lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Billy, I'm with you. I like photography, but don't claim to be anything more than someone who wants to record things he sees that appeal to me (they don't have to be "beautiful"). I can't think of a time I approached a shot with a "vision", but that's not to say I haven't planned some ahead of time.

I have been asked to do some photo work for groups and publication in a journal of DIY audio, but that's not why I pick up a camera. Most of the time, especially when traveling, I shoot so that I have a better memory of the things I have seen. I think I have a good knowledge of my camera and LR (learning PS), but I don't kid myself into believing I'm an expert.

In short, I come to this activity for enjoyment, and somewhat to express myself. Everyone has their own reasons, and I don't begrudge them whatever they are. To assume we all approach this activity with the same motivations and expectations would be incorrect.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Thanks for the opportunity to share an example. This I shot on my patio the other day. My wife likes to collect rain runoff when it rains in Phoenix, not that often. Lately some of our neighbors have decided it should serve another purpose like this starling.

I don't own photoshop or any other high level software so I do what I can. Here I simply enhanced the contrast a bit, ran up the saturation somewhat and sharpened the photo for more impact. The first photo is straight out of the camera, a Canon t3i with a Canon 28-200 lens at 1/1000 - 400 ISO.
The second photo is cropped.

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donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

And sometimes the client makes the creative decision for you. Full disclosure, I love post and compositing work and my original photos usually end up looking nothing like the original.

This is my friend Juliana Lawrence, who is a singer songwriter here in Nashville. I did a series of portraits and candids while she was over at our studio recording. We usually don't have a lot of time to set up shots, so I do a bunch of post work to make up for it. Juliana asked me if I could create a completely different look instead of the typical music studio look. The image on the left is what I came up with last night. I just heard back from her about two hours ago and she loves it — which is all that matters. ;-)

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davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.

Its funny sometimes i go out to shoot one thing and end up shooting another and the only keepers are the ones i never planned!

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

Not sure who you are replying to, Snappy, but thanks for the comment..!
You would be a good person to post a photo and show your PP.

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

Billy, you are always welcome to comment. As our resident Philistine, you add a different kind of "flavor" to a discussion! :-P I like your "fly by the seat of my pants" outlook and sometimes that is the best way to approach things we do for "fun and enjoyment." Being constantly busy and unable to have a lot of time for "contemplation" I do a some "flying around" myself. And, that is okay.
Everything doesn't have to be complicated and everyone doesn't have to aspire to be an artist, or even be loosely defined as an artist. For many, it can be a hobby, not to be taken so seriously. I think your work turns out very nicely done, even though you are a spontaneous taker.

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

Thanks for posting your photos, Bob. They are nicely done examples of B & W's that were taken with a lot of inspiration.

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

Sorry for so many of my posts being made at one time. I have had to be away from the computer. Just now catching-up. I would like to make a comment, here, to simpkins.

Your last paragraph is something that we all should remember, IMO. Most everyone does come to UHH for camaraderie and the joy of participation. It doesn't matter if we all have the same "vision (or a lack of vision), talent, emotions, inspiration, beliefs or a lot of time to devote to photography! Accepting each other, the way we are, is part of the deal..
Maybe some would think that the post-processing section is not the place for such platitudes. But, it does apply here, as it does anywhere. Respect for the individual is the right thing to do when we critique each other, and in our communications. ENOUGH! I will get off my soapbox but simpkins inspired me. It is all his fault!
:P

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

jimmya, I like your photo and especially the crop. I can see the crop post-processed, easily making it "unique." I can see all kind of variations being done with it. You should try doing some PP, if you are at all interested.
Thanks for adding to

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

".... my original photos usually end up looking nothing like the original."

donolea, spoken like a truly addicted, post-processing fanatic. Join the group. I include myself in that. I remember seeing some of your work that showed off your talent. What I remember seeing, must have taken hours of time to create. Sometimes I think we take photos just so that we can process them afterward!
:lol:

Your example is very nicely done and does completely changes the "feel" of the photo. Taking photos for a client is one of the best reasons to click-it. And, making them happy is the best of all. Thank you. Lovely examples.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I can't imagine any way you could plan a shot without having some sort of vision regarding the intended outcome. I believe this is what you have meant in the past when you referred to your vision for a shot.

I think what Billy and others do is read another meaning into that word "vision" - possibly the sort of vision that a photographer or painter must rustle up in order to produce something from scratch. Lsimpkins summed up that divergence when he said

"I can't think of a time I approached a shot with a "vision", but that's not to say I haven't planned some ahead of time".

It would be impossible to do that planning without a vision of some kind.

For example, when I took this shot I was aware of the sun lighting up the glen on the far shore of the loch, but I knew that on its own it wouldn't make a very engaging shot. I also knew that a shot of a boat on its own wouldn't be very compelling either, but if I could get those two elements to line up in a certain way (with a bit of shoreline in between), the arrangement would lead the eye through the image.

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TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

R.G. Thanks for your comment and your thoughts.

What I do is a little different, most of the time, than what a lot of people do. When I say "planning," it is different than "vision." My planning is about setting a day and time. It means talking about which areas are available for the shoot. It means talking about what kind of photos are to be taken and who will show-prep and help with the horse/horses. That is more "details" than "vision." I do have a "plan" in mind about what I intend to do, but that is more about "organization" than "vision."

Many times, "vision" depends on the individual, and what the individual is trying to communicate. Actually, the word "vision" just boils down to "semantics." One could use many other words, instead, and probably mean the same thing. And, I can honestly say that I would never argue over the use of one word or the other.

As for myself, I anticipate working with a photo that I feel has a lot of potential. I am lucky that I can imagine what I want to accomplish. (Some would call that vision.) But, sometimes I just start throwing things together until I get something I really like. "-) If I waited for a "vision" before I took every photo, I would get very little done. And, I get the fact that there is a big difference between shooting lovely landscapes and moving targets.:-)

I don't usually have a "vision (as I interpret it)" in mind, BEFORE I click. Some say they do have a "vision" before they click. In the end, I am not sure that, "having a vision," always makes a difference in the quality of the work or the skill reflected by the photographer. "What really matters is the end result, rather than which road one travels to get there."

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I take the picture to record the subject. I PP to make it what my imagination and heart saw in spite of less than Ideal photo conditions and results.

TheeGambler Loc: The green pastures of Northeast Texas

People have said that the eye can't see what the camera can see. Well, we can turn that around... The camera can't see what the eye can see, either.. We each see what we want. I agree, it is more about interpretation and imagination. If it appeals to us, we shoot it. But, the appealing part may be different for everyone, in one way or the other.

Thanks for adding your thoughts, Robert.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

For you (and some others, no doubt), planning has to include organising and logistics, but in a more general sense, planning involves thinking about what you want and how you can go about getting it. In that context I would say that planned shoots are more likely to produce good results.

In the absence of a clear idea of what you anticipate or want to achieve, the best option is, as you say, to "just start throwing things together", because one of the biggest obstacles to having a productive flow is inertia, and very often the process of experimenting will lead to good results, or at the very least give you ideas. But as I stated before, I see proper planning as a vital ingredient in optimising your chances of producing good results, and visualisation is a part of that planning process. For example, in the past I have used maps to give me pointers as to where I'm likely to get the sort of landscape shot I'm after - and it's worked. And that process involved visualising what I wanted.