photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

DB, Your comments certainly are valued and make sense.

I took the discussion to be on another level. As a fine art photographer I would never sit and wait to make an image that would look like Ansel Adams "half dome", I have shot Half Dome as a reminder for myself. Different goal, different shot.

There are many people who try to get the same shot, at the same time and will even ask, what where your numbers? In reality, those numbers depending only on the lighting conditions at the time the image was made. This is the type of thing I took the question to mean.

DB Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Photocat you're absolutely right. I believe the outcome one is hoping to capture is up to each individual. Wanting to duplicate is natural instinct. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I often ask for the "numbers" when I see a shot that captures my attention. Not for the desire to recreate the same one, but to possibly recreate the essence of the photos in work of my own. I'm a beginner so its a learning tool for me. Knowing the numbers for me gives me a starting point before I experiment. I enjoy the differing views on threads in this forum. It opens my eyes to different possiblilites... thanks

William Loc: Mississippi

If you are God then you saw the original, after that everone should feel free to make their Zerox and behold it out to the world, as in any art the preceding generation has already beat you out. So it's up to the individual to set his rank and I believe every scene I ever shot was a first time experience for me, including everytime I can revisit my same ole lame locations for a good ole reshoot. Why be self-centered as the good Earth has always been there for the billion x 4.8 years of existance, when the average exposure is a 60th of any second of existance. But to see an original moment of time is the best time to see a moment.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

No doubt, it can be helpful. One can study the depth of field, the sense of sharpness, etc. However, if someone sets those same numbers in their camera and the light is not the same, it's all over.:)

William Loc: Mississippi

Why count, is the number of exposures that one can make finite? Well guess I'm good for a least the national debt, so looks good from here but not there.Why worry about who and what gives, as all I can do is take what nature and my own forth demension can supply. The mind will never mind. Now to more important issues as football season is here and I really gotta pull for my " Nads" this year. They are the only team I ever saw that both ends of the feild would give the cheer ... GO...NADS, everybody loves their gonads and can support the team with all their respect and love too.

gessman Loc: Colorado

This conversation is warming up nicely. Interesting the comment about "finding other's tripod leg holes." Let me revisit our local photographer who snowshoes and camps in a snow caves to get "those special pictures" I mentioned earlier. He recently spent some great amount of time putting his tripod in those holes left by William Henry Jackson when he came out west with Albert Bierstadt and the rest of the survey team. He did a remarkable job and it was hailed as a monumental success and sold like crazy. Jackson's shots were in B&W, naturally, and our local man's was in color. It offered quite a contrast but in reality, most of the shots, especially those with structures in them when Jackson shot them, structures now gone, yielded shots I would walk right on by on any given day never raising my camera. While it was an intriguing study in how things change in just over 100 years, it otherwise made little or no sense to me. Which raises another question in parenthesis for this subject - can we truly argue with success without it looking like "sour grapes."

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

The question I ask about your local guy. Did he pass this off as his idea, or he wanted to re-create the images of Jackson and hung them with that intent.

It is doubtful I would be interest in either the project or purchase, but I do believe for me at least, if he did, good for him. At least he is giving the orginal credit.

The other reality, I know when I take a group of people out to the same area, there will be several images that will be very similar, but it is also more common to see just how different the results can be. We used to do shows like this all the time.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

William, I am clueless who are the NADS

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I find that when I am traveling the pictures that mean the most to me are the ones that have a personal element in them. I don't care if a million pictures have been taken from the top of Yosemite falls, it is the picture, while not technically correct, that I took while there, with my family of them climbing the trail that are dear to me. The one that was underexposed of us all standing in front of the upper falls. The one of the little waterfall we all had to navigate. The ones that when I look back at them bring the emotions back.
Did I study some of Adams work before I went. You bet, did I try to copy him? Couldn't if I wanted to. But I could learn from what he did and some of what I took away from his work improved mine.
It never hurts to study the masters, but we all need to be ourselves and shoot for ourselves.
Thank goodness I don't have to make a living with photography and maybe my perspective would be different if I had to.
Just my two cents worth.

gessman Loc: Colorado

His book was about 11x14, landscape naturally, and it was set up so Jackson's shot was on the left side and the local guy's on the right. It's sole purpose was to convey and contrast the images side by side. It was very interesting and he sure did a good job, never passing his role off as being anything other than that.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

The copy cat syndrome is not new or unique to the photo industry. Switch between local TV channels during the news sometime. Magazine publishing is no different. Something in the wind causes writers /assignment editors to suddenly pay attention to a certain topic or location and away they go. It has to be some influence outside the assignment desk that causes this phenomenon. The the lead times are months ahead of the publishing date and sometimes the photos can be a year old before they are included in an article.

I used to be impressed with certain photogs especially Nat Geo until I started traveling to some of the same exotic places they published in the mags. Do not mis-read that as not having the utmost respect for pro photo journalists, however...

I've had nearly the same emotional reaction in each place I've landed outside the U.S. WOW! This place is real! or OMG where's my camera I've got to start shooting right now! The point is that some places are simply "target rich environments". India, Brazil, Thailand, Japan, China, Alaska, Utah, Russia, Germany, France etc-etc. All unique, colorful and interesting and very easy to capture great and unique photos. All low hanging fruit and when you are in the photo selling biz you'll take any fruit you can get when the deadline is looming.

Ansel Adams didn't travel very far from home if you notice. I'm not sure even he would have done a great job "covering" four countries in a ten day trip the way some Nat Geo photogs have to do occasionally.

Magazines are all about selling paper. Story ideas come from a lot of different sources. I suspect that many times publishers purposely take a "myopic" view of story suggestions just so they don't end up looking like copy cats but in the end they end up looking exactly like copy cats.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Well said and very informative - casts a new and valid light on the subject. Thanks.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

One reason why far off places seem more interested. We pay little attention to what we know. It is just there and it becomes just part of background noise.

Interesting assignment. Take 100 images in your bathroom, can't go outside the door.

Or walk from your doorway to the sidewalk and try that.

gessman Loc: Colorado

You're right - it's that "new and different" thing for us that excites us and renews our vigor and interest.

Ray Bullock Loc: Redding, CA

Interesting subject. I think seeing great photos gives us all inspiration to go out and maybe even copy, if possible.

At least for me as a very basic amateur. But I agree if pros imitate pros.....that is another matter.

I like just going out at times and shooting things I might see every day and take for granted. We are all surrounded by wonderful things. We just have to SEE them.

Good topic Gessman!!