Isolation and the Aesthetic

Isolation is a factor of choice. You choose what to separate from the world and capture on a two dimensional plane. With photography one is practicing the art of isolation. First by placing the borders of his viewfinder upon the world at large, one determines what he wants others to see. Then by using photographic technique such as selective focus or smaller aperture as way of example, he determines what depth within that frame is visible. His entire technical process of photography can be summed up with the concept of isolation and how to accomplish this.

But let’s take this concept of isolation and apply it to a broader scale, less technical but of much more importance. I propose that photography be performed in an isolated state. Now before you get all shaken up by this proposition let me explain. This does not mean that one is not part of the world in which he or she is photographing. No, I think it is imperative that one not separate from the world, after all seeing and interacting is a part of life and a most important component of photography. But one should isolate himself from all other endeavors and be a photographer at that moment: getting him or herself ready to see; putting one in the correct frame of mind for photography. Isolating one’s mindset, focusing one’s energies and bringing your creative ability to new aesthetic levels is a key preparatory component for the photographer and the artist.

The great masters of tea ceremony or flower arranging can tell you. The readying steps are vital and bring about a richer, more rewarding artistic experience. Each and every person has his own way of bringing himself to this aesthetic level. For example, I like to have moleskine notebook, pens, a novel set in the area I am photographing (maybe an anthology of poems), and of course the camera. If it is a large trip I will have read several books played out in the area of travel before I depart, written by authors indigenous to the country so that I am able to better understand and pick up on the artistic sense of the zone. I like to walk slowly and look. I like to take time to stop at a café and write, read and contemplate my photography. In this way my photographs are simply one outcome of an entire aesthetic experience. It is this aesthetic experience that I term isolation: isolation from the daily grind, the have-to-do’s and the stress; whatever steps you have to take to bring yourself to a higher aesthetic level, more aware, isolated.