bob7fred

Yes, point taken. But, on the other hand, a pro would go to “Jellystone,” drive and hike till he found a high mountain meadow with a morning moose. Then find several low spots, and ridge spots, decide which is best, come back early next morn before the moose, and take many pics. Most people, don’t have that time, they’re with family, while driving through, they see Yogi, take the best they can, and are happy, with no intent on posting on UHH, or any where. So yes, if one can afford time to spend time to compose the shot, that’s great, most don’t. But it would be nice.

Eric2018 Loc: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Well put.
There is a difference between "seeing" and observing or looking. Once we learn how to see, all sorts of interesting images present themselves to us out of seemingly mundane surroundings. And we are better able to compose the image we want.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

It is true, you can't teach talent, it is something that is created and nurtured in a person, often from their environment. It is a nice thing to talk about, it makes most people feel wonderful, which is social and has that warm fuzzy feeling to it. Then there artists, those who are creative and they who truly don't care because to them it is like breathing, just have to breath and create.

Asked about creativity and the act of being creative, yes it is about seeing. Pressed for an example I often explain it as a moment in time when reality collapses. I was in Death Valley, Zabriskie Point. I was using a view camera, it was set up and so I went under the dark cloth. As I viewed the image on the ground glass I saw the image, of course I focused. I came out from under the dark cloth and viewed the scene. I then shot a Polaroid. I held the Polaroid up and viewed the scene and the Polaroid side by side. The only difference was that I could turn the Polaroid upside down, while the real scene I could not turn upside down.

I stopped there, put the camera away and drove up to Dante's View, left the camera in the car, sat down on a large rock and considered what had just happened. The world/reality had not changed. Photography was the same as when I put the camera in the car at a motel that morning after breakfast. Nothing had changed, nothing but my perception. I had changed. Change happens in the blink of your eye, but it will never change unless you are open to change. All the books and stories that you hear see or feel will never change you until you are open to change. I know, it's an old story, that is true. Like the joke that goes "How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? None, the light bulb must want to change."

Photography never changes, but photographers do change, they stop being photographers because the change.

Bill_de Loc: US

One of the best threads seen around in quite a while, Informative text and beautiful images. Well done William.

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RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Sorry again, but this "previsualization" business was around before Ansel. Consider the camera work of Englishman, Peter Henry Emerson, who worked in the 19th century.

phv Loc: Goleta, California

Very enjoyable post, and you make some very important points!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Good conversation resulted!
👍😁

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

After a thread such as this, I again wish, that by some sort of legerdemain, I could get some of the old hands who post on this site together in a round table situation for an easy going discussion of not only photography matters, but life in general.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

You got a bargain. They will help you see things you aren’t accustomed to seeing, and your vision for your photography will grow.There are other photography gurus who address the concepts Patterson addresses, but I found his writing style and the integration with images to be inspiring and worth re-reading.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Just purchased one of Freeman Patterson's books, "Photography of Natural Things", on EBay.