Where is your focus ? - DPChallenge Forums

Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS

03/08/2004 06:30:30 PM · #1

An interesting contrast to the idea of dpchallenge.

Rather than trying new subjects every week (or faster) - how often have you spent significant time working just one subject ? What was it ?

Creative Photography

buzzrock

Fujifilm X-M1

03/08/2004 06:33:11 PM · #2

I never have really centered on one subject, other than one week with new kitty's, but thats easy, lol--
I hope to this year though--
I want to get good at outdoor portraits, when weather permits--

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

03/08/2004 06:38:26 PM · #3

Sometimes I've used 300 shot on a subject. Unfortunately without a tripod or really great lighting you have to :P

That's why you have to envy those that have a decent camera, decent lighting, a decent studio, and willing subjects.

jodiecoston

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

03/08/2004 06:41:36 PM · #4

Fantastic article - thanks for the link!

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

03/08/2004 06:46:54 PM · #5

I think Gordon's idea here is not doing a lot of photos of a subject to come up with one you like. I think it's more geared towards spending an extended amount of time working on a single subject/theme to come up with an entire series of photos on that theme.

It brings us back to the concept of immersing yourself in your subject... getting to know it... understanding its characteristics and qualities. This type of immersion will help you create better photos in a natural sort of way. You will build your own bond with the subject and your vision of that subject will come out in your photos.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/08/2004 07:18:28 PM · #6

John's right. I've recently spent a year focusing on one particular subject for example. I think my pictures at the end are a whole lot more interesting than the ones I took in the first month. I think dpc is great for potentially exposing you to new areas of photography (if you want to use it for that sort of exposure) You could always, week in week out, shoot great set up shots for almost every theme, but there is fun to be had exploring things that are maybe not what you are so comfortable with.

I think though, that to do anything actually interesting or beyond the most superficial, that you won't find it in the first week, or even the first year of working with one particular subject.

This also doesn't require or assume that you _only_ shoot that one subject for an extended period of time, but if you don't ever try to specialise, its going to be hard to come up with anything really interesting (assuming you even want to do that of course)

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/08/2004 07:23:28 PM · #7

yeah i really agree.

if we were forced to photograph something for a long time.. or yeah.. just choose to do it.. i think it is THEN that we really learn stuff.

so what was your subject Gordon.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/08/2004 07:24:19 PM · #8

painters or other artists don't paing a landscape one day, portrait the next, and a still life the next.. their entire life.. they may vary it a bit, but they would definatly work on one 'theme' for a LONG time.... i think the same techniques could be made us of in photography

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/08/2004 07:26:31 PM · #9

Wildflowers and Butterflies at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Honestly, I feel like I'm just getting started on this subject, but I've been working at it for four or five hours each month for the last year.

Message edited by author 2004-03-08 19:32:13.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/08/2004 07:29:04 PM · #10

I find myself going back to several subjects on a regular basis, trying to get better at how I capture them - from technical issues like lighting and focus, to being able to recreate a "vision" of what makes the subjects interesting to me. Among the things I find myself returning are surf (mostly the water, but occasionally the boarders), sea birds and sky/cloud. I hope to eventually be better able to present what it is that I see in them. Some days are better than others... :)

Message edited by author 2004-03-08 19:33:06.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/08/2004 07:59:28 PM · #11

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

[snip] You will build your own bond with the subject and your vision of that subject will come out in your photos.

Okay, but isn�t there a danger of taking that too far? I mean, if you become so intimate with a subject that you begin to see it in ways that others do not, isn�t there a chance that your photos may begin to show that subject in ways that others do not understand? Is that what happened to your Fire entry? ;^)

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

03/08/2004 08:11:54 PM · #12

Originally posted by micknewton:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
[snip] You will build your own bond with the subject and your vision of that subject will come out in your photos.

Okay, but isn�t there a danger of taking that too far? I mean, if you become so intimate with a subject that you begin to see it in ways that others do not, isn�t there a chance that your photos may begin to show that subject in ways that others do not understand?

I suppose it depends on why and who you are making your photographs for.

