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09/28/2007 12:44:59 PM · #26 |
I've never been able to see a style in my own work. It's just so random. Actually it's not random, it's uninteresting. They're just pictures of stuff. Sometimes nice pictures of stuff! But still just pictures of stuff.
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09/28/2007 12:49:56 PM · #27 |
i often feel exactly this way
Originally posted by Konador:
I've never been able to see a style in my own work. It's just so random. Actually it's not random, it's uninteresting. They're just pictures of stuff. Sometimes nice pictures of stuff! But still just pictures of stuff. |
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09/28/2007 12:52:09 PM · #28 |
Style, it seems to me, starts with what you admire. It evolves with increased discrimination (having the will and sense to shed each and every image that does not meet your expectation). Most of us, including myself, struggle with an attachment to photos which have something we like, find cute, nice or intriguing. We look at aspects, at parts of our work, when we should examine the whole(image), including its context, range and placement.
In the end, I believe, Pound had it right when he said: What thou lovest well remains.
Message edited by author 2007-09-28 13:14:17. |
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09/28/2007 12:54:30 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by Konador:
I've never been able to see a style in my own work. It's just so random. Actually it's not random, it's uninteresting. They're just pictures of stuff. Sometimes nice pictures of stuff! But still just pictures of stuff. |
I don't know, I could be wrong, but I always thought your particular style was best exemplified by your pictures in the 30-day portrait challenge earlier this year. |
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09/28/2007 01:08:42 PM · #30 |
Yes, who you are (your upbringing and environment),
what you believe in (your ethics, values, philosophies),
your technical skill level (your knowledge, experiences, daring-levels), and
your emotions/thoughts/perceptions (before and after the shooting),
that will all effect your outcome and evolving stlye.
Don't worry about it, just shoot.
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09/28/2007 01:09:17 PM · #31 |
| Style? I think I'm with metatate here. Intoxicated with "try anything." Nonetheless some good points here. Also on luminous-landscape is an article about "moving to the next level" - I'm sure I read it and felt like an unworthy underclassman/woman. Have, however, found it useful to let old stuff sit around for quite awhile and take a fresh look at it; it's like writing - what you write is not always clear to you at the writing or at first glance, but weeks/years later it may reveal something you mightn't have seen had you not written it. |
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09/28/2007 01:13:55 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by Louis:
Originally posted by Konador:
I've never been able to see a style in my own work. It's just so random. Actually it's not random, it's uninteresting. They're just pictures of stuff. Sometimes nice pictures of stuff! But still just pictures of stuff. |
I don't know, I could be wrong, but I always thought your particular style was best exemplified by your pictures in the 30-day portrait challenge earlier this year. |
Hehe, my 22 day portrait challenge :P Thanks :) But even there, I don't see any particular style. They're all totally different in my eyes. Especially when compared to yours!
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09/28/2007 02:20:32 PM · #33 |
I think there are two key points to developing or having a style:
1. Your style will evolve as you learn more about photography and experience more in life. Style is fluid.. sometimes thin, sometimes deep and always moving.
2. If you are true to your own vision you cannot simply decide to have a style or set a goal to have a particular style. I love traditional black and white reportage photography and want more than anything to product that type of work. My own personal style seem to have more to do with shadows and deep saturated colors. This is not a style I would have ever picked, but this is where I land when I capture and edit images.
Message edited by author 2007-09-28 14:21:34.
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09/28/2007 02:30:43 PM · #34 |
i want this to be NOT true, but in many cases i think it is true.
we should land where we jump - that is - once we decide on jumping
ps ... David, your portraits are killer by the way
Originally posted by Nusbaum:
This is not a style I would have ever picked, but this is where I land when I capture and edit images. |
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09/28/2007 02:38:58 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
... and an inability to pose a full figure (it's _all_ headshots at the moment)
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It's interesting that you mention this because I think it illustrates how a photographer's style could differ from what they are currently shooting. It it seems that headshots are only capturing part of the story and that the rest of the body is important to showing a subject's relationship to their environment, then a photographers style and vision may be about a larger view of the subject while their current technique hasn't quiet caught up. I would suggest that style isn't what is currently being captured, it's how a photographers sees. A gap in style could simply suggest that either the camera is not aimed at what is being seen or technique is limiting the realization of what is being seen.
