of photography and violence

I had an exciting basic photography lesson with Boss RBL lately. I thought taking pictures was just all that-- peeping through a lens, aiming the target and click!

I would have never understood that there are such mammals called F/stop (an insect that would determine the size of aperture or the amount of light needed or something like that), Shutterspeed (the amount of movement of the shutter that you desire depending on the subject or something like that), Flash (when to use and not to use it), Rule of Thirds (in framing subject) and Stealing (which is not a crime).

And there is also decorum in holding the camera while on the act of shooting photos. The general rule is to ensure that you don't appear more choreographed or emote than the subjects of the shoot, otherwise you have to decide to reverse roles or change career at once.

First, Tristan, my only classmate, and I studied the use of a still camera, then a digital camera a bit later. In the workshop, we took pictures and then critiqued what’s wrong with the shots taken. There were also a little experimentation on getting some effects and adding drama to the subject like forced perception.

The use of technology like computer softwares in editing photos has given photographers, especially the neophytes, a huge privilege to correct errors in the take. For instance, the cropping tool allows the misframed photos to become Rule-of-Thirds compliant.

Now this tool also proves to be useful in accomplishing “virtual crimes”. Like if you wish to get back on someone who did wrong to you and thought of slowly decapitating or amputating the subject of your wrath without having to face an attempted murder trial, you just have to secure some of the target’s photos and cut whatever parts of his/her body to your satisfaction.

Little did I realize that photography can be a bloodless, seamless, slick form of revenge.

Lol!!!