Photography advise

[Daisy14'sDH]

I was talking to a pretty well known photographer locally, and he gave me some suggestions on how to improve. The oddest one he gave me was to write down what you want to do with photography. Put on paper what you like in a photograph and set goals and a style that will represent you.

Now with that said, does anyone care to share what there goals are? Or do you think that his advise is silly?

I can see some benefit to it, but I can barely use the camera, how can I define what I want to do with it? lol.

Srison, you really have found a fun way to go about it with your people of Disney, what inspired you?

DCG, your landscape and macro work is amazing! What inspired you?

There are dozens more impressive photographers on this board, please feel free to chime in! Figment, wook, Mr Cricket, Gianni, Groucho, ScottWDW etc etc...

 

[pgowder]

It's good advice!

With photography it is always good to push yourself.

My personal goals lately has been to learn more about lighting. In particular using off camera flashes.

One thing I do alot is to look at other images I like and try to deconstruct them. Figure out how they did it, then try to apply that to your own image. This works with all types of photography.

I use Evernote to save them and I go back and study them.

Since you are starting, look at lots of images online, in books, etc. When you see an image that you don't know how they did it, try to learn that technique.

 

[SrisonS]

I think that is pretty good advice. You don't need to physically write anything down; but just be aware of what you might want to accomplish. But I think that really having a set goal would be more important for someone that wants to go Pro.

If you just like having photography as a hobby, most people just keep learning different things periodically. And I think that Paul's advice is a great starting point. Keep shooting like Hell, of course; but be a fan of others. Really analyze pictures whose look you might want to achieve (from settings, lighting, composition, etc). During this phase of shooting and viewing, you'll eventually have your own style that you're comfortable with. And over time, new things to try will just come to you (i.e. Getting used to my External flash is my newer learning phase).

As far as my Human Element series, it was kinda just something new to focus on when at Disney. When you're there a lot, it can sometimes be difficult to think of new things to shoot. But I've always been a fan of street photographers that mainly focus on candid shots of people. So i just married the love of Disney with it.

 

[photo_chick]

Knowing the types of images you want to make is important. But it can take a while to figure out your style and what you want to do with it. And you have to be fluid and willing to change those ideas as you learn more. Knowing where you want to go as a photographer in general is important. Is it just to produce images that you love, or is it a business goal? Do you want to show in a gallery? Or will you just be happy to have a reasonably well exposed image that is in focus most of the time?

I used to think I wanted to be a full time portrait photographer. I got to the point where I could do that and I realized I hated it. I ended up going back to school to finish my BFA (I got sidetracked having kids 3 semesters before finishing a dozen years ago) and it got me back to what first really got me addicted to photography, working in the darkroom. And that prompted a whole new growth and style change for me. And my point here is that you might not end up where you think you will.

Looking at other work is also good advice. One of the first things we do when we get a new assignment in my photo classes is to look at other photographers who had successfully produced images that fit the assignment.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

My primary goal is simple - accumulate more photography gear than my friends. It's tough because some of them have income earning spouses and no kids.

My goals fall into two broad, overlapping categories - obtaining specific skills and achieving planned results.

The skills focused stuff is just to build up my tool set. Some examples are learning to shoot and process HDR photos, learning to light and shoot high key portraits, learning to light and shoot bugs. That sort of thing. I also do a bunch of focused shoots with new lenses to get a better understanding of how to "see" with that lens.

Most of my "goals" are more like inspiration driven projects. I think about what I want to accomplish and then figure out what I need to do to get there. On my summer trip, I wanted to focus on video. In particular, I wanted to make a video of the kids riding their scooters. I also wanted to make some video vignettes of our trip activities (balloon ride, zip line rides). I also wanted to do a video vignette using the oil paint pixel bender effect.

On our spring break trip, I had a few other goals. I wanted a nice sunset portrait of the kids on the shore. To do that, I had to research and think through how I wanted to light the scene.