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09/28/2007 02:41:31 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by hopper:
i want this to be NOT true, but in many cases i think it is true.
we should land where we jump - that is - once we decide on jumping |
The thing is though, and what David is hitting on.. you can't fake it. Your style is who you are and the pictures you want to take. You can fight against that for a while, but the results will probably be disappointing. You can copy other people, but then it feels kinda empty and lifeless, even if people like the pictures (least it does to me)
Like Ursula said, once you stop forcing it, stop trying to be good, or trying to be great, then you'll find out what you need to do. I find consistent bodies of work really help me move that way - pick a theme or a project and shoot it with some work ethic. Pick an end point and make it happen. It could be you decide to shoot 10 pictures in that park that you'll print and finish. Just commit to doing 10 good pictures on a common theme or subject, that says something about it. It could just say 'pretty' It could catalog the flowers there. It could be out of focus, blurry pictures shot while you spin on the grass, to explore how you feel about the place. The theme will come to you. Go sit in the park with some paper and write about what it makes you feel, or why you shoot there. Keep writing until you have an idea for those 10 shots. Then go take them. do it over an hour, or a week, or a month - pick a time frame that isn't going to stress you out.
Then edit that set down to a set of images that relate to each other and the original theme. Then tell us if you don't have a style or not. If you've got any other photographers near you, get them to do the same project, in the same place. Look at each other's pictures and then you'll see if you or they have a style too.
Then do it again. and do it again. Different subjects. Different thoughts or themes. Maybe you need to do this with the park so you can let go of it and move on.
I think random weekly photographic subjects are something of an anathema to developing a style. You could develop one inspite of entering contests, but there's too much external approval to be sought, egos to be appeased and constantly, superficially unexplored subjects and themes. Some people develop style and depth despite that, but I don't think it helps much after a while.
Message edited by author 2007-09-28 14:45:22.
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09/28/2007 02:43:09 PM · #37 |
I don't worry about it. I shoot what I like and process it however I want to. If a "style" emerges from that, great! If not, so what?
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09/28/2007 02:52:54 PM · #38 |
Thanks for this post, and for you, that's the right thing to due. My goal is to have a style. I want a recognizable style ... but not everyone NEEDS to have a style.
Gordon - I sort of did as you've stated. I committed to shooting a local pond area near the airport in Albany, NY (Ann Lee Pond for the local readers). I say "sort of" because I got frustrated with the project. I think I captured some good images (between 9 and 12 I'd consider printable), but stopped short a printing them for the exact reason I'm discussing, which is:
If those shots represent me (so to speak), then I'm not who I think I am. I think the images are good, I just don't like them (if that makes sense).
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I don't worry about it. I shoot what I like and process it however I want to. If a "style" emerges from that, great! If not, so what? |
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09/28/2007 03:01:15 PM · #39 |
Re examine your inspiration and you'll find your style. Redifine your inspiration and redefine your style.. Anyway, that's what I did.
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09/28/2007 03:05:33 PM · #40 |
Originally posted by hopper:
Gordon - I sort of did as you've stated. I committed to shooting a local pond area near the airport in Albany, NY (Ann Lee Pond for the local readers). I say "sort of" because I got frustrated with the project. I think I captured some good images (between 9 and 12 I'd consider printable), but stopped short a printing them for the exact reason I'm discussing, which is:
If those shots represent me (so to speak), then I'm not who I think I am. I think the images are good, I just don't like them (if that makes sense). |
Okay, so I can take a couple of things from that.
1/ it sounds like you are doing the right things
2/ frustration is just another way for describing growth
- if you were satisfied with the results you wouldn't be getting anywhere
3/ you need to think about what does work about those images, what do you like, how would you like them to be different.
Then maybe shoot them again ? Or pick a different project ? They don't have to be heavy, difficult, year or decade long projects. You can shoot a good project in a few hours with some commitment. E.g, this one was shot in about an hour. They aren't the images I want to be shown at my funeral, they are okay, but they hang together as a consistent set, with a consistent style, that has aspects of me in it. The DVD might well be a McGuffin along the way.
You just have to keep plugging away, finding the bits you like, discarding the bits that you don't, then working harder again on the bits you did like. Style is maybe more a distillation of your vision, rather than anything else. Its about how you see.
If you see everything, every way, then maybe a defined style is hard to identify, but then that's probably style too.
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09/28/2007 03:07:34 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by hopper:
If those shots represent me (so to speak), then I'm not who I think I am. I think the images are good, I just don't like them (if that makes sense).
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If you don't like them, then they are not your style. The fact that they are good photographs or that other people like them really has nothing to do with your style.
You started the thread so maybe we can spend a minute on this... post the shots and explain why you don't like them. We might catch something in the words and images that can be useful to you. This conversation is actually far more important that debating the technical merits any one particular photo so I'm willing to dig a bit deeper if you are.
