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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Do you ever feel your location hinders you?
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09/28/2009 11:36:55 AM · #1
I remember feeling that a lot before I moved, and my reasoning was that nothing seems exceptional to me there, as its what i've seen. I guess my arguement would be that to take great images you really need to get out of your environment.

Not sure if I believe that, but it seems to make sense to me.
09/28/2009 11:42:42 AM · #2
Or else you need to learn to view your environment in a new light. I live in a very touristy 'historic' city, but it is so easy to become blase, to no longer 'see' what is there in front of you. Some years ago, even before I took up photography, I decided that at least once a year I would have a tourist day in York, and I still keep that up now - it is amazing how much more I see and notice when I go into town with that mindset.
09/28/2009 11:49:59 AM · #3
Wish i lived in York it is an amazing place, very lucky!

I'm sure where i live (chesterfield/sheffield, UK) people could take amazing pictures of run down industrial works, but it just does nothing for me :(
09/28/2009 11:52:45 AM · #4
No. The grass is not always greener on the other side, all you need to do is adjust your attitude. I could easily think the same way, that I have no forests, big cities, old houses, railways, tall mountains, jungles, warm ocean water, etc.

But I don´t.
09/28/2009 11:56:50 AM · #5
Originally posted by LalliSig:

No. The grass is not always greener on the other side, all you need to do is adjust your attitude. I could easily think the same way, that I have no forests, big cities, old houses, railways, tall mountains, jungles, warm ocean water, etc.

But I don´t.


SNORT! Says someone from Iceland!
09/28/2009 12:08:32 PM · #6
Familiar, unspectacular environs tend to dull the senses. There are, however, some things we can do to change the predicament.

a) Travel to shoot somewhere/something else

b) Change our perception of that place and the things and creatures in it, and

c) Change the way we see altogether

a) is easy enough to do, but somewhat costly and not always possible. Besides it's a temporary fix that changes fundamentally nothing.
b) This is much harder to do than it sounds.
c) is no big deal either, but for some reason many photographers seem to think it is: stop looking for subjects. Examine the trite and mundane and shoot the light.

Message edited by author 2009-09-28 12:09:29.
09/28/2009 12:17:37 PM · #7
Born, raised, and lived all my 54 years in the same town.

LOVE it, and continue to find and see new things all the time.

There are people who move away all the time 'cause they claim it's a dead burg with nothing going on.

Too bad about their luck that they're not willing to see the beauty & history here.
09/28/2009 12:21:04 PM · #8
Originally posted by FireBird:

Originally posted by LalliSig:

No. The grass is not always greener on the other side, all you need to do is adjust your attitude. I could easily think the same way, that I have no forests, big cities, old houses, railways, tall mountains, jungles, warm ocean water, etc.

But I don´t.


SNORT! Says someone from Iceland!


Yeah, I am sure you would love it here, almost no bugs or fauna to photograph. Wanna trade places?
09/28/2009 12:27:13 PM · #9
Originally posted by LalliSig:

Yeah, I am sure you would love it here, almost no bugs or fauna to photograph. Wanna trade places?

Wait!

No Abominable Snowmen?????
09/28/2009 12:28:53 PM · #10
Originally posted by AJSullivan:

... I guess my arguement would be that to take great images you really need to get out of your environment. ...

Try this (if you haven't read it): "Photography and the Art of Seeing" by Freeman Patterson.
09/28/2009 12:29:59 PM · #11
Originally posted by LalliSig:

No. The grass is not always greener on the other side, all you need to do is adjust your attitude. I could easily think the same way, that I have no forests, big cities, old houses, railways, tall mountains, jungles, warm ocean water, etc.

But I don´t.


True BUT some people would trade in all that you mentioned for The Aurora Borealis, ice formations, wild land/seascapes, those freaky horses that Brin shoots, awesome looking chicks etc.....in a New York minute, I might add.

Lord knows I'm envious...on occasion. ;)

Message edited by author 2009-09-28 13:04:47.
09/28/2009 12:43:35 PM · #12
Yea, my location hinders me sometimes. But, then, I drag myself out from under my laptop, grab the old camera and head out the driveway. :)

Seriously, there are times I look at all y'all's pictures and think, "boring ole' WNC." Then, I open my eyes and see what all I can find.

:)
09/28/2009 12:49:37 PM · #13
Originally posted by pawdrix:

Originally posted by LalliSig:

No. The grass is not always greener on the other side, all you need to do is adjust your attitude. I could easily think the same way, that I have no forests, big cities, old houses, railways, tall mountains, jungles, warm ocean water, etc.

But I don´t.


True BUT some people would trade in all that you mentioned for The Aurora Borealis, ice formations, wild land/seascapes, those freaky horses that Brin shoots, awesome looking chicks etc.....

Lord knows I'm envious...on occasion. ;)


Haha! I love those freaky horses! But anyway, I feel that even though your environment does help, the photographer still plays the largest role. One mustn't forget that these Icelandic shots we always see on the front page, are on the FRONT PAGE. These are fantastic photographers as well. I know the environment does play a role, and I also long to go to exotic locations, and it does make it easier, but it is still possible to take a crap shot in Yosemite or Iceland. If you can take great shots in your painfully boring backyard, just imagine what you'll be able to do if you one day get the opportunity to go to some of these fantastic locations.

