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05/03/2005 09:18:08 AM · #26 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
What differentiates a National Geographic photographer from any other good photographer?
1. He/She works for National Geographic.
It's unfortunate that there aren't enough great photography jobs to go around :) |
I say it's the willingness to go neck deep into an unkown jungle swamp just to get the shot. You know how many of those photographers have parasites never seen before by science? It's scary...
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05/03/2005 09:40:52 AM · #27 |
The more I try and improve my wildlife photography the more I stand in awe of the truly great wildlife photographers around, both NG and non NG ones. (Wildlife happens to be the area I'm most interested in so it's what sticks in mind most of the large body of work produced by NG photographers).
In the last few months I've lain on my belly on very cold, hard ground that's liberally covered in penguin poo for over half an hour just to bag a shot I was keen to get; I've cut my elbows doing similar on a beach where the "sand" was actually sharp pieces of broken shells to try and get a better shot of a marine iguana and I've certainly got a wet arse on more than one occasion for various shots.
But I doubt I'd have the physical stamina to be able to produce the quality of shots these photographers produce IN THE VOLUME they produce and UNDER THE TIGHT DEADLINES they produce.
I must confess that I would love the chance to try though. I'd love to be able to buy all the lenses and equipment I felt would be useful, to be able to spend not just one or two days somewhere but weeks in order to see the wildlife in question again and again and try out lots of different shots.
PS The penguin shot in question is the image I entered into Best of 2004.
Message edited by author 2005-05-03 09:41:46.
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05/03/2005 09:46:33 AM · #28 |
Originally posted by Jewellian:
It's one thing to take a gorgeous pic of a lion in a zoo, but ENTIRELY different when he's close enough to smell without any bars or moats around..... |
Indeed (whoops... forgot the lens cap!) The first thing I thought of was Roy Horn taking a picture of a tiger's tonsils. You get one try. |
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05/03/2005 10:09:02 AM · #29 |
I love national geographic! After being a surgeon I really want to become a photographer for them. Fingers crossed :-)
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05/03/2005 10:20:25 AM · #30 |
Originally posted by MeThoS:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
What differentiates a National Geographic photographer from any other good photographer?
1. He/She works for National Geographic.
It's unfortunate that there aren't enough great photography jobs to go around :) |
I say it's the willingness to go neck deep into an unkown jungle swamp just to get the shot. You know how many of those photographers have parasites never seen before by science? It's scary... |
It's funny how many people are focusing on the image of Geographic photographers as being neck-deep in swamps or face-to-face with wild animals. While this is the "romantic" view, a majority of their articles are on much more "civilized" topics, and most Geographic photographers don't do that sort of stuff. They do phot essays on great cities of the world, they do stories on emerging technologies, they do all KINDS of stuff really.
Robt.
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05/03/2005 10:23:25 AM · #31 |
From what I have heard, NG photographers do what I do - they take one billion shots on a shoot and hope. That's not to denigrate what they do - it's done under tough and unpredicatable conditions. But as for the timing of shots, they shoot oodles. It only makes sense that the proverbial blind squirrel is destined to find the nut, so to speak - especially if they are highly trained and experienced blind squirrels.
As for the digital v. film argument, I would think it does not matter either way - the magazine is digitally produced on layout and as such, the slides would be scanned in and edited by their damned fine support team (as much as their photographers rock, I doubt they are the ones actually adjusting the photos in the "lab".)
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05/03/2005 10:24:39 AM · #32 |
| it sounds like it's about time to revisit the NG Challenge |
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05/03/2005 10:52:15 AM · #33 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
it sounds like it's about time to revisit the NG Challenge |
Yes!! Let's make it as a June NG free study. :-)
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05/03/2005 10:54:03 AM · #34 |
Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:
Originally posted by skiprow:
it sounds like it's about time to revisit the NG Challenge |
Yes!! Let's make it as a June NG free study. :-) |
I take it you have something planned in June that would coincide just nicely. ;o)
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05/03/2005 10:57:26 AM · #35 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:
Originally posted by skiprow:
it sounds like it's about time to revisit the NG Challenge |
Yes!! Let's make it as a June NG free study. :-) |
I take it you have something planned in June that would coincide just nicely. ;o) |
me??? .... hehehehehehe ;-)
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05/03/2005 11:00:28 AM · #36 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I take it you have something planned in June that would coincide just nicely. ;o) |
You didn't see Yanik's thread on the Steve Irwin GTG? ;-) |
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05/03/2005 11:09:06 AM · #37 |
I also was going through one of the big photo books that NG puts out (while waiting to get my teeth cleaned) I would have to agree with you all about how amazing some of the photographers are on this site. Time and time again these folks produce excellent shots. It takes hard work and a good eye.
