Travel & Landscape Photo Predjudice (Page 2): Is it perhaps a reaction, subconscious or otherwise, to the over abundance of people in our lives? A longing for space and the dwindling...

alx Loc: NJ

Booker wrote:

I have found that among photographers in general, and among judges of competitions, there is a strong predjudice toward travel photography and Landscape Photos. A large portion of my photography is Street Photoraphy and portraits. In fact, I find landscape work to be a bit repetitive - it becomes kind of boring. To, me, this is too bad, since I personally find that people are endlessly interesting. I wonder if I am alone in this.

Is it perhaps a reaction, subconscious or otherwise, to the over abundance of people in our lives? A longing for space and the dwindling chance to experience other forms of life?

I know I have always found people in my pictures to be intruders.

This is not said to belittle you or your choice of subjects, or to imply that Street Photography is any less an art form. Merely speculating as to the psychology behind the audience and their reactions and to the prejudice you perceive.

alx

Booker

I certainly had no intention of "putting down" any genre or photographer. I was pointing out what I believe is a bias in our world of photography. I do also shoot the occasional landscape and bird myself. But I do - personally - find landscapes more repetitive than the unlimited nuance of human behavior. The travel photos that I do find more interesting are those of the local people, more than mountains and waterfalls.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I know of a Photographic Group that over 50% of them put great emphasis on the photo' of a person from the other side of the world, than a photo' of a local person. Could be some sort of snobbery about ..."Where I travelled to, to get this shot". I was a Circuit/ Club / National/ & International , Competitions Judge for over 40years. Never let this bias into my judging.

jcboy3

G Brown wrote:

Each to their own...
I can't take images of nudes - my wife objects!
I can't take images of people in general - I make them look ugly!
I can't take pictures of birds alone - too much like collecting stamps!
That leaves landscapes and buildings, boats and harbours, flowers and fungi, woodlands and wetlands, seascapes and mountains etc etc
This is what interests me. Probably why I am getting better at it too.

Go with what you are good at.

Consider the preoccupation of macro shooters with bugs. Blecchhh!

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

repleo wrote:

You think Landscape photos are repetitive? What about birding photos! It seems like 98% of the birding photos I see here on UHH are shot dead center with all the creativity of a passport photo.
Sorry - I know this will be blasphemy to a lot of people, but I just don't 'get' the attraction towards bird photography. Is it about the birds or about the photography? I don't open any post that even remotely sounds like a bird photo.

That's funny and you are right! I do bird photography and take no offense. I feel the same about travel and street photography as you do about bird photography but I still look hoping for something a little different.
PS- there is some wonderful bird photography out there that doesn't look like material for a bird identification book :)

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Booker wrote:

Actually, my concern is not with finding appropriate competitions. It is with the preoccupation with travel and wildlife biases in photography - at least in my experience.

I've had the same experience in competitions in my two camera clubs.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Booker wrote:

By the way, I've been asked, "can you tell me how to do street photography." The only answer I can give is take your camera and walk around. I guess you have to have an eye for it which is true for whatever your photo specialization is

You also need courage, something I lack. I'm not talking about Bruce Gilden, but Gary Winogrand, my hero in street photography.

Paulco2 Loc: Gettysburg PA

I'm quite sure that other people share your views on a bias towards landscape/travel photography. We all have our preferences as to what area of photography is best and judgements to the contrary we tend to view as bias. Personally, I have found the exact opposite in the juried contests in which I have participated. Landscapes and travel (my personal preference) get shorted in favor of other forms (including street photography) so I see it as bias against my favorite. It all depends on what the jurist likes, so I have started looking into the background of the jurist before I enter a contest. If I see that the jurist generally doesn't like the type of photo I plan to enter, I don't waste my time and energy to prepare an entry.

Stephan G

repleo wrote:

You think Landscape photos are repetitive? What about birding photos! It seems like 98% of the birding photos I see here on UHH are shot dead center with all the creativity of a passport photo.
Sorry - I know this will be blasphemy to a lot of people, but I just don't 'get' the attraction towards bird photography. Is it about the birds or about the photography? I don't open any post that even remotely sounds like a bird photo.

As human beings, we all tend to gravitate to what is familiar in our environs. Hence we apply our internal "likes" filters. The phrase "acquired preference" provides a glimpse as to the aspect. And there is nothing wrong with saying "I like..."

There are underlying groups that will insist on certain requirements to be followed. These are the self appointed "cadre" that exist everywhere. So... We have the whole gamut of tyros, dilettantes, technicians, artists, visionaries and mixes vying for platforms. Hence, the creation of forums, clubs, that relate to one's preferences.

An aside, some of my bird photos do "chirp".

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

G Brown wrote:

Each to their own...
I can't take images of nudes - my wife objects!
I can't take images of people in general - I make them look ugly!
I can't take pictures of birds alone - too much like collecting stamps!
That leaves landscapes and buildings, boats and harbours, flowers and fungi, woodlands and wetlands, seascapes and mountains etc etc
This is what interests me. Probably why I am getting better at it too.

Go with what you are good at.

Bill_de Loc: US

Years back I did a lot of street photography. I had one wall in my den devoted to the black and white prints. Now, any that I saved are in a box somewhere and I mostly avoid people in my photos. They wind up chasing the birds and stepping on the flowers.

The best thing about street photography is being out there taking the pictures. The pictures themselves are just an added bonus. IMHO

--

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Booker wrote:

I have found that among photographers in general, and among judges of competitions, there is a strong predjudice toward travel photography and Landscape Photos. A large portion of my photography is Street Photoraphy and portraits. In fact, I find landscape work to be a bit repetitive - it becomes kind of boring. To, me, this is too bad, since I personally find that people are endlessly interesting. I wonder if I am alone in this.

Many of us don't like to get into a situation where we are taking pictures of people - whether relatives or strangers - because of the possibility of resistance and conflict. This applies especially to family members.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Booker wrote:

Actually, my concern is not with finding appropriate competitions. It is with the preoccupation with travel and wildlife biases in photography - at least in my experience.

I have that bias because I don't want to interact with people, with strangers. In social settings, I like to take unposed shots at a distance, catch people in conversation. If they pose, that's OK.

drbilly

Are you taking pictures for judges or for yourself? I happen to enjoy taking landscape, travel and street photographs. I have found photgraphs that moved me in all subjects, as well as photographs that didn’t.

Stephan G

Bill_de wrote:

...I mostly avoid people in my photos. They wind up chasing the birds and stepping on the flowers.

--

Could be worse. The people here chase away the flowers and STOMP! on the birds. What a mess.