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08/16/2007 09:31:35 AM · #1 |
So far, I have only found two ways of entering a challenge. One, I get in the car and chase a frame. I look around the road, city, and parks to find something that would match the challenge description. Or I could just think of a way to create a frame. Because I don't have a studio, the latter one becomes somewhat hard to come by. What do you guys do? Give me some hints and tips.
Cheers! |
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08/16/2007 09:35:49 AM · #2 |
| Some people just have far more time than others and can spend most of a week working on a shot. Some people don't. I just try to pick and choose a challenge that I have time for. |
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08/16/2007 09:36:38 AM · #3 |
well for the last tryptich challenge, i had an idea of doing three different infra red shot from thhree different perspectives, and then while shooting i came across this guy
which i thought looked cooler in a trypitch. eneded with a 6,28 not bad if you ask me:) |
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08/16/2007 09:49:37 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by zaflabout:
well for the last tryptich challenge, i had an idea of doing three different infra red shot from thhree different perspectives, and then while shooting i came across this guy
which i thought looked cooler in a trypitch. eneded with a 6,28 not bad if you ask me:) |
Darn. ..where was a wing challenge when you needed one, right? That's awesome!
As for me? As soon as the challenges come up, I start thinking about what would make a great photo for that challenge within the limitations of my world. Then. . .I go try to capture that idea. My problem is, I really have no interest in gimmicky set-up shots. If it's not scenery of some type, nature, people, animals or architecture, I'm just not interested in either doing it -- or looking at a photo like that -- so it makes coming up with ideas for my same-o, same-o world more difficult.
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08/16/2007 09:50:01 AM · #5 |
| I rack my brains for a few days on all the challenges and then go with whatever will look best, fit the challenge, and not be too difficult or messy. |
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08/16/2007 09:51:02 AM · #6 |
very rarely do I "run" into a scene for a challenge.
Pretty much all of these kind of shots did not do well.
The better one's take a lot of thinking and some preparations. Sometimes I sketch them out on paper first, writing down criteria I want to meet, pitfalls I have to watch out for (e.g. horizon not going thru heads, poles in the background not sticking out of heads, not cutting off feet, arms...). Then I go out and try to find a spot that meets these criteria.
There is a great thread by DrAchoo about his I'm in Love picture.
I think I recall some unfortunate controversy towards the end. But it was an excellent thread showing what effort can (does not have to) go into taking a picture. |
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08/16/2007 09:56:17 AM · #7 |
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08/16/2007 10:01:01 AM · #8 |
That differs from one topic to another. Most of my work is "studio" work and it goes likereading the challenge topic and - bam! - there is my idea. Problem is, when I begin to think about it, I have 99 other ideas...
If it's something I can't do inside, I think about places where I can find a proper environment and than drive there in the evening or at the weekend.
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08/16/2007 10:05:03 AM · #9 |
I pursue things that interest me like people and light all the time with little thought about whether it is for a challenge.
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08/16/2007 10:08:32 AM · #10 |
There are a few spots in my city that are usually good places to go if I am at a loss for a picture. I use those as a last resort. I generally have the challenge my mind during the week and if I happen upon a possible match, I'll go after it. I do have a room set up as a studio and do use it often.
I travel a great deal for my job and that affords me the opportunity to sight new things to shoot. |
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08/16/2007 10:21:52 AM · #11 |
Obviously, it depends on the challenge. Most recently I went downtown to shoot for Urban Landscape. I spent several sweaty hours driving and walking and ended up with a bunch of fun shots, but none for the challenge. It's not the first time that's happened to me.
Other topics - I immediately have an idea and a vague concept on how to execute it. Set up shots are not my forte due to minor camera quality, lack of lighting and space.
If I have time and am inspired, I'll hunt the photo. Sometimes I just have to skip a challenge, though. |
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08/16/2007 02:40:08 PM · #12 |
What I've seen is that occasionally, someone can just wander around, take a 'found' shot, and have a winner. But most of the high scoring shots have a fair amount of planning and work behind them.
Personally, I can only shoot on the weekends, and often don't have a lot of time even then. So I spend the week thinking about what I can and can't do for a challenge, and planning and preparing. Many of my shots are set up, even ones that are taken outside of the studio, so I spend the week figuring out the logistics of getting the shot. (How am I going to get that bed to the park in my Mazda3?)
My current urban landscape entry is just a landscape shot with no apparent setup. But I knew that 90% of landscape photography is getting the right light, and that I'd only have a short time window where the light would be right, no matter where I was shooting. So the day before I went out to shoot, I spent some time looking on the web and in guidebooks to find potential locations, then I spent half a day driving around town scouting locations. I picked a place, checked sunrise/sunset tables, got down there about 1/2 hour before the time I wanted to shoot, then spent an hour in one location shooting as the light was changing. I got a shot I'm happy with. If I'd just gone driving around town with my camera, there's no way I would have gotten the shot. |
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08/16/2007 03:56:53 PM · #13 |
Between my job my wifes job and our 3 kids I get around to some pretty interesting places, My camera is always along. I have studio lights and a bunch of cool gadgets smoke machine gel filters etc but no place to set them up properly yet because my garage simply refuses to stop being a dumping ground. I sometimes find it hard to set things up for a challenge shot. Time just isn't available and like I said limited space too. If that is the case I might just sit out. I also go the OP's route once in awhile and just drive around looking for something that would fall into the challenge theme, Now and then I get a lucky shot that way. If anything it gives me a break from the kids. haha/.
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08/16/2007 04:03:38 PM · #14 |
I used to chase...but, I ended up burning a lot of gas and not getting anything. If I have a plan...an idea...I have much better luck.
Edited for content...didn't feel like being whiney.
Message edited by author 2007-08-16 16:06:25. |
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08/16/2007 04:12:36 PM · #15 |
interesting. I have to admit that my method is not very effective. As many have mentioned already, only if I get lucky I find a shot. Sometimes, I find a nice frame and am too scared to stop in the middle of the highway to take a picture. It seems that I need to do more planning and preparations than depending on luck. Setting up a studio in my house is my next mission. I have to stop buying lenses I don't quite know how to use :p
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08/16/2007 04:14:51 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Bugzeye:
Between my job my wifes job and our 3 kids I get around to some pretty interesting places, My camera is always along. I have studio lights and a bunch of cool gadgets smoke machine gel filters etc but no place to set them up properly yet because my garage simply refuses to stop being a dumping ground. I sometimes find it hard to set things up for a challenge shot. Time just isn't available and like I said limited space too. If that is the case I might just sit out. I also go the OP's route once in awhile and just drive around looking for something that would fall into the challenge theme, Now and then I get a lucky shot that way. If anything it gives me a break from the kids. haha/. |
I am pretty close to this situation. The kids and I go places every day of the week pretty much. I sometimes choose a location based on its entry potential. We have set up stuff at home and use it pretty often when a remote location isnt necessary, though we dont have a proper studio location. We use our garage and pull out all the gear we have when we need to. And on rare occasions I get to go out alone without the kids but usually only when they have gone to bed early and there is a specific shot I want to get that usually revolves around sun setting or a night shot. |
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08/16/2007 04:58:07 PM · #17 |
I usually enter any old stuff I happen to have taken that vaguely fits the challenge theme.
Occasionally I put more thought in to it. I think my scores reflect my philosophy quite well. |
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