I was thinking about Blog topics this morning for my website and came up with this idea -- and thought it would be an interesting topic to hear about from others here, particularly given the rapidly approaching foliage season.
When you photograph, do you have a vision, or an approach? What is the "process" or thinking you go through? How do you approach a subject (not physically, necessarily, but how do you go about showing, framing and photographing it)? Does your approach involve a particular focal length lens (or range)?
Do You have a Vision?
Do You have a Vision?
Andy
If it sounds too good to be true, its probably . . . .
If it sounds too good to be true, its probably . . . .
When I go out with my camera I empty my mind (not difficult for me) and just look around until something catches my attention. Then I look around the subject both near and far and see if there is anything that will enhance the photo. I'm not one to photograph just the object. Then I may take 5 to 10 photos at different settings. I really don't go out with any subject in mind. Well, except for a foliage moose. I've been trying to get a big bull moose to walk under a bright red or orange for years using prays and moose dances but no luck. Any ideas? 
10 pretty good tips on that site, Carol. Kind of reminds me of the fundamental rules I learned when I took the NYIP course.
I think your development as a photographer mirrors what a lot of us have done. We start to think of a photograph as a "process" instead of a snapshot. My NYIP instructor who did my critiques made the point early on that we don't "take" photos, we "make" photos.
For my own part, that generally means I need to either photograph alone, or with other photographer-enthusiasts. With others (like my wife and kids), I am likely to get, "didn't you already take that shot?" or "How many photographs do you need of that?" I have a tendency to find a photo and "work" it until I feel I have exhausted it (and not feel near so bad throwing away pixels I don't want to keep, as I did throwing away those slides I had paid to have developed
).
I think your development as a photographer mirrors what a lot of us have done. We start to think of a photograph as a "process" instead of a snapshot. My NYIP instructor who did my critiques made the point early on that we don't "take" photos, we "make" photos.
For my own part, that generally means I need to either photograph alone, or with other photographer-enthusiasts. With others (like my wife and kids), I am likely to get, "didn't you already take that shot?" or "How many photographs do you need of that?" I have a tendency to find a photo and "work" it until I feel I have exhausted it (and not feel near so bad throwing away pixels I don't want to keep, as I did throwing away those slides I had paid to have developed
).Andy
If it sounds too good to be true, its probably . . . .
If it sounds too good to be true, its probably . . . .
I like that thought, Phil. I will have to try to incorporate it next time I am out. I tend to have "visualized" a shot I want to get before I even get on location. Sometimes that is good and planning is always helpful. But I am sure that that mindset also means I miss things that are right there, too.
Andy
If it sounds too good to be true, its probably . . . .
If it sounds too good to be true, its probably . . . .