Where do you find inspiration for your photography? (Page 7): I have the S20 Ultra currently but am saving for the S23 Ultra. I understand that the Expert RAW operates differently with...

Vaun's photography Loc: Bonney Lake, WA

RainierView wrote:

Exactly. That's why I bought a S23 Ultra. It has an amazing camera, I always have it with me, and I'm not able to carry my Canon and lenses on hikes like I used to.

I have the S20 Ultra currently but am saving for the S23 Ultra. I understand that the Expert RAW operates differently with the two phones.

jaredjacobson

JZA B1 wrote:

I constantly struggle to come up with what to shoot. Does it come randomly to you? Or do you plan and brainstorm and imagine the final picture first and then arrange to make it happen?

Do you shoot what you happened to see? Or do you create your shots?

I know there are photographers who plan every detail of their shots, like Erik Johansson. I think they are fewer than those who shot what they come across. But I don’t see your last two questions as mutually exclusive.

For example, in this photo I put myself in an inspiring place with strong lines and lots of people where photographic opportunities abound. I wandered around taking photos of many things. When I came across and loved this perspective I waited for the right subject to walk into the frame. I took several photos from here. Some went right into the bin. Some I liked and processed. Of those, this is my favorite, so this is the one I share.

I shot what I happened to see, but I created it. And then I refined it in post-processing.

I’m inspired by light, and color, and line, and form, and shape, and texture, and surprise, and curiosity. When something catches my eye, I pause to ask myself what it was that caught my attention. Then I try to frame it so everyone else can see it, too. The more experience I gain evaluating when I’ve succeeded and when I’ve failed and why, the faster I can do this.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

JZA B1 wrote:

I constantly struggle to come up with what to shoot. Does it come randomly to you? Or do you plan and brainstorm and imagine the final picture first and then arrange to make it happen?

Do you shoot what you happened to see? Or do you create your shots?

All of the above.

There are times I plan well ahead, like this one which I waited for months to accomplish:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-757095-1.html

There are spur of the moments things when I get bored
There times that I just go take a hike and shoot what I come across with
There are times I see things that is not really there & I need to edit the image to fit my vision:
And also times that I squeeze out what I can from a bland scene

It's a hobby. I do it for fun. I get inspirations in everything and everywhere. No style or nothing holds me back.

Ruthlessrider

“a great way to make the 2 years on a mountain top go by faster.”

LOL, I know what you are saying, probably because we have all been there, but at 77, that’s the last thing I want to have happen. I’d prefer a slow walk, and I feel that photography is one way to make that happen. Because of our photos we are always able to spend some time looking back at the times, places and things we enjoy, or at least marveled at.

Ruthlessrider

jaredjacobson wrote:

I know there are photographers who plan every deta... (show quote)

Wonderful shot! I wish I had your patience.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Linda From Maine wrote:

Thanks Jimmy! I'm holding off upgrading to newest ... (show quote)

I really Love your low light and backlit pics.
Topaz Studio 2, v2.3.2 is the latest, but I'm a windoze guy so I don't know how the Apple OS upgrade would work for you.
You said, "To add to my page 2 comments that address the topic question directly, my #1 inspiration is light, the more dramatic the better!" and I am also a huge fan of scenes that test a sensor's dynamic range.
When I go out shooting in the Shenandoah Valley of Va. I mark places with my GPS and make notes of the time of day, the sun's direction, and desired weather conditions to shoot for future reference.
PhotoScape X (free) will allow you to darken/lighten shadows w/o affecting the rest of the pic, plus much more.
Download: http://x.photoscape.org/
Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj2cfl7IYz4

Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Jimmy T wrote:

I really Love your low light and backlit pics. br ... (show quote)

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been using PS Elements for many years, and shooting in raw for almost as many. I learned how to use layers, so selective adjustments are relatively easy for me too

Re Studio 2, that's the version I have (the last before they quit supporting). When I switched from Windows to a Mac, my PS Elements 2022 did several wonky things, and there are still a few glitches with 2024. I'm hanging on for another year with OS Ventura (it's still receiving updates).

