This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might reach 10 pages, all because one member said we should do something on our own. I think the OP is forgetting that every single one of us has different reasons for clicking the shutter in the first place. Even at that we all may differ in our views depending on the subject matter. When I photograph my granddaughters I basically want a record shot of them on say, a merry go round, dressed up to go somewhere, a school recital and so on. Of course I try to take the best photo I can but I don’t have the desire to view them as models, getting a shot for publication in a magazine. I just want photos of family. When I am at the Grand Canyon or Bryce then I will probably have a tripod and of course will look for the best view DEPENDING on weather, crowds, time of day and time allotted for that area.
Then again, each of us has different expectations in our photography. I once was the manager of a photo department in a drugstore. People would often show me their prints when they picked them up so I could ooh and aah along with them. Some were truly spectacular, some were simply snapshots of family, tourist attractions, animals to put in the freezer, etc. I will always remember two sisters in their mid 80’s who used a 110 camera to take photos of a litter of kittens from their cat. They were so excited at getting the photos to begin with so when they brought the cartridge in for processing I was as excited as they were to see the results. A week later when they showed me the prints, they were as excited as if they were 10 years old. They absolutely loved the photos. Then they handed them to me for my perusal. The prints showed six tiny black dots of the mom and kittens taken from across the kitchen. Had I not known they were cats, I might have had no idea what they were. But my point is, to those two elderly ladies, the photos were their life, their happiness.
We see hundreds of photos submitted by members every day. Some are beautiful, worthy of publication. Some are nicely done but nothing spectacular, snapshots. And some are as bad as the cat photos I mentioned. But those photos might be the best our member photographers can do at the time and possibly will ever do. But they are happy with those photos.
Honestly I do not think we need someone telling us to take better photos from a different place or time. I think we all know there are other specific points to stand, different time of day etc. from where we can take photos. I am happy with my photos or know where I want to improve. Has the OP submitted any of HIS photos yet for our perusal?
Dennis
I doubt that the OP has submitted any of his photos for our perusal. His statements seemed like a rant to me. All I can say to that OP is: get on with it, lead the way, or, well, why say it.
dennis2146 wrote:
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might reach 10 pages, all because one member said we should do something on our own. I think the OP is forgetting that every single one of us has different reasons for clicking the shutter in the first place. Even at that we all may differ in our views depending on the subject matter. When I photograph my granddaughters I basically want a record shot of them on say, a merry go round, dressed up to go somewhere, a school recital and so on. Of course I try to take the best photo I can but I don’t have the desire to view them as models, getting a shot for publication in a magazine. I just want photos of family. When I am at the Grand Canyon or Bryce then I will probably have a tripod and of course will look for the best view DEPENDING on weather, crowds, time of day and time allotted for that area.
Then again, each of us has different expectations in our photography. I once was the manager of a photo department in a drugstore. People would often show me their prints when they picked them up so I could ooh and aah along with them. Some were truly spectacular, some were simply snapshots of family, tourist attractions, animals to put in the freezer, etc. I will always remember two sisters in their mid 80’s who used a 110 camera to take photos of a litter of kittens from their cat. They were so excited at getting the photos to begin with so when they brought the cartridge in for processing I was as excited as they were to see the results. A week later when they showed me the prints, they were as excited as if they were 10 years old. They absolutely loved the photos. Then they handed them to me for my perusal. The prints showed six tiny black dots of the mom and kittens taken from across the kitchen. Had I not known they were cats, I might have had no idea what they were. But my point is, to those two elderly ladies, the photos were their life, their happiness.
We see hundreds of photos submitted by members every day. Some are beautiful, worthy of publication. Some are nicely done but nothing spectacular, snapshots. And some are as bad as the cat photos I mentioned. But those photos might be the best our member photographers can do at the time and possibly will ever do. But they are happy with those photos.
Honestly I do not think we need someone telling us to take better photos from a different place or time. I think we all know there are other specific points to stand, different time of day etc. from where we can take photos. I am happy with my photos or know where I want to improve. Has the OP submitted any of HIS photos yet for our perusal?
Dennis
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might ... (
show quote)
dennis2146 wrote:
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might reach 10 pages, all because one member said we should do something on our own. I think the OP is forgetting that every single one of us has different reasons for clicking the shutter in the first place. Even at that we all may differ in our views depending on the subject matter. When I photograph my granddaughters I basically want a record shot of them on say, a merry go round, dressed up to go somewhere, a school recital and so on. Of course I try to take the best photo I can but I don’t have the desire to view them as models, getting a shot for publication in a magazine. I just want photos of family. When I am at the Grand Canyon or Bryce then I will probably have a tripod and of course will look for the best view DEPENDING on weather, crowds, time of day and time allotted for that area.
