Show us early story In to photography.

Most of my early photography is just awful :LOL: I started taking pictures with a compact digital camera in 2006 while working & travelling in New Zealand. Here's one of the few shots that I like from that early period:

waitin for the bus by David B, on Flickr
 
I don’t really have any worthwhile early early stories of my personal photography, but I have one from spring 1993 (I started taking pictures in 1978). It was a ‘Photography Workshop in France’ that was conducted through my undergrad still photography program at Ryerson Polytechnic University (now called Toronto Metropolitan University) in Toronto. Four teachers and eight students were part of this inaugural edition of the workshop and it was also a credit course for us. Part of the course involved visiting many photo collections and get a ‘behind the scenes’ experience of them as well. One of the teachers on the trip, Marta Braun, had just published a extensively-researched book on Étienne-Jules Marey and was getting rave reviews, so she opened a lot of doors for us (she was subsequently made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France) among many other honours). Two other teachers had extensive knowledge of France and had both lived there (one of them ran the resource center and was responsible for Ryerson’s photo collection), and the fourth teacher was French and was living in Meudon. The Musée Carnavalet, the SFP, Musée D’Orsay, the Musée des Monuments were just few of the places we visited, and curators and conservationists were only too happy to show us everything. One of the big highlights for me was looking through Andre Kertesz’s negatives and contact sheets, as well as passing around Peter Henry Emerson’s platinum-palladium prints. Once in a lifetime to be sure. We also had a number of assignments we had to complete during this 23 day period.

In addition to the academic work, we were also there to experience France and take pictures of what we saw and moved us. This was my first time visiting anything outside North America so it was a bit intimidating at first. Slowly but surely, however, I began to embrace this new environment and culture. Not sure how successful I was at depicting any of it, but it definitely opened a door that I think played a role in shaping some of the future work I ended up doing and continue to do. I think it also helped overcome a lot of fears (like the fear of photographing strangers), although I still confront that when I’m in those situations.

Anyhow, here are a few photos from that 1993 experience - I’m sure you’ve seen these on RFF previously. All shot with an M2 and Tri-X.


Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Untitled 1993-3 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Untitled 1993 #4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
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I first visited India to study meditation in 1975, but was not a photographer at the time. I was so dazzled by the spectacle of India that I determined to learn photography in case I ever went back again. I returned the following year, this time with a camera, and many times thereafter. Since then, through many, many changes, meditation and photography have been the two constants in my life.


India by John Wolf, on Flickr
 
Vince Lupo said:
I don’t really have any worthwhile early early stories of my personal photography, but I have one from spring 1993 (I started taking pictures in 1978). It was a ‘Photography Workshop in France’ that was conducted through my undergrad still photography program at Ryerson Polytechnic University (now called Toronto Metropolitan University) in Toronto. Four teachers and eight students were part of this inaugural edition of the workshop and it was also a credit course for us. Part of the course involved visiting many photo collections and get a ‘behind the scenes’ experience of them as well. One of the teachers on the trip, Marta Braun, had just published a extensively-researched book on Étienne-Jules Marey and was getting rave reviews, so she opened a lot of doors for us (she was subsequently made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France) among many other honours). Two other teachers had extensive knowledge of France and had both lived there (one of them ran the resource center and was responsible for Ryerson’s photo collection), and the fourth teacher was French and was living in Meudon. The Musée Carnavalet, the SFP, Musée D’Orsay, the Musée des Monuments were just few of the places we visited, and curators and conservationists were only too happy to show us everything. One of the big highlights for me was looking through Andre Kertesz’s negatives and contact sheets, as well as passing around Peter Henry Emerson’s platinum-palladium prints. Once in a lifetime to be sure. We also had a number of assignments we had to complete during this 23 day period.

In addition to the academic work, we were also there to experience France and take pictures of what we saw and moved us. This was my first time visiting anything outside North America so it was a bit intimidating at first. Slowly but surely, however, I began to embrace this new environment and culture. Not sure how successful I was at depicting any of it, but it definitely opened a door that I think played a role in shaping some of the future work I ended up doing and continue to do. I think it also helped overcome a lot of fears (like the fear of photographing strangers), although I still confront that when I’m in those situations.

Anyhow, here are a few photos from that 1993 experience - I’m sure you’ve seen these on RFF previously. All shot with an M2 and Tri-X.


Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Untitled 1993-3 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Untitled 1993 #4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
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@Vince Lupo

Quite interesting story Vince, and thank you for the share. It is always important to look back and think how we all come back to certain point.
I am glad and thank you for sharing how you initiated into photography. In journey into life in certain passions like photography there is always an origin so your story starts as mine in Paris. No doubt no one can scape getting the bug as Paris is known as CAPITAL DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE In Francophone community. It is true Paris is a photogenic centre with divers culture for arts and many more things.
My initiation of serious photography started in Paris. I was living and working in a Middle Eastern Country during 1984- 1989. and I was already into photography.Then I happen to visit Paris on 1989 and l noticed it's multicultural life style and how it is connected to many more arts and photography. So I decided to learn it and that's what I did. My knowledge is base on self learning but it was well supported in Paris as there are so many institutes and research centres on photo centres/ Foundations ( They also call it" Art plastic") So all you need it time.
It is unfortunate I had divided to move into London. I really missed Paris though!!
 
JohnWolf said:
I first visited India to study meditation in 1975, but was not a photographer at the time. I was so dazzled by the spectacle of India that I determined to learn photography in case I ever went back again. I returned the following year, this time with a camera, and many times thereafter. Since then, through many, many changes, meditation and photography have been the two constants in my life.

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Namaste John!
Lovely story and and it is a great turning point and you had the right turn.
Yes India is another great photogenic centre for photography. I have seen many great photography done by many photographers. Amazing. Thank you for sharing your story here. Meditation/ calligraphy/ and photography is what I am after.


JohnWolf said:
India by John Wolf, on Flickr
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