My First Photowalk — in Paris
Photography is powerful, it can help build or rebuild self-esteem.
We know that Photography is an art of capturing the moments we pass by, shooting the moments we love by observing and feeling the qualities of light, in such a way that you never get tired of having a camera on your hands — this is what photographers feel about photography. Most of photographers tend to forget what photography is all about as they focus more on technical side and the professionals, they focus on monetary value but I am neither of them, I just love capturing moments.
About this Story —
Recently I did my first photowalk along with some other photographers in Paris to the location of Barbizon — the charming village of painters and its near by area of Fontainebleau Forest as the village is located at the edge of this forest. The travel is just a little over an hour from Paris.
This story ig going to be a mix of How I developed the taste of photography, About Barbizon & Fontainebleau Forest with some photos with emotions — which I would like to share, captured during this photowalk with some emotions keeping in mind.
My Love For Photography -
My love for photography developed a couple of years back, with some of my friends who were into the film making field. From that time I have been teaching myself about photography by reading about it, watching videos, and obviously by practicing on it.
This time, during this visit to photowalk, I tried to explore Street and Forest Photography with a group of like minded prople.
Street is actually a way to capture the life in the moment, and what better place other than Paris could have been for this. If I will tell you about the history, the Paris Street Photography was first made famous by Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Solitude Moment — All Alone
Above is one of the photo where I tried to capture the solitude moment or all alone moment. Being alone is very appealing to some people because they find comfort and solace in being alone. And its not wrong, there are many things a person can learn when they choose being alone over being with someone, anyone.
It allows the mind to settle. And Fontainebleau Forest is a place where many people come to spend time alone to find inner happiness, to discover the power of silence or to feel complete.
Struggle and Hope Moment —
Struggle is an unavoidable part of everyone’s life, below is one of the photo which was tried to capture with the same emotions in it. We all know that nothing ever comes easy, when people are trying to build towards their dreams.
Difficulties and hardships, will always be constant companions.
My Learnings in Photography -
Every once in a while I run into another photographer and talk about shootings, cameras they are using, what kind of photography genres they like to shoot. Everyone sees the world differently, and there is always something to learn. I love it. I talked to other photographers during this photowalk and took away many learnings and life lessons.
But there have been people before us who passed through a similar struggle, we must learn from their life.
My First Shot at Barbizon —
After arriving at the village of Barbizon, we stopped together to take our first shot. Also this was the place where the group started to split off on their own path after a quick introduction. I took the shots during entire walk and below was my first shot of the place.
Why should you attend a Photowalk —
I tried photowalk is to practice skills as a photographer, to stretch skills by trying new things and to learn from others in the group. During photowalk, photographers of all skills can benefit as participants can observe and learn from those who are more advanced. Also photowalk can be a more memorable outing.
Photowalking have an opportunity to network with other photographers who share the same interest.
Don’t be afraid of doing experiments and learning new things.
Some Other Photos -
Some shots which I took during my photowalk are shared below -
Sometimes life is beautiful and photography can capture that beauty, photography records history and preserves it for future generations to see and enjoy, photography has impact on emotiuons, values, beliefs and sometimes even faith. At the end I would say photography is so powerful, it could help us to build or re-build self-esteem. This is how the photographers fell in love with craft and I have started feeling its taste.
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