Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone (Literally)

One of the things I like about living in the Philadelphia suburbs is that I can take a commuter train into the city. Not only does it save the hassle of driving in traffic and paying for expensive parking, I get to photograph my fellow passengers.

I have a confession to make: Although one of my most consistent themes here on Shutterfinger is the need to break out of ruts and push boundaries, I don't like photographing outdoors in cold weather. Not at all. In fact, I like it so little that I seldom do it. Cold weather makes my eyes water. It makes my fingers stiffen and lose circulation. Gusts of wind punish me for having the temerity to step outside. When I wear gloves to keep my hands warm, the gloves make handling my camera slow and clumsy.

I don't know what this guy was listening to but it's obvious he was enjoying it--and the hot coffee too.

To make matters worse, the high cost comes with low reward. When I venture into the city, the few people out on the street on a freezing cold day are all bundled up, hustling on their way from one warm spot to the next. It's slim pickings all around. Sure, I could attempt some nature or landscape photography, but I enjoy that even less than being out in the cold. Scratch that idea. Pushing boundaries is one thing. Wandering around in a freezing cold forest or along a slippery creek bed is nothing more than masochism in my book.

This is the latest addition to an upcoming portfolio of abstracts based on paint and glue dripping from walls and columns. I have more of these than you might imagine.

Still, rather than be a hypocrite, I felt obliged (obliged, mind you!) to venture forth into Philadelphia's center city to see what I could find. It was mid-day on a Friday, a time when office dwellers would normally be out looking for lunch. This time it was snowing (lightly), so sidewalk traffic was light and it was scarves, hats, heavy coats, and umbrellas everywhere. I soldiered on nevertheless. You can decide for yourselves whether this sampling of the results was worth the effort. Just keep in mind that it was all for you.

Comments

[Mark Kinsman]

Great post and images. I think it was definitely worth you stepping out of your comfort zone, Gordon. Thanks for doing it and posting the results. It's inspirational.

[Lesley]

It was worth it! Thanks for stepping out into the discomfort zone.

[Marivic]

I struggle with overcast, which is what Seattle is most of the time. I can't complain, though, because overcast makes shooting pretty easy. No hard light, and I focus on tonality and shapes. When the sun comes out, my camera gets really confused, as do I. I have to re-learn metering for harsh lighting. I also dislike the cold and having stiff fingers. I notice that my mind can't appreciate my surroundings when I'm constantly thinking about how cold I am and where I can warm up. I end up with lots of photos of coffee.

[John Doty]

Great images, I really like the coffee/music photo.
Winter photography is my comfort zone here in Northern Vermont. People on the other hand are definitely out of my comfort zone. The cold doesn't bother me, my hands stay warm enough with thin gloves when taking photos and large mittens keep them warm when not taking pictures. People on the other hand scare me more than frostbite!

[Andreas]

And I thought I was the only one ;-)

The paint and glue is fantastic - looking forward to that portfolio!