Do you ever draw a picture and then go out and try to find the shot you drew?

[68degrees]

Basically imagining shots that you think would be cool and then strategically positioning your self where such a shot could actually happen in real life and then capturing it.

IM not talk about a staged shot, just an anticipated shot. A "wouldnt it be cool if" shot. Anticipating not moments before but days or weeks before.

 

[matthewm]

My wife does this constantly. Especially when shooting weddings. She will draw out stick figures, trees, curtains, whatever on index cards. Then she'll carry the cards with her in her camera bag and reference them. It helps her to knockout key shots much quicker and she gets things exactly how she wants them right up front.

I remember when we met a few years ago in college and she had Moleskine books loaded with little doodles and drawings of her photo projects that she had to shoot.

I think it's a great idea, although I usually don't do it. I see that it works for her time and time again, though.

 

[gb hill]

Nah I can't do that. I just go out there & photograph what happens at the moment. One positive outlook about 'the moment' is that it's always changing.

 

[rkm]

I've only done the reverse

 

[nikon_sam]

Nah I can't do that. I just go out there & photograph what happens at the moment. One positive outlook about 'the moment' is that it's always changing.

I feel the same way as Greg does...

The last time I set up to shoot a portrait I had a location and idea of what I was looking for...when I got there (ahead of my model) I found that the location was fenced off and literally gone...it was an old Ford Dealership lot that was completely remove...main building, service bays, car lot, back wall and lights...nothing but the dirt it sat on...
I quickly made other plans and was thrilled with the results...
I prefer to shoot things as it's happening...

 

[enero]

Does it count for studio shoots? I have to do sketches for clients all the time.

 

[andrealimphotography]

With portraits, I don't draw pictures but I envision the subject and the composition before the shoot. Things obviously don't always go according to plan, but sometimes it does and it pays off. It also helps with model direction rather than figuring out on the spot.

With street, I just go out and do whatever... it's fresher.

 

[jsrockit]

Nope. I'm into photography not drawing these days.

 

[daveleo]

Never drew a picture, but I have scouted out places and noted them and when I think the weather is magical, I will drive there and see what it looks like compared to what I imagined. Let's call that "mental drawing" ?

 

[michaelwj]

Never drew a picture, but I have scouted out places and noted them and when I think the weather is magical, I will drive there and see what it looks like compared to what I imagined. Let's call that "mental drawing" ?

This is what I do sometimes. I always find my best landscape shots come by this way? Maybe its the pre visualisation AA always talked about, but I do it. Often its only minutes before I take the picture though... and never "actually" drawn, just imaginary.

 

[gsgary]

Yes, i went to the Whitby Goth weekend last week and had a shot in my mind of 2 completely different people crossing each other
not quite as good i wanted

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Coincidentally, i came across this photographer just yesterday:

http://irwinlewisphotography.com

In the video, at 1:45, he talks about sketching graphic forms and then seeking them out to photograph.

I used to do that as a matter of course when shooting fashion and portraiture, but those were planned images. I wasn't hoping to incidentally happen upon those compositions.

 

[68degrees]

Coincidentally, i came across this photographer just yesterday:

http://irwinlewisphotography.com

In the video, at 1:45, he talks about sketching graphic forms and then seeking them out to photograph.

I used to do that as a matter of course when shooting fashion and portraiture, but those were planned images. I wasn't hoping to incidentally happen upon those compositions.

its good to know Im not alone and or crazy

 

[raphaelaaron]

yeah, i definitely did this all the time when i shot portraits.

i have old sketches and include where i would place the lights and at what power. it's a great technique. i've taken some of my best shots that way.

 

[pvdhaar]

No.. The drawings would in my mind represent that 100% perfect situation that's never quite possible to realise. By consequence, the photos would never live up to the expectation and be a constant source of disappointment.

 

[Cyriljay]

Quite interesting!

 

[robert blu]

yes, sometimes I do it! Not very oft, unfortunately.
robert
PS: in order to avoid misunderstanding I refer to the first draw second take a photo thing...🙂

 

[squareshooter]

In my head.

 

[Santtu Määttänen]

all the time. Specially so for lightpaintings and when working with a model. But also with nature stuff and at times when shooting events where I know I dont get an other shot. Never did it while shooting street though.

 

[kuzano]

Nope....

Nope....

When I draw a picture, it's worthy of matting, framing and taking it down to my booth at the Saturday Market. My drawings make more money than my photographs, as a rule.

My good friend who is a successful gallery owner and painting artist in many media.... Goes on longish trips to shoot photographs for landscape paintings and uses them for resource to paint from.

She makes huge amounts for a single painting compared to what any original print of her resource digital image would sell for.

Seems to me that drawing something to try to photograph would be turning the money machine in the wrong direction. Photographers are more likely to devalue their photographic work, much more than an any-medial artist or sketch artist for their paintings and sketches.