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Wallen wrote:

All of the above. br br There are times I plan we... (show quote)

Chuckle, chuckle! From one Star Wars fan to another. Nice composite! Members of my camera club are learning to do composites in Light Room / Photo Shop. It's been kind of painful to watch, but I see a lot of experience and work in this. Keep up the good work.

jaredjacobson

Ruthlessrider wrote:

Wonderful shot! I wish I had your patience.

Thanks, 'rider. It didn't really require all that much patience. I was probably in that position for three minutes total.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Linda From Maine wrote:

Paul, surely you remember this newish member by now, and his types of topics?

I think of him as a facilitator of sorts. The good kind in which people are encouraged to chat and maybe share useful information and inspiration. Perhaps he's even paid to generate traffic?

His posts are obviously very popular, so who knows? How about playing along instead of trying to slam the door?

Interesting observation Linda.
I've read this far only because apart from one or two 'clever' comments, the usual attention seeking with nothing to contribute type, its been an interesting thread for me, looking for ideas, motivation for picture making.

I wonder if admin, aware of how caustic at times the site becomes, (how many photography forums have an 'Attic?), conjured up this contributor in an attempt to inject some civility into conversations.
Even the title is pretty benign.

User ID

jaredjacobson wrote:

I know there are photographers who plan every deta... (show quote)

That mixture of a static situation having visual potential plus waiting upon some semi-reliable serendipity is a great "hybrid" approach. You get to pre-select the setting for your "decisive moment" ... and often the human element isnt actually "decisive" but simply a visual boost to a more interesting presentation of the scene.

Three examples below, of "fishing" for humans in visually promising settings which were each in need of the extra spark of human presence, followed by the same three scenes but without that extra spark.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

TonyP wrote:

Interesting observation Linda. br I've read this ... (show quote)

I didn't see it as "civility" so much as a refreshing attempt to talk about aspects of photography that have become rare here. If the camera, lens, and filter topics were in their own section, main discussion would be a lonely place

Am curious if you looked at the OP's topic list?

User ID

Linda From Maine wrote:

I didn't see it as "civility" so much as a refreshing attempt to talk about aspects of photography that have become rare here. If the camera, lens, and filter topics were in their own section, main discussion would be a lonely place

?

Reading that, I very briefly wondered about a possible division of the general discussion into separate sections for "gear" and "activity".

But then I realized that the techie nature of photography means that separate "gear" and "activity" sections must surely bleed over into each other so badly that those two sections would almost immediately become identical.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

User ID wrote:

That mixture of a static situation having visual p... (show quote)

Lovely examples and reminds me of how often my car window is to wet to take a photo.
Great treatment of colours too

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Linda From Maine wrote:

I didn't see it as "civility" so much as a refreshing attempt to talk about aspects of photography that have become rare here. If the camera, lens, and filter topics were in their own section, main discussion would be a lonely place

Am curious if you looked at the OP's topic list?

No I hadn't. Maybe reinforces our discussion.

Digressing just a little.
I have a set list of topics I subscribe to on UHH. It's been added to over the years of course. Years past I would get as many as 3-4 pages of 'new' discussions each morning.

You are currently subscribed to the following sections on the forum:

• Main Photography Discussion
• Photo Analysis
• General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk)
• Members Buy/Sell/Trade -- Classifieds
• Links and Resources
• People Photography
• UHH Cutting room
• HDR Photography -- Before and After
• Long Exposure Photography Forum
• Video for DSLR and Point and Shoot Cameras
• Close Up Photography
• Published Photographs by Ugly HedgeHoggers
• Post-Processing Digital Images
• Photo Critique Section
• For Your Consideration
• Street Photography
• Drone Video and Photography Forum
• Professional and Advanced Portraiture
• Trains
• Landscape Photography
• The Pampered Pets Corner
• Bridge Camera Show Case
• The Dynamics of Photographic Lighting
• Black and White Photography
• Travel Photography - Tips and More

Most mornings nowadays, I get maybe just one page of new discussions. Often, many of the newer sections I've added go weeks before they get a subject raised. I don't get the daily digest.