Watching Paint Dry
Lessons in gratitude 43 years in the making realised in a fraction of a second
Watching Paint Dry
Hi,
So far the month of January has largely been one of stillness, the broken ankle, although healing slowly, has meant I can’t race around as I usually do.
Yes I am a little frustrated but it has given me time to reflect and look forward, which has been enlightening for me.
I started my photographic life when I was 14, I was committed to a career as a photographer, now some 43 years, 11 months and 2 days later I am still a photographer, a very different one to the young boy who got a copy of Don McCullin’s ‘Beirut, A City in Crisis’ and Alun John’s ‘Newspaper Photography‘ and dreamed of a life behind the lens. I did get that dream but not in news photography, my break came in fashion and glamour photography, a far cry from the conflict zones I thought I wanted but much more glamorous.
What I hadn’t realised was that this work in fashion, shooting on medium format transparency film, would teach me more than I could ever imagine, lighting, exposure, lens choice, decluttering and trying to convey mood or atmosphere.
Shift forward to 1991 when I started in news photography - I started my job at the Daventry Express using a Mamiya RB67 medium format beast until they gave me a battered Nikon FM2 with two lenses one that didn’t focus properly.
What I found was that because of my experience photographing within the strict limitations of transparency film I didn’t worry or stress about the technical side of photography. I was able to respond quickly and decisively to everything that was thrown at me.
The only thing I had to concentrate on was ‘what is the story that needs telling here?’
Why am I telling you my reminiscences?
Because at times it is important to reflect and remember how much you know and what you take for granted.
I speak a lot on how I don’t care about the technical side of photography and that is true, I don’t worry about but that is due in no small part to the fact I get it, I understand the intricacies of light and exposure, the delicate triangular balance of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Something that many people struggle with. Because of the hundreds of thousands of images I have made in all sorts of conditions I can see the scene or subject in front of me and instinctively know the way I want to render that image as a print.
This is a gift of practicing my craft on a daily basis for over 40 years, that’s four decades of assessing light, lenses, composition and critique by picture editors, art directors and those who mentored me.
The key is still the same though, I still practice, everyday I make pictures, even if they are just of the dog!
This week I posted on Instagram the picture at the top of the article showing the paint samples on our hallway wall - not an exciting picture by any measure - made using my phone purely as a practice to see if I could get the tonal range how I envisaged it.
As I was using my phone I made the image in colour so that I could control the end product and place the varying colour tones where I wanted them in the greyscale tonal range.
The thing that struck me straight away how I automatically knew that in snapseed I would process the image as a bright black and white using the yellow filter. This happened in a split second, but because I have slowed down over the last few weeks I actually caught my thought process as I pressed the shutter and it stopped me at the precise moment I made the image.
Why a yellow filter on a black and white image - well simply put the yellow filter rendered the orange post it notes as a very light grey, and orange or red filter would make them nearly white, blue and green render the orange colour as a dark grey to black meaning I wouldn’t see the writing. Using the bright BW conversion kept the feeling of light that I experience in our hallway.
Compositionally I wanted the feeling of space and cleanliness, decluttering the composition meant I could use every single pixel to great effect.
These are all lesson I have learnt along the way from being a 14 year old who didn’t understand about how to focus but fell in love with the magic. I still feel that magic today albeit in a slightly different way.
What is important about this is that regardless of what you photograph, or how you photograph is that you DO photograph every day or at least every week, you only need to make one or two images to keep moving forwards, but also need to start looking at what you are photographing and understanding why you are making the image, even if it is just a practice image.
Essentially you are building muscle memory, developing those fine skills that come with practice so that when you get to the point of photographing something that really matters the technical side of photography won’t be the barrier that gets in your way.
One thing this enforced break has taught me is how much I take things for granted in so many ways, even though I thought I practiced gratitude on a daily basis I forgot to be grateful for all the years and thousands of exposures that I had made before.
Thank you for you time today
Best wishes
Paul
New Autumn Retreat for 2026
Welcome back to Erth
Erth is the most incredible destination for a photography retreat, mainly because we seem to have neglected to recognise the importance of nature in our daily lives. But also because the earth beneath our feet is what grounds us as creatives and nourishes us with inspiration.
Erth is a place that has inspired writers and artists, the gentle curve of the river, stone circles, wild twisted woodland and rolling hill. The spirit of creativity is in the everything from the fabric of the ancient chapel at the heart of the estate to the rich landscape that hides Erth from the world.
For photographers, writers and artists Erth offers so many opportunities to express your unique response to this magical place, from twisted trees to sinuous river, rolling fields and ancient architecture you will find this magical place has so much to offer.
I can hardly wait to welcome you to my second Erth retreat
My first book “Still - a mindful practice for photographers” will be on sale from 6th February in all good bookshops and some not so good ones. You can preorder the book so you get it on the publication day.
“More than a photography book, Still is a must-have guide for anyone seeking calm and clarity in their creative life.”
My Good friend, photographer and writer Ben Brain is hosting a retreat in the mountains of Snowdonia, he has a few places left to fill at a very reasonable price, so I am pointing you in his direction if you are interested.
Step away from routine and immerse yourself in a two-day photography retreat in the mountains of Eryri, North Wales. With its dramatic peaks, valleys and villages, Eryri offers a setting that has inspired generations of artists and writers. Guided by photographer and writer Benedict Brain, this retreat is about more than making scenic images; it is about connecting with place, exploring with creative intent, and refining your way of seeing.
Praying your foot will heal quickly🙏 Glad this enforced slowing down has helped you appreciate your photography journey.
Hi Paul, a fine article. I whole heartedly agree with you when you say "Because at times it is important to reflect and remember how much you know and what you take for granted.". This is so true. Being an oldie myself and with the passion from, funnily enough, 14 years old when I nicked my sisters Kodak Instamatic on a trip to Mallorca and headed off on my own to Palma Cathedral where, entranced by the gold encrusted alter and architecture, I fired off the remainder of the film . However, on our return, and after trip to the chemist to get the film developed, I was severely reprimanded when she discovered that I had wasted the film taking pictures "in a church" and there were no people in the photographs or any of the family group! Those were the days! Cheers, Ray. (Polaroid Workshop Oct/23 & Bexhill Workshop Jan/24)