Natural vs Studio - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/16/2005 08:53:13 AM · #1

Hi. A post I made in another thread this morning made me curious about the type of photos taken for DPC Challenges. The conversation was about taking photos in a natural setting (capturing a non-setup moment or event) versus studio type or artificial setup shots.

When I think about photography myself I lean towards outdoor shots - Nature, Landscapes, Old Buildings, etc... However, when I look at what I've entered for DPC Challenges it doesn't fit.

Of 18 challenges entered, 8 are a natural setting versus 10 being 'setup' shots.

Guess I'm creating an environment more frequently than I thought. Anybody else care to share thoughts on this?

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

02/16/2005 08:59:24 AM · #2

Question(s)? If you are shooting a landscape isn't it just a large studio? You wait for the right lighting. Do you go to one spot and shoot or do you adjust your position and camera settings to what pleases you? To me candid street shots would fall into the realm of 'natural setting' since you have to react to what's in front of you at that moment, no time to compose, quick capture. And even at that you can set yourself up to get the best lighting, background, etc.

nicklevy

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/16/2005 09:07:04 AM · #3

31 challenge, 22 are setup! that's living in Canada!!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/16/2005 09:14:12 AM · #4

Originally posted by kawesttex:

Ken - Couldn't agree more with your comment on candid street shots, they are quite natural without artificial setup. Landscapes to me are natural also. What I mean by that is I'm not artificially setting up a landscape where elements already exist (like you would in a studio taking a flower shot). By all means I would compose a landscape by moving to get the best position, or wait for the sun to set a bit more, etc...

I shouldn't have put that comment in about what I think about photography. Let's say the first image that comes to mind...

Here's an attempt at clarifying my long-winded rambling...Natural does not only mean outdoor nature shots, it means taking a photo of something that already exists and is not artificially lit or setup on a glass table, mirror, in front of a backdrop, etc...

Then the question remains - what is your ratio of 'natural' vs 'studio' shots for DPC challenges?

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

02/16/2005 09:21:05 AM · #5

Well, if you notice my profile I haven't entered a challenge yet. My wife signed me up last year and failed to tell me. I just learned about 4 weeks ago and am learning about this site first, but became a member pretty quick. I like the real and bantering forums. Just thought I would throw a different perspective on this. I tend to prefer things that are in their natural settings, although you might have to artificially light it to get the desired photographic result. But, there is a need to have the intentional setup to show a product or the like.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/16/2005 09:30:20 AM · #6

Originally posted by kawesttex:

Well, if you notice my profile I haven't entered a challenge yet.

Oops! I took a quick (very) peek to get your name and didn't scroll down your profile page or look at your stats. Sorry for the oversight. Look forward to seeing your entries in the near future, and good luck. ;-)

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

02/16/2005 09:33:57 AM · #7

Thanks, I just hope I can find the time to enter challenges. When I do I get the feeling I'll hit the dreaded 'update' button that everyone else is addicted to.

Prof_Fate

02/16/2005 11:27:44 AM · #8

Hmmm...
31 challenges:
13 'found' shots
18 set up shots, 4 outside 14 inside

2 not counted: deja vu and Bridges (found category).
So that makes it slightly more set up shots.

Inside shots: 15, outside 17 (including bridges)

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

02/16/2005 11:44:09 AM · #9

I'm a natural type of guy.

42 of 47 challenge entries are natural shots. Of the 7 studio type shots 4 were actually taken outside of my home of other people's set-ups.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

02/16/2005 11:48:46 AM · #10

I've entered 16 challenges.

2 were setup, 14 were 'natural'...only 2 or 3 were "moments", the likes of which will never ever be caught again. The rest were 'found'.

Then again, my average score is 4.99 so don't go learning anything from me!

Message edited by author 2005-02-16 11:49:20.

moodville

Nikon D100

02/16/2005 12:07:20 PM · #11

I got curious!

72 challenges

37 natural (13 in 2003, 23 in 2004, 1 in 2005)
35 setup (30 in 2003, 5 in 2004)

I think that makes sense for me. In 2003 I was just starting out with photography and I was eager to enter as many challenges as I could. Setup shots worked for the majority of challenge topics I entered. In 2004 I grew a little in photography, was more selective in challenges I entered, and I found I did better in natural settings. My setup shots usually dont score as well either.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/16/2005 12:21:21 PM · #12

Interesting stuff i don't think of the trends while submitting. Looks like the tougher shots to get, I ought to keep for my own enjoyment.

31 submissions

12 studio shots 1 lower 50% 4 top 20

5 moment shots 2 lower 50% 0 top 20

13 found shots 1 lower 50% 4 top 20

Moment shots are those you only get one shot at. Found shots wait for you to re shoot.

And the only shot I submitted to DPC that also was printed out and framed for my home is the one that scored lowest of all submissions.

