Slow Photography

Ned Harris New York Photographer  "I work like an acrobat."   In 2012, Jim Austin interviewed New York based photographer Ned Harris and the artist Shoshana Spencer, Harris's granddaughter, about his photography career.  Mr. Harris has lectured on photography for decades and has a second life as a curator, which began in 1978.  An exhibition at the Rockland Center for the Arts led to his becoming chairman of the exhibition committee. During his years with Rockland, he has overseen many exhibits featuring themes of social and political interest. Jim Austin interviewed him on his solo exhibits. Interview: Jim Austin (JA):   Tell me how does where you live influence your photography? Ned Harris (NH):  I was born in the Bronx and grew up in Manhattan. I was a painter first and started taking the camera seriously in 1955.  I have always lived near the Hudson River and have a love for this ri...

Your camera is your key to adventure. Grab it, plan a photo walk, and you can have fun slowing your pace down to enjoy your photography.      I gave myself a solo Slow Photo Walk exercise in the South Beach area of Miami, Florida: Wait for at least 5 minutes on each block to watch what happened there.     When you are walking solo you can take more time. When I did, the exercise inspired a few photos and some ideas for Slow Photography walking. To remember what do to on a Slow Photography photo walk, just puzzle over what is naked, raw, and walks on three small legs: 1. NAKED Strip down your gear. Until you are in the flow, just pick one lens and body and stay with them. Leave the heavy zoom behind, and go wide and normal with the nifty 50.    The only folks I’ve seen shooting on the street with huge lenses are either advertising photographers doing fashion shoots or people looking for celebrities on the stre...

Ah, that's a decent shot of you,” said my friend Jay, as we thumbed through a set of photo prints over our morning coffee.  As I sipped, I thought, “Well, it might be a good snapshot, but I wonder what would make it a good portrait?”    WHAT MAKES A LASTING PORTRAIT?   One secret of making lasting portraits is the relationship between the photographer and the subject.  A second, and equally vital aspect of all lasting portraits, is what we viewers bring to them.     For lasting portraits, the qualities of a subject and energies of a photographer should enhance each other like a candle and its flame.  As we explore this union, we'll see how trust in this subject-photographer relationship is the key.  Lasting portraits show a universal humanity that reflects the face of our own uniqueness back to us.  They are more than just pretty pictures.  Long after the image is made, an enduring portrait can change how we feel and s...

               Clear Water Cures For a week this Spring, I was working in a boatyard on the Chesapeake Bay. Beneath the beauty of the Bay, I formed a few impressions of issues facing the Chesapeake Waters.    The diversity of trees that surround the Bay can help clear its waters. Some have proposed that planting more trees can help clean up the bay. Agricultural runoff that has nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to algae blooms. These use up the oxygen and dead zones result.    Trees are excellent filters. They absorb water through their root systems. Collectively, trees redirect excess pollutant runoff that goes into streams, rivers and finally into the Bay. Planting programs would build a filtering network, and might help restore the health of the bay waters by reducing pollution.    Bay grasses are another piece of the solution. They offer nurseries for young crabs and fish. Research scientists have ...