Initial thoughts on Project 1: The instrument

Just getting started on to Part 1. The first thing that you are asked to do is to put your camera on auto mode. Having practised for years to get out of auto mode and finally beginning to learn the finer nuances of controlling the camera, this is more difficult than I thought. Having done almost all the initial exercises, I realised that my white balance wasn’t set to auto! Now finally having turned the ISO and white-balance to auto and setting my camera to the Program mode, I am ready to reshoot once again.

Being in the field of teaching design, the first thing I ask my students is to unlearn whatever knowledge or mindsets that they have brought into the classroom and then start from scratch. Having to do the same at my age and experience is just a little bit different from 18 year olds trying to unlearn versus me who has spent a decade to get some control over the camera. It’s also liberating – not having to worry about having missed a particular setting. In fact its quite the opposite in my case since I keep forgetting some setting that I am still controlling. Anyhow, finally now my camera is as much on auto-mode as I can get it to be and I will be posting these images as is and without processing them.

My first reaction on seeing an image I took was ‘oh no its too dark, I should have over-exposed!’, remembering that I cannot do that. Also, being in lockdown is actually good for one’s creativity as I am forced to look at making frames within the house boundaries. I think it makes the whole process challenging and gives one an opportunity to think beyond the limitations. Hoping that this does not become frustrating anytime soon, I look forward to being on auto-mode for now – seems like fun.