Message edited by author 2007-09-28 15:09:21.
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09/28/2007 03:10:02 PM · #42 |
Originally posted by hopper:
Thanks for this post, and for you, that's the right thing to due. My goal is to have a style. I want a recognizable style ... but not everyone NEEDS to have a style.
Gordon - I sort of did as you've stated. I committed to shooting a local pond area near the airport in Albany, NY (Ann Lee Pond for the local readers). I say "sort of" because I got frustrated with the project. I think I captured some good images (between 9 and 12 I'd consider printable), but stopped short a printing them for the exact reason I'm discussing, which is:
If those shots represent me (so to speak), then I'm not who I think I am. I think the images are good, I just don't like them (if that makes sense).
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Well I can somewhat relate to not liking the outcome of a few shots. I think however as photographers we are our own worst critics. If you are shooting this for someone else then IMHO you need to sit down with them, talk about what kind of shot they are looking for OR get the shots you have in front of them and let them pick the ones they like.
I'd also like to add that this is one of the best threads I've had the pleasure of reading through in a while. Thank you to all that have contributed to this insightful and meaningful conversation.
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09/28/2007 03:11:27 PM · #43 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
...I think random weekly photographic subjects are something of an anathema to developing a style. You could develop one inspite of entering contests, but there's too much external approval to be sought, egos to be appeased and constantly, superficially unexplored subjects and themes. Some people develop style and depth despite that, but I don't think it helps much after a while. |
i think if you look at a lot of people's work on here, those who are experienced photographers, you'll often see a difference in their challenge entries and their portfolio work. the challenge entries are less your own work, because they are done to a brief. that's why i like them - they make me think about other ways of making images - personally i don't do set-ups, or still lifes, posed images, etc. so i find stepping out of what i do helps me to see what i do more clearly.
does that make any sense at all?
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09/28/2007 03:12:09 PM · #44 |
I don't have them online at the moment, but perhaps I can get them up later tonight ... I'd appreciate the input
Originally posted by Nusbaum:
Originally posted by hopper:
If those shots represent me (so to speak), then I'm not who I think I am. I think the images are good, I just don't like them (if that makes sense).
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If you don't like them, then they are not your style. The fact that they are good photographs or that other people like them really has nothing to do with your style.
You started the thread so maybe we can spend a minute on this... post the shots and explain why you don't like them. We might catch something in the words and images that can be useful to you. This conversation is actually far more important that debating the technical merits any one particular photo so I'm willing to dig a bit deeper if you are. |
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09/28/2007 03:12:29 PM · #45 |
Originally posted by Nusbaum:
...You started the thread so maybe we can spend a minute on this... post the shots and explain why you don't like them. We might catch something in the words and images that can be useful to you. This conversation is actually far more important that debating the technical merits any one particular photo so I'm willing to dig a bit deeper if you are. |
yup
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09/28/2007 03:14:17 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by hopper:
I don't have them online at the moment, but perhaps I can get them up later tonight ... I'd appreciate the input |
I think it would be interesting for you to share them and spend a bit of time setting up the back story of what your motivation was, what you were trying to do, what you like about the results (spend some time on this bit!) and also what you are unhappy with in them. As a whole, or individually. I'd be happy to talk about them - but the real insight is probably going to come from what you have to say or not say about them.
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09/28/2007 03:17:09 PM · #47 |
kinda pissed i'm going to play racquetball after work now :)
everybody check back later! |
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09/28/2007 03:26:21 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by hopper:
kinda pissed i'm going to play racquetball after work now :) |
I've got to go work on a wood burning pizza oven so my 'spring project' can be done before it starts to snow. I will definitely check back tonight and find some quiet time to reply.
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09/28/2007 03:29:08 PM · #49 |
If you want to change you style, you cannot force it but you do have to be open to it- willing to try new things and see what you like and don't like. We do tend to fall into comfort zones, sticking with what we know works. This is also the point where we become bored. Experiment. Ask yourself "What would happen if I...". Look around at what others do and what looks interesting. "I wish I could do something like that!". Break the rules again- like you used to do before you knew (conscioiusly or unconsciously) what they were supposed to be. Try different vantage points. Deliberately over and under expose your shots.
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09/28/2007 03:53:54 PM · #50 |
I have no style. I don't really want to label myself by a certain style. Perhaps it is because I am so vague about what I shoot. If it catches my eye, no matter what the topic, I take a photo. Most are junkers.
I can't be bothered to try and train my limited ability to a type of photo that others can look at and identify the photog. I would rather just enjoy doing things the way I do and bugger the style:) |
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