Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right! When I want a quick shot of something, I lift the camera and shoot, with minimal processing. Sometimes, I want a "nice" shot, so I take the time and use the gear and processing I need to get the result I want.

It's like buying a car to drive around town vs buying a luxury car for long trips.

br3kes Loc: Tarentum PA

LOL, Billyspad!

Thank you all for your input! Different opinions help to understand it all!

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Define still life... I've seen definitions, from including all inanimate objects to all living but non-moving objects like fruits, flowers, etc.
For me the definition of "still life" is my grandson after he falls asleep!


When it comes to people-photography, I don't think there is ever a time that you can recapture.
Even hoping to get the 'Perfect one' can be influenced by you, the photographer. You have to be aware of what's going on around you and try to anticipate what might be worthy of a photo, have your camera at the ready with the correct settings for the environment so that all you need to do is focus.


sooo much gear, for me consists of having a suitable lens on the camera (for events with a lot of activity, like birthday parties and backyard barbecues, that would be my 12-40mm lens; for school Christmas concert or granddaughter horse-back riding, that would be my 40-150mm lens). Flash mounted on camera (not the pop-up), but not necessarily used. Extra batteries, SD cards and Lenspen in my cardigan pocket, or when I don't wear a cardigan, in a fanny pack.
When going on holidays, or if I don't know what to expect, I take my gear divided over two messenger-style bags, and find it easy to quickly repack for whatever photography I anticipate.


Sometimes I cannot take my camera bag(s); for those occasions I have a small pocket camera in my handbag. I don't really like it that much because it doesn't have a viewfinder, however I can take very good photos with it.
Unfortunately, "snapshot" has the connotation of being a photograph of low quality and although they will not often say so outright, I know of many photographers who look down on snapshots. A good friend was one of those, till I asked to critique two of her "professional level" photos... she has a new appreciation for "snapshots" and has worked hard to improve her professional level photos.
And as has been said before: the best camera is the one you have with you!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

You can see it as a still life portrait.When we click the shutter, we are capturing a fraction of a second and FREEZING time to remember.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

The whole country doesn't need to get back there. The whole country is already there with their cell phones and tablets, with selfie sticks, with no flash at all - or just a single LED spitting out a spike from the back of the phone. Most here on UHH are of a relatively small minority who would carry a bunch of equipment to a picnic. There's also tons of kids playing $180 guitars through $99 amps in the world while there are very few picky professionals playing $5000 guitars through $12,000 boutique handmade tube amplifiers.

At a picnic I may take a dSLR and a shoe mounted big flash with a diffuser and set it on fill but that's about it. Now I'd take my Nikon 1 mirrorless with wide angle zoom and that's about it. Then I may enhance those shots a bit with post editing when I get home.

For every thing there is a time and place. Props, lighting systems, multiple strobes, full-frame dSLRs, and an assistant don't belong next to a tray full of roast pork with happy plump flies sitting on it.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

It's the difference between taking a picture and making a picture, call it the creative process. My own creations seem to just happen as opposed to being planned. Others are much more methodical and proficient. But I still get some dandies. You just have to recognize when the creative juices flowed but you didn't know they were flowing.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I don't necessarily disagree with your post but maybe to emphasize your words, with photography, hunting and some other pursuits, those people who know what they are doing seem to be, "luckier" than others. Someone with a pocket sized point and shoot camera can be driving to the store for a gallon of milk and happen to see a beautiful bull elk on the side of the road. One picture later that person could own a prize winning wildlife shot that will be on the cover of a magazine such as, "Outdoor Life". That is luck. On the other hand, a person who scouts for elk, knows where some will be at a given time and place will have more opportunity to take a wider range of photos. That is maybe a small bit of luck but more a lot of skill and knowing your subject.

Dennis

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

There certainly is an element of luck in photography, but the best photographers are able to put themselves in positions to take advantage of it when it comes. If you run into a situation with the potential to make a great photograph, you still have to have the skill to capture it in the best way. And that can include having the equipment to do the job.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

We agree.

Dennis

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Juices flowing when you don't know they are gets more common with age...

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Luck is often at the crossroads of planning and hard work. At least that has been my experience.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I'll join this thought too!

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Jim, there's nothing in the public reports on the Kent State shooting that link Mary Ann Vecchio and Jeffrey Miller together in a relationship. She was a 14 year old runaway, he was a 20 year old Kent State student.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Yep, that's right.