Then again, each of us has different expectations in our photography. I once was the manager of a photo department in a drugstore. People would often show me their prints when they picked them up so I could ooh and aah along with them. Some were truly spectacular, some were simply snapshots of family, tourist attractions, animals to put in the freezer, etc. I will always remember two sisters in their mid 80’s who used a 110 camera to take photos of a litter of kittens from their cat. They were so excited at getting the photos to begin with so when they brought the cartridge in for processing I was as excited as they were to see the results. A week later when they showed me the prints, they were as excited as if they were 10 years old. They absolutely loved the photos. Then they handed them to me for my perusal. The prints showed six tiny black dots of the mom and kittens taken from across the kitchen. Had I not known they were cats, I might have had no idea what they were. But my point is, to those two elderly ladies, the photos were their life, their happiness.
We see hundreds of photos submitted by members every day. Some are beautiful, worthy of publication. Some are nicely done but nothing spectacular, snapshots. And some are as bad as the cat photos I mentioned. But those photos might be the best our member photographers can do at the time and possibly will ever do. But they are happy with those photos.
Honestly I do not think we need someone telling us to take better photos from a different place or time. I think we all know there are other specific points to stand, different time of day etc. from where we can take photos. I am happy with my photos or know where I want to improve. Has the OP submitted any of HIS photos yet for our perusal?
Dennis
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might ... (
show quote)
A great post Dennis, and most of us feel the same way!
dennis2146 wrote:
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might reach 10 pages, all because one member said we should do something on our own. I think the OP is forgetting that every single one of us has different reasons for clicking the shutter in the first place. Even at that we all may differ in our views depending on the subject matter. When I photograph my granddaughters I basically want a record shot of them on say, a merry go round, dressed up to go somewhere, a school recital and so on. Of course I try to take the best photo I can but I don’t have the desire to view them as models, getting a shot for publication in a magazine. I just want photos of family. When I am at the Grand Canyon or Bryce then I will probably have a tripod and of course will look for the best view DEPENDING on weather, crowds, time of day and time allotted for that area.
Then again, each of us has different expectations in our photography. I once was the manager of a photo department in a drugstore. People would often show me their prints when they picked them up so I could ooh and aah along with them. Some were truly spectacular, some were simply snapshots of family, tourist attractions, animals to put in the freezer, etc. I will always remember two sisters in their mid 80’s who used a 110 camera to take photos of a litter of kittens from their cat. They were so excited at getting the photos to begin with so when they brought the cartridge in for processing I was as excited as they were to see the results. A week later when they showed me the prints, they were as excited as if they were 10 years old. They absolutely loved the photos. Then they handed them to me for my perusal. The prints showed six tiny black dots of the mom and kittens taken from across the kitchen. Had I not known they were cats, I might have had no idea what they were. But my point is, to those two elderly ladies, the photos were their life, their happiness.
We see hundreds of photos submitted by members every day. Some are beautiful, worthy of publication. Some are nicely done but nothing spectacular, snapshots. And some are as bad as the cat photos I mentioned. But those photos might be the best our member photographers can do at the time and possibly will ever do. But they are happy with those photos.
Honestly I do not think we need someone telling us to take better photos from a different place or time. I think we all know there are other specific points to stand, different time of day etc. from where we can take photos. I am happy with my photos or know where I want to improve. Has the OP submitted any of HIS photos yet for our perusal?
Dennis
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might ... (
show quote)
Thank you Dennis; very well said!
M. Goldfield
Dennis - Perhaps the most thoughtful and meaningful contribution to this thread. Thank you.
aubreybogle wrote:
Dennis - Perhaps the most thoughtful and meaningful contribution to this thread. Thank you.
OMG! I am blushing. Thank you.
Dennis
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
dennis2146 wrote:
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might reach 10 pages, all because one member said we should do something on our own. I think the OP is forgetting that every single one of us has different reasons for clicking the shutter in the first place. Even at that we all may differ in our views depending on the subject matter. When I photograph my granddaughters I basically want a record shot of them on say, a merry go round, dressed up to go somewhere, a school recital and so on. Of course I try to take the best photo I can but I don’t have the desire to view them as models, getting a shot for publication in a magazine. I just want photos of family. When I am at the Grand Canyon or Bryce then I will probably have a tripod and of course will look for the best view DEPENDING on weather, crowds, time of day and time allotted for that area.
