Photography with intention

elven

So, maybe this isn't the place, maybe people round here are mostly in this whole photography thing for the fun of getting out and about, or recording their family growing up, or places they've been. But does anyone else have the inclination to do and/or read about photography with a bit more to it? I know macro flowers and lensbaby gravestones hardly make me an authority - and suggest a hint of hypocrisy but I love reading about photographers like Cara Phillips and Laura Letinsky - even if, hey, get this - I don't actually like their photographs

Anyone? Or is it all about the gear porn?

Fenster

I went pro last year, got stressed out, quit. I guess I followed the dream?

Right now I'm getting everything back in order to give it a second try during the summer. Refreshed website, new business cards, (hopefully) new kit.

EDIT: I personally don't like photographers who put up bland abstracts and then spout volumes about their meaning. The photo should tell the story.

City-Exile

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking, but I'm very deliberate about the photos I take. The majority are intended for a particular destination/audience.

TelePaul

I'm not really sure what you mean. I 'do' photography for the same reasons I play music, drink coca cola, and watch the office; I get alot of pleasure from it. ARe we supposed to be analysing why it makes us happy?

ShakeyBlakey

elven,
Ive been interested in photography since i was 16/17, i fell in love with it, went off it for a couple years then went back, and only very recently, my dream is to be a pro getting paid to travel the world taking pics, but maybe its only a dream, but from day 1 i wanted to know all i could know and i'm still learning, this is something that will always be with me wheather i like it or not, but i believe its as easy to do something right as do it wrong...................just my bit
Mark

deRanged

I take photographs for fun. it's a hobby and a distraction from the day job. I take photos in different styles - reading how other people take photos and seeing if I can copy their style.

If I've been asked to take photographs then I've to take it seriously, and I don't enjoy it as much.

elven

Is anyone interested in looking at other pictures, or reading about the photographer's process and intention? I wasn't really talking just about our own intentions here.

There's a huge amount of stuff out there that I'd love to discuss on here but it never makes it because it isn't like something out of national geographic, or it might actually take more than a glance to appreciate. As i said, i don't necessarily think the photography is great but I really appreciate that they are actually thinking about it rather than just going "ooh, a tree - click" (offense not intended, given my own high percentage of tree pictures)...

Hugh_C

elven wrote: »

Is anyone interested in looking at other pictures

Elven I suspect you're on the horns of a dilemma ...

Sure, I look at a lot of other people's pictures, sometimes for inspiration or to steal a technique. I've read quite a lot about technique and semantics. JP Witkins in particular, his stuff is extraordinary, I'm both horrified and captivated by it. I've books on composition, right brain/left brain, exposure etc etc.

Just bring it up here, or keep it private of you want ... You'll never know unless you try.

Hugh_C

ThOnda

The spirit, ideas and thoughts behind the pictures are the core of the art. However sometimes it is just boring worthless self-centred jiberrish.

Some pictures are just interesting to look at and not to know more about the person who produced those pictures.

And I don't mean it personally, please. However I have come across many people over-hyped by their photography. Without any reason. And that spoils even the best picture.

Sebzy

I for one don't post some of the more controversial / arty / thought provoking work here due to the immature attitude displayed by a large number of boards members. Some of you may remember past posts which were met with such attitudes.

plus

It's very hard to explain to some people here a photo dose not have to be technically correct to get it's message across all they see is the pixels not the message/meaning/idea.

Cabaal

Sebzy wrote: »

I for one don't post some of the more controversial / arty / thought provoking work here due to the immature attitude displayed by a large number of boards members. Some of you may remember past posts which were met with such attitudes.

Such a shame, Sebzy I've looked through I believe the majority of your flickr and I have to say I find your stuff very interesting, certainly not the normal stuff an every day joe would take and thats whats interesting about it.

I'm sure its not for everyone but neither is everyone's stuff for everyone else,

Thirdfox

I for one would love to see some "arty" photos...

Spyral

So far I've gotten a pic in a county paper, pics in a journal and pictures on the SCM's website.

but I dont care as I take pics for fun

RoryW

Fenster wrote: »

I went pro last year, got stressed out, quit. I guess I followed the dream?

Right now I'm getting everything back in order to give it a second try during the summer. Refreshed website, new business cards, (hopefully) new kit.

EDIT: I personally don't like photographers who put up bland abstracts and then spout volumes about their meaning. The photo should tell the story.

Never met you Fenster but have enjoyed some of your photos. Good luck with Pro Mark II and following the dream. The day we die is the day we stop dreaming and also enjoy the journey because sometimes the destination is not all its cracked up to be ! (if that makes sense!)

