photography philosophy
Jul 25, 2017 11:55:01 #
If you could not share the images you have taken, would you continue to shoot?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
Jul 25, 2017 11:56:46 #
hollyhock wrote:
If you could not share the images you have taken, would you continue to shoot?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
Of course! I shoot for me. No one else is interested.
Of course the exception is when I take pictures of people in groups to which I belong. That's not "artsy," though - just recording the event
Jul 25, 2017 11:58:49 #
Jul 25, 2017 12:02:13 #
I share very little of the pics I shoot for me (as opposed to shooting other people then giving them the pics), so I would definitely continue to shoot. I shoot for my satisfaction, not for praise.
Jul 25, 2017 12:02:27 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Of course! I shoot for me. No one else is interested.
Of course the exception is when I take pictures of people in groups to which I belong. That's not "artsy," though - just recording the event
Of course the exception is when I take pictures of people in groups to which I belong. That's not "artsy," though - just recording the event
Ditto for me.
Before the Internet I took roughly the same number of pictures I take today {perhaps 700 distinct images per year}; on rare occasion I'd put on a slide show for my family, but the taking pictures activity was for me.
Jul 25, 2017 12:03:12 #
Tikva
Loc: Waukesha, WI
Most of the time I shoot for myself. Occasionally I take pictures of family events that I show to others, but that is the exception. I'm still learning my camera. Work interferes with the amount of time I have to practice.
Jul 25, 2017 12:09:55 #
I, first and foremost, shoot to please my curiosity regarding making images the way I'd like them to appear. If they appear the way I envisioned them from the start, I share them. Prior to the internet, sharing images wasn't as easy. That still did not deter me from going out and doing photography.
I probably take less now due to sharing, as I now take time to view those people have shared with me. Additionally, I participate in discussions such as this one, or any regarding the philosophy of photography, techniques, etc.
Even without the sharing part, I'd still find accomplishing what I do satisfying. One really needs to satisfy themselves first. If one is only doing photography because others like it, eventually, the enjoyment of that "enslavement" will wane.
--Bob
I probably take less now due to sharing, as I now take time to view those people have shared with me. Additionally, I participate in discussions such as this one, or any regarding the philosophy of photography, techniques, etc.
Even without the sharing part, I'd still find accomplishing what I do satisfying. One really needs to satisfy themselves first. If one is only doing photography because others like it, eventually, the enjoyment of that "enslavement" will wane.
--Bob
hollyhock wrote:
If you could not share the images you have taken, would you continue to shoot?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
Jul 25, 2017 12:12:32 #
I shoot often just for the aesthetic exercise. But then I also photograph to share. For example trips (wife says seeing my photos helps her realize what she has experienced), gardens, people. I don't find these two purposes mutually exclusive.
Jul 25, 2017 12:12:38 #
I do more recording events than "artsy". The artsy is for me, the others are quality snapshots with rare artsy shots.
Jul 25, 2017 12:17:04 #
hollyhock wrote:
If you could not share the images you have taken, would you continue to shoot?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
Yes, I shoot for myself I don't need the approval of others.
Though I do treasure the suggestions and tips from others that I receive.
I would probably shoot just as as much and would find it just as interesting.
Jul 25, 2017 12:19:18 #
hollyhock wrote:
If you could not share the images you have taken, would you continue to shoot?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
You didn't tell us your thoughts on this.
Jul 25, 2017 12:33:07 #
Most of us took photographs long before the digital age. There was no presumed gratification of showing the photos to anyone else unless they were snapshots of family and friends. I think many/most of us would continue to do the same amount of photography if we did not show any of our photos to others.
Dennis
Dennis
Jul 25, 2017 12:42:50 #
hollyhock wrote:
If you could not share the images you have taken, would you continue to shoot?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
If 'yes', would you take fewer pictures or find photography a bit less interesting?
Yes, no, and no to answer your three questions precisely!
Personally I create images for personal satisfaction, sometimes to record things for other people, sometimes for other purposes.
For myself, the sharing aspect is not fundamentally different from when I started back in the film days. It does happen more instantaneously for some, and faster for most. It is much easier to have broad distribution of an image, but we also have much broader distribution of mediocre images that have a very transient existence.
Perhaps we should question why photographs are relevant? What is the purpose? Art? News / photo journalism ? Archival record ? Other purposes?
For myself, the measure is what I would frame and hang on my wall or display in some other way, whether mine or another photographer's. On my walls etc., most come from other people!
Jul 25, 2017 13:00:28 #
I would probably shoot less, only because I buy blank calendars which have about a 5 inch by 7 inch space for the pic and glue strips. I shoot mostly flowers at flower shows and gardens. I live in Los Angeles County, about halfway between San Diego and Santa Barbara, and at one time would go to all of the shows between both cities. The calendars are for my 3 kids and some lifelong friends. Some of the places I go to are Descanso Gardens, known for its Camellias and the Huntington Library (The original Pinky and Blue Boy pictures are here) known for a moon bridge in the Japanese Garden, and Chinese Garden. Both places are not to be missed. Also I try not to miss the Rose Parade floats which can be seen immediately after the parade and the next day. The floral displays are superb. I am 85 years old and do film, now with an old Vivitar and a classic Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1.4 and a #2 closeup filter to simulate macro. I have many (Praktica NOT Pentax) screw mount lenses that I don't use because I can't hold them steady. Sad.
Jul 25, 2017 13:28:47 #
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