| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/03/2006 05:06:29 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It kind of depends what you want from your photography. If stunning landscapes are your goal, and you live in Kansas, say, your day-to-day options are limited. That's actually why I moved to Cape Cod from San Diego after I retired; the Southern California landscape simply stopped inspiring me after so many years. Cape Cod is beautiful, though so far I've stayed close to home on the beaten track, and there's a lot more to uncover.
But more importantly, why set yourself up with a goal you cannot currently fulfill?
There's a whole other way of looking at photography, as the "discovery of what IS". It's the "make lemonade" approach. I highly recommend macro work for those of you who are locationally challenged; there's ALWAYS beauty and amazement to be found if you move in close.
Robt. |
I used to live on the Cape. Lived in Sandwich, MA. Beautiful area. What is nice about the Cape is about an hour south, you have the beatiful Newport, RI and their historic mansions. A couple of hours north, and the mountainous regions of Maine are always wonderful. Then of course, the four seasons in themselves. Gorgeous area with the fall leaves, the summer beaches and dunes, the spring flowers and wildlife, and then the winters can't be beat. If you want city? Not to far away. You want country? It's all right there in short distances. So I think you made a wise move heading to the Cape for sure.
Rose
Message edited by author 2006-01-03 17:07:01.
|
|
|
|
01/03/2006 05:53:38 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by southern_exposure:
Bear I have the canon 50mm f/1.8 II the macro is ok but would A set of 3 Close-Up filters (+1, +2, and +4) which can be used singly or stacked in any configuration to give you magnification strengths from +1 to +7 help this lens with better closeup macro's? |
I prefer extension tubes for that...
R. |
|
|
|
01/03/2006 06:25:34 PM · #28 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by southern_exposure:
Bear I have the canon 50mm f/1.8 II the macro is ok but would A set of 3 Close-Up filters (+1, +2, and +4) which can be used singly or stacked in any configuration to give you magnification strengths from +1 to +7 help this lens with better closeup macro's? |
I prefer extension tubes for that...
R. |
I concur.
|
|
|
|
01/03/2006 06:42:25 PM · #29 |
| There's alot of stuff going on here that I agree with. I live in the mountains and have plenty of views, sunsets, lakes, and landscapes, but I'm tired of them. It's too easy to go out and shoot the sunset, and if I continue to do this I'll never branch out and challenge myself. On the other hand sometimes getting a stunning shot requires that you familiarize yourself with an area and return to it many times. Think about how many trips Ansel made to Yosemite. I'm a student and the head of the photography department I'm in strongly encourages us to go out and shoot a whole roll of film on the same subject. Try picking one shot you'd like to take and shooting it from all sides, angles, heights, and distances. In the past this has given me good ideas about ways to improve composition, as well as what doesn't work. Either way the grass is always going to be greener on the other side. In new surroundings you are given fresh material to work with that jumps out at you. I think the trick is finding all those things that don't jump out at you, but are just as noteworthy. |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 10:47:12 AM · #30 |
I think location is important but at the same time I have learned to find things around here. To me Texas can be very pretty but at times dull, that makes me go out and search for things that are interesting. Most of my top photos are taken a couple blocks from my house including all my ribbons (yes my muse lives close lol), most of my macros are taken in my backyard also. Lately I haven't shot as much, maybe because its winter and everything seems kinda dead, but I still go out and try to find something. Sometimes I do wish I lived in iceland LOL!!
|
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:15:19 PM · #31 |
I live in what has to be one of the most boring, backwards & otherwise depressing towns in America, Memphis. I'm a self described landscape photographer in a land of no topography. And of course being a native Memphian I hate Elvis.
I'm just biding my time till our youngest graduates from HS, and my wife & I are headed to Maine.
|
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:34:36 PM · #32 |
Depends a lot on what you like to shoot. You can travel a long, long way to make boring, uninspired photographs. In fact, I'd tend to argue that if you can't make interesting photos where you are, with all the gear you could possibly need, better access and more time to spend than you'll ever get on a trip, then you probably can't make interesting pictures somewhere else either.
That's to say, you need to have the skills to make good pictures in the first place, before you stretch those skills even further in a challenging environment, or with limited time or access pressures.
You can do travel photography for example, where you live - you just have to learn to see with new eyes.
Portrait photography - there are people all around you.
Landscape photography - when was the last time you walked around your neighbourhood in the sweet light, half an hour before dawn or half an hour after sunset - that's when you could be shooting great landscapes, even where you live.
New surroundings might inspire you to capture records of new things, but you probably still wouldn't be taking interesting, expressive images - just records of new stuff.
It takes hard work, but there's always a good picture, no matter where you are.