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

03/08/2004 08:28:00 PM · #13

I thought the article was great and I totally agree that focusing on one subject for a long period of time and presenting a unified portfolio of images is something everyone should do and want to do. The problem I had with the article was that it seemed, to me at least, to be saying that a person should be known entirely for that area of photography if they want to make something of themselves. Personally, I think that is very boring. Certainly, sticking to a broad topic like landscapes, nature, animals, portraiture, etc. is fine, but nobody should be expected to go around shooting one species of bird their whole life, or even birds in general. I think the best photographers switch projects after they feel they have successfully completed the one they are working on. If they move on to a seemingly unrelated subject, I for one say good for them. It's good to have people with different backgrounds and different personal styles shoot in new genres; that's what keeps it interesting.

moodville

Nikon D100

03/08/2004 10:11:23 PM · #14

I started a long term project last month similar to what was suggested in the article. I'm having fun studying my subject but after 10+ hours and 1k+ pictures the post-processing is starting to get repetitive. There doesnt seem to be anything 'new' with each batch, but I guess after a year there may be more obvious differences. A project like that certainly helps with photographer block too.

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

03/08/2004 10:22:37 PM · #15

I think the key is to undertake a theme that you feel passionate about, and maybe one that you already know something about. In addition, I would say that this project should be ongoing, with no idea of a time limit or when it's going to be finished. Look at it as lifetime work because you love the subject.

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

03/08/2004 10:52:08 PM · #16

Here's an example of a well known photojournalist, Sebastiao Salgado, who does just this. You can see some of his work Here.

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

03/08/2004 10:57:09 PM · #17

I personally would love to do this. I don;t however have interested subjects to spend on or do a series on. Every now & then I will get a great model that will allow me a bit of latitude & time but nothing that is consistent & continuous.
Maybe, I'm worng (& I'm sure that I am) but I think an animated subject would work best here.
Any NYC volunteers?

sonnyh

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/09/2004 02:03:25 AM · #18

I have been interested in photography for a long time. As I look back over my photos for the past 14 years I notice that some things tend to appear over and over again and some not on a conscious level.
1) I seem to have a million pictures of windows of every sort
2) I hardly ever take pictures with people in them or indoor shots
2) Even though I know little about flowers, and can hardly name most of the ones I have pictures of, I seem to be quite good at taking them
3) I love water/beach shots
So it seems while I have not intentionally gone out to just take these kinds of pictures they are a bigger percentage of my portfolio.

LtHousLady

Canon EOS-5D

Tamron SP AF 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF for Canon

03/09/2004 02:05:30 AM · #19

The basis of this thread is exactly how I became seriously/ professionally active in photography. I started with enjoying trips to the local lighthouses on Long Island. For many years, we'd visit the lighthouses & I'd take a ton of shots with my "it does it all" 35 mm. I never even noticed how much I enjoyed it! Now my entire business revolves around it. I have a website full of pics from NY, Maine, Rhode Island & Ohio. I take trips for the sole purpose of increasing the # of lighthouse images I have to offer. I work with the local lighthouse society making items to help fundraise to save a light that is at risk of being lost. I paired one of my images with a verse written by someone else & made a framed tile mural for a fibromyalgia fundraiser that raised $115, and I have prints & many other imaged items that I sell.
Maybe it wont make me a millionaire....or maybe it will. (A girl can dream ;) But I can tell you, if you do get the passion for 1 theme, you'll never tire of going out on photo runs. It does help to have many different aspects to what I do. Going into my own little world as I roam around for shots is only part of it. I also thoroughly enjoy designing & creating the items afterward...but it all started with a click of the shutter.

One major benefit to sticking to one theme is that it forces you to concentrate on the camera settings. Once you get into your own rythem of finding the shots, you take the same pic under many different circumstances over time & learn more & more what is needed in those certain settings to get the desired effect.

Sorry so long winded, but ya hit on a passion for me ;) The above description is what happens when you let the passion take control....lol

I joined this board to see if I could tackle the different challenges that are done here. If time allows, I hope to join in the fun soon & see if I can widen more horizons than just the one's I catch at the lighthouses.