Aug 29 2007
The Peasant’s Challenge
Looking for Wordless Wednesday? You’ll find it below this post.
Once upon a time, in a strange and bewildering world called Bloglandia, there was a beautiful peasant girl named Brillig. She was charming, smart, attractive, funny, witty, delightful…
…wait. Where was I going with this? Oh yes…
Our Peasant Brillig was pining for something to keep her mind active, somewhere to focus her need for art and creation. The fates smiled upon her, and brought her Looking Into, a website run by two very accomplished women: Lady Jenn and Duchess Allison. Brillig found herself gazing at, nay, into the photographs posted there and therein learned that her dear friends were, in fact, brilliant photographers, not just outstanding writers.
And so Brillig, humbled by her dirty insignificantness, said to Allison, “Dearest Allison, of outstanding photograph-ness, wouldest thou that I should learn the art of image-capture under thy tutelage?” But immediately, our fair Brillig realized, with horror, that she would likely be instructed first and foremost to discard the filthy camera that she had purchased cheaply at her local peasant-market (Walmart). For surely, true photographers must work with only the costliest of instruments.
“Fret not thine self!” exclaimed the kind, sweet Duchess, whose station in life did not require her to listen to such peasants, but being kind and sympathetic, she did anyway. (And oh, how it warmed our Brillig’s heart!) “Thou canst capture images with something so simple as a box and a pinhole!”
“A box and a pinhole!” scoffed our Brillig. “Surely not!”
“Yea, indeed, fair Brillig. A box and a pinhole,” replied the ever-patient Allison. “Forsooth, a costly instrument is not necessary for true art and beauty. Nay, one can indeed acquire perfection through inexpensiveness.”
“Indeed?” questioned Brillig, her eyes dancing with the joy sparked by a new idea. “Why, then, I hereby challenge you and that Hollandy Jenn to take a picture with the cheapest camera in your household! Not a photograph from the past, nay, but something which thou snappest this week. Prove to me that you both can, indeed, capture something outstanding through inexpensive means.”
“I accept thy challenge, o thou Brillig of Brilligness!”
“As do I!” chimed Princess Jenn, who had heretofore been most silent on the issue.
And so, our fair Brillig waited with bated breath until she received word via courrier (gmail) that the challenge had been met.
And just this evening, word arrived.
Allison (who you likely know better as “SMID”) and Jenn have posted their outstanding photographs tonight here, and Allison has posted her version (slightly less Hans-Christian-Andersonian than mine) of the challenge* at her site here. Go look, comment, admire. Because, as it turns out, a true artist really doesn’t need an expensive camera–just eyes to see.
(*In this same post, SMID also includes helpful tips to budding young photographers, like myself. Great advice! And thanks, Jenn and SMID, for accepting the challenge so beautifully–and do remember that if you have a challenge for me, I will happily accept, seeing as I owe you one!)
This is exactly what I needed to read this morning as I still struggle with the decision to fork out big bucks for a fancy Digital SLR, or stick with a more modestly priced point and shoot version. Point and shoot it is!
I have to digagree slightly. My old digicam never picked up the lighting right and everything was very grainy or pixelated (depending on what was being shot).
But I get the idea they’re pushing. If I could have taken a picture that looked good with a grainy texture and a yellow tint, that would have rocked. But it totally sucked for first day of school pictures.
Anyway, I was wondering what they meant by “Brillig’s Challenge” and I loved your fairy tale version.
I loved Soccer Mom’s instructions to lie down and look up and get weird angles. That’s what maked photography fun.
Oops…”Makes”… I am NOT five years old.
If your wordless Wednesday picture is any indication, you’re well on your way to becoming a photographer in your own right. Loved the Hans Brillig Anderson story.
I dream of a digital SLR. It’s all my husband hears about. We love our camera, it takes great pictures, but I’m still dreaming of SLR. Mmmmmm
I just wish to clarify the point in the story about me being silent and all. That was only because y’all were having this conversation at hours not convenient to me. I can’t help it, I was sleeping. I live in HOLLAND, ya know…
Anyway, it was loads of fun to scoot around yesterday and catch an image for your little game.
And the story explanation here? FABULOUS!
