emraphoto
Veteran
change mainly
what are you after?
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scottsa
Member
Today I shoot the things I want to shoot, when I want to shoot and how.
When I did the bidding of others, I also spent too much time collecting for my services. Even when clients were happy, which was almost all of the time -- it was a different discussion if things went sideways!
Now, I shoot panoramics, landscape (lately using infrared) and portraiture for personal pleasure. I also volunteer to photograph certain kinds of performance events, typically music, at non-profit venues. The latter adds a socially positive value for me on top of the pleasure. It often adds value for many of the musicians as well as the people running the venues.
I recently had a project show up that was huge on social-conscience and value, but the paid staff for the time-sensitive project dropped too many balls in my lap and I wasn't playing that game. A month of my time and photographic skills at no cost didn't include doing substantial amm't of extra work that others were paid to do. I was devastated when it fell apart because the end result was for people that didn't have the financial resources but needed my services... it was truly one of those 'once in a lifetime' opportunities.
The other thing that motivates me is mentoring others. After many decades and some unusual opportunities for experience, etc., I have a reasonable amount to offer. I'm the first to say that I don't know everything, but that doesn't mean I know nothing either. Its that bit in between that I offer, given the chance.
I also learn a lot at many levels by helping others see through a lens, etc. It isn't about how I see, its how they see and what skills they already have. Its great to see the next work they show me, to see their confidence bloom. Even better, when they return with new and unique works that build upon technical skills they were practicing, and a "trip" when its better than mine!
What am I after?
The stuff that money can't buy!
Money is a nice tool, but it gets in the way of more important things at times. Its the non-money things I'm after... but do I accept most donations. Usually that's coffee and other beverages, access to shows, meeting new friends such as performers and their families, CD's, t-shirts, conversation, smiles and much more (even old gear upon occasion). Sometimes tears of joy and hugs appear from the most unexpected of people, and that has its own transformative level of currency.
When I did the bidding of others, I also spent too much time collecting for my services. Even when clients were happy, which was almost all of the time -- it was a different discussion if things went sideways!
Now, I shoot panoramics, landscape (lately using infrared) and portraiture for personal pleasure. I also volunteer to photograph certain kinds of performance events, typically music, at non-profit venues. The latter adds a socially positive value for me on top of the pleasure. It often adds value for many of the musicians as well as the people running the venues.
I recently had a project show up that was huge on social-conscience and value, but the paid staff for the time-sensitive project dropped too many balls in my lap and I wasn't playing that game. A month of my time and photographic skills at no cost didn't include doing substantial amm't of extra work that others were paid to do. I was devastated when it fell apart because the end result was for people that didn't have the financial resources but needed my services... it was truly one of those 'once in a lifetime' opportunities.
The other thing that motivates me is mentoring others. After many decades and some unusual opportunities for experience, etc., I have a reasonable amount to offer. I'm the first to say that I don't know everything, but that doesn't mean I know nothing either. Its that bit in between that I offer, given the chance.
I also learn a lot at many levels by helping others see through a lens, etc. It isn't about how I see, its how they see and what skills they already have. Its great to see the next work they show me, to see their confidence bloom. Even better, when they return with new and unique works that build upon technical skills they were practicing, and a "trip" when its better than mine!
What am I after?
The stuff that money can't buy!
Money is a nice tool, but it gets in the way of more important things at times. Its the non-money things I'm after... but do I accept most donations. Usually that's coffee and other beverages, access to shows, meeting new friends such as performers and their families, CD's, t-shirts, conversation, smiles and much more (even old gear upon occasion). Sometimes tears of joy and hugs appear from the most unexpected of people, and that has its own transformative level of currency.
ola.b
Established
To make interesting photographs from my life, be it friends, family, the world or the "street"..
I really enjoy street photography and portraiture, so that is what I want to be better at.
I really enjoy street photography and portraiture, so that is what I want to be better at.
scottsa
Member
There are different motivations for post-processing. The important ones, in my view, have nothing to do with content manipulation save the removal of dust an an occasional blade or two of grass.
The key is to identify and correct what is a shortcoming of the media. The discrepancy between what you perceived, what you actually saw and what the entire system captured can follow without burden of impurity.
