Do you only photograph what is challenging?

[zauhar]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

But does that mean that you are more impressed by a photographer's technique than by the photographer's actual image?

I remember at my BFA thesis show in college there was a huge self-portrait painting done by one of the students amongst all different types of media / student artists. To us involved in the group show, it was the worst work in the show. However, to my Dad, it was the best because he equated work / time / effort spent as the value of the piece instead of the actual content.

Not exactly what I mean t- here is an example.

While in Paris, I was at the big plaza beside the museum of modern art (not sure of it's official name). There were a couple of little girls playing a game where they would try to hide behind pedestrians walking through the plaza.

One little girl peeked out from behind an elegant man in front of me, who was looking around with surprise - it was a wonderful image. I rushed to get my camera up, but she ran off and I missed it.

The challenge for me - I saw the kids playing the game, and needed to anticipate the action instead of being caught flat-flooted. Had I convinced them to POSE for me, would it be the same image, could I even recreate the energy of the moment?

Randy

[taxi38]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Keep repeating:

No one cares about how hard you worked
No one cares about how hard you worked
No one cares about how hard you worked

And when you think "OK, but I care" just remember that no one cares what you think either.

The quality of the photo is all that anyone cares about.

If you care enough about what other people think your work is not that of an artist,.....you are not therefore an artist and your work is,by definition, not art.
So dont even think to please others,just be sure to present to the world what you know is exceptional by your OWN standards,....this is art and you are an artist.

[taxi38]

Originally Posted by zauhar

The challenge for me - I saw the kids playing the game, and needed to anticipate the action instead of being caught flat-flooted. Had I convinced them to POSE for me, would it be the same image, could I even recreate the energy of the moment?

Randy

No.......but you have the image in your head,thats just as valuble.

[daveleo]

Originally Posted by taxi38

If you care enough about what other people think your work is not that of an artist,.....you are not therefore an artist and your work is,by definition, not art.
So dont even think to please others,just be sure to present to the world what you know is exceptional by your OWN standards,....this is art and you are an artist.

help me to understand what you're saying here . . .

are you saying that anyone who creates anything that represents their personal and singular perception of something (or anything) is an artist ?

my next question has to be . . . if that is so, then what is not "art" ?

[Bill Clark]

I photograph a fair # of people.

Always interesting.

I make it fun for them.

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by taxi38

If you care enough about what other people think your work is not that of an artist,.....you are not therefore an artist and your work is,by definition, not art. .........................

Actually, I do not think of myself as an artist or my work art. I like to be a communicator of information. You can like my photos or not so long as you get my message.

No one cares what I went through to get to the country this photo was made. No one cares how many days I walked to find this location. No one cares that I had to return when the light was from the right direction. No one cares how long I waited for the right combination of elements to come into place that make this photo. No one even cares about the technical challenges. I only hope they get the message that Jose Marti is worthy of a permanent statue and Fidel Castro only merits a poster. (and I am not positive I pulled that off)

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Actually, I do not think of myself as an artist or my work art. I like to be a communicator of information. You can like my photos or not so long as you get my message.

No one cares what I went through to get to the country this photo was made. No one cares how many days I walked to find this location. No one cares that I had to return when the light was from the right direction. No one cares how long I waited for the right combination of elements to come into place that make this photo. No one even cares about the technical challenges. I only hope they get the message that Jose Marti is worthy of a permanent statue and Fidel Castro only merits a poster. (and I am not positive I pulled that off)

Bob, you're a documentary photographer (in my opinion), as am I. Some of the greatest photography found in art museum and the pages of art history has been documentary work. It is art, and an honest one. A lot of the postmodern-era 'art' photography feels forced and empty because someone is trying to use photography for the sort of abstracted or conceptualized work that other media like painting are more suited for (in my opinion that is because so many of these 'photographers' chose photography because they had no talent for drawing/painting, not because they loved or understood photography).

[Bob Michaels]

Chris: maybe I just have a personal hang-up on labels so I try to avoid all of them.

Originally Posted by Chriscrawfordphoto

Bob, you're a documentary photographer (in my opinion), as am I. Some of the greatest photography found in art museum and the pages of art history has been documentary work. It is art, and an honest one. A lot of the postmodern-era 'art' photography feels forced and empty because someone is trying to use photography for the sort of abstracted or conceptualized work that other media like painting are more suited for (in my opinion that is because so many of these 'photographers' chose photography because they had no talent for drawing/painting, not because they loved or understood photography).

[TXForester]

I photograph the easy stuff. If I shoot the challenging stuff and get it "right," then people will expect that from now on. Life's too short to put that kind of pressure on yourself.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Chris: maybe I just have a personal hang-up on labels so I try to avoid all of them.

There are so many types of photography and so many uses for photography and reasons for making images, that I think some labels are necessary. A wedding photographer is not doing something even remotely related to what you or I do, even if some wedding photographers want to label their work "Documentary Style" or "Photojournalist Style". That's just one example of radically different purposes that photography is used for, and not intended as a put-down of wedding photography (which is a form of photography most people will buy at least once in their lives and most people have an appreciation of).

I have an intellectual/academic interest in photography's history, so labels like "Commercial photography", "Documentary", "Wedding Photography", etc. have some practical value in tracing the different threads that run through the history of photography (being aware that there can be and often is overlap between the different categories).

[Keith]

I like to challenge myself technically by using methods I'm unfamiliar with and if I come out of it with an image I like it's very satisfying.

