Photographic Philosophy/Style/Dynamic

Lyaiera

What's your photographic style, philosophy, or dynamic? This can be one that's emerged as you've taken more and more photographs. It can be one that you've purposely set out to achieve. It can be one where you've looked over your photos and can identify it from them.

Most of my recent photography has been done in my town/city. Something that's within walking distance. I don't take photos often, but I have often reviewed what I have shot. I've seen pictures I've liked amongst what I've developed and I've tried to take more pictures like that. One example was of occupational use of bicycles: people using them as transport, for shopping, to travel faster, to save money, etc. But I've generally failed to take more bicycle pictures because standing in the one spot waiting for a bike becomes boring after fifteen minutes: no dedication to my art.

Looking through my photos, and especially at my favourite ones what I've found is that I like pictures that place the edifice of the city (or city surrounds) as something imposing on or influencing the people amidst it. This isn't something I've consciously set out to do, nor subconsciously. I just haven't been able to verbally identify that that is what I have been doing, despite having a non-verbal desire to do it. What I have thought I've been doing is street photography: with more emphasis on the street but still including the people or person.

I think I'm very influenced by my town/city. I've never lived elsewhere and I absolutely love where I live. I've spent a long time here and I feel I've gotten to know certain parts of it. I find them especially comforting. I find that familiarity especially comforting and maybe I'm reflecting that in my photography. I even finding myself exploring new depths to my city. I think I now know that this is what I want to do.

So what's your photographic philosophy; Do you not have any? Have you cycled through many projects actively choosing a different one? (And it'd be interesting to see if there's still a common thread running through them all.) Have you noticed something in your photographic body of work that you're thinking of pursuing?


CorkFloodsJanuary2014027_edited-2 by mrendatious1, on Flickr



Cork8thDecember2013Working003 by mrendatious1, on Flickr



(This was originally written for an American forum so the references to "my town" should be replaced with "Cork" for here.)

Whammy!

Interesting thread.

I find that I prefer to take landscape photos that are moody, with a sense of loneliness and a feeling of the environment closing in. I will intentionally take photos when there is no sun and use a standard to medium telephoto focal lengths (50-85mm) to keep the perspective natural.






For portraits I've been going for more of an open feel, using sun light as a back light and using a reflector to bounce light back towards their face, while also using the landscape as a frame. I'm currently focusing too much on rule of thirds which I need to break away from a bit. Everything in the background I try and make it work with rule of thirds which is probably overkill
I don't like when the subject looks at the camera. I would prefer for them to be engaged in the moment.

D.S.

Really interesting idea for a thread...

I shoot mainly landscape and family portrait..

For landscape, I have tended to favour filling the frame with dominant shapes or lines, particularly those that help create depth from foreground to background or try to create a three dimensional feel to the image..I tend to focus more on the marriage / contrast of man made objects with nature rather than simply nature on its own. Long exposures are a favourite of mine with seascapes..








For portrait - I have focused on trying to put a different take on family portraits (of my own son particularly)..have tended to favour moments where a combination of interesting / different light and an interesting/unique reaction from my son/family rather than a typical pleasing shot..Have lately tried my hand at more abstract portraits to bring a dreamscape/other world feel...










Post processing wise - I struggle and remain reluctant to settle on any one particular style (also shooting only a year or so) and have enjoyed mixing things up which has given my flickr a somewhat erratic look as there is little consistency in style...

So to answer your questions OP - so far I have gravitated to these themes naturally and without a huge amount of pre-meditated thought..with landscape I know what I like and it's remained consistent so have pursued that..portrait shots have really grabbed my interest of late and I am finding that my themes and planning is different shot to shot but the underlying current of trying to find a unique look/capture from the eyes / face of the subject is what drives me..

Will be interesting to see what other posters are up to..

Bears and Vodka

When shooting urban landscapes I look for several things in my subject matter: symmetry, grandeur/decay, and during the night those little spots filled with street light when everything else around them is in darkness. I like emptiness too, perhaps waiting a little too long until I can get a shot without any people in it.

FlipperThePriest

Bears and Vodka wrote: »

I like emptiness too, perhaps waiting a little too long until I can get a shot without any people in it.

This might work against your artistic concept but a bit of a cheat nonetheless if you like photos empty of people:

If you take about 10 or 12 photos, then in Photoshop go to File > Scripts > Statistics. Select "Median" for the stack mode and check "Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images." When you click the "Browse..." select your set of photos.

This can remove people from even the busiest of shots.