Message edited by author 2009-09-28 12:50:39.
09/28/2009 12:55:04 PM · #14
Originally posted by karmat:

Yea, my location hinders me sometimes. But, then, I drag myself out from under my laptop, grab the old camera and head out the driveway. :)

Seriously, there are times I look at all y'all's pictures and think, "boring ole' WNC." Then, I open my eyes and see what all I can find.

:)


wow, i've been wanting to move to that region for some time now.
09/28/2009 12:59:02 PM · #15
Saturday, with the rain making the air heavy & wet.....the steam engine rolled for the first time in a year.....I was there....



25 Minutes from my house.

You have to look around and ask, but there are always good subjects to photograph if you're thorough & inquisitive.
09/28/2009 01:03:34 PM · #16
This isn't something I subscribe to much anymore, just making conversation. I rarely find myself shooting anything that isn't a model/person. And I feel that adding a person can make anything more interesting.
09/28/2009 01:56:50 PM · #17
I have thought how boring where I live is, whether it was Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Surrey, Berkshire or Buckinghamshire. I have lived in all these counties and missed so many things that were local at the time.

Hell, I have lived in Berkshire for 27 years now and apart from one visit to Windsor during that time, I rarely visited it. We started going there regularly last October and now go there most weekends, it's only 8 miles away. Most of my photos are taken there, either in the town or down by the River Thames.
09/28/2009 02:14:11 PM · #18
Originally posted by prperold:

...but it is still possible to take a crap shot in Yosemite or Iceland.


Well, if you know how to compose a shot and work a camera, your odds of getting a good shot skyrocket, in good locations or with attractive models that know how to model. Of course you need an eye but we're assuming that as a premise.

Work with a really good model as opposed to some (awkward) high school kid, trying to break into catalog work and you'll see a major world of difference in the shots you produce. It's not like you don't have to try or know what you are doing but given all that, the shots can almost fall into your lap.

Message edited by author 2009-09-28 14:20:54.
09/28/2009 02:25:25 PM · #19
Originally posted by pawdrix:

Originally posted by prperold:

...but it is still possible to take a crap shot in Yosemite or Iceland.


Well, if you know how to compose a shot and work a camera, your odds of getting a good shot skyrocket, in good locations or with attractive models that know how to model. Of course you need an eye but we're assuming that as a premise.

Work with a really good model as opposed to some high school kid, trying to break in catalog work and you'll see a major world of difference in the shots you produce. It's not like you don't have to try or know what you are doing but the given all that, the shots can almost fall into your lap.

I hear you. But on the flipside, I bet the truly great photographers would be able to capture a boring scene in a unique way that makes it incredible. Or make an ugly person appear pretty darn all right. I'm al so frustrated many times with this problem, but if photography was too easy, we'd probably get bored :) (yeah right)
09/28/2009 02:31:37 PM · #20
When I look at the birds that are just floating around over head in the USA, yes, but England is full of beautiful buildings, and the most spectacular scenery. My husband and I joined the National Trust this year and the places we can visit are wonderful, fabulous estates, nature reserves, all the information you could ask for, sounds like a plug but it's not. Steve, my other half, has been all over Europe and he says there is nowhere like England.
09/28/2009 03:04:38 PM · #21
Originally posted by lyn100:

Steve, my other half, has been all over Europe and he says there is nowhere like England.


I agree there's plenty to shoot everywhere. I guess that's what having an eye is all about.



Love London. Can't say I've been far outside, the city proper but it's wonderful to shoot, without question. I've been there a bunch of times and next visit I'm gonna hit Richmond park, early in the AM hours and get me some deer. Alex...are you listening?
09/28/2009 03:53:02 PM · #22
I feel that way some times, but I am fortunate in that I travel a lot in my work. However, these were shot in and around my house



You don't have to go very far from home to get a high scoring shot! ;-)
09/28/2009 04:10:43 PM · #23
I definitely feel stuck sometimes out here. No beauitful architecture...no busy streets with people bussliing around...no choice of sports to cover...no fireworks...oh wait...we get 1.5 fireworks every year...no weird arse characters wandering around, not much graffiti to choose from, no sky scrapers, no traffic lights, no beaches, no drunks on park benches.....yup....sometimes it is damn hard finding challenge entries.
09/28/2009 04:18:31 PM · #24
Poor Judi - She can never find anything to shoot for challenges. Maybe she should consider a self portrait or something...

Myself - Pretty darn lucky to be here in New England. People generally come to my area with camera in hand to shoot. We have a cool seaport and tall ships to shoot, pretty little light houses, rolling hills etc. Plus Providence and Boston and NYC are not more than 2-3 hours away. And we have Vermont and New Hampshire and Western Mass that we can get to in an afternoon.

09/28/2009 04:26:42 PM · #25
Originally posted by bassbone:

Poor Judi - She can never find anything to shoot for challenges. Maybe she should consider a self portrait or something...


Oh ya....the anti Judi trolls love that idea...NOT! LOL!
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