In The Zone - Photography Jargon Explained
By Henry Bateman, Sat Dec 10th

In the zone is a term used by street photographers whenthey are tuned into their surroundings and the pictures arecoming easily.

It isn't unique to street photography, it can happen in anyfield of endeavour. You are in the zone when you are soengrossed in an activity that space and time seem to standstill. What seems like minutes to you can be hours in the realworld. It is that place where you are doing rather than thinkingabout doing, there is no thought about the how, it is justhappening.

Intuition is in the driver's seat, training, knowledge,experience and rational thought are at the back of the bus. Morethan likely playing strip poker or engaged in some otherchildish pursuit.

Being in the zone is the street photographer's nirvana.They are one with the street. They are part of and at the sametime removed from the activity that is happening. They are theobjective viewer of the dance they are dancing. Their presenceis integral to the action and accepted by the other participantswithout influencing the proceedings.

There are no photo faces;it's almost as if the photographer is invisible.

Canadian street photographer John Brownlow talks about goingblank, he surveys the scene through his camera until he goesblank and that is when he presses the shutter.

With painting, writing or gaming it can last for considerableamounts of time, with street photography it tends to be fleetingbut can happen several times in a shoot. It is the dynamic ofthe street, the ever changing kaleidoscope of activity, and thenature of photography, the captured moment in time, that make itso.

But it is in those moments that the inspirational pics happen.Although this is not apparent until later, when looking throughthe results of your walk, because rational thought is losingtheir shirt at the back of the bus.

When a street photographer takes their camera for a walk, beingIn the Zone is their hoped for destination.

About the author:Henry Bateman is an artist/photographer who finds the majorityof his inspiration on the streets he wanders.His work can beseen at http://www.pissedpoet.com and this article with picturescan be seen at http://www.pissedpoet.com/zone.html