Do You Have A Photographic Style??
Jan 7, 2017 16:51:44 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Absolutely, I've said here many times, not that ANYBODY has ever listened, but I said I like to shoot when I can see the whites in their eyes. A tight shot with the eyes clearly visible certainly has a lot of character or story. Whether it be birds, people, bugs or rocks!!!
SS
SS
rocks? eyes? ANYBODY? NorCal? hmmm.....
Jan 7, 2017 16:56:38 #
SharpShooter wrote:
A tight shot with the eyes clearly visible certainly has a lot of character...
i feel the same way. love the little capillaries bursting when impacted by 480 gms at 2000fps
but always thought of that as a psychotic episode more than a photographic style.
Jan 7, 2017 18:15:34 #
Oh, I think I definitely have a style, it's called eclectic. 
Jan 7, 2017 19:48:56 #
Neat topic SS. How about more than one "style"? I lean toward "industrial", "building/construction", "machinery", "farming". However, I will drive for miles to get that special sunset landscape image. I truly enjoy the close up and personal "people" photography. However you can't pay me enough to shoot a wedding! Street photography is also an interest of mine. And to answer a question asked several topics ago: yes I have taken risks to get the "shot". So the actual answer to your question may be: "edgy" style.
Jan 7, 2017 19:59:08 #
I think style would be more of how you approach (photograph) the subject matter, not the actual subject matter.
Jan 7, 2017 20:48:59 #
SharpShooter wrote:
It's pretty simple...., do you have a photographic... (show quote)
PSP. Point, shoot and pray.
Jan 7, 2017 20:49:08 #
davidrb wrote:
rocks? eyes? ANYBODY? NorCal? hmmm.....
LoL, David, rocks definately have eyes....., well, errr, probably should have called it lichen!!
Point is that it needs to have detail or personality to draw you in.
I see it all the time with Model(girls) photography.
There might be a beautiful landscape and in a little corner is a hot looking model. It's a landscape with a model in it, so what's the point?
It needs to be a model with a landscape behind her.
I also see lots of Model's portfolios. Maybe there are 50 images of her portfolio and I couldn't tell you what color her eyes are. Something wrong there.
My point is there needs to be something there to grab you and draw you in.
That's not necessarily a style, but it could be!
SS
Jan 7, 2017 22:52:23 #
MtnMan wrote:
Interesting question to ponder.
I prefer imaging wildlife and landscape over stuff like people, buildings, or machinery. Is that a style?
I have certain practices in terms of equipment, settings, and composition. Are they a style?
I mostly shoot in RAW and have a fairly consistent workflow. So far I don't fool much with image modifying filters or major manipulations such as changing backgrounds. I do apply some Topaz filters to some images. Does all that comprise a style?
I prefer imaging wildlife and landscape over stuff like people, buildings, or machinery. Is that a style?
I have certain practices in terms of equipment, settings, and composition. Are they a style?
I mostly shoot in RAW and have a fairly consistent workflow. So far I don't fool much with image modifying filters or major manipulations such as changing backgrounds. I do apply some Topaz filters to some images. Does all that comprise a style?
MtnMan, those certainly comprise different genres. Within each of those genres, you can certainly develope a style for each. No one thing will probably make them a style but a certain PP could put your stamp on them, giving them your signature. When others start to see your different genres and say, "that looks like the stuff MtnMan shoots, it definately starts to become an identifying style. Styles can evolve over time as well.
It's pretty common to do large bodies of work of related subjects, often a style will develope within those. But the more you shoot and find small things that you like to do and carry those to all your other photography, that can start to develope into a style.
I don't think we purposely pick a style, they just start to happen and you can be identified by that in your work.
SS
Jan 7, 2017 23:33:28 #
One of the problems with style is that if you don't deliberately
define one yourself, your gear or subjects will define it for you.
I still drive down to the city market and shoot street people. The 810 and
big lenses crank out some of the best images i've ever captured but they
lack the intimacy of the shots i used to get with a smaller/lens combo.
Waving that basketball size chunk of glass and metal in some stressed out dudes face
changes the way we interact and shapes the "style" of the shot i'm going to get.
define one yourself, your gear or subjects will define it for you.
I still drive down to the city market and shoot street people. The 810 and
big lenses crank out some of the best images i've ever captured but they
lack the intimacy of the shots i used to get with a smaller/lens combo.
Waving that basketball size chunk of glass and metal in some stressed out dudes face
changes the way we interact and shapes the "style" of the shot i'm going to get.
Jan 8, 2017 02:10:16 #
I think I have two styles. One for work and one for play. At work I often use a big zoom, either an 80-200 f2.8 or a 150-600 with the lens wide open and the ISO up high for higher shutter speeds.
By contrast when I'm off work I only use the big zoom to isolate part of a subject or for wildlife, in which case I may shoot just like at work. The rest of the time I tend to use a fairly wide angle and try to get something up close in the foreground. I also tend to shoot bright colors and some people think that I overprocess.
Work photos can't be processed hardly at all, so I go the other way when playing. Style is something that partly comes from what you are photographing and partly comes from what equipment you have and how you see the world.
When possible I like to get up close and down low on both kinds.
By contrast when I'm off work I only use the big zoom to isolate part of a subject or for wildlife, in which case I may shoot just like at work. The rest of the time I tend to use a fairly wide angle and try to get something up close in the foreground. I also tend to shoot bright colors and some people think that I overprocess.
Work photos can't be processed hardly at all, so I go the other way when playing. Style is something that partly comes from what you are photographing and partly comes from what equipment you have and how you see the world.
When possible I like to get up close and down low on both kinds.
Jan 8, 2017 05:55:47 #
I like to photograph things that to the eye are not pleasing. Like a dilapidated barn, or an abandon house, but when photographed are beautiful.
Jan 8, 2017 06:07:00 #
Just trying to create the best image I can.
I am a harsh self critic and cull 90% of my captures. Rarely am I satisfied.
The only pictures of mine on display in our house are of children and grandchildren.
I am still waiting to capture a so called 'wall hanger' that I will want to see every day.
This is a personal aim and objective.
I am a harsh self critic and cull 90% of my captures. Rarely am I satisfied.
The only pictures of mine on display in our house are of children and grandchildren.
I am still waiting to capture a so called 'wall hanger' that I will want to see every day.
This is a personal aim and objective.
Jan 8, 2017 06:18:22 #
Thinking about it some more, I don't believe I even consider style.
All I think I consider is the capture.
For me it's more about being totally comfortable with the equipment and and understanding all aspects of the situation being captured.
I try to produce images by intent rather than by accident or circumstance.
At the moment I am not always successful.
All I think I consider is the capture.
For me it's more about being totally comfortable with the equipment and and understanding all aspects of the situation being captured.
I try to produce images by intent rather than by accident or circumstance.
At the moment I am not always successful.
Jan 8, 2017 06:26:49 #
I remember hearing in a workshop that when one's "voice" or style is developed, it can be recognized quickly. For example, if when images are displayed in a room, another person would immediately know the photographer who made it because of the subject matter and methods of shooting that differentiates and defines that particular artist. For example, if one's voice is nature/birds, their images would have elements in it that are unique to that particular photographer. Another word of advice I recently heard is shoot what you love. That's why sport lovers, for example, can make great sport photographers or people who love birds/nature make great bird photographers. I hope this explanation was clear! Thanks for the thought provoking question.
Jan 8, 2017 07:04:00 #
Tracy B. wrote:
I like to photograph things that to the eye are not pleasing. Like a dilapidated barn, or an abandon house, but when photographed are beautiful.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Translating that beauty to another is talent.
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