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

02/16/2005 12:29:49 PM · #13

This is a natural setting, and about the only thing "set up" about the shot is my son's peeking face over a haystack on the right side. But even counting this one, I have 3 staged (like that term better, personally) shots and 11 "as found" entries.

02/16/2005 07:10:32 PM · #14

bump for night crowd...

Informal survey - what is your ratio of 'natural' vs 'studio' shots for DPC challenges?

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

02/16/2005 07:21:29 PM · #15

Basically, "natural" is all I do. Even when I do a setup, indoors, I do it under a north skylight or under fixed down spots on my kitchen island. I spent 25 years doing professional photography and have no desire to reinvent that particular wheel by setting up a studio, even though I have the space for one. I'm a landscape photographer pure and simple. Anything I shoot in here that's not natural is an anomaly for me. You see a lot of anomalies in my work becbause I joined in the dead of winter and it's been a harsh winter. Come spring, a different Bear emerges.

Robt.

nsbca7

02/16/2005 07:32:48 PM · #16

Originally posted by glad2badad:

[quote=kawesttex] Question(s)?
Here's an attempt at clarifying my long-winded rambling...Natural does not only mean outdoor nature shots, it means taking a photo of something that already exists and is not artificially lit or setup on a glass table, mirror, in front of a backdrop, etc...

Then the question remains - what is your ratio of 'natural' vs 'studio' shots for DPC challenges?

I still am not getting the direction of this thread. I bring my dog out to the woods to photograph him. I don't use a flash, but I do get the dog to run up the hill. I set the shot up. Is it natural? I'm an available light photographer and most of my images are created outdoors, but some are set-up. I'll get a model to lean against a tree or sit on a bench. I set the shot up.

I don't get where the division is. I think it comes in many shades of gray and I find it hard say this is black and this is white.

Natator

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/16/2005 08:45:32 PM · #17

For me it goes through stages (not just DPC but photography in general).

I started out doing shots inside, "studio" as it were.

Then I progressed to outdoor more natural shots.

Recently I bought proper studio strobes and built myself a proper studio. Obviously, right now my interests lie in studio work.

Interesting, I also got into photography because I wanted to take wildlife photos, yet now very rarely find I do that.

02/16/2005 10:28:15 PM · #18

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Here's an attempt at clarifying my long-winded rambling...Natural does not only mean outdoor nature shots, it means taking a photo of something that already exists and is not artificially lit or setup on a glass table, mirror, in front of a backdrop, etc...

Then the question remains - what is your ratio of 'natural' vs 'studio' shots for DPC challenges?

I still am not getting the direction of this thread. I bring my dog out to the woods to photograph him. I don't use a flash, but I do get the dog to run up the hill. I set the shot up. Is it natural? I'm an available light photographer and most of my images are created outdoors, but some are set-up. I'll get a model to lean against a tree or sit on a bench. I set the shot up.

I don't get where the division is. I think it comes in many shades of gray and I find it hard say this is black and this is white.

Martin - You're right, there is alot of grey area here. Studio/setup would be where I control everything - composition, lighting, subject placement, background, etc... Natural is where you can't control everything in the shot (which does cover a lot of ground I guess).

The example you posted with the dog is a good one for 'grey area', but I would lean more toward it being natural because no matter how well mannered your dog is, you still can't control all of the shot (most of it though, hmmm....). Doesn't feel like 'Studio' to me, but could be 'Setup' - guess they should/could be separated?

Just thought it would be interesting to see how everyone categorized their challenge entries using simple classifications of natural and studio. How about we change it to 'Studio' and everything else? :-)

Message edited by author 2005-02-16 22:29:01.

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

02/16/2005 10:30:43 PM · #19

As a rule of thumb, if you don't control the lighting it's natural.

Robt.

nsbca7

02/16/2005 10:35:40 PM · #20

Originally posted by bear_music:

As a rule of thumb, if you don't control the lighting it's natural.

Robt.

In that case all of my work is natural except for a small amount of macro nature photography that I do. (I have a ring flash)

e301

02/16/2005 10:38:20 PM · #21

So i waited for the light, which i knew was coming, and I knew I would have about 30 minutes with it because of the buildings and coming clouds. I waited for people to pass in what seemed to me a decent composition, and took a fair number of shots.

How set up was that?

e

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

02/16/2005 10:41:49 PM · #22

E. nsbca, you two are a couple of the best "natural" photographers in DPC.

Zone System photographers will sometimes set up, or anticipate, a shot and wait for HOURS for the light. I'd go on the road to shoot, be gone for 2 weeks, and come back with 15-20 negatives. In TWO WEEKS...

Robt.

nsbca7

02/16/2005 10:49:29 PM · #23

Originally posted by bear_music:

Thanks for the compliment Robert. I like refer to it as available light photography though. Natural sounds too much like I'm shooting with no clothes on. (which in fact I may have done a time or two)