Taking Exceptional Photos

[jrh312]

Pick up a National Geographic or similar magazine and you see shots from around the world, and some of them are from places where millions upon millions of people have been. Some of these places, the Grand Canyon, for example, are multi-faceted and something new can easily be found if you're willing to walk off the beaten path. but how about the others? Just for the sake of getting my point across, I'll use Niagara Falls as my example. Of the millions of people that visit it each year, billions of photos are taken of it...many from the exact same places each time.

So what's my point?

When you look at that National Geographic magazine and see that picture of Niagara Falls (or wherever), why is it THAT photo that made it into the magazine? Maybe it has something to do with how big of a name the photographer has made for themself in the business, but more likely, it's just because there's "something" exceptional about the shot.

So, in everyone's opinon if you'd like to share it, how much of a "great photo" comes from finding an amazing place to take the photo, and how much of it is due to a personal touch that the photographer adds to it? What makes it exceptional?

[aam1234]

In my opinion, it's purely the photographer's skills. I don't mean the technical side, but his/her vision or sense of beauty they can find and capture. The technical skills, IMO, are a prerequisite for that.

[symes]

pick up a copy of the National Geogrpahics File Guide for photography. It contains many stories/interviews with their photographers and after reading a couple you will understand how these people get the shots they do...

They are all amazing people who have a real sense of the situation they are in and almost immediately have an idea of what kind of mood they aim to capture and how they go about doing it...

A whole new level of photography...they understand the technical and us it to their full creative advantage...

Cheers,

[rdenney]

So, in everyone's opinon if you'd like to share it, how much of a "great photo" comes from finding an amazing place to take the photo, and how much of it is due to a personal touch that the photographer adds to it? What makes it exceptional?

A great scene is a great scene. But what makes a great photo of it is when it captures some element of how it affected the photographer, isolated from distraction. Otherwise, it's just scenery.

Rick "who has taken lots of 'just scenery' photographs" Denney

[rent]

don't forget the "time" dimension. great photos come from amazing places at
those special moments of magical lights, and with a personal touch of that exceptional photographer.

-alex

...how much of a "great photo" comes from finding an amazing place to take the photo, and how much of it is due to a personal touch that the photographer adds to it? What makes it exceptional?

[aam1234]

A great scene is a great scene. But what makes a great photo of it is when it captures some element of how it affected the photographer, isolated from distraction. Otherwise, it's just scenery.

Rick "who has taken lots of 'just scenery' photographs" Denney

But Rick (if I may call you by your first name), not all beautiful photos are "scenes". A breathtaking photo could be of anything, no?

[tim]

pick up a copy of the National Geogrpahics File Guide for photography.

Where do you get this from - amazon or is it online?

[jrh312]

Where do you get this from - amazon or is it online?

I don't know for sure, but I think I saw this in a Waldenbooks store over Christmas. It could've been another NG guide....this title sounds very familiar though.

[symes]

Where do you get this from - amazon or is it online?

Amazon.com has it and it is really quite reasonable I think 25.00 USD shipped..better than you can buy it at any stores that I have been into...

It is just superb!!

Cheers,

[symes]

I don't know for sure, but I think I saw this in a Waldenbooks store over Christmas. It could've been another NG guide....this title sounds very familiar though.

Be careful of the one you get...there are field guides for all different forms of photography...I am sure they are all good and will likely go into much more depth but the general Field Guide is the one that covers all aspect of Photography...just click here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/079225676X/qid=1114756839/sr=8-2/ref=pd_csp_2/103-4432387-1392642?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

Cheers,

[tim]

Amazon.com has it and it is really quite reasonable I think 25.00 USD shipped..better than you can buy it at any stores that I have been into...

Shipping to me costs a little more than that, or else takes a long time :( Ah well, there are advantages and disadvantages of living here.

[sixshot]

Same here Tim.

[rdenney]

But Rick (if I may call you by your first name), not all beautiful photos are "scenes". A breathtaking photo could be of anything, no?

Of course. But the thread was talking about National Geographic and used Niagra Falls as an example, so I figured the interest was in photographs of places. When we are at a Place (note capital P), how can we photograph that Place and get something different from all the other idiots in whose footprints we are standing?

Everyone there was awe-struck, else they won't have bothered to photograph it. Is the difference between their scenery snaps and ours the awe we feel? No. So, the difference has to be something else. Is it that we have better equipment? In some cases it is. I was standing in the Navaho Trail at Bryce Canyon, looking at a tree buried in that canyon that had been photographed a zillion times. But I had a fisheye!

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/canyon_tree_lores.jpg

Is it any better than the others? Probably not, but it's uniquely mine. I won't get that image by buying a postcard at the visitor's center.

Another thing we bring to those places where others have stood is a sense of timing. That can affect people pictures as much as scenery. Others were standing there when I made this image, but I was standing there with medium format and a Sonnar lens (with which I'd had to run a mile and set up while seriously sucking wind):

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/aquarius_rainbow_lores.jpg

Maybe, if we can look past the awe, we'll see details that nobody else does. We'll form visualization of a print. That print will have a certain impact, or we imagine it will. Then, we manipulate our craft to achieve that visualization.

(Since Niagra Falls was mentioned...)

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/niagra-brink-lores.jpg

Was our visualization worth the expenditure of craft? Who knows? Who cares? Achieving our visualization is deeply satisfying, even if it turns out our vision is not that special. The point is that we have interacted in the scene in an individual way. Often, that's what it takes to bring results, and often, we have to see past mere awe to get there.

I expect that National Geographic photographer approach the natural scene (whether or not it is animated with fauna) from a very business-like perspective. What does the picture need to show? What, specifically, will give it impact? What do I need to do to make sure that impact is there without anything subverting it? If their reaction is to stand, stare, and go "Wow!", then they are already behind. Their experience has nothing to do with equipment, and maybe not even craft. It had everything to do with connecting the same scene scene everyone else sees to their focused purpose. Understanding that purpose is the hard part, at least for me.

Rick "in pursuit of something elusive that nevertheless is right before us all" Denney

[aam1234]

Sir (hope you don't mind calling you that) Thank you very much not only for sharing your breathtaking photos with us but also, and mostly, for the generosity of sharing your experience with us.


aam " who thinks having Rick Denney in this forum is a great asset" 1234

[Tom W]

I agree with aam - those are really spectacular images, Rick.
And, your input is appreciated.

[Noni]

Dear Rick "who just taught me more about art and sight than any book could have" Denny:

Your abilities in articulating and demonstrating your thoughts were perfect...and I thank you for giving me a standard to reach for. Perfectly stated, perfectly demonstrated. Thank you.

Best-
Noni

[symes]

Shipping to me costs a little more than that, or else takes a long time :( Ah well, there are advantages and disadvantages of living here.

I am in Ulsan, South Korea and from Amazon.com it was only 15.00 Shipping and Handling and it was here in under a week...

I would certainly pay 40US for it again...it was well worth it..

Cheers,

[Nightcrawler]

Thanks Rick for all the info and a few chuckles. It is great having you as a part of this forum.