JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I am a generalist and just plain enjoy taking photos. Some outings or times are specific, like Tanzania for animals, but some scenery too. At family gatherings, I take portraits and group shots. Lots of flowers and plants and some specific outings for birds, Like Great Blue Herons, Eagles, Geese and Sandhill Cranes

Sometimes I shoot to try techniques or specific technical items.

All for my enjoyment.

User ID

BBQ sauce.

As to photographing strangers, don’t let the cult of the stealthy candid pix intimidate you. It’s not a bad cult, but cultishly it’s kinda narrow minded and exclusive.

I no way do I strive to be stealthy. Sometimes it’s obvious that my subject had no idea the picture was happening but I use street festivals and events as “cover” so peeps are not suspicious of my motives.

Most of my pix of strangers are collaborative. The viewer might assume these are pix of friends.

If the only aesthetic you imagine for your peeps pix is the look of the stealthily snared moment, aka “slice of life”, and you strongly feel unsuited to that working mode, try imagining some other look and mode for peeps pix involving strangers.

The vintage “slice of life” look is just another passé cliche forever dragged forward into the present by imitative worshippers of the original masters.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

As an amateur, I shoot whatever piques my interest, of course, but there are certain themes that dominate. Three things I've never been very attracted to are what I call The Three Bs: bugs, beasts, and birds; no judgement, just little to zero interest for me there. As an undergraduate back in the stone age, I shot a lot of attractive coeds; I got a lot of pretty good images, and then it dawned on me that it was like shooting fish in a pan, and I haven't done people since unless pressed by family. Back when I had but one lens, an 85mm 1.8, and a friend introduced me to extension tubes, I fell hard into very closeup, but very rarely "true" macro, and that has left me with an eye that frequently goes for the detail. When I got into the wilderness, backpacking, etc., I got into landscape pretty big, but over the years my wilderness travel has declined markedly, and with it the landscapes, although I have done some local shots of less than spectacular but hopefully still interesting landscapes, and I'm hoping to hit Yellowstone & Death Valley in September, and there are sunsets at the beach when we vacation there. When we get to New York City for a few days, I become fascinated by architecture, and there are a few relatively local attractions in that category too. My wife is a cum laude horticulturist, and she has some thirty-some odd gardens, so naturally I have shot a lot of botanicals. In the last few years, that has narrowed down a bit to "wabi-sabi," or withering botanicals. Most recently, her grasses have attracted my interest a great deal, as I seek to make images inspired by a hunt for pure form - or, pretty pure form anyway. Every once in a while, I wander back in time through my catalogue - I have stubbornly refused to follow the oft cited advice to cull your non-keepers (back in the day, I saved the slides accidentally exposed with the lens cap on!) - and stumble across an old image that calls out to be processed, as I did just this morning; that's not shooting, of course, and the subject matter is more random.

Lucius Loc: Denver, Colorado

I a member of a photo club and each month we have compition. At the begining of the year, a list of what the subject is for each competition is given out. Generally three months are open and other are spefic subjects.

This month it is nature. Last month it was artificial light.

I joined, so that I would have to get out and use my camera on a regular basis

Lucius Loc: Denver, Colorado

I a member of a photo club and each month we have compition. At the begining of the year, a list of what the subject is for each competition is given out. Generally three months are open and other are spefic subjects.

This month it is nature. Last month it was artificial light.

I joined, so that I would have to get out and use my camera on a regular basis

Alyn McConnaha Loc: Lebanon, IN

Jerry: You and I seem to think alike; always interested in what you write.
Alyn
a 90-year old HOOSIER

Ik Shah Loc: London, UK

I generally shoot landscapes and now trying flowers and Macro.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Some would call the kinds of portraits you posted as passé cliches. People that shoot grand vista landscapes are also shooting what some would call passé cliches. Most of what we shoot could fall into that category. We’re not coming up with anything new. I think it comes down to trying to capture impactful images no matter the genre.

srt101fan

“Anything and everything”; well, let’s see….

Strictly amateur. Early on got interested in all kinds of photography. Started in the “olden days", black & white film all the way. Lots of shots of my young kids. Occasionally pictures of pets, and zoo and backyard critters (no birds-in-flight, never had the lens for it). Some people photos (in addition to family) but wasn’t really comfortable with it. Lots, and lots of travel pics. Some table-top photography and close-ups. Never big on (read: “good at”) flower pics. Tried a few nudes just for the hell of it. Love to photograph in museums. Some crazy stuff (Joey Heatherton – some of you guys might remember her - came to town; I decided to play paparazzi!) Lots of ship pictures, including some tall ships. Architectural details. Pictures to document events, pictures to document progress on projects, pictures to show "places". Lately I’ve become more aware of shapes, lines, and abstract forms, an endless source of subjects….

“Anything and everything”? I guess you could say that. A jack of all trades, master of none. But looking back, I realize my photographic journey was not a quest to become a “good” photographer; it was a personal journey of discovery and contemplation. A photographic diary, if you wish. Along the way achievement of technical excellence took a back seat, subject was and is the primary concern. I guess I'm a picture-taker....

Maxpop404 Loc: Maryland

At my young age of “82” I shoot anything that moves or stands still!

Jay Drew Loc: Boise, Id.

Wow! Larry What an interesting post. I've cut & pasted it into my word processor, so I will be able to read it at later times. Thanks, Jay

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

A little bit of everything but prefer street genre by far.

Don

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

People of interest, public affairs, fairs, festivals, autos, historic buildings, trains and train stations, holiday happenings and high school reunion pics just to name a few. I do not shoot birds.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Primarily, landscapes. Additionally, when something interesting attracts my attention.

I also like producing artist nude photographs.
—Bob

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Off the top of my head I can’t think of any artists I’d like to see in the nude.