Jake Johnson's Photo Journal

Photo Journal No. 3

When thinking about how I act and react on a daily basis, I consider my usually calm persona, but that can change quickly if I am stressed out. I have never been part of a “group,” and have always been psychologically an introverted person. With that I am always my ‘self’. As a recovering alcoholic and drug addict I can attest that I wasn’t always my ‘self’, because I was living a double life. I was an actor 24/7, but my secrets were my enemies. I kept my highly intoxicated lifestyle secret from everybody, because I was ashamed of it, and because it was truly not who I can define myself as at heart. After some time in sobriety my brain returned to its normal functioning state, and I can say that today I am my ‘self’ on a daily basis. I choose to have a small circle of friends. I talk to people that I can have intellectual conversations with that have meaning, logic, and theory. I tend to relate more to adults than those who are closer in age to me. I am quiet, calm, collective, extremely observational, and intuitive. I have never been one to perform in front of others. I am an introvert, and always had low self esteem growing up. Low self esteem often makes people act in front of others. In contrast I did not. I have always been a leader, and never someone who followed the crowd. I play the role of a strong, trustworthy friend. I believe my purpose in life is to help people. I am always there for those I care about. No matter what they are going through, even if it is a minor issue I strive to bring clarity, and useful advice. No role that I have conflicts with another role. I am a simple person, and every day I wake up and I am compassionate, and empathetic towards everyone. That role is strongly supported by the immense gratitude I have for life, my friends, family, and the people who reached out to me, and saved me. It supports my role, because I love giving back to the community, and making a difference in people’s life. Whether it is donating blood every sixty days, or restoring a young alcoholics lost sole to sanity. I get satisfaction from it, because I know that today I did something to help somebody. My identity is strongly defined physically. I am always quiet, and reserved. I will only speak up if I have to. Socially I won’t show my identity unless I know the people around me. In a classroom setting nobody will know my identity. My identity is not always socially constructed in a major way.

2 years ago

Photo Journal No. 1

Cartier- Bresson says, “photography promotes fast seeing.” (Sontag, 60) I believe that I do see photographically. Seeing photographically is merely seeing just as a camera would. I am a visually- oriented person. I learn things better visually than I do with my other senses. I tend to see very intuitively and make lots of observations of what I see. While I do believe that I see photographically. I am not convinced, nor confident, that I always see photographically. I’ve noticed that for me to see photographically, I usually have to be triggered by something of importance or interest to me. For me to see photographically, I must first see and observe a photographic opportunity. This is not always easy because there are so many opportunities, as well as so many opportunities that are simply not noticed by my eye, because the camera definitely promotes exceptionally rapid seeing, often leaving a short period to capture the essence, value, and aesthetics of the scene or setting. A shift in vision can occur most notably from practicing the art of photography. This would develop a keen sense of visually seeing photographically.

Antithetically, upon first considering the true meaning of “see photographically,” what came to mind was seeing people, places, or things in my mind in a photographic way. Thus, meaning such things as memories of importance to me, beautiful places traveled to, etc. In my opinion, seeing these past times photographically is remembering exactly what they looked like in person, every fine descriptive detail, the aesthetics of it, and the significance of it. I feel confident in saying that this could be said for a good number of people with respect to remembering fond memories or occurrences. Yet, upon further analysis of the idea, it could be said that I can remember these things in such a detailed manner because I was seeing photographically when I captured the detailed image in my head.

In my circle of family and friends, I can pinpoint a few people who see photographically. I think it is an acquired ability that doesn’t necessarily come easy. I see friends of mine with this ability, more so than those of older generations, that I am close to. This is most likely because in modern times, as opposed to past decades, cameras are a huge commodity and are so readably available, even for those who are not able to pay very much money.

Photographic vision is extremely beneficial. Without it there would be no way to create truly amazing photography. There would be no way to examine and see aesthetics in a prospective photo. Pictures wouldn’t be framed the way that they are and wouldn’t display the same focus as well. In no way is photographic vision detrimental. Without this key visual ability, the art of photography would greatly differ from what it has evolved to be, a creative art, captured by seeing photographically.

2 years ago