Seeing with New Eyes

Intro by Skip Cohen

I found this post in Suzette Allen’s archives and wanted to share it with you because it represents not only a quality that makes her so unique but one that we all need to consider, often more regularly than we do.

Over the years I’ve been in studios with tape on the floor for the lighting and camera set up. I’ve been with photographers who shoot the same way every time. I’ve seen multiple albums from the same photographer that were almost identical in the layout. Over and again I’ve met artists who found the formula and live by the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Well, the truth is there’s a better expression, “If it ain’t broke you haven’t looked hard enough!”

I wanted to share Suzette’s short post as a reminder that all of us need to live life with new eyes every day. In the 190+ year history of photography, you’ve never had more creative tools than you do right now. Everyday photographers are experimenting and breaking the rules creating paradigm shifts in how we capture and create images.

Put aside a little time each week to experiment. Switch things up and create diversity in your style that matches each client’s needs. You can do the same old thing every day, and for a while, it’ll work, but you’ll get bored, and your images will start to show it. You’ve got to put your heart into being creative and experimenting with every new technology that comes along.

You can’t create images that tug at people’s heartstrings if your own heart isn’t in it!

By Suzette Allen

“Discovery lies not in seeking new land but in seeing with new eyes!”

This quote by Marcel Proust has been one of my favorites for over twenty years. Recently I have discovered a whole new world, by “seeing” with new eyes.

I see and experience my world largely through the lens of my camera. I am a total photo maniac and love photography. I see beauty and design in almost everything. But now I see through new lenses – with motion! Images that were hard to capture can be pulled from video. Suddenly my photos become movies and tell much better stories!

Four years ago I started using Lumix (Panasonic) cameras and two years ago I started creating moving portraits – beautiful living portraits telling beautiful stories. Now I’m seeing my stills literally come to life with Live Portrait and Flixel Cinemagraphs. It’s a new world – one that is alive and moving.

I’m celebrating the joy of discovery, seeing my world with new eyes and it’s SO exciting!