My exploration of Sydney lead me to an interesting exibition, Sydney Now, New Australian Photojournalism. Some nice pictures, different styles, different angles. There was also an interesting video where photographers explain their approach, and their daily routine and discipline. I came out with the nice feeling that a big part of photojournlism is discipline, dedication, daily practice, until the point that the camera becomes a thin interface, not a barrier. A thin, agile interface for the the photographer which can easily set it up as needed, to respond to her/his vision, a veil that can sharp or blur reality, a frame that embrace it all or dissect it into pieces... as needed. And a thin interface for those who are photographed, if the photographer is warm enough to make them feel that behind the camera, not to worry, there is a human presence, and this is what matters.
A couple of days after I was in the blue mountains and joined an aborigenal walk. A 7 hour march off the beaten path, to discover how the aborigenals lived (before the new settlers changed some forest with lawns and decimated most of its inhabitants). On the way it is possible to see old graffiti, caves, learn about the Dreamtime, practice different techniques to feel the forest by senses and without thinking (strenous walk being one of them). Another of these techniques was about a different way of seeing. A way of seeing without thinking, to get to see the true reality and not one filtered by the subject. An interesting idea, but which forced me to start thinking again: I wonder if a picture can ever be an act of seeing without thinking and capturing reality without filtering.
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