“The Family of Jen” and Beyond
OK, that’s IT!
I need to choose a style of photo or subject to focus on.
While I do enjoy flitting around taking pictures of anything and everything, and editing or not editing as my mood dictates, I have been feeling for a very long time that my rate of improvement is far too slow. I do feel like I’ve learned a lot since I began taking pictures with my iPhone. At first, I didn’t pay much attention because while I tried to be creative, the images were mostly for myself, so why bother with the details? Hmmm, could there be a relationship between that laziness and my rate of improvement?? Anyway, once I found Instagram, I did start to pay more attention to cropping and other details I hadn’t bothered with, but certainly understood. It’s amazing what having an audience does for my discipline. But now I’m at the point where I recognize that if I’m going to keep myself happy, I need to improve faster. In order to do that, I need to choose a focus.
I’ve decided on portraits.
Growing up, we had The Family of Man in the house and I spent hours studying the faces of the people in it. (One day I hope to make it to Luxembourg Castle where I just learned that the permanent exhibit resides!) I feel a sense of yearning when I look at the raw emotions captured in those images from around the world: a yearning to touch and connect with the person in each photo. I want to generate that feeling for viewers of my own photos. I’m certainly not going to be able to take images like those in The Family of Man and keep my day job, but it’s a high standard to keep in mind as I take, edit, and share images.
Oh, and did I mention that I’m shy?
It will be an additional challenge for me—which is another reason I’m choosing this aspect of art to dive into. How will I handle my feeling that it’s disrespectful to take a close proximity image of a stranger without first speaking to them, let alone asking if you can take their picture? Will I challenge my own integrity, or will I buck up and interact? That remains to be seen. Or perhaps I’ll just stick with mostly friends and family. The future is unknown.
I am finding it remarkably difficult to aim the camera of my phone at people without creating dis-ease in them, which of course shows in the image. Nonetheless, here are a few portraits that I’ve taken thus far that I’m pleased with. Consider this the “Family of Jen”.
It’s my starting point for this project. Thanks so much to my friends and family for letting me share a part of them.
I welcome your feedback and critique. Without it my progress will continue to be slow.
One last thought: Are you thinking about, or already working on, a specific aspect of your images? I’d really love to hear about it. It will help keep me motivated to engage with you about it. Use that Comment section down there! ⬇
-Jen / @eelnej
25 Comments
[Book Fundraiser] love.
Most Comments
Newsletter
Juxt: 1000 Words
JUXT SOCIAL
JUXT Loves…
Jen, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and dreams as well as some candid shots of the family. It is wonderful to see all their faces. Love you bunches! Steph
Thank YOU, Steph, for taking the time to read it. It’s great to hear from you. See you soon on the big day!
Shyness, or perhaps a better term being observant, is a good thing. It’s a quality that makes an artist aware of his/her surrounds and feelings in order to produce amazing work. It’ll take practice to shoot people you don’t know, or don’t know well but I think eventually you can get comfortable. Observe and look for your opportunities to capture an interaction, expression or moment to say “hello”. I know I’m personally taking steps to go that way… Not shooting for the sake of shooting people, but seeking ways to make connections which fulfills the final result.
Wonderful advice, Nick; thank you. I’ve been trying to bring out the camera when I have those natural interactions with people. My instinct, however, is to set it aside so that it’s not intrusive. It will be a steep curve to break that habit. I really look forward to the challenge though. Your last sentence really resonates.
Thanks again, Nick.
Last night I was discussing this topic with a friend. For some time I’ve felt the same way, that I need to choose a theme or focus for the photographs I share on Instagram. There is a part of me that sees the randomness in my own gallery and cringes.
Yet talking it out last night made me realize that there are a dozen or more really outstanding and insanely popular ig photographers that I have unfollowed for the sole reason that their photos all looked the same. I still check out their feed occasionally, but I need some variety on my feed. The same subject matter edited the same way every day starts to lose that something special that grabbed me in the first place.