Bears and Vodka

zippy84 wrote: »

This might work against your artistic concept but a bit of a cheat nonetheless if you like photos empty of people:

If you take about 10 or 12 photos, then in Photoshop go to File > Scripts > Statistics. Select "Median" for the stack mode and check "Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images." When you click the "Browse..." select your set of photos.

This can remove people from even the busiest of shots.

Yes, thanks, I know that trick! It's very useful sometimes. I actually used it to get this empty photo of Wall Street.

Gehad_JoyRider

truth is I don't have one, I don't want one I wont limit my self photographically I think its foolish. Id rather try all forms then label my self. This this and this.

I'm not trying to sound like a smart arse but there's so many different approaches with the added strength of processing digitally. My opinion would be just enjoy what your shooting

starr0409

Great idea! I agree that after some time shooting, its good (and natural) to whittle what you shoot and your style down a bit and create stronger photographs as a result.

Basically, I bought a 50mm f1.8 lens and lost my kit lens(literally) and it has taught me SO much. I used to be too shy to take pictures of strangers but this lens has showed me how much fun it can be with beautiful results. I lost my nervousness, then it became enjoyable, now its an addiction. In a few months I have really honed in on people photography and I personally feel my images have gotten a lot better. (C&C welcome!)

Delta Children by starrscapes photos, on Flickr

My big inspiration comes from living in Burma. I am driven to capture a such a myriad of a population- rich, poor, educated/uneducated , homeless, happy, repressed, begging for change, scared of change- on the cusp of a massive national and often personal change (or head**** if you will) as the country opens up.

Thanaka Stall by starrscapes photos, on Flickr

I want to capture and more importantly for me, to understand what its like to be them in their situation. I want to capture them being them- playing working living etc.

Water Pots by starrscapes photos, on Flickr

Chin Tribeswoman, Western Myanmar by starrscapes photos, on Flickr

I know I have a long way to go yet but I think I'm going in the right direction.

Whammy!

Gehad_JoyRider wrote: »

truth is I don't have one, I don't want one I wont limit my self photographically I think its foolish. Id rather try all forms then label my self. This this and this.

I'm not trying to sound like a smart arse but there's so many different approaches with the added strength of processing digitally. My opinion would be just enjoy what your shooting

When you indirectly imply that we, who have contributed expressing our current direction in photography are limiting ourselves and being foolish, then you will inadvertently come across as a smart arse.

Having and expressing a certain direction in photography in no way means you are limiting yourself and certainly does not automatically mean you are not exploring other avenues.
All it means is you have direction and are trying to refine your own photographic style by developing a certain look within a particular field. In doing so it helps you to see things differently and to find and develop your own unique look, regardless of what type of photography it is.

The most well known and respected photographers in the world all work within a few fields/genres. They do so because that field of interest is their passion. By being able to devote more time to that field they in turn produce amazing results that a jack of all trades would never be able to achieve.

Gehad_JoyRider

Whammy! wrote: »

When you indirectly imply that we, who have contributed expressing our current direction in photography are limiting ourselves and being foolish, then you will inadvertently come across as a smart arse.

Having and expressing a certain direction in photography in no way means you are limiting yourself and certainly does not automatically mean you are not exploring other avenues.
All it means is you have direction and are trying to refine your own photographic style by developing a certain look within a particular field. In doing so it helps you to see things differently and to find and develop your own unique look, regardless of what type of photography it is.

The most well known and respected photographers in the world all work within a few fields/genres. They do so because that field of interest is their passion. By being able to devote more time to that field they in turn produce amazing results that a jack of all trades would never be able to achieve.

Excuse me where around for the next 60 years at the most, we've plenty of time to point our selves like an arrow into a very specific type of photography, How ever learning multiple styles techniques can only be an advantage. In the long run.

if I come across as a smart arse I'm sorry but i believe that people should experiment more then pointing them selves down one alley and just doing one type.

mystic86

Gehad_JoyRider wrote: »

i believe that people should experiment more then pointing them selves down one alley and just doing one type.

I think you are missing the point. People have and are experimenting. It's not about pointing themselves anywhere, it's following a natural passion for a certain style.

Lyaiera

This is an excellent book on what it means to be a photographer. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Photographer-Practical-Guide/dp/1888803061/ref=asap_B001H6O3KO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414504716&sr=1-1

They say, and I agree with them, that hitting the streets with a camera and no intent is a recipe for failure. Walking out your front door wanting to get a "good photo" will result in nothing. To be a photographer you need some idea of what you want, why you want it and how you're going to get it. And you need to dedicate yourself to that.