RoryW

elven wrote: »

Is anyone interested in looking at other pictures, or reading about the photographer's process and intention? I wasn't really talking just about our own intentions here.

There's a huge amount of stuff out there that I'd love to discuss on here but it never makes it because it isn't like something out of national geographic, or it might actually take more than a glance to appreciate. As i said, i don't necessarily think the photography is great but I really appreciate that they are actually thinking about it rather than just going "ooh, a tree - click" (offense not intended, given my own high percentage of tree pictures)...

I think you learn from looking at other's photos and looking at their process and intentions as from this you get ideas of things to do and some to try yourself or to adapt slighly to end up with a different effect/process/idea which has evolved from looking at other peoples photos. And it doesnt matter if you dont like their photo per se as you are looking at the basis that they have done their work and if you also like the end result, thats a bonus

You should discuss anything on here that is of interest to you as this will generate discussion, debate and also open ideas and thoughts to a wider audience and to people who may not be aware of the topic or concepts etc before you raise your post

Also nothing wrong with tree photos

kensutz

I follow Andy Rouse's work a lot, mainly because I have an interest in wildlife photography yet I haven't even delved into that side of photography. I've bought a few of his books and read up on his methods etc. As for my own stuff, I go out now with the intention of what I am looking for/need. This is due to a newspaper being interested in my work so a lot of that is trying to get my stuff to improve week in, week out and meet the deadlines.

Dades

I requested a couple of National Geo hardback collections for Christmas. As far as reading books by photographers goes - that's as deep as I want to get. Over analysis just annoys me. And I'm skeptical of "The Emperors New Clothes" effect.

I do a bit of painting, but recently I've found taking pics is a far healthier project as it gets you out while still using some creative juices.

But most importantly, to keep sane in this life is to keep busy!

City-Exile

elven wrote: »

Is anyone interested in looking at other pictures...

Does browsing flickr count?

I think covering sport is very "functional" photography.
You don't often approach it in the same way as you would a tree, or a flower.
You have very little control over the environment & certainly not the action.

It's more reactive & as a result, you don't get time to think too deeply.

Monasette

elven wrote: »

So, maybe this isn't the place, maybe people round here are mostly in this whole photography thing for the fun of getting out and about, or recording their family growing up, or places they've been. But does anyone else have the inclination to do and/or read about photography with a bit more to it?

Funny you should mention this. I started off taking pictures merely to make a record of things I was really interested in - history, archaeology, nature (I'd take a snap to remind me of what I'd seen). I've since tried to take pictures that stand out in their own right (i.e. without requiring a context). Now, I'm a long way from achieving that goal, but even as I spend more time trying to take better pictures, the captions/descriptions under them seem to get longer and longer. A picture tells a thousand words ? Sometimes I think it takes me nearly that many words to describe my pictures.

Not sure what that says about my photography, though.

Jagera

elven wrote: »

Is anyone interested in looking at other pictures, or reading about the photographer's process and intention? I wasn't really talking just about our own intentions here.

I would relate this to my thoughts on paintings/artwork. I'm useless at looking at paintings and wondering why some works are priceless, and others aren't.

As I have more experience in photography I am able to look at a photo and see what gives a shot credibility. However, there is always going to be that disconnect of 'technical and artistic perfection' in a photo and what stirs each person individually. Any shot can just up and grab you, by stirring memories and experiences.

The same thing can be said of paintings. In relation to your question, I like to look at a painting and know why it's priceless, know what the story is behind it. e.g. I found out recently why the Mona Lisa is so treasured. Knowing that makes you look at it not for the skill in the painting, but the drive behind it, and why it caused a stir in the art movement.

As ThOnda said, it's the core of art. Draw on your own personal perceptions and 'relationship' with photos.

thebaz

i agree with Seb -- if it was just about gear porn , i would have ditched or sold my SLR , along time ago with my old mobile phones.
The best photo I have seen here , was far from technically perfect -- and as technology evolves faster and faster , technically good photography will become easier and easier , cheaper and more disposable -- the trick for me is to do something creative , challenging and different -- and the challenge is to keep improving through boredom , life obstacles , time etc ..
I used never read stuff, but read a bit about Cartier , and what kept him ticking , also want to follow up on Capa.

RCNPhotos

If you want to read about a great and interesting photographer read about Eugene Smith.

Third_Echelon

elven wrote: »

So, maybe this isn't the place, maybe people round here are mostly in this whole photography thing for the fun of getting out and about, or recording their family growing up, or places they've been. But does anyone else have the inclination to do and/or read about photography with a bit more to it? I know macro flowers and lensbaby gravestones hardly make me an authority - and suggest a hint of hypocrisy but I love reading about photographers like Cara Phillips and Laura Letinsky - even if, hey, get this - I don't actually like their photographs

Anyone? Or is it all about the gear porn?

