Time through the Lens

For the Lens-Artist Challenge this week, Donna of Wind Kisses asks us to “think about what time looks like through the eye of YOUR lens.”

That’s quite a different challenge and I find it hard to be clear in my own mind about it. Every photograph captures a moment in time. So I’m thinking that every photograph is taken at that particular point in spacetime. The right place at the right time and taken for the right length of time.

In the photograph below, the right time was 3.25pm in the afternoon.

That’s because that’s when I was there …..the clock doesn’t work.

The next one was taken at 12.45pm precisely. And this was the right time in the right place. An image that required a bit of preparation to be at the landmark tower at the right time when the Tour of Britain Cycle Race was expected to go through the village of Kilmaurs. And I waited and waited then the whole peloton was through in 60 seconds.

The next image had to be taken on this Saturday afternoon when the rugby match was on. There’s not much action there during the week.

But unlike the cycles I didn’t know where and when on the rugby pitch the action is going to take place. So I just have to monitor the game, follow the ball and judge when the peak of some real action is going to occur (whether it’s a catch, a tackle or a score). Press the button at the right time and hope it works out. Timing still has to be ok and set fast at about 1/1000 sec to freeze the action.

A similar story for the freestyle scooter guy below. An instant frozen in time.

Then when I’m looking at water flowing if I can get a balance between not too much or too little blurring, I’m happy. But then I can take loads of shots because the fountain isn’t going to run away, so I have no excuses.

So an image is capturing a particular moment in time or event in spacetime. But if I was to use a long exposure say of about 10 seconds then how many moments can I capture in one image. How many moments are captured in the long exposure below?

And then I have been trying a few multiple exposures images recently. So I’m capturing maybe three moments in one image, which can give weird effect. Whether it works is a matter of taste. Still I’m having fun.

I don’t know if I’ve met Donna’s challenge but I hope there’s some interest in this ramble of mine.

If you’d like to see Donna’s superb challenge post, please just click the link HERE. And there you’ll also find more information on the Lens-Artist Challenges and how to join in.

p.s. with the Rugby Union World Cup now in progress I might just put up a post with more of images from Saturday’s match soon.

20 thoughts on “Time through the Lens”

  8. Some thought-provoking comments on the relationship between photography and time, and great images to illustrate them. I love your triple exposure and your sports photography is excellent, but my favourite is the coastal view with the long exposure – it appears to freeze time in a very restful way.

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  10. You certainly met the challenge, jazzibee. What great photos and also great lessons for us to follow, and I love the subliminal humor injected into your post. Love the Tour of Britain shot and the airtime of the scooter guy. His facial expression shows his concentration…all timing, isn’t it? I think my favorite photo was the calm you captured in the lake/water shot with long exposure. And hmmm yes, interesting effects of multiple exposures. Outstanding! Loved it all .

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