Then again, each of us has different expectations in our photography. I once was the manager of a photo department in a drugstore. People would often show me their prints when they picked them up so I could ooh and aah along with them. Some were truly spectacular, some were simply snapshots of family, tourist attractions, animals to put in the freezer, etc. I will always remember two sisters in their mid 80’s who used a 110 camera to take photos of a litter of kittens from their cat. They were so excited at getting the photos to begin with so when they brought the cartridge in for processing I was as excited as they were to see the results. A week later when they showed me the prints, they were as excited as if they were 10 years old. They absolutely loved the photos. Then they handed them to me for my perusal. The prints showed six tiny black dots of the mom and kittens taken from across the kitchen. Had I not known they were cats, I might have had no idea what they were. But my point is, to those two elderly ladies, the photos were their life, their happiness.
We see hundreds of photos submitted by members every day. Some are beautiful, worthy of publication. Some are nicely done but nothing spectacular, snapshots. And some are as bad as the cat photos I mentioned. But those photos might be the best our member photographers can do at the time and possibly will ever do. But they are happy with those photos.
Honestly I do not think we need someone telling us to take better photos from a different place or time. I think we all know there are other specific points to stand, different time of day etc. from where we can take photos. I am happy with my photos or know where I want to improve. Has the OP submitted any of HIS photos yet for our perusal?
Dennis
This thread has gone on now for 7 pages and might ... (
show quote)
Dennis, my second job is in retail and I too have seen the range you speak of coming through the registers. I too have seen the worst "prized" pictures. And I will always refuse to say anything negative about them. As fuzzy and terrible the pictures may be, the memories that they bring back for the person are as sharp as the day they took the picture. If I am asked about the picture, I give what positive comment I can and may give a suggestion that will help them take a better picture the next time. But I refused to make a negative comment about their precious memories. Destroying a memory is much worse than taking a terrible photograph.
wdross wrote:
Dennis, my second job is in retail and I too have seen the range you speak of coming through the registers. I too have seen the worst "prized" pictures. And I will always refuse to say anything negative about them. As fuzzy and terrible the pictures may be, the memories that they bring back for the person are as sharp as the day they took the picture. If I am asked about the picture, I give what positive comment I can and may give a suggestion that will help them take a better picture the next time. But I refused to make a negative comment about their precious memories. Destroying a memory is much worse than taking a terrible photograph.
Dennis, my second job is in retail and I too have ... (
show quote)
I could not have said it better my friend. Some are into photography because they just want record photos they have been to a famous landmark. Many DSLR users are completely unaware they have the ability to capture the moon, at all. Yet they are happy because they are happy with what they know. For many a basic camera with kit lens is all they will ever need.
Dennis
Yes: "The great artists redeem the rules and refine them, rather than just being different by breaking them."
Charles 46277 wrote:
Adams made careful notes on making a print, so he could duplicate it many times. I think he said it took a week to make the first print of Moonrise, and the notes are published in detail. We say you can do the same thing with software, and the process is saved automatically for more prints--but do we really? For comparison, consider the lithograph. This is an artwork, and each print is a legitimate art work (close to exact duplicates, but not quite...) Compare that with the various self portraits that Van Gogh made by hand. These are also each works of art, but not in the same sense as lithographs. In neither case is the art a matter of innovating in the sense that art critics can instantly see the artist fits into the mainstream of art. The artist did not just try to be different, but to be more. He followed the rules that matter, and expanded those rules that were limiting. The hard rock musicians who smashed up their instruments on stage were different, and they made a statement (social or political), but this was no art--in fact, it was a rejection of art in favor of the philistine mindset. When Beethoven broke the rules of Bach, it would have been rubbish unless it sounded right (and good). The great artists redeem the rules and refine them, rather than just being different by breaking them. Unlike science, art has not a bit of "progress" to it. It shows us what the world is, and what it should be, in the same work. There are many styles and possibilities for that, all of them legitimate if they work. A standard snapshot or postcard picture of my trip to Grand Canyon can be more artistic than a strangely odd or different creation using PhotoShop--yes?
Adams made careful notes on making a print, so he ... (
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