How Important Is Subject Matter in Photography?
May 20, 2020 08:29:15 #
mizzee
Loc: Boston,Ma
Blair Shaw Jr wrote:
For me, the best photo tells a story or reveals a truth and needs very little else. What you perceive is what you believe. Perspective coupled with imagination is a ticket to ride. So be sure to look good while you're about it
👍👍
May 20, 2020 08:30:09 #
It's psychological! My day job is in commercial photography and corporate portraiture. The clients want everything to look pristine, smooth, elegant, new, appetizing/yummy, perfect, beautiful! Ahhhhhhhhhugh #**%#%^&^**... it's enough to drive a photographer crazy! So...in my off-duty photography time, it's off to the junkyards, second-hand stores, demolition sites, and yes- sometimes an enticing garbage can or dumpster in search of "props"!
Some photographers take on what I like to call a "false ethic"...every photograph must make a profound statement, a photojournalistic record of a historical event, every image must be "relevant", the shutter must be released at the "decisive moment"...! OK- all good but not all the time. A pile of rusty junk is a static subject- it ain't gonna run away. move around, or escape- you can take all day to arrange it and you can release the shutter any time you feel like it!
Talk about "still-life"- this stuff is dead, buried, and dug up! If there is a creative or artistic element or challenge it is to render texture, creat dimensionality, practice composition, and convincing you significant other to allow you to bring this stuff into your home and actually store it there.
I am big-time into slow oxidation (rust), dilapidated wood, parts of old farming implements, and corroded car parts- those are some of my favorites.
Denoise- my foot! Grain, noise adds to the texture! Topaz textures are cool- all little gunge never hurts!
Just remember- wash your hands and don't touch your face, especially before you disinfect some of this stuff.
What with the lockdown, isolation, quarantine, etc. now is the time to check out the cellar, attic, barn, or messy closet and find some stuff and go to it!
Well- it's 8:45- time for me to go into the studio and shoot some fancy jewelry:sm25.
Some photographers take on what I like to call a "false ethic"...every photograph must make a profound statement, a photojournalistic record of a historical event, every image must be "relevant", the shutter must be released at the "decisive moment"...! OK- all good but not all the time. A pile of rusty junk is a static subject- it ain't gonna run away. move around, or escape- you can take all day to arrange it and you can release the shutter any time you feel like it!
Talk about "still-life"- this stuff is dead, buried, and dug up! If there is a creative or artistic element or challenge it is to render texture, creat dimensionality, practice composition, and convincing you significant other to allow you to bring this stuff into your home and actually store it there.
I am big-time into slow oxidation (rust), dilapidated wood, parts of old farming implements, and corroded car parts- those are some of my favorites.
Denoise- my foot! Grain, noise adds to the texture! Topaz textures are cool- all little gunge never hurts!
Just remember- wash your hands and don't touch your face, especially before you disinfect some of this stuff.
What with the lockdown, isolation, quarantine, etc. now is the time to check out the cellar, attic, barn, or messy closet and find some stuff and go to it!
Well- it's 8:45- time for me to go into the studio and shoot some fancy jewelry:sm25.
May 20, 2020 08:31:02 #
mizzee
Loc: Boston,Ma
treadwl wrote:
I think you pose two topics for discussion. Subje... (show quote)
👍👍
May 20, 2020 08:31:43 #
Gene51 wrote:
Contemplative Photography adherents say that random junk isn't necessarily random or junk. So an image can have visual qualities that hold interest or connect with viewers - contrast, color, texture, form, repetition, balance - that can create a successful image. This is mostly true for artistic expression, but doesn't quite work for commercial stuff.
Well said.
May 20, 2020 08:31:45 #
May 20, 2020 08:35:04 #
Really good work here. You are on our way to doing great stuff. Take a look at Harold Ross's stuff.
https://www.haroldrossfineart.com/ I think you will enjoy it. I have seen his work at the Mike Moats Macro Workshops. He even has workshops you can attend.
https://www.haroldrossfineart.com/ I think you will enjoy it. I have seen his work at the Mike Moats Macro Workshops. He even has workshops you can attend.
May 20, 2020 08:44:51 #
Retina
Loc: Near Charleston,SC
Fotoartist wrote:
Does a photo need to tell a story or is a pile of random junk (albeit composed) a good enough subject?
For me, is not the subject per se but your treatment of it. The main reason I took up photography, play music, and make sound recordings is to attempt to share what I find appealing about a scene, composition, or performance that I wanted to share with others. Besides, if I could not use random junk as an occasional subject I would have to leave the house.
I always enjoy your work.
May 20, 2020 08:44:57 #
May 20, 2020 08:52:53 #
May 20, 2020 09:04:46 #
Fotoartist wrote:
Does a photo need to tell a story or is a pile of random junk (albeit composed) a good enough subject?
Why was photography invented in the first place? Why was the Hubble spacecraft invented? Of course the subject matters. If you happen to see the most vivid, stunningly colorful sunset EVER, do you want to capture it in black and white or for that matter just let it slip on by? You could but what would really be the point? Anyone with a camera is out there to record that one particular moment in time that captures the attention and imagination. Subjects in life, really, hold the key to everything--what car you want, what spouse you want, where you want to go on vacation, what you want to eat, looking in a mirror to see if all that parsley is gone from your teeth or you blew out all the boogers. Subjects are ALL important and EVERYTHING has its own story to tell
May 20, 2020 09:18:58 #
mwsilvers wrote:
Many time you may not get it probably because the photographer wasn't trying to convey anything in particular.
Does anyone remember a photo from just a few years back that was of just a particular section of sky and water, no land, nothing else? It was bought for about 1 million dollars, I think. I didn't get it then and still don't, but it was important enough to the buyer.
May 20, 2020 09:26:39 #
Often I just see something and think “That looks like a picture.”
Sometimes it may tell a story, document, or just strike my fancy. I wouldn’t put on any mental shackles.
Looking at older photos, I am occasionally surprised by how good one looks and other times, wonder why I took that! But nowadays, there’s no cost to taking more.
Sometimes it may tell a story, document, or just strike my fancy. I wouldn’t put on any mental shackles.
Looking at older photos, I am occasionally surprised by how good one looks and other times, wonder why I took that! But nowadays, there’s no cost to taking more.
May 20, 2020 09:27:59 #
May 20, 2020 09:40:07 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
I can tell if I have a good shot....... Simple...... My wife tells me.
May 20, 2020 09:53:46 #
It is very simple, Photoartist:
1. Snapshots (most of the images we present over here)
2. Descriptive photography (to show the subject like we can find in the catalogues or school books)
3. Jokes
4. A communication (idea) revealed in a visual form (an idea with sometimes less importance on photo quality)
1. Snapshots (most of the images we present over here)
2. Descriptive photography (to show the subject like we can find in the catalogues or school books)
3. Jokes
4. A communication (idea) revealed in a visual form (an idea with sometimes less importance on photo quality)
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