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04/13/2004 02:54:08 PM · #1 |
An evening reading an introduction by A.D. Coleman to a collection of Keith Carter's photographs, left me wondering if I spend too much time photographing and representing the thing in front of me, and not enough time trying to explore what the thing in front of me represents.
What is it that can raise a photograph from a literal representation of an object, to something that can emotionally or symbolically connect with the viewer ? Rambling like this, I'm reminded about a response by Adams to criticism that there were no people in his pictures. He said that there were always at least two people in every one of his images - the photographer and the viewer.
I find I tend to explore subjects from square on, in front, as a default starting point. I might pull an unusual point of view from above or below, but I have a harder time exploring subjects from the side or behind - most of my favourite current images are all straight in front.
I'm going to try working on images from a more oblique angle, introducing some depth, structure and perhaps, horror of horrors, feeling into the images.
Who knows - it might just end up like a blurry mess. Maybe that'll be fun too.
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04/13/2004 03:14:13 PM · #2 |
Gordon, I think that it would be an excellent study to explore objects from different angles and try to find something in the subject that makes one try to express, in photos,'what it is...where did it come from...age..why do I like it?, etc...would be lots of fun.
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04/13/2004 03:56:29 PM · #3 |
| I'm working on a personal project somewhat like that. I chose two objects, a whisk and a small vase, and I will be shooting them in different settings and lighting and stuff. I hope to learn a lot from the exercise. |
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04/13/2004 04:03:57 PM · #4 |
I too am re-thinking my approach to photography. All because of this comment from a new member on my wheels entry
ok... so we have four wheels in this shot... but no story behind them... the title does not help either, so all we have left is the sharpness of the picture...
Yup. My pic is a strait on shot of a wheel. No story, emotion, interest. I learned some from making the shot, but more from this comment.
I will be sitting out strength. I am shaekn to the core and rebuilding will take a bit longer.
However, if i have learned and can implement the above idea, beware my return!
edit: addied italics
Message edited by author 2004-04-13 16:04:26.
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04/13/2004 04:23:11 PM · #5 |
my fiance is a graphic designer and worked in that field for about 9 years. She has a great eye for composition and angles.
She has really helped me re-look at a lot of my subjects to get a better than a typical "tourist" photo of subjects that I used to do.
But she does not know how to control lighting or the camera. We have butteded heads a few times but still got the shot we were looking for.
She know's what the end result should be and we work together to make it happen.
here is one example of us working together were everything went great.
by my self I would have not shot this angle, its not the EXACT angle she wanted, but due to the lighting around the statue, this angle was the best one.
also on this image, which was just a randon shot I took just to take a photo,
she saw the parallel lines in it before i did, I thouhgt it would not do near as well as it did. But with her guidence I have really started to see things much differently
James
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04/13/2004 04:37:38 PM · #6 |
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04/14/2004 01:38:00 PM · #7 |
Jab.....well done. Looks like you have sound counsel.
Gordon....appears that a transitional "growth" event is underway.
dpc....beware of an artist that has recognized a limitation and is actively seeking its subjegation.
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04/14/2004 02:21:25 PM · #8 |
Growth hurts DPC scores...
As I have moved more away from stock type front on views and photos that, to me, have a more emotional feeling to them, I am having a hard time keeping a score above 6. I personally feel that everyone will grow and expand their boundries... just sometimes, the DPC boundries and photographer's boundries are miles apart.
-danny
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04/14/2004 02:32:26 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by crabappl3:
Growth hurts DPC scores...
As I have moved more away from stock type front on views and photos that, to me, have a more emotional feeling to them, I am having a hard time keeping a score above 6. I personally feel that everyone will grow and expand their boundries... just sometimes, the DPC boundries and photographer's boundries are miles apart.
-danny |
I still think you take great photos. I'm not trying to kiss your @ss but I can see your point. I have a problem getting my photos above 5.0. But I'm no good at this photo thing anyway so that makes since too. |
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04/14/2004 02:52:27 PM · #10 |
I am satisfied with my photo's scoring. I am satisfied with my technical abilities (am still working on lighting, but that will take a long while to perfect). My latest try, in Wheels, got exactly 50% and placed 143/285. Scxored 5.194 - challenge average is 5.147 and midrange is 5.220. Any more average is not possible.
My judging needs work. I know a bad picture when i see one - my 1,2,3 votes are in line with others here. It is the other end of the sale that i seem to be mising some kind of 'eye' or training.
For example, for the Top 10 I voted like this:
Wheels: 1 10, 2 5s,and 7 6s
Out of place: 1 10, 2 4s, 2 5s and 5 6s
Orange: 1-10, 1-9, 1-7, 1-4, 2-5 and 3-6s
Parallel lines 1-10, 2-7s, 3-6s, 3-5s and 1-1. Oops.
Should not the top 10 finishers have gotten higher votes from me? (on average - I don't expect all 10 to be 10s). My 1 vote was not the only 1 vote on that pic, but I still feel, umm, stupid, in some way.
I suppose i need therapy. LOL
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04/14/2004 03:49:05 PM · #11 |
Hmmm...I find that with photography I try to emphasize what I like about a scene, or how I experienced a scene, and try to show it that way. I think this is leaving the viewer to make up their own meaning in the photo...certainly I have my reasons, but they're so subjective that I have a hard time separating the universal appeal from the personal. This, I think, is the hardest bit about photography - separating the two. This is also the fault of a lot of photographers who post snapshots and then wonder why their work is panned in the voting. Three examples of recently processed work:
Dodge
Mosaic
Breakwater
Originally posted by Gordon:
An evening reading an introduction by A.D. Coleman to a collection of Keith Carter's photographs, left me wondering if I spend too much time photographing and representing the thing in front of me, and not enough time trying to explore what the thing in front of me represents.
What is it that can raise a photograph from a literal representation of an object, to something that can emotionally or symbolically connect with the viewer ? Rambling like this, I'm reminded about a response by Adams to criticism that there were no people in his pictures. He said that there were always at least two people in every one of his images - the photographer and the viewer.
I find I tend to explore subjects from square on, in front, as a default starting point. I might pull an unusual point of view from above or below, but I have a harder time exploring subjects from the side or behind - most of my favourite current images are all straight in front.
I'm going to try working on images from a more oblique angle, introducing some depth, structure and perhaps, horror of horrors, feeling into the images.
Who knows - it might just end up like a blurry mess. Maybe that'll be fun too. |
Message edited by author 2004-04-14 15:55:10. |
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04/15/2004 11:53:26 PM · #12 |
bestagents: I wouldn't worry about your scoring -- it's a personal matter of taste, not unlike how one person may like redheads and another likes blondes. Neither is wrong, yet neither will agree, and both are products of their history, exposures, experiences and predispositions.
For example, I dig dark, almost monochromatic photos, but not black & white. Go figure. |
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04/16/2004 12:02:47 AM · #13 |
i think this could bring us to a cool challenge topic.. one that would FORCE everyone to photograph one 'boring' thing, something that would be the same for everyone, or viturally the same.. and make everyone search their minds, and be creative and indepth with that object...
something like a standard bic pen, a roll of toilet paper, a standard round (oval) red balloon, a coke bottle.
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04/16/2004 12:14:03 AM · #14 |
"Serendipity"
One of the best articles, with photos, I have seen in a long time. And it did those things you talk about in your post. |
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