Finding Subjects

[md2008]

What is your preferred approach to your personal photography?

Are you a wanderer out with your camera with no specific preconceptions and let the images find you - e.g. you see something that interests you and then you stop and investigate, take the photo?

Or do you set out with the goal of finishing a roll of 36 exposures within a defined area to discipline yourself?

What kind of projects do you assign yourself to keep your eye and your camera skills sharp?

Just curious.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Often, I'm illustrating a magazine article or my site. I try to go for a reasonable variety when I'm reviewing equipmet, as I know I have a weakness for old buildings. That's why, in the Summilux review, http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/reviews summilux 24.html, I have street photography, landscapes, portraits, semi-abstracts, still-lifes... Variety can sometimes require more discipline than shooting what you know/like.

But equally often, I shoot for the sheer pleasure of it. Then I have very few preconceptions. A lot of my Arles shots are like that: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/arles 2009.html

It's been many years since I subscribed to the 'discipline' aspect. Either it happens or it doesn't -- and if it does, it may be a single picture, or a hundred.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I don't see much sense in "finishing off a roll of 36 exposures" just to finish it. It's better to have lots of unexposed film in the camera in case something worthwhile happens.

I practice hand held exposures of 1/8 second and longer. I often set my camera for what I judge the light to be and then check my judgment with a meter reading.

 

[Jarle Aasland]

Good question. I don't go out "shooting for fun" as much as I'd like to. However, many of my personal favourites are made doing just that. Walking around with an open mind and capturing photos for fun.

It often helps travelling to an unfamiliar place, but you can do the same in your own backyard, so to speak. It's just a question of seeing.

I'm also intrigued by personal "a photo a day" projects. I think it's a good way to discipline yourself. You won't make a great photo every day, but over time you'll probably accumulate some nice work.

Jarle

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I prefer to have a goal, a project (if only a two hour project). I put myself where things are happening and wait for the photos to find me.

 

[nikon_sam]

When given the chance to photograph in Los Angeles I go with an open mind...no agenda, no set rolls/frames to shoot...I go looking for light first then composition in that light...
I remember one photographer's advice years ago..."If you go out wanting to shoot trees and trees aren't happening but clouds are... then shoot clouds..."-Dewitt Jones

Keeping an open mind while out shooting is what I do, that and knowing when the light is gone and whatever you try ain't going to help because the lights not there...know when to stop...

 

[oftheherd]

When I have the chance, I like to go looking for interesting photos. I just don't have the chances to do that as I used to. I hate life getting in the way. So, I try to keep at least one camera in my car at all times, and if I see something, hope I can take the time to shoot it.

 

[charjohncarter]

I go out and hope. So does this guy:

http://kqedrm.streamguys.us/ramgen/real.kqed/tv/productions/spark/artists-orgs/henrywesse.rm

 

[wgerrard]

What is your preferred approach to your personal photography?

Are you a wanderer out with your camera with no specific preconceptions and let the images find you - e.g. you see something that interests you and then you stop and investigate, take the photo?

Or do you set out with the goal of finishing a roll of 36 exposures within a defined area to discipline yourself?

What kind of projects do you assign yourself to keep your eye and your camera skills sharp?

Just curious.

I'm a wanderer. I really enjoy going some place and just meandering about. I'd do it even if I didn't take pictures.

I do like to avoid leaving an unfinished roll in the camera. Beyond that, I'm not really interested in disciplining myself.

I don't assign myself projects, although I will sometimes deliberately work in a difficult or new environment.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I think that I just might have a new subject in my life, and Mary has a son. They both LOVE fishing! Time to start shooting fishing pictures again!

 

[KM-25]

I love getting assignments from the magazines I work with, but they also like to be surprised by what I have dug up when they send me a broad query for an up coming issue.

So most of the time, I let serendipity hand it to me and in turn, it spawns ideas for self assigned projects.

Even when I am bogged down with the business side of photography, I try to get out for at least an hour and just visually breathe if you will.

But serendipity, it really works for me.

 

[Merkin]

For me, it is more destination based. Whenever I find out about a good place to shoot, or find out about a place that I think might be good to shoot, I go there, and shoot as many or as few shots as I feel the location warrants, be it zero or a hundred.

 

[Al Kaplan]

JSU, not much in the way of "coastal marshes" in the Miami area. They're planted with townhouses and condos where mangroves once thrived. Biscayne Bay itself for the most part consists of grass beds ranging from 0.5 to 2 meters in depth. Lots of spotted sea trout, jack crevalle, barracuda, several kinds of snapper, snook, ladyfish, and tarpon roam the flats. In the three to four meter deep channels are a few kinds of grouper bluefish, as well as Spanish, king, and cero mackerel. I have several fly rods up to 9 weight but I mostly like to use a light casting rod, Ambassadeur reel, and 8 lb. test mono line. 1/4 oz. bucktail jigs, which I make myself, are the enticement to get bites.

Poke around my blog http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com and there are a few fishing shots plus close-ups of my bucktail jigs, and a picture or two showing me making them.

Several well known local guides use my jigs, including Capt. Bouncer Smith and Capt. Dave Kostyo. I was guiding for awhile but let my boat captain's license lapse about three or four years ago.

I have plenty to keep me busy when I'm not shooting or hiding in the darkroom. There's more to my life than just photography, politics, growing hair, and wooing the ladies. There's also Capt. Al Kaplan, tournament winner.