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11/02/2007 03:21:01 AM · #1 |
When you take a photo, what are you thinking?
Does every picture have to convey a meaning?
Can a photograph not simply be taken because it looks nice?
Sure, there are photographs that tell stories or convey moods, but does every photograph have to be this way? |
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11/02/2007 03:30:33 AM · #2 |
Oh man...I showed a photo I took on a dutch photoforum. But most photographers there think they are the worlds best photographer and are very VERY stuck up.
So my shot got hammered by them.
comments like
"the shot is depending too much on the portrait and not the photographer"
ehrmm...yea? ofcourse it's the portrait that makes the shot! DUH! but if *I* hadn't seen the possibility for a good portrait shoot I wouldn't take the picture now would I?
there is no 'meaning' behind it, other than showing a lovely old Turkish lady who's tough live shows in her face. No more, no less.
photo's can be so simple, no need to go and look for deeper meanings, that's what stuck up art critics do.
oh this was the shot:
Message edited by author 2007-11-02 03:31:44. |
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11/02/2007 03:41:20 AM · #3 |
I rarely seek out "meaning" when I shoot. I am interested in light, and its interplay over natural forms. I don't seek a larger meaning than that. To some extent, i seek to convey "serenity" or "peace" most of the time, but I don't see that as meaning in the sense being discussed here.
R.
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11/02/2007 03:58:40 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
I rarely seek out "meaning" when I shoot. I am interested in light, and its interplay over natural forms. I don't seek a larger meaning than that. To some extent, i seek to convey "serenity" or "peace" most of the time, but I don't see that as meaning in the sense being discussed here.
R. |
On the contrary, Robert, I think that is everything to do with this discussion. It can simply be light that makes a photograph beautiful or simply makes it stand out from others. |
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11/02/2007 04:31:49 AM · #5 |
light can make or break a photo. but if the discussion is about meanings and messages behind photo's, it's not relevant. light can add to drama in a shot, and if there's a dramatic meaning to it, the right light will enhance that.
Message edited by author 2007-11-02 04:32:19. |
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11/02/2007 05:06:10 AM · #6 |
Most of the time when I'm shooting, I have some song lyric or title running through my head...or a line from a poem. Or I'll see something that makes me think of one of those things. Also, I pretty much wear my feelings on my sleeve all the time but I usually not eloquent enough to clearly express what I'm feeling with words. I try to make my photos show what I'm feeling in my heart.
Of course, sometimes it's just..."oooh, pretty!" *click* :-) |
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11/02/2007 05:14:23 AM · #7 |
I believe every photograph has some meaning.
There must be a reason why a photographer felt compelled to push the shutter and point a camera at something.
Here's a few meanings:
A person has the self-identity of 'photographer', and so they take photos of anything they believe might look good in order to impress someone. This is how I believe most people on DPC who want to improve take their photos. I don't think this is a good reason to take a photo in itself, but it can be good motivation.
Like someone said above, there is interesting light/textures/shapes/composition in the potential photo. This is the artistic approach.
The photo would tell a story. This is the photojournalistic approach.
The photo documents a moment in time for posterity. This is also photojournalistic, but can also be documentary or simply a snapshot. A beginner will see a beautiful sunset for example, feel awed by the moment and want to take a photo. The photo may remind the photographer how they felt at that moment, but this can be meaningless to a viewer who just sees yet another boring badly taken sunset photo.
The photo is humorous! This can cut across all categories. Sometimes a photo can be technically appalling, but still be entertaining to look at.
Perhaps there are many more meanings, but this is straight off the top of my head. I do believe that being conscious and aware of why you are taking a photo, and how you want the viewer to experience it will make you a far better photographer. |
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11/02/2007 05:24:35 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
Like someone said above, there is interesting light/textures/shapes/composition in the potential photo. This is the artistic approach.