@Bear, they don't always come out with the best of shots either. Take a look at their photobook. Some of their pictures really suck. It is the story behind the shot that makes the photo come alive and become a "wow" shot. Here voters have a hard time because they aren't able to see the story behind the photos or just don't take the time.
DPC Rocks! |
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05/03/2005 11:39:43 AM · #38 |
I have studied the images in NG, and while there may be some articles that are not as well illustrated as others, the quality across the board is generally superb. Sometimes, though, it can leave you downright speechless.
I have also studied both magazine journalism and photography, so I have some understanding of how the images need to relate to the text.
What I have seen is that the best images don't come from just taking 1000's of shots, they come from taking 1000's of shots with a studied and thoughtful eye towards the journalisic and the artistic aspects of the task. The same kinds of shots that photographers on assignment have been working hard to provide the magazine for decades. Their jobs, after all, are all about giving the photo editors lots of substance to work with.
The photo editors at NG work very hard to provide photos that help to illustrate or accent some aspects of life outlined by the story. They aren't concerned so much with the "technical" elements of the image, in fact, I think they try very hard to not let these get in the way. They are much more concerned with evoking emotion, with moving people by using the images to strike emotional chords that echo the cadence of the story.
If an image is otherwise "perfect", but has some glaring technical problem, such as being slightly out of focus, they may use the image anyway. Because NG readers will look past the poor focus and see the point being illustrated, not an image that is just out of focus.
The community at DPC is great for what it is... a fun place to study and practice photography, but rarely have I seen NG caliber images around here. Great NG type stuff does come up from time to time, but it almost never wins.
Understand that I don't mean to be harsh, it's just that this site just doesn't lend itself to those types of images. If anything, it discourages them. Maybe its because there is no story for the images to relate to (only challenge topic) I don't know, but to try and draw some meaningful comparison between images seen here and those seen in NG is rather silly. |
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05/03/2005 11:55:28 AM · #39 |
Originally posted by mcmurma:
The community at DPC is great for what it is... a fun place to study and practice photography, but rarely have I seen NG caliber images around here. Great NG type stuff does come up from time to time, but it almost never wins. |
Great post! It's funny, I often think how poorly an incredible NG image would score here for grain or 'distracting elements' or some other ridiculous technical nitpicking!
Likewise, being able to setup a portrait to resemble the "Afghan Girl" does not mean that you can shoot for Nat Geo...DPC is generally not about story telling, it's about graphics...Most great journals are just the opposite.
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05/03/2005 12:04:07 PM · #40 |
Originally posted by mcmurma:
Understand that I don't mean to be harsh, it's just that this site just doesn't lend itself to those types of images. If anything, it discourages them. Maybe its because there is no story for the images to relate to (only challenge topic) I don't know, but to try and draw some meaningful comparison between images seen here and those seen in NG is rather silly. |
In fact, many people actively dislike images that need a 'supporting' story or text to enhance explain it and see no place for such images as good photography.
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05/03/2005 12:26:25 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
In fact, many people actively dislike images that need a 'supporting' story or text to enhance explain it and see no place for such images as good photography. |
Quite true, and it's exactly why I can see no good reason to try and draw even a passing comparision to the images seen here to those seen in NG.
I have always felt that photography can ultimately be broken down into 3 broad categories.
Journalistic
Artistic
Graphic
Of the 3, Graphic is the one that I most readily associate with DPC, where NG is Journalistic all the way.
Of course, all 3 kinds of images can and do win here DPC, but the Journalistic is seen least of all.
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05/03/2005 01:53:30 PM · #42 |
Originally posted by bear_music:
Originally posted by MeThoS:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
What differentiates a National Geographic photographer from any other good photographer?
1. He/She works for National Geographic.
It's unfortunate that there aren't enough great photography jobs to go around :) |
I say it's the willingness to go neck deep into an unkown jungle swamp just to get the shot. You know how many of those photographers have parasites never seen before by science? It's scary... |
It's funny how many people are focusing on the image of Geographic photographers as being neck-deep in swamps or face-to-face with wild animals. While this is the "romantic" view, a majority of their articles are on much more "civilized" topics, and most Geographic photographers don't do that sort of stuff. They do phot essays on great cities of the world, they do stories on emerging technologies, they do all KINDS of stuff really.
Robt. |
I wouldn't call it romantic, but yes I'm refering to the NG International field photographer, not the domestic ones...
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