Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

In the article Jane tried to shoot her own photos but couldn't master them. They with her first husband a cinema guy they struggled
to get good shots of the chimps etc. The bottom line is whoever tried in stills and video it was never good enough for National Geo.
I find myself with my experience as a creative and now a mostly video shooter struggling with camera controls and situations.
I love the work and editing. I am pretty good at Photoshop and extract stills from my HDVideo. I wonder if others here have
simular experiences.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Go with what you know....generally works - The subjects (outside of photography) that you excell at gives you the edge - once you screw down to what, it is, about that subject that facinates or intrigues you.

Listen to people who give talks about things they do....they get right to the heart of their subject - not a bland all encompassing overview.

The trick, is in photographing this 'facinating bit' exactly as only you can you find it. That is the edge!!!

In photography you have the ability to capture the split second something happens, The exact lighting to show something at its most unusual, etc But only if you know your subject intimately and have the patience to keep on practising until all becomes revealed.

I am interested in landscapes first and last....I want to know all about its history and find 'evidence' to photograph of its hidden story or beauty. I am rubbish at portraits of people....so what! Video hasn't been used on my camera...

If you have the passion...you will not only learn the skills to photograph it. People will admire 'your passion' in your images...You cannot be 'all things to all people'.

The camera and computer are tools - mastering them makes you a camera and computer person not necessarily a photographer. As for being published.....? if that is your only goal....become a 'Celebrity'. It seems any fool can....and it looks like most don't even have to have skills or even basic education!

have fun

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Link to article?

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Jane Goodall's own photos were not good enough for Nat. Geo?
I did not know this.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I cannot find the article you are discussing.

Bill_de Loc: US

I once had a photo in a National Geographic.

It was a picture of my dog that I used as a bookmark.

--

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Just google it. I get the print version.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I did. There were many links to various pieces about Jane Goodall. They were accessible only to subscribers, and, in addition, none of the summaries made reference to Goodall's problems in getting good enough photographs. What was the exact title of the article?

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

To clarify the article is in the latest National Geographic issue October 2017. She is on the cover of the magazine.
The making of an icon becoming Jane. As far as I know she was never really a photographer. She was very light in the science of animals.
Louis S. B. Leakey a famous paleoanthropologist pushed her career in the jungle. He admitted he was in love with her. He was 30 years older.
Her first husband Hugo was a cinema guy and got some good footage. They were annoyed with Geo who asked for staged photographs
with lists from the home office. It appears from this article that although she was quite the sexy fashionable girl and that helped her career.
Jane was pushed to do appearances by Geo and became famous. She went on to write many books and create studies of the creatures.
I have read 2 of her books and she is a gift to the world. She is still working hard to help us understand our world.
After reading this article I realized it was about the young Jane had to play the fame game to get support for her work and message.
And acquiring imagery was quite a challenge.

Sorry but i think I am off subject. I was saying that creatives who create photography, film and video go through so many technical
and skill growth in their creations. You stumble and then recover and try again.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

When you think about it Hugo's footage was much more valuable than any still photograph could be. It took movies to document her work. Still photos wouldn't have done it.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I will read it in the public library.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I think the basics of photgraphy and video are fairly easy to master. Editing takes a bit more time. It's difficult to produce a captivating still shot and even more so to create a captivating video. But I don't think it has to do with the technical aspects. Those are fairly easy to learn. It's all about the photographer's eye and artistry, the content and the presentation. And the bar for video is incredibly high because of easy access to movies. How do you compete with a film by Woody Allen or Stanley Kubrick. Basically you can't. How many technically perfect movies have you started to watch and turned off because the script/ acting/ subject matter wasn't interesting?

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I agree with your completely The actions of the animals was the fascination.
One was using a tool to get food etc. I am now much more video in my latent career.
Still like beautiful stills. Thanks for the post.

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

Thanks for posting. I saw the video showing a chimp using a small branch to pull termites out of their nest and was fascinated. I was pretty disheartened, I think it was a Nat Geo video, of a female chimp and her daughter murdering another female’s newborn! Even if I was a skilled cinematographer, I don’t think I could have captured that horrible scene.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I had forgotten the very important effect on Jane when the chimps killed a local group of chimps.
This aggression seemed to be natural for the species. Asking the questions are we humans the same?
Jane was so effected by this incident. It changed her in many ways. Her questioning the Holocaust
in her book stuck with me. It has always stuck with me how could this have happened.