I would tend to read about photographers like that, but not on a religious basis or anything. If I stumbled upon someone's site or blog, i'd give it a good read and pop back from time to time. As you said, I mightn't necessarily like their style or pictures, but I do find their lives interesting. I'd love to give it all up and become a full-time photographer... I have a feeling though that it might take the spontaneity out of it. I love getting a perfect picture when it happens naturally.

I really like reading about Garry Winogrand. I saw some of his stuff in MOMA in New York a good few years ago and instantly loved all his pictures. Perfect captures of the time. Very simple stuff, but it said a lot more to me than the most over-processed stunning landscape picture...

ashy28

Photography is art & art is sometime just pleasing to the eye or it can have a deeper meaning. sometimes the composition of the photo is what gives it its depth & meaning. it could be a simple object taken from a view that no one has thought of looking before. then it is more about shapes & light & patterns. this is no less artistic or boring.

what you choose to get out of your photos is up to you. & what other people choose to extract from you photo is up to them. art is subjective & very personal, thats its nature.

superflyninja

ShakeyBlakey wrote: »

elven,
Ive been interested in photography since i was 16/17, i fell in love with it, went off it for a couple years then went back, and only very recently, my dream is to be a pro getting paid to travel the world taking pics, but maybe its only a dream, but from day 1 i wanted to know all i could know and i'm still learning, this is something that will always be with me wheather i like it or not, but i believe its as easy to do something right as do it wrong...................just my bit
Mark

ha! ditto!!!!! though how easy it is to get distracted by other things.....

Dragan

elven wrote: »

Is anyone interested in looking at other pictures, or reading about the photographer's process and intention? I wasn't really talking just about our own intentions here.

I possibly spend more time looking at other people photo's than i do my own. I don't know that much about photography but i have access to the photo's of all kinds of people that do. I spend a lot of time look at people on Flickr and Deviant Art especially. I spend time reading about the history of photography, the big names, reading about them and what motivated them.

When i see a photo that i really like i always want to know what was in their head when they took it.

labbad

Beauty of photography is there is room for everyone and one should not get to anal about it imo

superflyninja

I would love to read up about great photographers,the styles etc but finding the time is tough...but in short if any photo I took has meaning that others can appreciate that would be fantastic but the main thing I want is the challenge and to take photos that I love.

smelltheglove

I guess this is kinda going in two ways, as to my intentions towards photography, when not actually covering something like a party or a gig or wedding I do have times when I think, right I want a picture of the liffey, I want a picture of Glendalough, I want a picture of whatever and go and take the picture. The thing is I much rather the feeling that comes across in a picture when I have decided on the spur of the moment wow now there is a picture for ya. I went to take landscape shots with great intentions, the pic that most people liked in c&c was the one that I took while standing at the ice cream van and a handglider flew passed - no intention great shot, the cost of it, my 2 yr olds ice cream on the ground.

Now to the other take on the question as to reading about other photographers intentions and processes. Well I wouldnt set out to get a book and read it, if I saw a picture and really liked it and there was info in it then yeah I'd read it but not with previous intentions. It would bore me to read someone elses ideas and thoughts but when something grabs me and I wish I could have taken the shot then I would benefit from the info and read it.

Honestly I don't have any favourite photographer that I would like to read about, I have no interest in who took this picture or that picture, there are probably better photographers here than some of the best known ones but those here just dont have the access or the money for the equipment to break into that kind of market, and maybe not the interest. After all this fame is a who knows who business.

ThOnda

Elven, I have to apologize for misunderstanding of your questions. And I was thinking about this topic quite a long time. And i am glad it came back up to surface.
Yes, I do believe and I am convinced that a lot of people are interested in photography and also in what is behind photography and photographer. The more you know about the person behind the camera, the more you could understand the pictures themselves.
As I said, it is sometimes more than funny to read about people producing photos. And quite lots of them are "famous".

gandalf

elven my aim and the other mods aim is you can post more obscure topics without the fear of immaturity and the narrow mindness of some of the members here ruining it. Please feel free to post about topics you want to discuss, I hope that it does blossom (if you forgive the pun) into a mature and enlightening discussing.

Sezby please post more of your work. I find your photos some of the most imaginative I have seen here or anywhere else tbh and it is always extremely rewarding browsing your captures.

I take photos to please nobody but myself and the ones that make me happy and smile are the ones where I capture what I have seen in my mind (and yes those of you who know me realise my mind is a very murky and dodgy place!!).