So, to cut a long ramble short, I think location has nothing whatsoever to do with being a good photographer. In fact, I think yearning for other locations is probably the worst mistake a photographer can make - you have to work with where you are, as you've got better access to it than anyone else.
Ansel did great stuff in Yosemite for example, because he was there. It was on his doorstep. Some people do beautiful work with their lunch. Others' do great, inspirational photography with weeds they find in their back garden.
All you have to do is learn to see.
Message edited by author 2006-01-04 14:05:25. |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:38:25 PM · #33 |
Originally posted by TroyMosley:
I live in Suberbia, tottaly not much around here unless your interested in architeture.
i do live near the beach but my creativness goes as far as sunsets or portraits at the beach, i do feel if i lived where my brother lives i would have a much beter portfolio. |
So you are surrounded by people - interesting, different faces, tons of portrait subjects ?
Daily life happening all around you - plenty to photograph if were interested in looking for it, maybe ? I don't know any one of those people, their lives, their history, their hobbies, what sports they play, how they spend their lives. I'd love to know more.
Maybe the guy next door mountain bikes or the kid down the block plays high school football - both good subjects. That woman across the street works with a ballet company that needs good publicity photos - and so on and so on.
Message edited by author 2006-01-04 12:40:14. |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:41:57 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by elsapo:
I think location is important but at the same time I have learned to find things around here. To me Texas can be very pretty but at times dull, that makes me go out and search for things that are interesting. Most of my top photos are taken a couple blocks from my house including all my ribbons (yes my muse lives close lol), most of my macros are taken in my backyard also. Lately I haven't shot as much, maybe because its winter and everything seems kinda dead, but I still go out and try to find something. Sometimes I do wish I lived in iceland LOL!! |
I loved moving to Texas. Everything was so different and interesting. The cars were all different, the gas pumps were different, plugs had changed, houses looked totally new to me. I love all the wide open space, the people and just how radically different life is here than to the UK.
Texas is a unique, inspiring place to photograph. It's unlike anywhere else in the world! Just like everywhere else...
Message edited by author 2006-01-04 12:42:13. |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:42:46 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
All you have to do is learn to see. |
Amen...what a great way of looking at things! :) |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:44:07 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Texas is a unique, inspiring place to photograph. It's unlike anywhere else in the world! |
Gotta give you an amen on that one too. ;) |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:48:08 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Originally posted by Gordon:
All you have to do is learn to see. |
Amen...what a great way of looking at things! :) |
Absolutely! I have had feelings of such despair and excitement about photo subjects..all in the same day! I have all the gear at my disposal anyone could want, time to travel, great locations.....and the fact I have to pound out image after image sucks all my energy some days.
Some of the best advice I read here was to find a photo buddy...join a club..find other local photo nuts...being around other people who are excited about photography will jumpstart you for sure! :-D
Message edited by author 2006-01-04 12:48:47. |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 12:53:18 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
I loved moving to Texas. Everything was so different and interesting. The cars were all different, the gas pumps were different, plugs had changed, houses looked totally new to me. I love all the wide open space, the people and just how radically different life is here than to the UK.
Texas is a unique, inspiring place to photograph. It's unlike anywhere else in the world! Just like everywhere else... |
The thing I like most about TX is the people, they are super friendly :)... but to me its not one of the most beautiful places, landscape wise everything seems dead most of the year (spring is an exeption with the wildflowers)... Don't get me wrong, I have taken photos of beautiful things here, just that sometimes I get tired of the same thing (plus I love mountains LOL).... ofcourse I haven't been down to the southern part so I cant say much.
|
|
|
|
01/04/2006 02:09:28 PM · #39 |
I like going on trips to exotic places to photograph, don't get me wrong. But I find those even more challenging. You never have the option of being there in the best possible weather unless you get really lucky, you are always pressed for time and you never get the chance to really go in depth in to a subject.
I spent two years visiting one garden at least twice a month, every month and made some of my most favourite images in the dead of winter about a year in, after I'd worked through all the obvious, cliche shots, after I'd dispaired of finding anything interesting, after I'd pushed through that fatigue and boredom with the subject.
It isn't always easy, but the easy pictures usually aren't that interesting anyway. |
|
|
|
01/07/2006 05:07:01 PM · #40 |
Photographers Block !
I wanted to create a web site a few years ago just for the hell of it. I was stuck for a sublject so I decided to base it on the town that I live in. It made me take another look at my surroundings and i was quite surprised.
as for taking photos in cold weather and in winter....put on a hat and some gloves and get out there !!
//www.caeclyd.com
//www.pbase.com/caeclyd/blaenau_ffestiniog
Message edited by author 2006-01-07 17:07:24. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/10/2025 06:47:45 PM EDT.
