I want to make an easily challenged statement about photography. I assert that it is so ubiquitous it is becoming passe. Ouch!

I can hear the screams of objection already, but here is my reason for the statement. Fifty or 60 years ago in my day, and certainly before that, a good photograph was the exception. I did slides with my Nikon F and friends actually came to the house wanting to see a slide show. The only explanation is that I did good (not great) photographs while they were mostly taking snap shots of their kid's birthdays (which by the way are more important today than my sunsets and waterfalls).

Today many have the talent, time, and equipment to make great photographs. Any day here I see scores of images that 50 years ago I only saw on magazine covers. And they earn a little praise, from other photographers.


Go back and recrop the 2nd image because it's leaning to the right. This will straighten the trees so they are not leaning either.

If you think I am being unfair, look at any stock photo site. If I did that regularly I might give up. Why bother if thousands produce daily thousands of better images than I do.

I know, it only has to please me, it has intrinsic value, it isn't the product, its the process, it will help me see, even if no one else ever looks at them, its not the image, its the experience......of course it is :)

I submit that a photograph is not worth a 1000 words any longer BUT maybe a 100 words will make a photograph exceptional. And that is my point. Share the sizzle as well as the steak. Include the story. Not aperture and shutter speed, but what makes the image significant or important.

Let me see if you agree. I have included two random pretty, but decidedly not exceptional photographs, with much that can be criticized in either. But let's see if 100 words adds to their interest. You be the judge.

The first is taken on the cliff above the San Juan River, near Mexican Hat, Utah. In fact, the Mexican Hat formation is behind me (How is that as a photo descriptor!! :) )

A. L. Raplee had a cabin on the river below (37.1767, -109.8475), but he ignored the warning of Indians that the river flooded. The rock walls of his cabin stayed for years, and provided temporary shelter for many, but he moved to nearby Bluff after he was flooded out. In the background you see the Raplee Monocline, so memory of his short lived residence lives on. (Exactly 100 words :) )

The second photo is of the stage stop (44.1151, -120.1556) near Post in the Oregon outback. Evidence of the old stage road is nearby. As an interesting side note, the stage stop and stage road were on the 1905 route of the first transcontinental auto race won by an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile named Old Scout. (only 57 words).

Dave
The Old Man

Nice discussion, thank you. My two cents worth here is I like to look at photos that tell a story, not still life - please everyone, no offense intended.
The first culling of my own photos starts with selecting the few out of a shoot that I think actually tell a "stand alone" story, not remind me of the story unfolding at the time. Sometimes this is hard because every photo of my grandchildren tells a story, not.
Then after a while go back and cull again. It amazes me how sometimes that almost marginal photo selected in the beginning turns out to seem to be the best causing me to repeat the process from the start.

I want to make an easily challenged statement about photography. I assert that it is so ubiquitous it is becoming passe. Ouch!

I can hear the screams of objection already, but here is my reason for the statement. Fifty or 60 years ago in my day, and certainly before that, a good photograph was the exception. I did slides with my Nikon F and friends actually came to the house wanting to see a slide show. The only explanation is that I did good (not great) photographs while they were mostly taking snap shots of their kid's birthdays (which by the way are more important today than my sunsets and waterfalls).

Today many have the talent, time, and equipment to make great photographs. Any day here I see scores of images that 50 years ago I only saw on magazine covers. And they earn a little praise, from other photographers.

If you think I am being unfair, look at any stock photo site. If I did that regularly I might give up. Why bother if thousands produce daily thousands of better images than I do.

I know, it only has to please me, it has intrinsic value, it isn't the product, its the process, it will help me see, even if no one else ever looks at them, its not the image, its the experience......of course it is :)

I submit that a photograph is not worth a 1000 words any longer BUT maybe a 100 words will make a photograph exceptional. And that is my point. Share the sizzle as well as the steak. Include the story. Not aperture and shutter speed, but what makes the image significant or important.

Let me see if you agree. I have included two random pretty, but decidedly not exceptional photographs, with much that can be criticized in either. But let's see if 100 words adds to their interest. You be the judge.

