What I have to say doesn’t have to do with NASCAR directly, but it has to do with this blog so stick with me on this one.
I am a huge, huge, huge fan of photographer Annie Leibovitz. I mean, I would give my right arm and leg, OK, the entire right side of my body for the opportunity to have her take my photograph.
So Annie was on The Rachel Maddow Show today to talk about her latest book “Annie Leibovitz at Work,” which I’m entirely open to receiving as a Christmas gift should anyone feel like sending one to me, when Rachel asked her how she approaches shooting her subjects. Rachel asked if when she takes a photo she is trying to get the audience to see things as she sees them. Annie gave the best response ever and totally validated my approach to this blog.
Here’s what Annie said that struck a huge cord with me: “You pretty much trust your own point of view and you’re not looking for your audience. I think I learned early on that I had a point of view and I trusted that. That’s where my work becomes strong, for better or for worse. Actually when you’re young I’m not too sure you know what you’re doing at all, quite honestly, and as you get older you look back at the work and that sort of instructs you and points out what you’re doing. It was personal reportage. You pretty much photographed what was in front of you. It wasn’t journalism, it was how you saw things and what unfolded in front of you.”
Brilliant. When she said that I instantly shot up and said, “That’s it! That’s what I’m trying to accomplish!” It’s taken me a while to kind of figure what my “thing” is and what it is that sets me apart, or could set me apart, from other NASCAR bloggers. Anyone who’s read The Fast and the Fabulous for a while knows that I’m not about breaking news stories or talking about stats. I feel like this site is at it’s best for me and for you when I’m at the races telling you guys stories about my experiences. If I’m wrong let me know, but it’s my goal for 2009 to do so much more of that.
I have to thank Annie Leibovitz for switching on the light bulb above my head. Thank you for putting into words what I could not!
🙂