Discussion: Subject Choice - DPChallenge Forums

10/09/2002 11:35:10 PM · #1

Another question that has been raised is about choosing a subject for your photograph.

Choosing a subject IS probably one of the most difficult and diverse topics to discuss. After all, what one persons thinks is a great subject may not be equally impressive to another...

Maybe this discussion could include some ideas on fitting your chosen subject into its environment as well.

I don't have a particular method I use when choosing a subject. Some of my photos are impromptu, where the subject just appears before me, and others are methodically composed still life images.

Any thoughts?

HBunch

HP PhotoSmart 315

10/09/2002 11:51:48 PM · #2

Wow, I never thought about my "method". I think that I try to get something that will look good with it's surroundings. If it's a still life kind of photo, I try to compliment it with a good background, one that will just "work" with the subject. Usually one that will make the subject stand out off the background, but I have found situations where the background needed to "match" the subject either in color or feeling.
The subject its self? When shooting for the challenges, I try to think of 10 ideas, I write them down and throw the first 5 out. Those are obvious and will probably be done for sure.
Then I try to find ideas, and think of the most natural surrounding for the subject, or the most creative and when there aren't any options left, I try for the most personal. Like a setting that no one else could use. SOmething that is either native to my area, or my personal surrounding. That way, it will not look like any other photo in the challenge.
Nature photos, I just look for whatever is unusual or pretty.
I'm not real good with people photos, so I don't have a "style" on that.
My main subject to photograph is my son. And I just take lots and lots, and get a few that I really like.
Great subject to talk about! Really made me stop to think.
~Heather~

Gracious

10/09/2002 11:52:32 PM · #3

In the case of dp challenges I ruminate the subject for a day or two, then I start "seeing with new eyes" so to speak. I will specifically look for "Texture" or reflective surfaces, or things old, depending on the challenge. I love it! It prompts me to discipline my eyes to see what I may have missed all along. Each challenge seems to add a new dimension to the art and craft of my photography.

Once my eyes are accustomed to seeing the challenge subject the prospects present themselves and I shoot lots and lots, and then some more.

So many times, though, the image I finally decide on, the voters don't agree. LOL That's fine though...all part of the learning process.

Here are some of my outtakes.

10/10/2002 01:13:28 AM · #4

To me, it sounds strange to try to offer help in choosing a subject. Photography is about photographing things that YOU like, not things that I like....

I think that where the help comes into play in this issue is possibly with the composition of the chosen subject maybe...

rapsiii3

Kodak DC3400

10/10/2002 01:32:19 AM · #5

Subjectivity. Interesting topic. But unfortunetly intellegence has no place in this discussion. It is not about what I think. It is all about how I feel. That being said, I take some really horrible pictures. Death,pain,pollution. I don't show them, usually, but isn't that a part of what we see? Is the art of photography all about being pretty? Are good colors and superb subjects what make us good photographers. I have been blessed with eyes that see. I use my cameras to show what I have seen. Sometimes it is just ugly. Does that diminish my work?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/10/2002 01:39:45 AM · #6

Originally posted by rapsiii3:
Subjectivity. Interesting topic. But unfortunetly intellegence has no place in this discussion. It is not about what I think. It is all about how I feel. That being said, I take some really horrible pictures. Death,pain,pollution. I don't show them, usually, but isn't that a part of what we see? Is the art of photography all about being pretty? Are good colors and superb subjects what make us good photographers. I have been blessed with eyes that see. I use my cameras to show what I have seen. Sometimes it is just ugly. Does that diminish my work?

This goes back to a point that I have made over and over again. Whether a photograph is GOOD or not is completely up to the photographer. What's different about it HERE is that you are allowing others to tell you what they think about your work. Different backgrounds, interests, and philosophies rarely meld into one common idea on the merit of a photo, or art in general for that matter...

paganini

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/10/2002 02:11:09 AM · #7

My favorite subject is nature or landscape. And how do i decide to shoot?

I find that the best photographs i have made in nature or landscape is after hiking for a while, anywhere from 0.01 to 7 miles and i saw something that i said to myself "WOW!" It could be as simple as a few flowers on a running creek, or the grandeur of a mountain as the first light strikes on the peak. Of course, i have yet to find a photograph by anyone that truly captures the experience of being out there with nature, but i think that's what nature and landscape photographers are trying to convey, the sense of being with the world. But if you ask me to pick a favorite, i'll have to say water or waterfalls in slow motion (slow shutter speed to capture the motion)

The most amazing moment i had was during a solo over night camp in the RMNP (Rocky Mountain national Park) in Glacier Gorge, one of the true solitude campsites (one campsite in the entire gorge!) in the park. I got there at 1-2 pm, set up the tent and a roaring thunderstorm strikes, i am completely wet while setting up the tent, half of my equipment is wet, finally got in. And guess what, it started to hail with thunder striking with 1-2 miles from where i was (and for the first time I was truly scared, because i saw flashes and within 0.5 seconds the thunder roares, so i knew i was very close to the strike zone). An hour later, it starting to clear, by the evening, the hour berfore sunset, it's completely cleared up magically, the sun shines on Long's Peak and the Keyhole, leaving a golden alpenglow against the darker greenish background. I got my old Toshiba PDR M4, points it up, took one shot, it was blurry because of the low light and no tripod. Tried again, a bit better but over exposed (that camera has NO MANUAL control.... ) i tried a different function, press the shutter, and of course, the freaking battery runs out :) It was amazing because the glow on the mountain was truly spectacular and the damn thing didn't work. I am not sure if i will get htat experience back if i went back, it was really magical. I spent the night hearing some weird thumping sound next to a roaring creek, but still ended up sleeping like a baby (i thought it was a bear half the time). There is nothing like solitude in the wilderness, it's a bit risky because you are alone, but it's worth it -- you really know yourself and your limits when you're out there.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/10/2002 02:18:54 AM · #8

My way is probably the most un-methodical way of doing things.

I get a couple of obvious ideas and then scrap them because I know they will probably be done at least once by other people (altho if everyone scrapped their first few ideas, I could be the only one to do them!).

When I finally come up with a good idea, I go about making props if needed, or buying them, or finding them around the house.

On my search for props I will ofter stumble over something that I think will look really good. I quickly reconsider my idea to see if I can fit the object in. If I can, great, if not, then I go and set up my original idea.

I set it up and then start shooting.

Normally I can't get the idea I first wanted so I start moving things around and experimenting, and will normally get a shot I'm happy with.

With my negative space photo, I was originally going to have a crossmade out of sticks, and a grassy base. I took a few photos like that and was quite happy with some of the photos. This was in a very dark room with no light other than my desklamp. So, being the pyromaniac that people concider me to be, I thought it would look good to have the base of the cross on fire. I went and got some matches and striked one. It looked great as the initial spark lit up the room.

As you know, grass if alive and wet and doesnt really like to burn, so that idea was extinguished (eugh) pretty fast. Then I decided to experiment with the match and try to get a good photo.

I finally managed to get one (which was VERY hard) and I ended up entering it into the contest, with no planning for that photo at all!
Here is my final photo.

I think it was a lot more interesting than the cross photos I got.

I guess what I'm trying to say it, be prepared to improvise with your props :)

And don't play with fire.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/10/2002 02:19:19 AM · #9

I made my first real attempts at waterfall shots last weekend...

HERE are the results... they need work but I learned from these and will do better next time :)

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

10/10/2002 02:21:12 AM · #10

John
I really like the long-ish exposure you used on these. They create a really nice smooth sheet of water.