I have a new presentation called Discovery & The Creative Choice. As is typical with a new program, I find I am continually making changes. I am constantly thinking about the concepts I want to present, reading what others have to say, studying, researching and then honing the presentation. Recently, I found a quote about discovery from Albert Szent-Gyorgi who says, “Discovery consists of seeing what everyone has seen, and thinking what no one has thought” The context of the quote was with regard to a discovery being made in the medical world. In this case discovering a cure for cancer. Many have seen the cells over and over again, studied things out in their mind, but no cure. Until someone thinks what no one else has, a new discovery will not happen.
How does this apply to photography? I have my ideas, but am interested in yours. What does this quote mean to you? Does it have the same impact on photography? With all of the images that have been made or that we have seen, how do we discover new ones? Is new to you enough or does it have to be new to the world? With regard to my presentation, I’m speaking about discovery more in terms of finding worthy images in a situation that might be overwhelming or challenging. That said, should we be finding images that have never been thought?
With regard to today’s image, it was pointed out by a participant in the Charleston workshop. While I did not look at or make his exact picture, I did see what he was shooting and made my own composition. To me he did and good job of discovering a scene that is not normally photographed at Magnolia Gardens. At least, I’ve not seen this take before.