The first is taken on the cliff above the San Juan River, near Mexican Hat, Utah. In fact, the Mexican Hat formation is behind me (How is that as a photo descriptor!! :) )

A. L. Raplee had a cabin on the river below (37.1767, -109.8475), but he ignored the warning of Indians that the river flooded. The rock walls of his cabin stayed for years, and provided temporary shelter for many, but he moved to nearby Bluff after he was flooded out. In the background you see the Raplee Monocline, so memory of his short lived residence lives on. (Exactly 100 words :) )

The second photo is of the stage stop (44.1151, -120.1556) near Post in the Oregon outback. Evidence of the old stage road is nearby. As an interesting side note, the stage stop and stage road were on the 1905 route of the first transcontinental auto race won by an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile named Old Scout. (only 57 words).

Dave
The Old Man

Well Dave, I like both pictures. I was never into history so the words did not make me think better or worse of the pictures. Without the words the second one let's my imagination run wild.

This might go back to when I took a few photography classes in college. We were taught that a photograph must stand on its own, and weren't even allowed to use captions.

I guess in my mind you have it backwards. A photo can be used to enhance the written word, but not the other way around. Not saying I'm right, or even if there is a right or wrong. I have no control over how my mind works.

---

What do you want from your photography? Capture a moment in time, a memory, somehow express an emotion, win a contest, tell a story? It matters, if you want to make a living or "win" in the online parade of over saturated one ups man ship type of images it's tough! My notion is pretty simple, do what you like and enjoy. When I see an image I like I try not to compare in my mind if it's better than what I do, (every one's photos seem to look better than mine] but try to appreciate the mood and impact of the photo and learn what was done to convey that. These days the small anonymous landscapes that keep me entertained.

This will be more than 100 words, and I hope less than a 1000.
Today alone there will be more photos taken than there were in the entire history of film photography. Everyone is a photographer and is eager to show off their "skills". Ansel Adams once said the last thing the world needs is another perfectly exposed photograph. As I look over the daily offering of images here on the Hog his words ring true in my mind. Photographs should inspire, lift the soul, be unique. Sadly, most are not. They are simply taken by someone who arrived at a scene, STOOD (most photos are taken by someone standing up and holding a camera at eye level) there snapping away for a moment and then left with what they think is a National Geographic cover shot. The modern camera is an awesome tool when placed in the hands of someone who really knows how to use it and has the creative genius to actually see what is before them.

Your photos are beautiful. They are faithful renditions of places I have never seen, nor am I likely to ever see them. They are technical masterpieces and I would happily attach a comment that say well done or attach the emoji of a thumbs up. They are certainly better than most images shown here on the HOG. But for me they do not speak to the soul, they don't make me want to look again and again. They are not unique.

My mouth (in this case my fingers) often get me in trouble. I do not mean to offend. You strike me as a philosopher and this was meant as a philosophic exchange. I'm sure you like your images. In the end, that is all that matters. Thanks for creating this thread.

Larry

This will be more than 100 words, and I hope less than a 1000.
Today alone there will be more photos taken than there were in the entire history of film photography. Everyone is a photographer and is eager to show off their "skills". Ansel Adams once said the last thing the world needs is another perfectly exposed photograph. As I look over the daily offering of images here on the Hog his words ring true in my mind. Photographs should inspire, lift the soul, be unique. Sadly, most are not. They are simply taken by someone who arrived at a scene, STOOD (most photos are taken by someone standing up and holding a camera at eye level) there snapping away for a moment and then left with what they think is a National Geographic cover shot. The modern camera is an awesome tool when placed in the hands of someone who really knows how to use it and has the creative genius to actually see what is before them.

Your photos are beautiful. They are faithful renditions of places I have never seen, nor am I likely to ever see them. They are technical masterpieces and I would happily attach a comment that say well done or attach the emoji of a thumbs up. They are certainly better than most images shown here on the HOG. But for me they do not speak to the soul, they don't make me want to look again and again. They are not unique.

My mouth (in this case my fingers) often get me in trouble. I do not mean to offend. You strike me as a philosopher and this was meant as a philosophic exchange. I'm sure you like your images. In the end, that is all that matters. Thanks for creating this thread.

Larry