As well, there is the narrative. Often more details are rendered, sometimes not enough, within an image. Some were not what was important regarding what or why and image was captured, others are overshadowed and understated. This is akin to selective focusing, but in a post-capture state.
None of these speak to an image being or becoming perfect, but of being effective in their role. That is a role of representing something a photographer saw, usually in first-person.
To some, photography is magical and in reality they are not far off the point.
This is an incredibly important thing to remember, this magical bit, because all imaging is the creation and maintenance of an illusion.
It seems to me, Peter, you are presently fascinated by the absorption, reflection, bending and compression of light that eventually creates a new illusion.
The content and camera are the vehicle for exploration, a form of magic is the fuel.
Scott
PS. Have you ever tried a Noblex, Horizon, Widelux? They can throw you a curve into things you could explore for a long, long time... the world truly isn't flat.
daveleo
what?
I'm a hobbyist who got "serious" about making pictures after I retired.
I very much enjoy (1) creating tabletop pictures and (2) enhancing "real life" pictures in computer post-processing.
I get a big kick by lending 8X10's to hang in local coffee shops.
I very much enjoy (1) creating tabletop pictures and (2) enhancing "real life" pictures in computer post-processing.
I get a big kick by lending 8X10's to hang in local coffee shops.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I want people to see and remember the things they ignore and forget.
I do it professionally because I a boring day doing the commercial art (commercial photography and graphic design/web design) that I do is far less soul-crushing than working at Walmart, and this way I enjoy the fruits of my labor rather than making some rich asshole even richer while I starve on the crappy wages working people make where I live. If I starve sometimes, working for me, it is because I did not work that day, not because I worked hard and got nothing for it.
I do it professionally because I a boring day doing the commercial art (commercial photography and graphic design/web design) that I do is far less soul-crushing than working at Walmart, and this way I enjoy the fruits of my labor rather than making some rich asshole even richer while I starve on the crappy wages working people make where I live. If I starve sometimes, working for me, it is because I did not work that day, not because I worked hard and got nothing for it.
Crazy Fedya
Well-known
When I was growing up, my grandfather was our family photographer. He took photos of people, not objects. Most of the people were friends and family. When he passed away in 2008, my grandmother had given me his Kiev 4a and a box of negatives, which were most of the film he shot since 1948, I think. Needless to say, growing up, as a first grandson, I was photographed a lot by him. I am trying to continue his work, of sorts, as far as family concerned. Also, I like photographing the state of streets everywhere, since everything changes so fast these days. I don't mean street photography, as in people, but cityscapes, I guess. I would like to look at them 10-20 years later and wonder what is there now, etc. As far as making money goes, i find it to be a pain in the neck to photograph on assignment. I like to shoot what I want to shoot when I want to shoot. I guess, it is just a fear of not being able to fulfill someone's expectations, as far as assignment goes. May be i should give it a shot, eventually, as an exercise.
jsrockit
Moderator
I photograph because it is fun. Sometimes I take it serious and sometimes I don't. However, I never stress it anymore. I don't HAVE to always have a camera with me.
dct
perpetual amateur
It started as a hobby. Mostly personal projects. Then co-photographer for familiy events; still amateur, but valued. I know, the next step should be to expect some income for event work. Would I? It's a new aspect I never thought at it, when I came back to hobby photography during the '90...
Time will tell.
Time will tell.
nightlight
Well-known
I am just after a feeling of 'aha, caught it!'. Stealing, catching, capturing light, having frozen an instant forever on film/sensor., knowing that no one can take away.
Beyond that, I must admit, getting film developed or RAW photos processed is a chore; which explains why I have accumulated dozens of rolls of film and terabytes worth of images that I struggle to process.
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
The Moment...The Memory of what Once was... The Contrast between Light & Shadows
back alley
IMAGES
miss helen hill...photographer and poet!
Vincent.G
Well-known
Social responsibility.
Using photos to celebrate what's right with the world and to raise awareness of what's wrong with it.
Using photos to celebrate what's right with the world and to raise awareness of what's wrong with it.
