In the Zone - Roll 118
In the ongoing manga Jujutsu Kaisen (and I can feel Malia's eye roll already, that somehow I managed to write about my favorite battle shonen in a serious post about photography) sorcerers augment their physical abilities using "cursed energy," power drawn from their negative emotions and thoughts. If they are able to apply this cursed energy to a physical move (like a punch or a kick) with perfect precision, they hit a "Black Flash," in which they enter "a zone similar to what athletes experience... the typical thought process of manipulating cursed energy becomes like breathing... it's like the feeling that you're the center that everything else revolves around." In this zone a sorcerer's intrinsic control of their power grows tenfold, and they are able to perform feats that they would have considered impossible at a different time. For a week in October of last year I experienced a similar feeling; after several weeks immersed in this project, I developed not only a constant desire to shoot, but also a greater understanding of my tools and my vision, such that I was able to seek out and take many strong photographs. In every direction I looked the Ordered World appeared, calling to me, and I responded, finding myself in the right place at the right time over and over again. That week was exhilarating, and even as I write about it now I can feel the rush of heightened emotion, just as I did back then.
Driving home from work one Friday (the same week I took the photos in my last post) I observed that that afternoon light looked interesting, with dark clouds forming an even backdrop behind the city. I'd been waiting for an opportunity to retake a photo in the East Race neighborhood, one ruined by accidental exposure to light, and I seized the moment, loading a roll of Ektar and retaking the photo to my satisfaction. Dead center is the Northern Electric Company sign that caught my gaze initially; around this I once again filled the right side of the frame with a building, while the street stretches out to the left. The way that I was beginning to be able to apply certain compositional motifs to different scenes and lighting conditions demonstrates that I was already in the groove, building on and strengthening knowledge I had only recently become aware of. The more I shot, the more I learned, which made me want to shoot even more, building up to a fever pitch during that week.
Northern Electric Co., South Bend, Indiana.
Walking around the pink building seen above, I took several more photos, attracted to the pastel shade and crumbling texture of the paint. In the very back I discovered a beautiful scene where vivid red vines draped gracefully above the brick, while blue smokestacks clustered in a corner of the frame, balancing out the composition nicely. Little patches of color echo the dominant tones of the photo—the pale blue door is just a few shades lighter than the building in the background, and a tiny red sticker on the left-hand door matches the plants perfectly. I hardly had to think at all as I chose my composition, only shifting slightly to incorporate the door on the left. I enjoy finding scenes like this that are complete in and of themselves, waiting to be found by me and preserved with my camera; it's always a thrill to stumble across something perfectly ordered and calm!
Fall—South Bend, Indiana.
After taking these photos, I was satisfied with my shooting in that neighborhood, choosing to go over to Mishawaka Avenue next, where I knew I would find compelling subjects. The sun was breaking through the clouds, adding a touch of light to the scene, and I took three photos that stand out as strong additions to What My Left Hand is Doing. The first is an Extraction, showing a section of faded wall with streaks of yellowish-brown. That description sounds disgusting, but the different textures of paint and bricks, together with carefully level lines, form a neutral canvas of calm abstraction, beautiful in its own way. In the second photo I was able to utilize one of my favorite lighting scenarios, split lighting, to good effect; patches of light and shadow add to the sense of depth already established by the angles of the alleyway and power lines, completing an already complex composition. I am happy that the dark clouds remained in the background, contrasting with the brightly-lit fall foliage and buildings to the left. Finally, I executed another straight-on photo successfully, photographing one side of the Revival Ministry Center. This subject is a popular one amongst South Bend photographers (both Jesus and his mentor, Craig Sheaks, have shot it) and I feel that my version represents the best of my personal style, with strong color and subtle lighting that emphasizes the details of the wall and sign. With this shot I ended my photographing for the day on a high note, leaving me feeling great in that moment and with the desire to keep photographing as soon as possible. My "Black Flash" week had just begun, but I was already feeling the high, with no plans to quit while I was ahead!
Extraction—Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, Indiana.
Off of Belmont Avenue, South Bend, Indiana.
Revival Ministry Center, South Bend, Indiana.