Timeless Photo (Page 3): Most of us try for timeless but rarely, if ever, succeed. Often the success is just "accidental". By that I mean we have the camera and the skills to use it to...

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Architect1776 wrote:

How many here make timeless photos and how many make snapshots that will die with them?
I mean die by no one will care nor cull through the thousands of snapshots but dispose of them as meaningless to anyone but the author.

Most of us try for timeless but rarely, if ever, succeed. Often the success is just "accidental". By that I mean we have the camera and the skills to use it to capture a photo and the timeless scene pops up and we turn, and all those skills obtained, shooting plain ole pics, are applied for that timeless capture.
Example: In 1956 at the Chinese New Year Parade in Washington DC a news photographer turned and saw a scene that became a timeless photo. Photo got a full page in LIFE magazine, a Pulitzer Prize and became the logo of Father Flanagan's Boy's Town for many years.
My dad said it was the last side of the last cartridge he had for the 4X5 press camera.
The photo, attached, is called "Faith and Confidence" The officer went on to be the Police Chiel of Washington DC.

redlegfrog

Don, the 2nd son wrote:

I am culling those "not so good" from the many in my files in the hope that the best will continue to be enjoyed. Tedious job. Many days i am not ruthless enough to cut deeply enough. Repeat, repeat. At least culling gives me a trip down memory lane.

I hate that job as well!

User ID

Architect1776 wrote:

Portraits are timeless as you say.
And are a very good example you give.
Trolls have a talent though for saying stupid things like the end of the universe. Or other moronic extremes.
I noted ones that would be valued after the author died, but as usual the typical haters and trolls have a reading comprehension problem.

Its not a reading comprehension problem. Its a glaring faulty concept problem on your part, built into the openning post.

You ask how many photographers here are making timeless photos. Then you immediately explain that photographers do not actually MAKE timeless photos. You explain that timelessness is just happenstance of survival of the photo, just like a scrap of lace or a postcard.

IOW according to you, its the curators, intentional or accidental, that determine what is timeless or not, and its not really connected to any "timeless quality" of the photo. And I can agree that thaz how it usually works. But given that it works that way, your question is pointless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If my work is in a collection that will outlast generations and Joe Bloes verrrry similar work is not, that just means Im better connected than Joe. My work does not outshine his, nor viceversa. I just got the breaks.

Since timelessness is not in the work itself, you cant ask how many here produce timeless photographs.

There are no moronic trolls in this thread except for OP himself, a typical UHH "expert".

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

Architect1776 wrote:

How many here make timeless photos and how many make snapshots that will die with them?
I mean die by no one will care nor cull through the thousands of snapshots but dispose of them as meaningless to anyone but the author.

I fully expect all my photos, both snapshots and timeless, will be trashed after my death. Except for a few friends or family photos, they mean nothing to anyone else but me.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

User ID wrote:

Its not a reading comprehension problem. Its a gla... (show quote)

Troll

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Mr Bill 2011 wrote:

I fully expect all my photos, both snapshots and timeless, will be trashed after my death. Except for a few friends or family photos, they mean nothing to anyone else but me.

Precisely the family is timeless.
Add a grandchild being held in front of a car parked in front of their house.
Provide date and who where and make and year of car.
That will interest family for generations.
Far more than endless BIF of the same bird.

srg

User ID wrote:

Its not very polite to cut off a troll at the knees ... especially in the very first reply.

Ha ha

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

traderjohn wrote:

I think ego gratification has a lot to do with posting pictures.

I think you're wrong there John--It has everything to do with ego gratification

stanikon Loc: Deep in the Heart of Texas

Most photographs are like grave sites - they are intended for three generations. When my wife passed away she left a huge box of photographs. I went through the box and kept, at the most, 10% of them. I gave most of those to my daughter who treasures them. Her children, not so much.

As a side note, one of the photographs that I kept was of a young man standing in front of a brick wall. The date on the photo was her junior/senior year in high school (yes, a long time ago). The young man's name was on the back along with a city and state. That was all. So I did a search for him and in twenty minutes I had him on the phone (it helped that he had a unique name). I sent the photo to him and he confirmed that it was him although he had no memory of it being taken or of my wife. He was glad to get it and I suppose he still has it.

Many of my photos will be kept by my daughter, lots of them will go in the trash. I really do not care. They are for my pleasure whether as keepsakes or because I appreciate the artwork - I don't care if anyone else ever even looks at them.

The truly "timeless" photo is a rare thing. It means that it will be appreciated and/or admired forever, which, as someone said, is a long, long time.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

There is another category - shots that will live as long as those who outlive me and appreciate them are around.

repleo Loc: Boston

Architect1776 wrote:

How many here make timeless photos and how many make snapshots that will die with them?
I mean die by no one will care nor cull through the thousands of snapshots but dispose of them as meaningless to anyone but the author.

Meaningless snapshots may have no value now or in the near past but they may become priceless to future generations or when they enter a ‘nostalgia’ phase.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

repleo wrote:

Meaningless snapshots may have no value now or in the near past but they may become priceless to future generations or when they enter a ‘nostalgia’ phase.

I have hundreds of those meaningless snapshots dating to the 1800's.
I have a photo my grandfather took of President Obregon before he became president and before he lost his arm.
It is over 100 years old and 5th generation family still love it.

User ID

Architect1776 wrote:

Troll

I always consider the source.

(I did rummage your archive.)

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I am in the process of making photo books for each family member of their family growing up as well as a couple for me of collections of landscapes and birds. That may preserve some of my photos. Short of that the photos will have no significance for others. I had little interest in my parents's hobbies and my children will likely feel the same.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

suntouched wrote:

I am in the process of making photo books for each family member of their family growing up as well as a couple for me of collections of landscapes and birds. That may preserve some of my photos. Short of that the photos will have no significance for others. I had little interest in my parents's hobbies and my children will likely feel the same.

They will infinitely enjoy more family photos over BIF.