I could listen to your stories all day…
By the way, I take Butrfly’s point here in that the “crappy” camera you use does have to register a good shot. Some don’t. But one should never feel that they can’t attempt art shots because they don’t have a fancy piece. Give it a whirl and attempt TO SEE as Allison puts it, and then justify buying the SLR down the road…
I can testify Kate my dear, to the beauty of an SLR…
[…] Full explanation here OR here […]
ah creativity thy name is peasant, uh no that’s brillig… Great ideas. I love the thought that you with four children are looking for something to do to expand your creativity! What kind of vitamins are you taking woman?
I am laughing my head off right now!! “…heretofore been most silent on this issue”. You are so freaking hilarious, I can’t get over it. Yay that you are getting started in photography! I have no doubt that you will master this skill, you pick things up so quickly and so fast that I know by next week you’ll have a new mania.
Heh heh,
Forsooth dear Brillig of Brilligness.
Your words are wise indeed and well spoke.
Thou hath hast me rolling on the floor with mirth.
Now I shall get me hence to the cold house for a flagon of mead and some, erm, chocolate.
Great challenge! I enjoyed looking at their site. How could I not since I love both of their blogs! One of these days I’m hoping to get more into photography.
“A peasant girl”, you say? Forsooth, I think not, fair damsel. T’is of high birth ye be.
Once this novel is out of the way, I shall return to make this a daily visit. Great blog.
Keep smiling
David
oh no - you mean I can’t blame my crappy photos on my elcheapo camera?
Well Fair Brillig this was much fun! Thanks for the challenge (and the lovely description of said task). I think Lady Jenn and I may need to ask for other challenges in the future!!
I look forward to seeing more of your photos some day!
I have to agree, your wordless wednesday picture is beautiful! I don’t think even with the most expensive camera I could pull off something like that!
Were you an english major? How are you able to write like this?
This was hysterical! I read Allison’s posts and saw Looking Into this a.m. and then couldn’t get to the rest of my blog reading until now, so I just saw this. Again, whatever camera you used for your WW photo - it’s just BEAUTIFUL. I can’t say enough how much I love it!
I love the fairy-tale nature of this post. Fantastic!!
BTW - my Soap Opera Sunday is up - I’m heading to Vancouver tomorrow for a weekend full of wedding and shopping and wasn’t sure I’d want to get near a computer when there’s valuable shopping to be had.
http://thaliaschild.blogspot.com/2007/08/sos-end.html
LOVE it.
I took a class in sixth grade on constructing and using pinhole cameras. Good times.
Oh, this is AWESOME! I too am just picking up photography and still trying to hone that creative eye, but I find it to be a lot of fun and great hobby.
Absolutely LOVE the photo you took, too!
I point, shoot and hope for the best. I have thousands and thousands of photos but only a few rare “Wow” photos.
I like the idea of laying down on the ground and looking for different angles. Who knows, I might find an angle that makes me look Wow! he.he.he.
I too LONG to take excellent photos. I’ve taken some pretty good shots of my kids- pics that I feel really captures who they are, but I’m bad at taking shots of capturing the mood of an event, or the whole scene, etc. I love looking at photography blogs but don’t feel like I have an “eye” for it.
I really don’t have any artistic outlet, and I feel like I’m a creative person with good taste, so maybe I just need to try some things. A photography class would be helpful? Maybe? I’ll have to see.
I really like the pictures you’ve shown on your site. Keep it up and keep sharing with us!
Ah, there you go again, Brill… inciting creativity.
Such a cool post… and you do take nice photos!
Aww…the beauty of photography. This makes me think of my BFF from high school. She was/is a truly amazing photographer. I loved going on shoots w/her and checking out the finished product. It’s amazing the many emotions one single photo can evoke.
G’day twasbrillig,
If your readers do have any questions about digital SLRs and photography-related matters, let me know. I can help.
Cheers
David
…and I on yours?
…into slumber!
Oh wait. Yes, I have. I’m sorry, but I just don’t have it in me right now to type it all out again. Besides, it was just ramblings anyway. You didn’t want to hear me go on and on about this, right?
[…] explanation here OR here OR even […]
[…] explanation here OR here OR even […]
[…] explanation here OR here OR even […]
[…] explanation here OR here OR even […]
[…] explanation here OR here OR even […]
[…] read here or here or here for an explanation of the Brillig […]