We lead a strange life as photographers. It’s an anxious one, to be sure. We anticipate a job, a moment, a peak of action. We worry endlessly about missing it, without, often times, completely knowing what “it” will be. We have technical stuff to brood over–focus, exposure, lens choice. We see something potentially significant out there in the world, put our camera to our eye, and are about to actually do it right, and our view is blocked by a passing bus. We are shuttered, more than occasionally, from the desired scene by events beyond our control.
“Beyond our control” is an unfortunately accurate, merciless phrase photographers live with constantly. It is part of our lives and ongoing angst, a Sisyphean boulder permanently attached to our slumped and aching shoulders. We don’t control the weather, or, often times, the quality of the light. We rarely are in control of our subjects’ schedules, moods or whims. We are often unable to orchestrate access in an optimized way. The budget rarely approaches the level of what our imagination might be. Remember Han Solo’s rejoinder to the youthful Luke in the first Star Wars, when Luke tells him rescuing the princess would bring a reward that would be, “Well, more than you could imagine?” Han replies, “I don’t know. I can imagine quite a bit.” That’s us. We imagine on a great scale. And it often remains….imagining.
So it goes, as Mr. Vonnegut wrote all those years ago. We fret endlessly about all the attendant difficulties associated with our art and craft. It’s ceaseless. It percolates in the night, intruding into our dreams in evil fashion, often ruining a night’s sleep. And, the hell of it is, those pre-job worries that vex us are nothing compared to the post-job, moment-I-missed, or things-I-shoulda-done-better purgatory that inevitably awaits us when we launch our cards into the reader. Whoo, boy, that’s when the crankcase of our mind, ego, hopes and dreams really ruptures, spewing shrapnel through the already thin veneer of our confidence and, potentially, through the even less fortified state of our finances.
And what does all this worry and head shaking self-recrimination come down to after another year behind the camera? Another twelve months, which is 365 days, thus 8760 hours, and therefore 525,600 minutes, which naturally becomes 31,536,000 seconds. That’s a lot of seconds. But the time where we are successful comes down to a very short amount of time–in fact, less than a second, in my case. I’m including in this blog a few favorite frames from last year. The shutters speeds on all of the included pix total less than a second. How is that possible, or even reasonable? Geez, I worried all year–31,536,000 seconds–about pictures that took less than a second to make! I suspect that is true for many of us, that time frame, unless we are out there consistently shooting time lapse or nightscapes.
If only we could confine our worry and self-doubt to an equivalently short period of time!
Not possible. See, the mental ping-pong we play in our heads. “I suck, I don’t suck. I suck, I don’t suck,” is with us, always. But it’s worth it, right? Because the rewards are the pictures. We often fail, that is a given. But when we click well, when the elements concur, and the photo gods smile, and the light is good, and the technical sparks are flying, and the lens is right, and that photo we came for is made….well, then it’s all worth it. At those moments, as my high school basketball coach used to say, “The sun don’t shine on a dog’s rear end every day, but today it’s shining on yours!”
These are a few moments the sun shone on my, uh, well, lens, this past year. The shutter speeds added up to less than a second. The pictures, and the memories of making them, thankfully, last longer.
Mary Karr. Good friend, sublime, funny, brutally honest writer who has taken the art form of memoir to searing, painful, delightful, acerbic, wondrous heights…..
Shot with D850
Havana, Cuba….Josie’s kitchen. Started photographing dancers in the 70’s, and have yet to tire of it.
Shot with D850
The sublime streets of Havana….old cars (made of steel, perfect to perch someone on) and a ballerina.
Shot with D850
Vegas, Monster Jam Truck Championships. Krysten Anderson suits up to drive the 2,000 plus horsepower Grave Digger truck.
Shot with D5
The embodiment of a wonderful teacher, Sallie B. Howard. Sadly, she passed on very soon after this was made, at the age of 102. Just an amazing lady.
Shot with D850
The lavender fields of France. Colors and lines……
Shot with D850
Pictures from the planet Z! Happily got caught up in the efforts surrounding the launch of the Nikon mirrorless camera, the Z7.
Shot with Z 7
The open plains, with my dear friend, Nancy DeSantis.
Shot with Z 7
The indomitable Margaret Sellars, aged 90, holding the ID card she received on Ellis Island at the age of 2, when she came to America.
Shot with Z 7
Les Goodson at the Paris Blues Club, Harlem, NYC.
Shot with Z 7
And a quick lighting demo, on the streets of London, for Nikon UK.
