... Silence

When photography was first invented, people were required to sit still for hours facing the camera. It was a tedious art that required precision and patience. This is not how we do photography today, as we can take multiple photos in a matter of seconds and we are not required to sit still. Richard Avedon however, challenged the modern photographic way and created a method closer to its origins.

As a small project, or challenge, for my photography class we were asked to try the following method on a family member and present the photos and what we learned during the process:

Richard Avedon's method as described in "Train Your Gaze" by Roswell Angier

1) Other than obtaining your subject’s consent in advance to be photographed, do not give any directions before the shooting session, except to say that he or she will be expected to stay in place, sitting or standing, for about an hour, and to look straight at the camera (note: not at you, but at the camera).

2) Have your camera mounted on a tripod, and let it remain there, in the same position relative to your subject, once it has been focused and proper exposure has been determined. This exercise is about looking in a concentrated way. Making minor adjustments to camera position and composition will only distract you from that task.

3) Do not hide behind the camera. A cable release will be most useful—the longer the better.

4) Do not speak, or allow your subject to speak, during the course of the hour.

5) Pace yourself. Try to use the whole hour. This exercise will be useless if you shoot the roll of film in five minutes.

6) Allow yourself to stare. You will find that minor fluctuations in expression, or small involuntary gestures, become significant events. This assignment is about two people facing each other. Their gazes intersect, and the photographs taken while this is happening will record those moments of connection.

I found this particular method to be uncomfortable yet effective. It helped me focus on the little nuances in my dad's face―little ticks like his eyebrow moving upwards were particularly interesting―however my reaction time was not quick enough to catch it on camera. But while the observation aspect of the project was excellent, the uncomfortableness of sitting in the same place and staring at the same thing made for some awkward laughter... thankfully though I was able to capture that a little bit in my dad's face, which was fun. It's nice to make someone smile, even if unintentionally!