Another thought that came to light in the course of this conversation is that I enjoy photo challenges on ig. I feel like they keep me motivated and engaged with other igers. Cultivating a cohesive gallery would mean passing a lot of those by because I couldn’t have both no edit/ no filter images and double exposures.
What my randomness has done for me is force me to improve my editing skills. I still have much to learn. I am considering the series approach: 4, 8, or 12 images that explore a theme and then move on to a different theme. I’m also working on an editing style for the majority of my photos. Hopefully even when the subject and color palette is very different, once i get the processing technique dialed in it can help unify them.
Great topic. One final thought to share with you is something my friend’s husband told me recently. He travels around the globe for work and he made the comment that other cultures do not find staring at or photographing strangers offensive. If they are curious they look. I live in an area near a large Amish community and photographing faces is a huge no-no. Opposite extremes. My suggestion is pretend you are foreign and curious. Smile and gesture. From your examples it is obvious that you enjoy portraits and you have a knack for them. I especially like the hospital one and the woman in shades. Looking forward to seeing more!
Pam! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly about galleries losing my interest because the images all look the same. Have no fear
, I have no intention of creating a cohesive style on my IG stream. I’d get bored after the third image. My intention, rather, is to add to my chaos with a specific project. Who knows how much time I’ll have to devote to it, but I’m excited to get started.
Regarding photo challenges: Here, here! When I have time, I love to participate. They are a great way to… well, challenge ourselves. I think for now though I need to self-direct my challenge.
Regarding cultures, SO true! It’s silly to assume that everyone I encounter feels the same way I do about it, so I need to just do what works for me. The idea of pretending I’m traveling is a great one. When I travel I am less shy somehow. What is THAT about?! OK, I know what it’s about, but it’s a fascinating phenomenon.
Pam, which Pam are you? That is, what is your IG user ID? I’d love to watch your series approach if you decide to do it. I love that idea. I also look forward to seeing the results of the editing development process you describe.
Have a good one! -Jen
Sorry, after I submitted my post I realized I should have included my ig name, kalais2. Thanks for your detailed reply, I am even more intrigued by your project and look forward to seeing how it goes.
OK, I’ve found you on IG. We’re set!
Hi jen,
Really happy you’ve given this a thought and have been able to zero in on it. It’s a big step.
I have given this a thought too and for me, my focus is to create more series and sets with pictures. I already try to do this but sometimes I get distracted and go off course. This way I feel there will be more consistency.
Love these portraits and if you ever need a model give me a ring
Look forward to going with you on this journey…
Bridgette, you just said the perfect words! You WILL be a stunning model. I’ll be ringing.
I have been enjoying your series very much. From my perspective, the interruptions to them are not a problem in the least. Keep up the gorgeous work and we’ll all be happy–even without a consistent vision.
<3,
Jen
YES for the series. YES for the distractions. YES to the portraits. and YES to the modeling.
Ha ha! Excellent, Ale; I’ll be right over!
I think you’ve made a great choice, Jen. Lovely portraits! I have been struggling with finding my style in photography, quite unlike finding my voice in writing. I guess I still need to dig deeper. Exploring different apps, finding the strengths of each, being amazed by the end results with a tweak here, a tweak there, has been so fascinating that it’s hard to choose one modus operandi. Love the conversation you’ve started here and look forward to following your journey. Keep us inspired!
Hi Mansi! I completely agree about the fascinating results we can get from different apps. I will not be giving that up. I’m not really on a quest to find a style. I recognized awhile ago that I have a VERY wide range of appreciation for styles and subject and I don’t see any benefit to limiting it. Instead I’ll add this project on top of it to see if I can grow in this particular area. I’m so excited! And a bit freaked out. I have committed to this publicly now. “Keep us inspired!”?! …I’ll try, Dear. I’ll try.
I’m so glad you like the portraits. I’ll try to keep good ones coming!
As I mentioned on twitter last night, I really admire this approach to your photography. Portrait taking, in particular of strangers, is something I would love to do but am lacking the confidence to ask people directly if I can take their picture.
