Evolution

[photofinish]

Hi Everybody,
Now that I've had my 20D for a month or so, I'm starting to evolve past the WOW factor.

What I'm looking for now is advice on the way to approach better picture-taking. 'Snapshots' and 'calendar' pictures are fine in their own right, but I want to expand my creative side, more toward the 'artsy' side.

Before you go on a shoot, are you supposed to decide on a theme first? How do you pick a theme for something as general as wanting to capture the beauty of nature during the fall?

Any advice on how to pick themes and then apply those themes creatively to the picture-taking process would be happily appreciated. :)

[Jesper]

I find it always more interesting to have a series of photos around a theme, or short story, than just a bunch of snapshots.

So I think it certainly helps if you think about what you want to achieve with your photos before you go out and shoot - if you don't, you'll probably come back with a random bunch of photos of things that you encountered by chance.

If the theme seems too general (like "the beauty of the nature during fall"), you can just invent something more specific that fits inside the more general theme - for example, make a series of photos of different kinds of colourful leaves.

This might be interesting to read: The Project (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/the_project.shtml) from Luminous Landscape

One good example is the Photo Essays forum on NatureScapes.Net (http://www.naturescapes.net) - people often post series of photos with a short story there.

[Mark Kemp]

If we all had a formula for this we would be taking top class shots all the time. :lol:

There are all sorts of circumstances and some take more planning than others. A studio shot is almost always fairly planned, but sometimes you just happen to have a camera with you and spot a good shot by pure luck.

I would study other peoples pictures, try to find books on composition and just try things out.

Camera clubs can also be very helpful if you find a good one, especially as they run competitions and so you will get some helpful feedback on your pictures.

[photofinish]

Thanks, guys, the Projects idea and the clubs idea sound great. Every now and then, everyone needs a little 'focus' in their life! :wink:

Does anyone else know of any other good theme sites?

[aam1234]

In addition to what others have suggested, how about photo competitions/contests.

It makes you focus on a subject, and how best to represent it. And it's a lot of fun too.

[FlipsidE]

We actually do already have contests on this forum. The next thing I'd like to see is weekly and or even daily assignments...no competition, just something to use as guidelines on days when we just can't think of anything else to shoot.

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

For ideas:

PhotoSIG has a decent section on assignments (http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/browsecategories?typeId=12).

UseFilm also has a nice Projects list. Go here (http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?project_id=41&mode=project) and then scroll down and look for the Projects section on the left, which has a drop-down list of the projects.

[aam1234]

We actually do already have contests on this forum

Yes, and we would like photofinish to join us.


The next thing I'd like to see is weekly and or even daily assignments...no competition, just something to use as guidelines on days when we just can't think of anything else to shoot.


I like the idea, but daily might be a bit tough. You can start that FlipsidE, I would definitely join.

[FlipsidE]

I think that amoungst the group of us, we could come up with some great topics/themes. But, I just don't know where we would host them. I guess I could host it on my website, but we really don't have a good message board on this particular forum to hold these types of assignments.

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

How about just taking control, and start stating a weekly (2 weeks?) assignment? Take it on yourself, and just make a post every (other?) Sunday night in Share: Weekly Assignment: Blah Blah

Ask people to post their images to the thread. (Would this make the thread too big for many dial-up users?) No contest, no rules, no design-by-committe, no voting. Just a push for people, an idea. If there's interest, people will post. If there's no interest, you'll know soon enough.


Even though I'm mentioning all this, I have to admit that I may never post to one, even though I should try to expand my photography. Who knows, maybe I will now that it's winter and most of the birds have gone...

[FlipsidE]

It's a great idea Scotties, but where should I post it? I guess I should discuss it with the moderators first before putting it out there. I want everyone to know about it, but I don't want to get in trouble for posting something like this on an incorrect forum.

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

I would say Share because it will include the posting of images. And I agree wholeheartedly with dicussions with the moderators just to make sure.

[aam1234]

WAW Scottes :shock: this is exactly what I thought of.

FlipsidE, you can take the lead. Make a title such as "week 12: Sunset" in the "share" room.

However, and as Scottes said, it might be difficult for people with 56K. One solution is to limit the photos to 100k in size (maybe even smaller). I'm sure others might have other suggestions about 56K issue.

[aam1234]

And I agree wholeheartedly with dicussions with the moderators just to make sure.

That's very important.

[Scottes]

Another option is to have people post seperately, with a subject of "Assignment 12: Sunset" in their post. I really think that 12 or 14 images in one thread would be prohibitive to 56K users. It's one thing not to be able to view a big thread, but it's another thing entirely to not be able to participate in the Assignments.

[Jon]

Could also encourage people to post links, rather than embedding the images. Separate threads for each submission would help keep comments together and clear, but will really bulk up the thread count.

[aam1234]

Jon's suggestion is very practical, and it will keep both the comments and photos (i.e links) in one thread.

[photofinish]

I, too, like Jon's suggestion. Links might be better from a site storage point of view. Also, it would create incentive to visit more material from that particular photog.

[aam1234]

Let's do it FlipsidE (getting too excited :D ).

[Jon]

Using links has another advantage I hadn't thought of when I suggested it - if you're on dial-up and see a lot of buzz about one picture, you can look at just that one, saving the others for when you've got a high-speed connection.

[aam1234]

Thanks Jon,

I already PM'd Belmendo about the subject (I'm not taking away anything from FlipsidE's idea, just trying to help).

