Juor Loc: Murrieta Ca.

95% of what is written in photo forums and internet galleries is about cameras and lenses but not about photography, they should be called the camera forum, maybe they don't know it but they are more camera hobbyist than Photographers, i know you have to dominate your camera settings to be able to take photos but the camera should not take over the photo.
I would like people to write more about why they took the photo or what they were looking for in what they were photographing, what they felt. F8 1/125 ISO 200 are very cold facts, the most important information is not in the F stop.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

I think that it is a combination of all of the above. If I tell you what I was looking for, what i wanted to accomplish, etc. then the question regularly comes up about preparation details as well as the specifics of the camera/lens that enabled me to accomplish what I set out to do.

Your comments are well taken and contributors might consider adding the additional information.

Rickyb

Many photographers just take the foto because they see the art in the subject. I have just gone back to 2009 and edited some fotos which were nice then but have come alive with new software that makes them into a new creation. This software allows one to simplify the subject and see the original art that was there when the foto was made. That is why the foto was taken in the first place.

verichrome Loc: California

To an experienced photographer, camera data reveals nothing more than the lighting conditions that existed
when the image was created. Given the many combinations of aperture and exposure time, including them is
superfluous at best. However, location information, is often insufficient or missing. If nothing else, I
would like to see longitude and latitude information included with the image. Today's cameras, wristwatches,
cell phones and automobile navigation devices all have such information available. Or, lacking one of those devices,
one could always use Google Maps to get the coordinates.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

for me it was not a case of " I have an artist's eye and must capture the scene". it was more a case of seeing other's work's and saying " i'd like to do something like that ". it was also a case of " i'd like to play with equipment like that ". I will never be as talented as those I admire, but I will enjoy the hobby. I now have the funds to acquire some of the hi-end stuff. I can't get to places i'd like to visit, so I go where I can.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I think you are correct but you are also missing the point...

You are right: Photography is not about the gear or the settings.

You are wrong: a photograph is not about 'explaining' but about the 'feelings' it creates. See a sample currently being 'debated'. Most folks are missing the point.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Do you mean that when I post a picture, in addition to the technical data, you would like me to also detail what caught my eye? What motivated me to take it?
I would rather that something in my photo would catch YOUR eye, and move and motivate YOU. And if it doesn't, that's ok too, because we all see things differently and are affected in different ways.
I would like to think that my photos stand on their own and tell a story that may be a different story to each person who sees it and maybe even tell the same person a different story each time that person looks at it. Instead of writing out the story I saw and maybe locking everyone in to that singular point of view, I would rather each person come to their own personal point of view.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Ok here is what I was thinking when I took the attached pic. I wanted the mist on the water, I wanted the pic to be balanced and using the rule of 3rds ( the dock area position ) I wanted to get the grasses and the reflection in the water and I wanted to get the yellow tops of the trees. So I roamed the beach and eventually had to wade into the water.
Set up the tripod ( in the water ) and took the shot. w70.55.39 N 40.50.5

Leitz Loc: Solms

There are other sections set up for that very purpose. You will also see where not to post pictures!

Juor Loc: Murrieta Ca.

This is a reply to bull drink water.
I beg to differ, i think you can be even better than the people you admire, it's really a matter of you wanting to, and believing you can.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

It is easier to use 'quote reply'.....

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Whenever a pic interests me I always download it (if that is an option) to look at the settings. That's because the settings do make the picture. The exposure, depth of field, light or dark background, bokeh, etc. are all the direct result of settings. They are only superfluous if you let your camera choose the settings for you. Then you don't know or care about them.

A picture needs to stand on it's own. If I see a beautiful shot, what do I care about the photographer's motivation? What counts is the viewer's motivation to consider a picture a work of art.

And many great photos are the result of the photographers skill and a bit of luck. Most times most people don't achieve their motivation, but something else comes out. I think an unspoken motivation for every photograph is to capture the beauty or uniqueness of the subject.

If a person were to say I tried to catch the mist on the water with this shot. Well either they did or they didn't. If they didn't, what's the point of documenting their failure? If they did, then it's self evident. It seems that a statement of intent is basically superfluous.

Juor Loc: Murrieta Ca.

A picture should stand on it's own because of it's content not because of it's exposure or bokeh, those are just secondary to the content of the picture, they do help but they should not be the main reason for the photo.

TheStarvingArtist

I suppose that's true if the photographer sets the camera on auto and just goes for a good exposure.
I am wondering why you want longitude and latitude of a picture of a cardinal or an old barn or a football game?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

If you click "Quote Reply" we will know who and what you are responding to.