I was surprised how it differed. Well, surprised and not surprised. Basically I was going to set it on 25 mm (50 mm ekv.). First find was that I wasn’t able to make all the shots that I wanted. For example with 25 mm I had problem to capture my kids when we were  having fun while walking through the river. Especially my son likes to hang around close to me. Therefore he was often not far enough to let me make a photo. And if I walked away to make the distance, he would run back to me. But that was OK. I waited till my son and daughter gets further away and than I was able to...

So I continue to do my stuff. It is humid and it is hot out, but I go there and shoot. It feels great when I make the SHOT. And it feel great when I find the shot on my hard-drive and it pops out in front of my eyes. It feels great when I get lost and find the way. It feels great when I am tired and go to bed, but knowing I made photos during the day. Just need to recharge myself and batteries of my Oly. To be ready for tomorrow. Brno, July 2016 P.

I  was struggling with my photo-book-making thing. I mentioned it here  the other day.  My problem was that I was lacking the right purpose of my book. My head was again full of nonsense. But solution was simple. I was questioning myself…  What higher purpose and leading story will my photo-book going to have?  But I did not find the answer. Why? Because the question was wrong…Anything, that I would make up, say, would be a lie. Lie to myself. There is no high purpose. Well, the only possible and the only one subject of my future book is…myself. I know, it sounds just-little-bit-too-egoistic. And it is truth in a way. My photos express myself and  not a specific subject. They show how Mr. Pavel sees and experiences  and wants to communicate the world around him. Nothing more and nothing less. And I realized that this should be substantial idea of my book. It will be something like a chronicle of what I had seen and photographed.I first had an ide...

Me 1: Why are you posting so often on the internet? Almost every day. Whole year. Day after day. It’s crazy. Me 2: Because I am out shooting very often. Day after day. I’ve got lots of photos. Me 1: But that doesn’t explain why are you posting your photos every day. Me 2: You know why. Because I want to show them to people out there. Me 1: But why? Me 2: Because I don’t want to keep it for myself. Me 1: It still doesn’t explain why! Me 2: Well, it is an image. A visual thing. It should be seen. Me 1: But, isn’t it sufficient if you see it? Only you? Why do you show your stuff to others? Me 2: Not enough for me. I just need it. I don’t want to have full hard disk of unseen photos. You know, if you play guitar, you shouldn’t play only for yourself. Me 1: Maybe you should. It calms you don’t. You will focus on yourself. Slow down. Me 2: I see what you say. Maybe I should. But I can’t. Me 1: Can you at least slow down? Post less. Enjoy more of your free time? Me 2: But it mak...

Snobbery. It is present in the society. And it is present in photography in abundance. Not only a camera snobbery. But also in self presentation. And selecting a “right” subject to photograph. Just saying. Just saying. Bystricka, May 2016 P.

Snapshots. It’s often perceived as inferior type of photograph. “Hey, it is nice shot”, someone says. “It’s is just a quick snapshot. Nothing special.” I hear the answer. As a snapshot was something of less value. Something less important. I used to have that opinion for years, too. But I turned 36 and I maybe I am getting wiser. I say. But what is the snap? Ostrava, May 2016 Merriam Webster dictionary definition of snapshot: “An informal photograph that is taken quickly “. And Wikipedia (that knows everything) adds: “A photograph that is “shot” spontaneously and quickly, most often without artistic or journalistic intent. Snapshots are commonly considered to be technically “imperfect” or amateurish – out of focus or poorly framed or composed. Common snapshot subjects include the events of everyday life, such as birthday parties and other celebrations, sunsets, children playing, group photos, pets, tourist attractions and the like.” Ostrava, May 2016 But why to co...

Success and fame seems to be the biggest motivation power today. More seems to be better than less. New seems to be better than old. Fast seems to be better than slow. So what values are important for me? And for you? Frydlant nad Ostravici, Czech Republic, May 2016 P.

Now and a year ago. Thank you Facebook for reminding me what photographs I was uploading one year ago. You know that Facebook functionality that puts your old photos you had uploaded in front of your eyes. It says “1 year ago. See your memories”. To tell the truth I don’t like what I see. What I see is where I was with my photography. But my approach and philosophy on photography has changed. Evolved. And I feel personal satisfaction when I realize that journey. I believe I will like my today’s photos when I look at them in one year. What I am sure, I will love to look at photos of my children and family. And they will raise in value in the years to come. These are most important photos for me. They show my life and my memories. Katowice, Poland, April 2016 P.

So… my book of family photos is finished and ordered. Now anxiously waiting for the delivery. It has over 500 photos, 138 pages, dimensions 21 x 28 cm, hardcover. Took me about a week to put it together. Couple of hours every evening. More than half of the photos are from my mobile phone. Total cost 82,- EUR including shipping. I used service called CEWE Photobooks. First time I tried them. I previously ordered a photobook from Blurb. I first thought Blurb was too expensive. Just found out,if I ordered with Blurb, a similar dimensions (20 x 25 cm) and same amount of pages (138),  hardcover, I would pay  67,- EUR including shipping. Hmm….in 2014…. I made a book with Blurb. It was hardcover, 68 pages , 25 x 20 cm and I paid 54 EUR including shipping. So it had only half amount of pages compared to current book, but price was only a little lower (by 12,- EUR). Conclusion regarding prices: Blurb is favorable if I am ordering book with a lot of pages. I should have checked ...

There are thoughts spinning in my head, so I will write them down till they go away. Till they are replaced by other thoughts. And so I can remember them. These thoughts are about me and finding myself in my photos. While this is nothing new under the sun it is a discovery for myself and I must pay attention to this. There were more people writing about it and I was reading it many times, but I really didn’t connect with it. Probably, I wasn’t ready. But, it started making sense. Bystricka, May 2016 It is about self awareness. Self value. Doubts. About taking risks. Doing what one feels to do. It can be described in many words, but it always means the same idea. I can’t remember who said it. But it was one Czech photographer. Someone asked him: “How do I recognize that my photo is good?” And he replied: “When you stop asking me about it.” Trinec, May 2016 And there is a guy I know from his photography blog. His name is Don and he is saying exactly the same thing. “When...

Why do I  write my blog in English? It is not my native language and I realize that my grammar is poor. The reason is, that English helps me to talk with my head. To connect with my mind. I don’t know why it is so, but it is. Ostrava, Nadrazni, May 2016 It helps me to open up and say what I think. In Czech, my native language, it doesn’t work so. Thought I didn’t even try it. Which leads to another reason. Most of the people, I mean photography people, speak English so it happend to be a natural choice. And also I feel more freedom to write. That I can say whatever I wish without the fear. P.