#Memory December 16

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One of the benefits I am receiving this month by participating in the 30 Day Photo Challenge is MEMORY.

I am reliving some of my own personal MEMORIES when I reexamine a photo I have taken. I am making some new MEMORIES from pictures shared by others this month. Snapshots of people, pets, and places have all created vivid images for me.

The two pictures below created a new MEMORY along with triggering a strong emotion.

Photos help us capture the small and the historic moments of our lives. The images can also release sometimes a powerful emotion when the shutter clicks. When we experience any type of emotion it often serving an important role in our life.

The thing about a photo is the MEMORIES or emotions it creates in each of us can be different.

The American psychologist Robert Plutchik founded a theory on the nature and purpose of emotions. He called his research Emotion Wheel.

Plutchik believed there are eight primary emotions: anger, anticipation, joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness and disgust.

Each primary emotion has a polar opposite. These are based on the physiological reaction each emotion creates in animals (including humans… Plutchik studied animals!):

• Joy is the opposite of sadness. Physiology: Connect vs withdraw
• Fear is the opposite of anger. Physiology: Get small and hide vs get big and loud
• Anticipation is the opposite of surprise. Physiology: Examine closely vs jump back
• Disgust is the opposite of trust. Physiology: Reject vs embrace

Just two weeks in to this photo challenge I have come to realize that becoming a better photographer might revolve around developing a sophisticated artistic talent. It might be a talent I can develop but today I classify myself as a novice. Being in a challenge with people that are better at something is helping me improve.

The challenge within the photo challenge for me is to master creating a MEMORY for others because the image creates an emotions for the viewer. The true photography artists understand how to create MEMORABLE photos for others not just themselves. That is a gift my friends have made me appreciate in just two weeks. They have shared photos that brought out all kinds of primary emotions in me including joy, surprise, and trust.

The beauty of this photo challenge is you can get better by repetitions and understanding principles. I am counting on both to help my MEMORY every time I take a new photo.