{"id":14175,"date":"2014-11-10T11:55:38","date_gmt":"2014-11-10T15:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/?p=14175"},"modified":"2014-11-10T11:55:38","modified_gmt":"2014-11-10T15:55:38","slug":"bring-your-a-game-the-story-behind-the-image","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/14175\/bring-your-a-game-the-story-behind-the-image\/","title":{"rendered":"Bring Your A Game – The Story Behind The Image"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IlluminationXXXI_425\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Illumination XXXI, 2014<\/p>\n

It was one of my best sessions.
\nI had come prepared.
\nI knew the location well. My father first brought me to the Point Lobos region when I was very young. Later, during my college years, I spent more time exploring the coast. Long after that, I visited many more times, including several visits to prepare for leading workshops where you have to orient yourself more objectively. This was one of those times.
\nI knew the subject well photographically. Photographing in the region had a long history and I knew the images and their creators, often first-hand. Adams, Bullock, Caponigro, Sexton, Weston(s), White, Witherill, Uelsmann (and so many others) \u2013 they\u2019d all made images there. I\u2019d revisited them all to prepare for this session. \u00a0I knew that if I made successful images, that it was inevitable that some comparison to other works would be made. I knew that their images had influenced my vision and that I needed to more fully digest that influence to be free enough to make my own images, in my own ways, and on my own terms. And, I\u2019d failed many times before.
\nI knew how to work the situation well. I came before the light was best and stayed sometime after it had passed. I didn\u2019t make just one image; I made many. I surveyed a variety of aspects of the subject; planes, peaks, valleys, boulders, grottos, cracks, pools, waterline, etc. I framed each composition deliberately, then asked how it could be improved, and made that image too.
\nI knew myself well. I\u2019d taken stock of my history, my vision, my themes, my style, and my goals. My natural tendencies resurfaced; I approached the land as if it were a human body. Long-standing themes reemerged; birth, death, and rebirth. I was aware of what I was bringing to the table \u2013 personally.
\nI also knew that, despite all this preparation, this would become a purely intellectual affair if I didn\u2019t respond associatively and emotionally. So I let this all well up, holding nothing back \u2013 and I was surprised by what I discovered.
\nOld memories resurfaced, specifically of my first wife, who I used to visit these places with and who died of cancer when our son was very young, leaving a great deal unresolved. Then more memories surfaced of the decision not to have children with my second wife, a cancer survivor, because of health concerns. And here I was turning stones into wombs. I was emotionally present, raw even \u2013 and moving forward. I kept this inner dialog alive as I continued to make images. I had to answer this call to greater depth. Doing this work and making these images had become extremely personal.
\nPerhaps the images from this session are not my very best pictures, but it was one of my very best performances. It became a milestone for me. It had exceptional intensity and depth. That\u2019s a level I now try to get to more consistently – or exceed. And I know what it takes.
\nIt\u2019s wonderful to see someone bring their A game. It can even help you find your own. But, your A game may be very different than someone else\u2019s A game. To know what your A game is, you first have to get there. Once you know what\u2019s possible, what it feels like, and what it takes to get there – you can bring it.
\nQuestions<\/em>
\nWhat performance would you identify as your best performance to date?<\/em>
\nHow would you describe your best performance to date?<\/em>
\nWhat criteria do you use to evaluate your performance?<\/em>
\nWhat areas are you concentrating on to improve your performance?<\/em>
\nWhat steps are you taking to improve your performance?<\/em>
\nWhen is it useful to separate your evaluation of performance from results?<\/em>
\nView more related images here.<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\nRead more The Stories Behind The Images here.<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Illumination XXXI, 2014 It was one of my best sessions. I had come prepared. I knew the location well. My father first brought me to the Point Lobos region when I was very young. 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