Shot with Z 7
Will continue to seek more slivers of a second this year. And, no doubt, I’ll continue to worry about it, all the time. Best to all….more tk…
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I love the perspective you lead us to see. Those razor thin moments are so wonderful. Thanks for catching and sharing and inspiring others and… well me… an unworthy landscapy kinda guy.
Great comment on perspective.
Just too good Joe, awesome! Happy New Year. If you ever come to Boston, give a holler. Best, Kory
While I love all your favorites, my favorite is of the ballerina en pointe on the ’57 Chevy convertible!
Wonderfully communicated
Photo Tenacity… If it’s hot we sweat, if it rains we get wet, if there are snakes we eat them. Just GET the shot. lol Love your blog and your support Joe. Let’s make some great photos in 2019.
I’m lucky as an amateur in that it doesn’t really matter if the shot doesn’t come up to standard in the same way it does for a professional; I have no reputation or paycheck depending on it. What worries me more are the photographs I’d like to take but for some reason either can’t or don’t get a chance to attempt. The photo ideas which fill my head and which I want to try and turn into images.
All the best to you and those you care about for 2019
Andy
As Eric Clapton was deemed a God in terms of his ability to play guitar the same can be said of Joe McNally the way he bends light and tells a story with a single photo.. As always, great work!
Thanks enjoyed your thoughts and the shots
Last time we met was at Bob Sachas ? I enjoy seeing what you’ve been up too.. it’s been a long and winding road take care
It is because you spend all the other seconds fretting that makes the single second (or less) so successful. Worry and panic can be fruitful – provided you can conquer it and not the other way around. A great write up and lovely to see the retrospective on your year Joe.
Best of luck in the new year for you Joe, Annie, and your studio family! Is that new book still in the works? (I hope so!) Cheers!
Ah, Joe in addition to being a damn good photographer, despite using very few seconds a year, you are my friend “a silver tongued” writer. You did good with the eleven clicks that probably took less then one of those millions of seconds available to you Obviously you need to work harder! Happy New Year friend.
I enjoy reading your written word as much as I am continually in awe of your photography. . Here is too a fantastic 2019 !!
Happy New Year to you, Annie and the entire crew.
Be well.
John
I recall when attending one of your excellent appearances in Adorama years ago someone asking you how long you’d been shooting. Your Reply: about 30 seconds. Time for another book, Joe. Your photography is only equaled, perhaps surpassed, by your writing talent.
Joe, your writing is as eloquent as your photography. It is always inspiring and motivating when someone of your stature in the arts shares their moments of introspection throughout the creative process. It’s easy to forget that even the professionals go through moments of doubt and crisis of confidence. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the beauty of your pictures.
Hi Paul…appreciate you stopping by the blog! All best for the coming year, and yes, the doubt always lingers:-)))
Thank you Mark! Slowwwwwllllly working on a new book….
Thank you, John!
Same back!
Always need to work harder, Ken, especially when I have a mentor like you who set the standards for all of us to aspire to! Hope to see you this year!
All best back! Still in the works!
Wow, long time ago. Yes, a long road, indeed.
Wow, very kind of you, though I would defer. Just a shooter who’s been doing it a long time. But I thank you.
You got it TBow! Keep shooting, man!
Will do, Kory! All best for 2019!
What a great compilation. I wish U great captures for 2019!
Great blog! That’s why I always keep coming back. Loved the photos too BTW, especially of Margaret Sellars’ portrait. So fitting.
Fantastic photos Joe, what a year you have had. I love the term “Mental Ping Pong” oh how we all suffer from it. As ever keep going, your work is great!
Many thanks! Same back to you!
Awesome images, but then they always are.
Very inspiring thoughts Joe, thank you! The image captured in Josie’s kitchen is simply amazing.
Some most amazing lighting in these photos, always great to see such creative photographers
Great compilation and magnificent photos <3
These are really great photos.
wow wow
Joe! It’s 2020 and I’m still inspired by every of You photography. Thank You
These photos are an incredible inspiration … Regards, Editorial staff of the Polish Portal Fotografia-Weselna.pl
Thank you for that. Incredible lecture.
What will 2020 lokk like? Completely different. Covered faces or no faces at all 🙁
Amazing photos. Great job.
Each of these photos is unique! I love the lavender field, so beautiful <3
I love you pictures Joe!
It was a good year
brilliant reportage! Congratulations
Joe you’re the King of the photography!
Great photos! It’s hard for me to choose my favorites one
Great Job !! this pictures are awsome!!
Great colors! The photos are amazing