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aka "oooh pretty!" lol ;-) |
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11/02/2007 05:27:20 AM · #9 |
I'm guessing we all take photos that have varying degrees of meaning - from zero to a lot. I would say that when I shot film (snapshots), I was much more thoughtful about pressing the shutter than I am with no-developing-cost digital. click click click delete click click :)
I do enjoy seeing some meaningless photos being ascribed various dramatic meanings by the viewers making assumptions - that's entertaining. |
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11/02/2007 05:29:42 AM · #10 |
Absolutely :-)
Recently, I made the discovery that I want to communicate more poetry with my photography... become a 'visual poet'. I have no idea how to do that, but it's good to have a goal!
(BTW, thanks for saying 'hi' on FB!)
Originally posted by sher:
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
Like someone said above, there is interesting light/textures/shapes/composition in the potential photo. This is the artistic approach.
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aka "oooh pretty!" lol ;-) |
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11/02/2007 05:33:28 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by Puckzzz:
but if the discussion is about meanings and messages behind photo's, it's not relevant. |
RE: Questions 2 and 3 above |
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11/02/2007 05:35:20 AM · #12 |
this is why I don't go to that dutch forum anymore. The only thing they can say is "what are you trying to say with this shot?"
well, sometimes just plain NOTHING!! just a pretty picture...
but I do make photo's with a meaning behind it... the Hate challenge was completely set up to send a message out. But it's not a pretty picture, so it didn't do too well :-P |
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11/02/2007 05:36:10 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by shalrath:
Originally posted by Puckzzz:
but if the discussion is about meanings and messages behind photo's, it's not relevant. |
RE: Questions 2 and 3 above |
sorry? don't get you... |
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11/02/2007 05:37:04 AM · #14 |
my camera has a mind of its own; i just tag along to try to keep it out of trouble.
since i'm hired to shoot almost everything i shoot, i try to make it interesting. sometimes, regardless of whether i shoot 5 or 50 images, it gets distilled down to only 1 that will represent the entire group. sometimes, i might shoot 1000s of images and then only have 5-10 selected to represent the whole group. regardless, though, of how many i shoot and how many get selected, i want to take whoever is making the selection on a trip. i want them to have a visual experience that will stay with them. sometimes, the subject matter and situation might really challenge me to find those unique moments, but that's what keeps it fresh for me--regardless of how tired and mundane it is. at the very least, i strive to keep a viewer's attention. |
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11/02/2007 09:23:03 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by shalrath:
When you take a photo, what are you thinking? |
Depends on the shot, a lot evoke deep thought, some are just a shot I see for the visceral image.
Originally posted by shalrath:
Does every picture have to convey a meaning? |
Again....it depends. Most often, I am trying to convey not only what the image meant to me, but the urgency or importance that the image in my head caused me to take in the first place.....often I am moved to try and capture that urgency/importance.
I also have the urge to share my life, or glimpses of it as I am fascinated with the world around me.
Originally posted by shalrath:
Can a photograph not simply be taken because it looks nice? |
Absolutely! And many of my images are, but part of what being a photographer means to me is to be able to convey that beauty to anyone who sees my images.
Originally posted by shalrath:
Sure, there are photographs that tell stories or convey moods, but does every photograph have to be this way? |
Well, if there isn't some driving force that causes you to stop and try to capture what you're seeing, then why are you a photographer?
What would be the point?
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11/05/2007 07:16:14 PM · #16 |
 BobsterLobster's response was good and sobering. Lately the making like a photographer thing, so easy with digital, marginally justifiable in the name of improvement, has given me a certain malaise. |
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11/05/2007 07:24:42 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by shalrath:
When you take a photo, what are you thinking? |
"I hope this ribbons... I hope this ribbons... I hope this ribbons"
This reminds me a bit of the golf question "what do you think about at the top of the backswing?" :) |
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11/05/2007 07:44:20 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I do enjoy seeing some meaningless photos being ascribed various dramatic meanings by the viewers making assumptions - that's entertaining. |
All photography is documentation. Doesn't matter if you're showing the physical world or the imagination running wild inside of you, it's all just documenting what's there. Was that entertaining enough for you? :P
Message edited by author 2007-11-05 19:45:00.
