Still life or still alive?

One thing that has become apparent to me the last years is how many there are that actually confronts me while photographing on the streets. Its not because they are curious but suspicious. About what, I have to ask my self? I have during the years documented my town, Lund, quite extensively. I just like my town and wants to make pictures of it. Last year, I remember a woman came out from her store wondering if I was shooting the store. Well, yes, I said, partly. I’m photographing the street and the buildings. I asked why she asks, and she said she was afraid I was to blog about her store. She sold tobacco, and many can be quite militant when it comes to this subject. Bad publicity, or even publicity in general – that was what she was afraid of. Well, I calmed her with saying I had no such intention, though I’d liked to say the opposite because of her attitude and her suspiciousness. I restrained myself and went on, but I still think of this every time I pass her store. I can understand her point of view, it’s another world these days.

A consequence of this (not this sole incident alone, but all together) seems to be that I tend to shoot more carefully – unconsciously, I’m afraid. I can see that on my pictures. Longer distances and fewer people. Mostly, no people. That struck me yesterday evening. I had been on my SoFoBoMo journey for three days and made a course selection of pictures that I’d like to consider. Mostly bicycles, almost none with people riding them. Thing is, I’m not too interested in still life, have never been. The pictures can be nice to look at, but they tell nothing if not set into context. It’s like the picture above; why is it lying there at the bottom of the canal? Was it the owner that throw it in, or do someone miss it now?

I can think up two ways that context can be created, either by writing stories around the pictures or letting in the people in them. I don’t feel much confident as a story-teller, letting in the people seems therefore to be the natural approach. But I’d like to give the story-telling a chance, because I really want to improve myself in this area. Since I don’t know most people owning all these bicycles, I would have to come up with my own idea of who they are; fictive, of course, but not necessarily completely off the truth. I don’t know about this, it’s definitely outside my comfort zone. The time constraint of this project might as well be a burden too me, considering I’m not too confident in the story-telling. But, when I’m thinking of it, I don’t have to write breathtaking prose of people, a few thoughts of mine might be enough.

I have to give this some more thinking. At least, I’m still alive.