Location / Geography

[aam1234]

I've always debated about one's location and the geography it offers on one's possibilities for taking photographs. Please have a look here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58404).

Do you think these kind of scenes make it easier for the photographer, or a good one will take good photos no matter where he/she is.

Share your thoughts please.

[PacAce]

Obviously good locations will provide more opportunities for great shots but a good photographer who has the eye will be able to take great photographs no matter where he is. My 2 cents.

[aam1234]

Do you think so Leo.

I'm trying to convince myself otherwise. I think a good photographer will create his/her own photo, regardless of location.

[thomascanty]

Do you think so Leo.

I'm trying to convince myself otherwise. I think a good photographer will create his/her own photo, regardless of location.

That's exactly what Leo said. I agree with him too, by the way.

Yes, a good location lends itself to great photos, but a photographer who knows what he's doing can take great pictures just about anywhere.

[aam1234]

Thanks

[PacAce]

Do you think so Leo.

I'm trying to convince myself otherwise. I think a good photographer will create his/her own photo, regardless of location.

I guess you should reread what I wrote. That's exactly what I was saying.

[PacAce]

Oops. Lonnie beat me to it. :lol:

[aam1234]

Opps, sorry for the misundestanding. Blame it on language :D

[maderito]

What I love about the shots as a group is that they demonstrate how different aspects of creative photography are used to create a great photo. Starting with a good location is just the bare beginning. The shots show command of techical details (shutter speed, aperture, DOF, etc.), understanding of lighting, strong composition, superb processing, and excellent timing to capture the right moment.

The compositions are especially strong - something that can be taught but is most effectively realized by those with good creative instincts who have a lot of patience and commit much practice to their craft.

Too frequently we are lulled into thinking - "If I had been there - I could have done that." Not true.

[primoz]

I would say on one side great locations make it easier to get good photo. But on other side this things are different if you look from different perspective. For me personaly mountains are not something special since I'm living in middle of Alps for all my life. For me some huge flat parts of country with endless fields or deserts are more interesting. But it's because I don't see those things every day. And it's not just for me but for people who see my photos too. When I show them photos from places around here (or other mountain countries of Europe) they usually say "yeah nice". When they see photos from for example Finland they are all drolling how great they are even if they are same quality as others.
About those photos on that link. They are all good photos, but for me some of them are nothing special just because of those things which I just mentioned. Other's are really cool because I don't see for example surfers in sunset every day.
But on other side... you can find more then enough oportunities even around your home to shot some great photos. That swimming photo is nicest sample of that. Every city anywhere on world has some swimming competition. It doesn't need to be Olympics to get good photo of swimmers. Also that lake... it's just a lake with parts of old pier. Nothing special location by itself, but photographer was the one, who made it look so special with his/her knowleadge.

[Paul_O]

Interesting thread, whilst I agree that an interesting location makes it easier to get a good photograph, in my opinion it's all in seeing something different. I live in Perth, West Australia (typically very photogenic location) but do most of my photography whilst travelling, just because it's something different to what I'm used to. I'm sure that if I travelled to your hometown I'd get a lot of different photos than you guys, and vice verse if you came to Perth. I'm lucky in that my wife is from Holland so I get to to spend a lot of time in Europe but when her family visits us, it's them that takes the cameras not me.

If you're in a bit of a rut, try travelling around town and seeing things from a tourist's point of view. I do that occasionally and it definitely puts a different slant on things. It's funny, whenever we do travel to Europe I always want to go in December/January, (whilst it's not the best time of the year to be getting out and about), it's just that we don't get that type of weather here and that's part of the attraction.

Hmmm, just re-read my post and realised that Primoz could charge me with plagiarism!!

Paul

[Jesper]

I think that, wherever you live, even if it is in a very photogenic place, it will become boring after some time. If you've already made a thousand photos of the same mountain, the same deer, the same windmills (in my case! :) ), the subject won't be original anymore, however beautiful it is. You'll have to keep inventing something new if you want to create original photos.