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11/05/2007 07:51:01 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Puckzzz:
this is why I don't go to that dutch forum anymore. The only thing they can say is "what are you trying to say with this shot?"
well, sometimes just plain NOTHING!! just a pretty picture...
but I do make photo's with a meaning behind it... the Hate challenge was completely set up to send a message out. But it's not a pretty picture, so it didn't do too well :-P |
I think a little differently. I do not ask the question 'what are you trying to say' rather ask a question 'why this picture should exist'. What is the reason that I shall shoot it.
For example I just want to take a picture that is just a pretty picture but says nothing, as you pointed out, but in this case too, there is a reason that since it is pretty I want to take it.
But sometimes are pictures I feel have no reason to exist, photographer might better off without taking them.
I do not want to name this postprocessing stud, who is well known on our site. I spent time with his portfolio and found for most of the pictures there was no reason to exist, other than just show off some post processing skills.
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11/05/2007 07:52:27 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by shalrath:
1) When you take a photo, what are you thinking?
2) Does every picture have to convey a meaning?
3) Can a photograph not simply be taken because it looks nice?
4} Sure, there are photographs that tell stories or convey moods, but does every photograph have to be this way? |
[List mine]
1) Nothing, so something can enter.
2) Meaning is that which exists through itself. It's not something external to an image or work.
3) Sure. Some people even marry for no other reason.
4) No. There are all kinds of photographs: good ones, bad ones, mediocre ones, trivialities and so on.
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11/05/2007 09:54:03 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by zxaar:
I think a little differently. I do not ask the question 'what are you trying to say' rather ask a question 'why this picture should exist'. |
Very important question, to me asking 'why?' is looking for meaning. When I vote on DPC, I ask myself 'why the heck does this photo exist?' for almost all of them. The good photos are the ones where I don't ask that question, it's immediately apparent.
Originally posted by zxaar:
I do not want to name this postprocessing stud |
Haha, some serious postprocessing envy! Is Photoshop a new way to communicate sexual prowess?! Wow, I suppose anything can be turned into a macho pissing contest. |
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11/05/2007 09:58:09 PM · #22 |
When you take a photo, what are you thinking?
Are the camera settings correct?
Does every picture have to convey a meaning?
Nope, but somebody will always come up with a reason the photo was taken or a meaning behind it.
She was there, I was there...that is all
[thumb]609374[/thumb]
Can a photograph not simply be taken because it looks nice?
Yes. Nice is in the eye of the beholder. ...See next answer
Sure, there are photographs that tell stories or convey moods, but does every photograph have to be this way?
Not really. There is that photo album or directory on the PC that holds photos of subjects that only the shooter and/or relatives understand. They perserve something for somebody. Most of those should remain between shooter, family and friends. :) |
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11/05/2007 10:02:12 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
Originally posted by zxaar:
I do not want to name this postprocessing stud |
Haha, some serious postprocessing envy! Is Photoshop a new way to communicate sexual prowess?! Wow, I suppose anything can be turned into a macho pissing contest. |
No, this is not envy, I could do at least same job as him. There is nothing to envy about.
Just that people seems to treat him specially.
I did not want to name because I feel having unpopular opinion is not good at DPC. People do not like it.
Further I do envy the creativity of Pedro, DeSauza, skills of Ursula and Kiwiness. I wish I had half their talent. |
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11/05/2007 10:26:12 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
The photo is humorous! This can cut across all categories. Sometimes a photo can be technically appalling, but still be entertaining to look at. |
You mean like this? 
I'm either thinking about finding something that will do well online, or just looking for images that please me. I think they do better when I just find something that pleases me and it happens to work here as well. |
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11/05/2007 10:52:23 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by shalrath:
When you take a photo, what are you thinking?
Does every picture have to convey a meaning?
Can a photograph not simply be taken because it looks nice?
Sure, there are photographs that tell stories or convey moods, but does every photograph have to be this way? |
1. I was probably thinking that I wanted to take a photo.
2. Yes. It doesn't HAVE to... it just does on it's own. It's not something you can switch on and off like a light.
3. Refer to Zeuszen's response. I think he's my newest hero.
4. See my #2 answer. This question is the same as #2 just worded differently.
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