Your favorite visual cliché

How about a ring placed on an open book, just so the shadow forms a shape of a heart. Unfortunatelly too popular these days.
 
semordnilap said:
randomly arranged people on the sidewalk!!!
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Hah! good one...add in an exotic country to the mix and you have one of my faves.

Weathered old man in sharp focus with "creamy" bokeh?
Cats, cats, and more cats?

The one I'm guilty of is taking way too many photos of chained up bikes in NYC. I have to stop.

Sometimes a good cliche keeps you sharp! ;)

Oh yeah, club pics... way too lame these days.
 
jsrockit said:
The one I'm guilty of is taking way too many photos of chained up bikes in NYC. I have to stop.
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Man, the sad thing is people sometimes tell me "oh, you really like photographing bikes!" Well, yes and no. I live in Amsterdam, getting a streetshot without a bike in the frame is a huge challange! :) They're everywhere! On the other hand i don't mind too much, they're not bad subject to have in the frame. I'm just embarrased to have so many shots with bikes in them.
 
mabelsound, the distinction I made was a) cliché as a derogative noun: that would mean you were asking for weak images widely used, and often interesting in a public way (magazines, newspapers, TV) but of no interest as art or creation from a photographer's point of view, or b) great shots having similar ones (but weaker) considered clichés sometimes...

The shot you just posted, for example, (couple in the mirror) for me is a wonderful photograph: not a repeated, unexpressive cliché, and it's either a well treated cliché: it's just a great shot with lots of feeling and technical abilities used by a good photographer. Using a mirror is not a cliché in my opinion...

As some here are making fun of hated clichés, and others are talking about clichés they enjoy, I am not clear yet...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Keith said:
People siting or standing at train platforms with a train in a blur of motion flashing past in the background!
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Although in one of the RFF books, the photo of a bystander's reflection caught in a speeding train window was amazing. One of my favourite photos and I wish I had taken it.
 
Bride and groom embracing on a beach in silhouette at sunset... (gosh is there a wedding photo that doesn't make me want to vomit?)

Small children dressed up as adults holding hands or the little girl kissing the little boy.
 
Black and white wedding photos with severely blown highlights.

Grandma's hands.

Posed girl looking off camera--not smiling, almost sad, dead center of the frame.

Jumping pictures.

Macros of bugs and flowers (God i really really hate those).

Band photo--members standing at different distances--usually on rocky or uneven terrain--looking at the camera--not smiling.

Urban decay/abandoned buildings (really anything from factories to barns).

Lomo (however, it contributes to film sales, so I will let it slide).
 
^^^
wilonstott, you forgot to mention the cliche in your avatar too. :)

I'll add rivers, waterfalls at slow shutter speeds. Moreover, they're typically way over processed to boot. blech.
 
t.s.k. said:
^^^
wilonstott, you forgot to mention the cliche in your avatar too. :)

I'll add rivers, waterfalls at slow shutter speeds. Moreover, they're typically way over processed to boot. blech.
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Shorelines with vivid colors, but enough time to make the water look like smoke. See UK's Outdoor Photography, any issue for the past 12 years.
 
One of the things I hate the most in photography is fill flash... My portrait in my avatar has fill flash. but I didn't shoot that one...:p

Cheers,

Juan
 
I'm not sure if this counts but I really hate those self-portraits taken with a webcam where people put on a serious/sexy expression on their face with one eye extremely close to the lens.
 
sunsets at the beach
closeup of flowers
landmarks juxtaposed against you-name-it, and vice versa

although I have been guilty
 
graffiti
trashcans
homeless people
trashcans covered in graffiti
homeless people going through trash cans
sad homeless people
happy homeless people
alll of it in black and white
american flag with light behind it taking up whole frame
 
wilonstott said:
Band photo--members standing at different distances--usually on rocky or uneven terrain--looking at the camera--not smiling.
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Another vote for that one. Except one guy is looking another direction.

Also, newborn baby (premature?) sleeping in cupped hand, naked.
 
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