These portraits are wonderful. Cant wait to see more
Thank you, Jo. I sure appreciate your support. We’ll see how this goes. Baby steps are all it takes, right?!
If you get up the nerve and take a stranger portrait, tag me! I’ll cheer for you.
If I ever do, I will tag you, for sure!
Yay! I have so loved all of these I am such a fan of an honest photograph thank you for sharing your family with us. Muwah
Kisses back at you, Anna. And THANK YOU!
Jen i wrote you somewhere in this crazy world wide web how i loved this new course and all, but i don’t remember where or when i did that. So i am re writing this here, just in case, you know…
CAN’T WAIT
Thank you so much, Ale! xo I hope I can find the necessary time to dedicate to it, because I’m excited to make some progress!
Hi Jen,
As we say in our family, “I hear ya, Tom!” I am in a similar situation, in that I’d like to take my photographs to the next step and feel like I have more of a cohesive body of work. I find I’m taking plenty of photographs, but I don’t post as many to IG as I used to, unless it’s a particular series or assignment. Those still excite me, but otherwise, I get sort of lost in the purpose. I have been meaning to go through my work and look for “series”, to see what works well together and see if that can help me focus.
Anyway, I admire you for your honesty and your courage in starting this new project. I, too, struggle with taking portraits, even of family! It’s because of my own unease, I’m sure, that I can’t get my models to feel comfortable. But, if you have willing subjects and lots of patience, both with self and model, I”m sure you’ll find it gets easier and easier. Best of luck to you and keep us posted on the process!!
Hi Ella, thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings.
I doubt my stream will end up cohesive; I just need a focused area to improve in. Who knows though; I, too, have been posting a lot less frequently. It’s an evolution, for sure.
I don’t necessarily agree with you about your own unease being the problem with portraits. It could be, of course, but I know a lot of people (myself included), who are instantly uncomfortable on the other side of the camera. It doesn’t matter who’s holding it. Perhaps they are the exception, but I’ve worked with two recently and it was a win-win situation where they could work on their comfort level and I could work on my technique. I need to make appts with both of them again to pick up where we left off.
I enjoy your images so very much, Ella. I hope that you can find a way to regain that consistent excitement
–with or without cohesion. And I hope your husband is healing up nicely!
Dear Jen,
What a fantastic venture, congratulations.I’m excited to meet you, as I too have just decided to pick a focus and it is also portraits. IG has been a creative rebirth for me, Im a busy mom of two who left her creative passions behind to pay bills, make a home etc. I have always lived my life very emotionally, feeling very deep about most things I encounter, causes, illness, hardship, happiness – I am passionate about the human condition and the lives and the stories of others. I’m also a sucker for children, as you will see in my feed and find it much easier to photograph a child than an adult as children have an innocence not yet weathered by life, and are often unaware of the camera which lends to great candid shots at play or at rest. I have recently reached out to people in my community, business woman and friends to offer promotional portraits, straight forward business card snaps. I use this opportunity to capture these folks digging through their bags, looking exasperated at the thought of having their photos taken etc. of course this is only for my own pleasure, and development, but they are full of emotion and real life, and although i cant share them all, i love them. I do rely on family and friends and always have my iPhone 4s and if I’m off to family event, wedding etc I bring along my canon rebel t3 and more and more these days with just my portrait lens attatched. My latest mini series of portraits on IG were taken at a wedding where I challenged myself to approach random guests (and the father of the groom, who has incredible character in his face – he’s also my very kind neighbor). This was actually easier than I thought, open bars make for jovial and willing subjects. Off to wedding again today, we’ll see if I can do it again and hopefully will have a story to share in your IG group.
xx
Kelli @elephantgraveyard
What an exciting area you have chosen in which to expand your photographic horizons. I started learning about portraits in 1961 and I haven’t stopped since.
I’ll look forward to seeing your work on IG.
Best wishes,
Peter.