Taking a photo that 'works' is a different process IMO and seldom gives me the same satisfaction.

[sanmich]

The photography that I prefer is alchemy: to make gold out of dirt.
To get an interesting shot out of something millions of people see everyday, but only you cut the one frame or gathered the series the way you did and gave it its meaning.
Then and only then its 100% your creation.

[clayne]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Keep repeating:

The quality of the photo is all that anyone cares about.

Not strictly true. At a certain level of photography (deemed technically acceptable and minimally interesting to look at, solid photojournalism/documentary, etc.), the amount of hard work and involvement in the process indeed contributes to the worthiness and depth of it.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by shadowfox

If you mean challenging as broadening my vision and experience, Yes. But if you mean challenging technically, then my answer would be: No. I don't seek out technically difficult photos just for the sake of the challenge.

No, not technically... more about seeing.

[thegman]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Keep repeating:

No one cares about how hard you worked
No one cares about how hard you worked
No one cares about how hard you worked

And when you think "OK, but I care" just remember that no one cares what you think either.

The quality of the photo is all that anyone cares about.

I care about how hard someone worked.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by ferider

Shooting something boring is a challenge by itself

It sure is. It's fun to try to make the boring interesting just by framing it right.

[taxi38]

Originally Posted by daveleo

help me to understand what you're saying here . . .

are you saying that anyone who creates anything that represents their personal and singular perception of something (or anything) is an artist ? ....YES

my next question has to be . . . if that is so, then what is not "art" ?....EVERYTHING ELSE

this is a belief,my real life is far more stupid

[SausalitoDog]

A couple of years ago, I started using an iphone app - project 365 - and it has helped me in many ways. One of the main ones is forcing me to take a single photo every day. Some times it has to be of something very mundane and that is right in front of me all the time but I would never think of photographing it if I had more than 2 minutes till midnight or I miss my goal of a photo EVERY day.

If you try one of these apps (and stick to using it), you will find yourself viewing LIFE through a lens much quicker than you would without it. Sometimes you take the stupidest photo, but crop it wildly or distort it with processing or not... But you go through the day looking for some unique shot.

It' worth a shot :-) The app I use is Project 365 Pro and I love it, but there are dozens of such apps for iphone and android - and, of course - Web sites to upload to for "non-phone photos" if you chose that. For me the phone is the perfect app - it's about THINKING photography, not shooting a perfect photo with a perfect camera. When you have some really great shots, you can go back and get your "real" camera and take it again.

Anyhow, I have fun with it and hope you might as well.

Cheers,

Tom

[aeturnum]

Some pictures require more work to setup, but in my experience that doesn't make the picture more or less interesting. However, I think the saying, "the harder you work, the luckier you are," applies. I see many images that I'm unable to capture. How many of those images are capturable is an open question. If nothing else, having to do setup gives you more time to consider your intent and how to portray it, but that can be a double edged sword that leaves you unable to appreciate an unexpected angle on the subject.

As for the, "I could have taken that," sentiment - it's entirely true. Once the camera is in position and set correctly, anyone can hit the shutter release - it takes no training. However, getting the camera to the right place at the right time and set correctly is the trick.

[paulfish4570]

recognizing the light (or lack of it) that makes a photograph is the challenge for me. making the photo itself is no biggy ...

[Bob Michaels]

I have a friend who is acknowledged by people who count to be a good photographer. He says he simply goes places that are interesting and shoots photos of people that look interesting. He uses what aperture and shutter speed he thinks is right. Nothing is a big deal to him, he says he just takes photos.

Please see his work here. (trust me, it it worthwhile)

He tells people that he does not do anything complicated. I have shot with him and can tell you that it is not complicated to him. But, it is not anything you would ever learn studying. It is partially something you can develop with years of shooting. And it is partially something that you either have or you do not.

[RichC]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Please see his work here. (trust me, it it worthwhile)

Damn. I'll may as well just give up now...!

[taxi38]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Please see his work here. (trust me, it it worthwhile.

terrific work Bob.

[giellaleafapmu]

I bet people saying this have never worked in still life, products or food photography and seen how frustrating this can be.

You need to produce good images, you must do this, no matter what happens. Despite what many people believe unless you work at a very very high level you will have often less than perfect working condition, strict limitations of the time you can spend on location strict limitation on how you can alter what you need to shot and most of the time you will not be able to set everything perfectly in a studio and you will need to use your imagination and act fast.

You don't believe me? Try to make look great your next meal, or next time you buy something new try shooting it as if it was for advertising. You'll find it for yourself. If you keep going for a while you will also find that lenses matter little, cameras even less and that a good lighting technique, a eye for composition and depending on the specific subject something like a make-up artist are crucial.

If you try this, either as your personal exercise, as a job or somewhere between these (maybe some payed work side by side with another job, which is now very common) you will also be surprised at how much you will improve in every area of photography.

Ah, yes, I do shot "easy stuff", mostly food on location, sometimes other products.

GLF

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Please see his work here. (trust me, it it worthwhile)
And it is partially something that you either have or you do not.

I've seen more than one people with that gift.
The ability to spot intriguing compositions seemingly out of thin air.
So I agree with Bob.

(Thanks for the *very* worthwhile link, Bob)

Originally Posted by RichC

Damn. I'll may as well just give up now...!

Why?? (unless you're joking)

Excellent work like those are "nutrients" for your brain to synthesize.
You ought to feel invigorated and inspired for your next shoot.