When did we stop challenging ourselves? When did we get complacent? When did we find something we’re good at, and stop there?

Recently, I had the great pleasure of getting to know an artist I’ve followed for the past couple years. The main reason I’ve stuck around to watch his work evolve is that he does something I thought I could never, or at least thought I would never, do — abstract photography. I love photographing people. They’re emotive, (generally) unpredictable, and very complex. And as time moved on I was content to end my photographic journey there. When I look around at the made world in comparison to people, I have a hard time seeing it as something worthy of my lens, or at least my attention.

Tyson Crosbie, a local PHX artist, sees the complexity and, even greater, the ambiguity of texture, layers, and pattern. His purposely vague pieces inspire questions about form, interaction, history, and yes, even philosophy. I think texture is beautiful… but I also think it’s somewhat boring when I try to compose it with my lens. I didn’t know how he could walk down a PHX alley and decide what to photograph. Why THAT cement wall? Why THAT pole? It all seemed so dreadfully vague! And I hated the thought of it all! …Until I tried it. Tyson has started to open up his Saturday afternoons to people interested in cultivating their photographic skills. Once a month, he hosts photowalks and leads discussion for a few hours as a group of photographers trek around a couple square blocks of the city at a time. This last Saturday I joined in and found myself… overwhelmed. At first I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t have a focus. I had 20 ideas floating around in my head and no actual conviction to follow through with any of them. Tyson said, “That’s why we have the rules.” Come up with a theme, choose something to focus on, and move forward. Yes, I may miss some great shots here and there, but when I start shaping a vision it will eventually become a coherent point of view — or in this case, corherently vague.

My main focus ended up being on screws and joints. I became fascinated with the fixtures I found in objects and fences in the alleyways and began shooting away, enthralled by the textures, shadows, age, and form of the objects. It may not be “abstract” in the normative sense but it’s more abstract than I’ve ever been before, and I’m happy to have pushed myself beyond my usual limitations. It was frusrating at first, but well worth the effort. Have you been thinking about something you’ve been nervous to try? Letterpess? Portrait photography? Type design? Do it to it. It may be terrible the first time around, but at least you’ve done it.

Below are some shots I took while on the photowalk. They’re not very abstract, but they’re definitely not what I’m comfortable shooting. I’m really looking forward to pushing further in the next several weeks. For a look at more of my photos check out my Flickr Set. For images from everyone who went on the photowalk check out the Flickr Pool!