Lagniappe is broadly defined as something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure. A good friend of mine, Dewitt Jones, used to talk about lagniappe as the little gift you got in photographs – something that you weren’t suspecting. He specifically talked about it once with a picture of yellow mustard and grapevines, and a little red bucket hanging on the fence. Since that talk he did, I have had lagniappe occur on a regular basis. I’m convinced that if you are looking with eyes and mind wide open, you’ll spot juxtapositions and little ‘extras’ that make the picture better.
This blog picture is a lagniappe moment for me. I was walking around the mask store in Venice in May, trying to find a composition and decided I would use the mirrors in the store to create depth to the scene. When I happened upon this mirror, though, I suddenly realized I could see the artist working on a mask. I was so pleased to find that little ‘gift’ waiting for me in there!
Another such occurrence was when I was photographing sunrise on a hazy day in Venice along the Grand Canal. We had learned that there was a motorized vessel strike the next day, and we thought it would be great to capture the Grand Canal and buildings in golden light without all the boat traffic and water churned up from it. I used a warm diffusion filter over my lens to add more warmth to the sunrise color, and just as I was getting ready to make the picture I noticed a tiny boat coming around the bend from the left. As it got a little closer, I saw that it was a gondolier in his boat! Just like old times, without all the power boats whizzing by him. Magic. Lagniappe.
I’ll take the gifts wherever and whenever they are presented!
Works of art! Two great images from Venice. Unique and magical indeed. The masks and reflections in the mirror… Very creative and adds so much more. Mysterious and magical. The warm toned sunrise upon the Grand Canal, single gondolier and amazing golden reflection of the sun upon the window and into the water… indeed additional magical moments -and- visual creations with your magical photography talents.
Lagniappe; juxtapositions; serendipity; magic; being at the right place at the right time; knowing when to press the shutter; framing; seeing; through the lens; patience is a virtue; knowing when to hold, fold or go all in; chance; luck (luck is when preparation meets opportunity)… processing options, making a decisions, reacting to the moment or subject… going with the flow… There is so much that goes into the process of seeing, discovery and creativity.
In our preparations of becoming experienced in whatever we choose to do, we study, learn by example, do exercises, begin to learn, define and become more aware. Specialist or Multi-tasker… Apprentice, journeyman to becoming the ultimate master!
Whether learning from natural abilities, passions, and/or repeated efforts (practice makes perfect)… I believe we learn to see beyond what we learned and redefine how it applies to what we are doing – incorporating into our own specific style or fingerprints (ultimately making it our own). From old tricks, applications and incorporations into new… to continuing to learn and discover something new… the growing process continues and the world is full of new things…
Seeing beyond seeing… Noticing gifts… Seeing within… Seeing and noticing the inner beauty… The stories, the adventures, the discoveries… Truly magical experiences indeed!!!
Amazing work, ideas, thoughts and creations Brenda!
Thanks, Stephan – just off the boat in Alaska and getting caught up on blog comments and hundreds of emails – whew! Your comments are very insightful and thought-provoking, as well. Thank you for sharing them here with everyone who reads the post!
Brenda, I love your story about lagniappe and the accompanying photos — I haven’t met Dewitt myself but I did hear him in a lecture a few years back about “what’s right with the world” — he was very inspirational. I’ve been following your beautiful adventures in photography on the website and hope I can take another class one day where you’re teaching. The Tuscany class was so much fun with Venice PHotography!
Hi Denise –
Great to hear from you! Hope you are doing very well. Thanks for following me on the blog and checking the website, too. It was great to work with you in Tuscany with VSP. We did have a lot of fun on that one – so yes, hopefully you can join me again on some future photography adventure.
I thought the mirror was a framed photo it is so prefect there. Ah, yes, I call it ‘serendipity’ when I make a fortuitous discovery either when I am taking a photo or later on when you pull it up and get a nice surprise.
Thanks, Scott. Serendipity is definitely ‘when’ it all comes together like this, I agree.