[FlipsidE]

Thanks Jon,

I already PM'd Belmendo about the subject (I'm not taking away anything from FlipsidE's idea, just trying to help).

NP at all...I'm glad you did. I've been tied up in meetings and with work issues all morning. I'll be busy most (if not all) of the afternoon too. But, I'll definitely check back in and see what I can do tonight when I get home.

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

My suggestion about daily assignments is not necessarily to show off in a "weekly assignment" fashion. The daily assignments could be a set of 7, 14, or maybe even 30 assignments. That way, if someone is taking a week vacation or a two week vacation and wanted some ideas of photo opportunites, they could follow that assignment sheet. Not necessarily something that they would post on a daily basis, but something to keep them occupied if they want to do something related to photography.

The weekly ones would be much better for overall usage though...for those that just want to try an assignment but don't have seven full days free to try it.

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

We'd probably need a moderator's cooperation to make the weekly threads sticky on the share forum too...just like the contests. That would make them much more visible. I do agree with Jon that we should use links instead of actual images, but I'm not sure how we could police that. I doubt the moderators have time do it.

FlipsidE

[aam1234]

I don't think it needs to be sticky. As a matter of fact, being sticky would ruin it. Just make it free-flowing kindda thing. It will pick up steam somehow.

[FlipsidE]

I don't know. I think the first few tries at this might just fade away into the latter pages. We have a few photos submitted, and then it falls five pages back.

This is why I honestly believe that there should be an assignment forum. That way, we could sticky the current week's assignment, and keep the share photos forum from being flooded with submissions. If people REALLY like a photo they took for the assignment, then they can post it on the share forum.

The assignment forum could just be a place to post every decent to good photo taken for that week's assignment. Also, that way, we wouldn't necessarily have to worry about links to photos...we wouldn't have to make special provisions 56K with a separate forum.

Just my $0.02

EDIT: Either way it goes (share forum or a new one), I definitely like this idea, and I want to pursue it.

FlipsidE

[Jon]

This is why I honestly believe that there should be an assignment forum. That way, we could sticky the current week's assignment, and keep the share photos forum from being flooded with submissions. If people REALLY like a photo they took for the assignment, then they can post it on the share forum.

FlipsidE

And if it's a separate forum, Pekka could make you the moderator, with all the headaches^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h fun of managing it and policing links :twisted:

[aam1234]

Don't push your luck FlipsidE. There is no need for a sticky.

Heck, if it were a sticky, I won't join.

Let it "one of our members project" more sexy that way.

[FlipsidE]

And if it's a separate forum, Pekka could make you the moderator, with all the headaches^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h fun of managing it and policing links :twisted:

- LOL!! Too funny. But, if there was a separate forum, we wouldn't have as much worry about policing the topics.

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

Don't push your luck FlipsidE. There is no need for a sticky.

Heck, if it were a sticky, I won't join.

Let it "one of our members project" more sexy that way.

- I like that idea too!

FlipsidE

[jcsorensen]

Original post stated:

"What I'm looking for now is advice on the way to approach better picture-taking. 'Snapshots' and 'calendar' pictures are fine in their own right, but I want to expand my creative side, more toward the 'artsy' side."

While I have found reading many books that focus on the technical aspects helped alot early on, I recently came across a book that has helped me start looking at the "artsy" side. The book is entitled "Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography." My understanding is it is a compilation of many of his essays he wrote for Outdoor Photography before he passed away a couple of years ago.

I'm only about 60 or so pages into the book, but it has given me much to think about on why my pictures turn out the way they do and what I might need to do to improve them.

Interesting thoughts that have struck me early on is the need to be constantly taking pictures, looking at color differently, and the fact that there are child prodigy's in sports, the perfoming arts, and the sciences, but there are few if any in the world of photography. Gives you something to think about.

Anyway, sometimes we need to stop focusing on the technical aspects of photography (it's still important, but sometimes you can only learn so much of the technical piece) and just go out and shoot--looking for what the eye can't see, but the film can.

[CyberDyneSystems]

re:

Weekly assignments;
Go for it guys.. you certainly DON'T need permission for this sort of undertaking.. "just do it" :wink:

As far as "stiky Vs. Not sticky" totally up to whomever posts the initial thread.. just send a PM to myself or Belmondo if you want it "sticky"

To the best of my recollection.. this is how the current contest started.. Members just started it... it did not involve mods at all...

Great Idea.

[FlipsidE]

re:

Weekly assignments;
Go for it guys.. you certainly DON'T need permission for this sort of undertaking.. "just do it" :wink:

As far as "stiky Vs. Not sticky" totally up to whomever posts the initial thread.. just send a PM to myself or Belmondo if you want it "sticky"

To the best of my recollection.. this is how the current contest started.. Members just started it... it did not involve mods at all...

Great Idea.

GREAT!! Thanks. I'll see what I can do to get the topic up tonight!

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

Topic is up

Click here (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46465)

FlipsidE

[photofinish]

Thanks, jcsorensen, for the book tip about "Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography." I looked it up on Amazon and it looks pretty cool! 8) I'll have to get it...

[Scottes]

I can also highly recommend that book. I was just flipping through his "Mountain Light" last night, and some of the images and stories simply amaze me. "Inner Game" is stupendous.

[Jon]

Yes - definitely a "must have", along with his Vision and The Art of Adventure Photography, and, oh, heck, if he wrote it, just get it. Sorta like L glass - it's hard to go wrong!