Peter_wrote:
Well-known
hey scott
perhaps i expressed myself wrong. maybe i should have better written "i don't like doing post-processing" than "i don't like post-processing"
so it wasn't meant as a basic judgement about making a good picture. but making photographs mostly just for my own, fine-tuning like dust-removal is just not necessary.
oddly, although i like it when reality gets transformed by a photograph i never get warm with extreme wide-angels and so on ( so again just talking about my own photography, i have seen a lot of photographs made by others this way, which i like).
peter
Murchu
Well-known
I'm after memory and thought, to capture them the way I see them, to serve as reminders or artifacts of memory long after they are recorded. I am after beauty, to capture it as it crosses my path as I appreciate it, no matter its form. Part of it is the process, the way sometimes an artistic pursuit is a key to open up our synapses of perception and really see and savour, not just flit past them like we may normally do. At the base of it all, I am a visually curious person - I simply like to let my eye casually wander over things.
Re: photography itself, life is simply more important to me, and photography's role for me is simply another way to enjoy and appreciate it. Long gone are my impulses to photograph 'seriously', the personal is a much higher aspiration to me.
Thanks for starting this thread, it has really just made me realise the above in a conscious way.
Re: photography itself, life is simply more important to me, and photography's role for me is simply another way to enjoy and appreciate it. Long gone are my impulses to photograph 'seriously', the personal is a much higher aspiration to me.
Thanks for starting this thread, it has really just made me realise the above in a conscious way.
braver
Well-known
I've always wanted to create things, it' healthy in a way (more people should create something regardless of their skill in it). First there is nothing, you labor at something for a while, and suddenly there is something. Even better if something of yourself ended up in there, to make it something noone else could've made. I think that's one of the most amazing things we humans can do.
And there's the kick when a couple of times a year I'm surprised of what comes out. I have the film in my hands so it must've been me, but with some photo's the stars align or something, and I never really know beforehand that they will.
I do hope that at some point I get something together that is large and consistent enough that others might be interested. I like the idea of it being seen by more people than some friends and Flickr contact. That takes time though, and I don't get the impression the art world is particularly hot on b&w humanistic 35mm work anymore (locally, it definitely isn't), but whatever.
And there's the kick when a couple of times a year I'm surprised of what comes out. I have the film in my hands so it must've been me, but with some photo's the stars align or something, and I never really know beforehand that they will.
I do hope that at some point I get something together that is large and consistent enough that others might be interested. I like the idea of it being seen by more people than some friends and Flickr contact. That takes time though, and I don't get the impression the art world is particularly hot on b&w humanistic 35mm work anymore (locally, it definitely isn't), but whatever.
Murchu
Well-known
Way I figure it, you're on your death bed, which would you prefer, a lifetime of personal family images, or a collection of 'great' or 'serious' images. At least I know which I would prefer..
Pablito
coco frío
To rattle the world at its core and bring enlightenment to the masses.
Only half-joking.
Only half-joking.
Lund
Established
Carrying a camera forces me to really see the world. And the world is a truly amazing place to see.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
All purposes in various combination ...
To make my living when I was working as a 'pro'.
To reveal the passing world.
To make a statement when I feel I have a statement to make.
To express my emotions when my emotions motivate expression.
To enjoy the use of neat machines that make photographs.
To attempt Art, whatever I or you take that to mean.
To share what I see with others who might enjoy seeing it.
To aid my memory of things that are when they no are no longer.
To share my memory of people when they cannot be present.
To celebrate my life with others as seems apropos to the moment's purpose.
To pursue the doing for its own sake.
To reveal the passing world.
To make a statement when I feel I have a statement to make.
To express my emotions when my emotions motivate expression.
To enjoy the use of neat machines that make photographs.
To attempt Art, whatever I or you take that to mean.
To share what I see with others who might enjoy seeing it.
To aid my memory of things that are when they no are no longer.
To share my memory of people when they cannot be present.
To celebrate my life with others as seems apropos to the moment's purpose.
To pursue the doing for its own sake.
Life is short and mysterious. I make photographs for reasons that are often not clear even to me. But I do it because I like doing it and have not found any harm to myself or others in pursuing that doing.
