Much of what I see: Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a...

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

gvarner wrote:

Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation.

Hmmm..
How would one differentiate a scenic from documentary when one had to travel to get the scenic shot?
Special trip, NOT on vacation?
Would non-documentary be shots of things that don't interest the photographer?
I suppose every shot is a "documentary" of some sort then, even the Milky Way as one would be documenting the sky as it appeared.

Bill_de Loc: US

gvarner wrote:

Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation.

I assume the purpose of this thread is just to make conversation, but:

How many of the sections do you look at. There are close to 50, some have pictures.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/all-section-list

The People section is a winner.

Before making an observation, one must open their eyes!

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

gvarner, a quick look at your posting history indicates you haven't shared any photos for over a year. I hope that is not due to health issues as seems to be the case for many of us.

Whether in Photo Gallery or the volunteer-managed specialty sections, there is still much to learn and be inspired by on this photography forum.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

gvarner wrote:

Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation.

Most of my photography over the past 60 years has been documentary. Most for me, but quite a bit for work. I post very little of my personal activity, presuming there would be little or no interest among the crowd here. It should go without saying that I cannot share what I do for work...previously because of intellectual property restrictions, now because I cannot post images of students.

Now that I am trying to develop a more "artistic" vision, most of what I am doing is just me learning things. That stuff just gets shared with my trusted teachers. When I come up with something worth sharing, I'll upload an unfinished "proof" here.

So yes, I expect that you are at least basically correct.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

gvarner wrote:

Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation.

And your point?
We should all do fine art photos?
Most here do "Documentary" as they are preserving for themselves memories of past travels or events.
Nothing wrong with this as it is one of the main reasons photography exists is to "Document" something as it looks at the time the photo was taken from flowers to birds to mountains or skyscrapers etc.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Linda From Maine wrote:

gvarner, a quick look at your posting history indicates you haven't shared any photos for over a year. I hope that is not due to health issues as seems to be the case for many of us.

Whether in Photo Gallery or the volunteer-managed specialty sections, there is still much to learn and be inspired by on this photography forum.

Very insightful Linda.
Thank you for your measured response as I was taken aback by the comment.
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I ended my comment with "This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation." I guess I should have added that my comment was not made as a NEGATIVE criticism. Too many the responders took it as such. Seems to be a lot of thin skin out there. I posted a few photos awhile back as an example of some of what I thought were my better ones, photos that I admit were lucky catches. They may be an incentive to some or maybe not. On this forum, I enjoy finding photos where the photographer has put effort into creating a worth image that gives inspiration to others. Making a photo is much different than taking a photo. I do too much of the latter.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

gvarner wrote:

I ended my comment with "This is not meant as... (show quote)

I just took this photo, nothing else.
Nature did the work, thank you nature I will make sure to give proper credit in the description.
I guess this and others of documents like it do not inspire.
Inspiration comes in many forms and venues.
I do not like a lot of manipulated work but know great effort went into manipulating the photo etc. and good for the person that did it. It is just not my thing.
Here is a second manipulated version, does this manipulation inspire more?
To some perhaps but not all.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

gvarner wrote:

Much of what I see on UHH is what I would call documentary photography, people documenting their travels and things that interest them. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just my observation.

It does often seem to be viewing night at Uncle Bobs after he returns from his trip to Peoria. But almost no one except hardwired professionals take pictures of things which do not interest them. And while I am often harsh in my criticism, I also appreciate the approximately 2% that are truly interesting. Let's just not show any more pictures of Aunt Emma peering at the wonderful bargain on the table of the bazaar.

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

cahale wrote:

It does often seem to be viewing night at Uncle Bobs after he returns from his trip to Peoria. But almost no one except hardwired professionals take pictures of things which do not interest them. And while I am often harsh in my criticism, I also appreciate the approximately 2% that are truly interesting. Let's just not show any more pictures of Aunt Emma peering at the wonderful bargain on the table of the bazaar.

I find the second photo ghastly. I guess I'm a "close to natural" guy.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Architect1776 wrote:

I just took this photo, nothing else. br Nature di... (show quote)

LOVE the first!!!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

cahale wrote:

It does often seem to be viewing night at Uncle Bobs after he returns from his trip to Peoria. But almost no one except hardwired professionals take pictures of things which do not interest them. And while I am often harsh in my criticism, I also appreciate the approximately 2% that are truly interesting. Let's just not show any more pictures of Aunt Emma peering at the wonderful bargain on the table of the bazaar.

My sentiments too. One of the pros in our photo club took issue with the instruction to always open the critique session with a positive and not a negative, his opinion being that positive strokes on a poor effort don’t always make for better photography.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Longshadow wrote:

LOVE the first!!!

I do as well.
Just making a comment on letting nature create and it looks stunning with no manipulation.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

cahale wrote:

It does often seem to be viewing night at Uncle Bobs after he returns from his trip to Peoria. But almost no one except hardwired professionals take pictures of things which do not interest them. And while I am often harsh in my criticism, I also appreciate the approximately 2% that are truly interesting. Let's just not show any more pictures of Aunt Emma peering at the wonderful bargain on the table of the bazaar.

I submit that it all depends upon what one perceives to be documentary photography. By some definition every photograph taken is documenting something, for better or for worse. When I hear the term documentary photography, I think of those photographs intended for use by newspapers, magazines, instructional publication, police departments, etc, where they are as true to the subject as possible, and not manipulated for artistic purpose. And, I suppose, in some sense what I saw and did on my vacation is documentation, at least of a sort. It all depends upon individual response, as so much does, in reality.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City