In the first reading, Tony Hiss outlines the concept of “deep travel” and a sense of wonder that is vital as one goes about their life, no matter their location. The concept of looking at your surroundings with the same wonder that you would if you were in a foreign country helps to resolve some of the challenges that I have faced as a photographer. Firstly, when photographing a subject that I know well it becomes easy to take uninspired pictures as a result of the seemingly uninspiring and over photographed location. However, Hiss’ concept of seeing your known surroundings anew argues that with a sense of wonder, any location can be incredibly inspiring. Another problem that many photographers experience is when shooting well-known locations, it is very easy to replicate the iconic images produced by those who photographed before you, not your original compositions. By utilizing Hiss’ method of approaching every location with wonder, it becomes easier to create original compositions. These concepts are helpful especially when approaching photography in New York, because although the city provides many interesting opportunities for photography, it is easy to either fall into a comfortable and uninspired routine or become distracted by large attractions, and miss the smaller more interesting moments.
In the second reading, R. Murray Schafer explores the intersections of the senses, especially in relation to sound and sight. Schafer makes the point that soundscapes are unlike any other sense, as the moment the sound ends it will never be heard again unless recorded. Schafer argues that sound is vital to the societal experience, especially in a time so polluted by sound. This reading brings a new concept to the practice of sound recording, especially in relation to video. Through his emphasis in sound, Schafer highlights the major difference between photography and videography. This is helpful when approaching a video project, as it becomes obvious that videos aren’t simply moving photographs, they are a completely different experience that records the human experience in more realistic detail.
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