Just some philosophical ramblings...

elven

I expect that this has done the rounds already, but you’re a fairly articulate bunch and usually have some inetersting observations to make, so I’d like to see if anyone has any thoughts on this.

Every so often, usually after my obsession with photography has peaked at something akin to – well – obsession, I deflate slightly and start wondering: what am I doing here? What am I trying to say? What’s the point of it all?

Do you shoot for something pretty to hang on your wall? Are you trying to take home a slice of something you see that you think is beautiful? Are you trying to create something entirely new – is it pointless with the sheer amount of photographs that already exist of nearly everything on the planet, already? Do you want to show people the world through your eyes? Are you trying to make a point, or tell a story? Or even, do you just like playing with a camera, so it’s the process rather than the end result that you enjoy?

Do we even have to justify why we take pictures – or am I pushing it too far by trying to pull it to pieces and overanalyse? I like to step back sometimes and consider these things, in a bit of an attempt to try and focus my efforts and push towards something better – in order to do something better, surely you have to know what it is, fundamentally, that you’re trying to do.

I have no idea what other people think about this. I think when I tried to ask about it elsewhere, someone said “Stop sitting thinking about it, and just go out and shoot!” but I think that can get a bit mindless.

And for an encore, here’s another one for you: should you have to try hard to make it work, or is it too contrived unless you simply use your instinct?

Enough rambling for now. I hope some of you have thoughts to share on this one.

311

I would like to take a picture sometime that no matter how many times I look at it ,I will always close my eyes and want to see it again.

ChityWest

elven wrote:

Every so often, usually after my obsession with photography has peaked at something akin to – well – obsession, I deflate slightly and start wondering: what am I doing here? What am I trying to say? What’s the point of it all?

I have noticed similair - and even stopped photography completely at one point.

elven wrote:

Do you shoot for something pretty to hang on your wall? Are you trying to take home a slice of something you see that you think is beautiful?

I just like the 'Click' sound. : )

elven wrote:

Are you trying to create something entirely new – is it pointless with the sheer amount of photographs that already exist of nearly everything on the planet, already?

I have thought that once or twice as well.

elven wrote:

Do you want to show people the world through your eyes? Are you trying to make a point, or tell a story? Or even, do you just like playing with a camera, so it’s the process rather than the end result that you enjoy?

I think for me it is to do with seeing things that other people dont necessarily notice - then capturing them (or trying to) and then showing them to other people. Some of it is the creative side of taking a picture and trying to improve it later on, give it a different ambience/feel than what it originall had.

I think it really depends a lot on the picture - its not just a matter of any one particular reason behind being into it as a hobby - it varies a lot. imo.

elven wrote:

Do we even have to justify why we take pictures – or am I pushing it too far by trying to pull it to pieces and overanalyse? I like to step back sometimes and consider these things, in a bit of an attempt to try and focus my efforts and push towards something better – in order to do something better, surely you have to know what it is, fundamentally, that you’re trying to do.

Think your right - probably a good idea to have a think about it every now and then & why not.

elven wrote:

And for an encore, here’s another one for you: should you have to try hard to make it work, or is it too contrived unless you simply use your instinct?

I think both - (work hard and instinct) sometimes you can be on a roll (*ahem* my pun of the day right there) - and take good pictures (or pics your happy with I should say) - and then other times they all turn out crap and it takes more work & effort. For me it depends on the subject and lots of other things - I think there definitley are some areas I would have to work harder at than others.

Sauron

I often ask things like that... but when you think about it enough, the same questions can be asked of anything; of any art form...

And photography is just that; another form of art... and like any other form of art, it involves self-expression, i.e. showing the world through your own eyes, and through that, making a point about what you see. That point can be something so simple as "This sunset looks really nice, you should have been there", or "This is my neighbourhood... this is what it means to me..."

Photography, like any other form of art, can bring out the beauty in the seemingly banal and dull... I never thought a railroad trakc could look beautiful, until I saw a pic recently on flickr.

Photography though, has a few characteristics that seem to be unique, or at least that seem to apply to it especially. One of those is the ability to sum something up (for want of a better phrase). One photo can essentially capture the essence of a particular event (your duck photos come to mind Julie ). Photos can encaptulate (sp?) a character; the essence of someone as you see them... In short, photography captures the moment, and its essence.

Well, that's what photography is to me... and again, you can ask any of those very valid questions of it. But in the end, it's art... and is very ellusive when you try to tie it down and analyse it... some people just use cameras to take holiday snaps, some people will have more proficiency with a camera and take very nice holiday snaps... Some people will explore that talent... and some people are masters with cameras... I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about; I'm not describing it very well...

I've become obsessed with it at times... but you learn to balance it out: to be on the look out for a shot, but not to photograph every bloody thing you see...

There's no one answer... as I said: it's art (at least to those who take it that far...) and so it's really what it means to you, some people enjoy the technical side more than the actual aesthetic result... but as I learnt recently, that doesn't make it any less meaningful to someone... It can get bogged down by over-analysis yes, but that doesn't mean it's a mindless process... sometimes you instinctively capture a shot... sometimes you need to think about it a bit...


crap I'm rambling... I'll stop now

elven

wow, thanks for the thoughtful replies. Something i hadn't considered before was that each picture you take can mean something different to you - and now you've said it it seems so obvious.

Valentia, if you're reading this - you've been at this photography malarkey for years, haven't you? How do you feel about this stuff?

Fionn

the more i thought about this the more i'm convinced that i've always been taking photographs! It's just that at times they have been interspaced by long long periods of time.
I do admit that i don't always capture what i see, or think i see, well from my perspective anyway or does the camera never lie??
if it ever gets to the point that i don't like taking pictures. I'll stop i guess.

joolsveer

Since I started snapping in the early 70s I have gone through long periods when for one reason or another I just couldn't be bothered and have put away my "good" camera and used a compact point and shoot. It started by being a nuisance to lug around a heavy SLR and then I more or less lost interest in taking "serious photographs" in favour of taking record shots. I went through a period when I felt that photography was inferior to other graphic and fine arts and spent my spare time on other pursuits instead. In the last year or so I have come around to the idea that making the effort with photography is worthwhile once more.
elven you should not wax so philosophical that you get us to examine our raisons d'etres so much!
Anyway I am off to France today so I hope to take one or two snapshots that I will be happy with. Au revoir.