I didn't have this for a long time, and it can be seen in my photos. I was looking for a pretty photo with no idea of what kind of pretty photo. Reviewing my photos, and the ones I really appreciated made me realise that there is something I'm going for. There was a common theme to all the photos I took that I found especially powerful. I'm now going out and photographing to that theme.

The important thought running through that book is that to be a photographer you can't be haphazard, you need intent and the best photographers will pursue that intent with a plan.

That being said, your intent could very well be that you want to experience a wide range of photography. You want to dip your toes in a lot of different areas to see what you can come up with. But it's important to note that you would only be dipping your toes in the area. There is simply no way that someone can master all the various forms of photography in a life time.

Also important is that a theme need not be lifelong theme. In fact that book says the opposite, that a theme needs to be definite and constrained. That a project that spans years with no idea of a beginning or end will falter with the photographer never progressing. They don't know where they want to go and they don't know when they've reached their destination. You can work in "projects." You can say, "I will address the 'edifice of a city' until I have explored this part of the town" and then move on to another project. The important point of it all is that you know what you're doing, and not just flailing around with no intent for your photography, nor an intent for your photographic development.

dinneenp

Lyaiera wrote: »

This is an excellent book on what it means to be a photographer. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Photographer-Practical-Guide/dp/1888803061/ref=asap_B001H6O3KO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414504716&sr=1-1

free online Pdf version of book- don't know if it's totally legit but it's the first result that came up in Google.

Lyaiera

dinneenp wrote: »

free online Pdf version of book- don't know if it's totally legit but it's the first result that came up in Google.

It's well worth a read. It's a short book at 100 pages so you can easily have it done in a night. It's really made me address how I take photos, even if when I first read it it went a little over my head. I think now that I've found what I want to do, everything they say reinforces that.

melekalikimaka

Gehad_JoyRider wrote: »

truth is I don't have one, I don't want one I wont limit my self photographically I think its foolish. Id rather try all forms then label my self. This this and this.

I'm not trying to sound like a smart arse but there's so many different approaches with the added strength of processing digitally. My opinion would be just enjoy what your shooting

You're one of those

Gehad_JoyRider

melekalikimaka wrote: »

You're one of those

and what would that be?

mystic86

melekalikimaka wrote: »

You're one of those

leave it out, I just saw a darkroom demo in DCC and the guy was trying to get similar type edits except using Bluetack on the end of a piece of metal and holding it up against the lens to block parts of the picture.

Digitally editing is perfectly fine.

melekalikimaka

Gehad_JoyRider wrote: »

and what would that be?

mystic86 wrote: »

leave it out, I just saw a darkroom demo in DCC and the guy was trying to get similar type edits except using Bluetack on the end of a piece of metal and holding it up against the lens to block parts of the picture.

Digitally editing is perfectly fine.

i was being sarcastic... kinda

almorris

There's a million approach's to anything. Strictly defining yourself within a style, or an unlimited open to anything way of seeing. No one is right and no one is wrong. Go your own way and to hell with anybody else.

dinneenp

I began, like most people shooting anything and everything that caught my eye/I thought would be a good photo. I even called my blog Eclectic Images. After shooting a bit of sport, family/portraits, architecture, floral, nature, colours and patterns I noticed that I like abstract a lot. And spotting patterns too.

I think I enjoy the 'challenge' of trying to spot something that's been overlooked by most people and capturing it. I use Picasa for editing (slowly learning LR) so maybe I'm inhibiting my possible end results. But sometimes I have 'standard' photo and am unimpressed with the result so play around editing it and come up with something new that I really like (like the Bunch of straws- simply inverted the colours or the upside down building).

Like most photographers (I presume) I still shoot a bit of everything but my favourites tend to be abstract. If you don't think you have a preferred style browse through your starred/favourite photos and it should jump out at you.



Ireland football abstract by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr


Bunch of straws, inverted colours by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr


Doing a handstand by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr


Macro of a leaf by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr


Inception Limbo/Into the White by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr


Cambrilis Park lighthouse abstract by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr

Tiriel

dinneenp wrote: »

I use Picasa for editing (slowly learning LR) so maybe I'm inhibiting my possible end results.

I would definitely move away from Picasa - it's fine for the very basics or if you're in a hurry, but generally it really does seem to detract from images - it makes things softer and the saturation is very tacky - I would 100% encourage you to move to Elements or use Lightroom.

Inception Limbo/Into the White by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr

I love that shot!!

Gehad_JoyRider

I think capture ne have a really cheep as chips program that can suit some one not looking to spend a lot