Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

We all are now or have been at one time - Ansel Adams wannerbees ... right? ... But, how many of us actually go about things with such an objective, every single day?

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

You should never wannerbee (sic) anyone else. Be yourself to the utmost of your abilities. That is the path to true enlightenment, Grasshopper.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

I carry a point and shoot which takes 'inspiration' and 'location'
I return with my DSLR with contemplation.
I come home with asperations.

Well it sounds good.

mrpentaxk5ii

If you say so Chris, ....If you say so.

mrpentaxk5ii

Good point but one problem, every time you come back to re-shoot a subject the light and weather can change so seldom do you get the same results, that could be both good and bad.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

That is often the reason I go back....!
Usually I am in a rush to get somewhere or have family with me who don't want to hang around whilst I 'fiddle'.
It also works as an aidmemoire when I am at a loose end....
sometimes just looking at the rough image allows me to re-think the shots and when it would be a good time to return.
it only works for 'local' shots - if I travel distance I pack the DSLR.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Oh, right, Master ... I shall go about my life, from now on ... with just that fulfillment as my primary objective ... thanks, Master ....

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

That sounds like a pretty good plan, G ... only thing wrong with it, though ... is you may well miss a moment in time, which might've been handled better by the other!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Aidmemoire, huh, G?

You've taught me a new word, there, G ...

Not that I don't understand it ... I do, complacently ....

But, I've never seen it, before .... interesting ....

Hey, G ... do it your way ... if it works for you ... GO WITH IT!

btbg

There are reasons for both styles. When I am at work I am often little more than a glorified point and shoot photographer. Yesterday I shot a member of the state house of representatives shaking hands with a constituent in the viewing area inside the house chambers. It was following the passing of a resolution honoring her husband posthumously. It was absolutely a point and shoot shot. Get in their face and snap away. It will run in tomorrows paper. There isn't time to previsualize when you don't even know whether or not the member of the house will come over to shake the individuals hand, let alone which side he will come from. You just wait until he gets there and fire.

On the other hand when I am on vacation and shooting landscape or nature photography for fun I may take months to plan out a shot and make sure that I am in the right location at the right time to have a chance to get the photo.

For example this summer I am planning on shooting Thor's well on the Oregon Coast. I have already planned the trip so that the appropriate tide level will occur during sunset. Now it's just a matter of being there and hoping that the weather cooperates. Already know where I want to stand, where I want to focus. What lens, what shutter speed, etc... Now it's just wait and hope that the weather cooperates because I may only get one shot at it on this trip.

That would be much more like Ansel Adams. Both approaches have their place and use. It shouldn't be an either or situation.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Yes, well, BTBG ... you are comparing Photojournalism with Art achieved in a Photographic Method .... not really the same premise ....

I was making a point between Pre-Visualization (the tried and true Ansel Adams method) and serendipitous shooting, later changed into "art" via PP ...

My contention is that these are two very different forms of photography ... with the latter not specifically dependent on any kind of Pre-Visualization ....

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Sounds like you are essentially talking about Ansel Adams vs William Eggleston.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Not at all, actually, Kris ... at least Eggleston shot real subjects ....

But, there is this new school of thought in Photography - that it is a variable medium - like Art ... with Cubic, and Blue Periods, like the old Masters ....

Photography which relies totally on adaptive processes like PP ... is NOT Photographic Art ... it's Art utilizing Photography as an initiation point ...

You could just as easily squirt paint on a canvas ... and call it art ... it allows for no conceptualization ....

We seem to have lost the ideas in Photography ... for example - rounding up a thousand naked bodies on NY's West Side ... shooting a "still" movie, etc.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Explain what you mean by real subjects. What would be a fake subject then?