I also wanted to do more work with long exposure shots of the ocean. In the past, I'd taken very long exposures to make the water look like fog. This time, I envisioned a shot that showed the motion of the water without making it look too blurry. I wanted a picture that captured how I think of the water rather than what it really looks like. It's hard to explain, but I had a certain look in mind and then worked for a few mornings to capture that look. This is what I came up with. It isn't exactly what I wanted, but it was in the ballpark.

I often fail to meet my "goals". Some ideas just don't work. Other times, I think I'm going to want to do something but when I get to the shoot, I just don't feel it. On our spring break trip, I was going to focus on video and not take that many pictures. I ended up shooting very little video and taking lots of pictures.

I had other goal/projects. I wanted to start doing more "everyday life" videos to try to capture our current lives for posterity. The first of those was a swimming video in the backyard. I've got plans for several more (the boys playing Mindcraft - their latest obsession), a tour of the house with voice overs talking about how we use each room and the main items in the room, and even starting a regular video diary.

I had a Disney "project" the last time I went, which was to shoot a lot of "from the eyes of a child" shot. I had a lot of it thought through. My plan was to shoot primarily wide angle (about 30mm on a FF) shots from a couple of feet off the ground to capture the perspective of a 2-3 year old. I wanted to include scene setting items like the edges of strollers or the arm of a adult holding the viewer's hand. I had lots of specific shots thought out and was sure that I'd be inspired to see lots more once I got started. When I got to WDW, I just didn't feel it and skipped the project. My point is, set goals, but don't feel bound by them.

Your goals should be about what you want to accomplish.

 

[zackiedawg]

I believe that whatever method works for you is a good one - even if it may not be something I do, it may be just what inspires someone else's best work, and makes photography fun for them. And that for me is the ultimate goal - enjoy photography. As long as I'm enjoying it, it inspires me, and it fosters my creativity.

I tend to shoot two types of things - one is what I like to shoot - my stuff, my style, my 'regular' subjects. The other would be things that pop into mind to try to be different or creative or think out of the box - this may come as an inspiration at seeing other people's shots, or by a new lens, or forcing myself to try a new stance or angle, or sticking with only one lens for a day...whatever sounds fun or interesting. On those shots, I'm willing to experiment, and I'm willing to fail. For the other stuff, I know what I'm doing and always enjoy that type of photography, so it keeps the enjoyment and satisfaction in it.

Try any method at all - I think first and foremost you need to find out if photography is going to be something that you become fanatic about, that you really really want to do more, and better. Some very good photographers might have all the skill, but they don't always have the desire to shoot as often...they're good at it when they do it, but don't really love spending hours and hours doing it. No use trying to force yourself to shoot more if you don't really love it to begin with...and I do believe a very large part of inspiration and growth comes from loving what you're doing.

Once you've established that you are indeed a photography nutball, then figure out how you want to go about it - planning, writing, plotting, being spontaneous, shooting one particular style or subject, or pushing to new and different ones all the time, wandering with a camera seeing what strikes you, or scheduling every single location in advance with Google maps...there's no right or wrong way!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Wow, thank you all for the replies to the thread! I was afraid at first because I knew I was going to miss a few of my own favs, Zackie, Mark! Great replies, I hope that other enthusiasts read this thread to learn from you all! You will end up insiring a whole new generation of DSLR users...

 

[dcg0317]

I don't have any plans when going out to shoot, my style of shots with landscape and marco is due in part to the area I live in. Living in rural NH and not close to any large cities has had a big effect on what I shoot, there are more trees and wildlife than people so I have gone out and try and capture what I see. I do it as a hobby and just getting out is relaxing and being in touch and awe of the beauty of nature.

 

[boufa]

I think that some people may find the advise worth while, not so much for me. I shoot for the enjoyment of it. I like the hunt for a great picture. Once I have captured it, I find that I am much less interested in doing anything else with it (might be a fear of transferring my "art" from personal to public)

At one point I wanted to catalog and collect as many lighthouse photos as I could. As I have learned more, I have discovered new and more interesting ways to look at things. Less cold, and more creative. I used to think zoo photography was almost as useless as buying a postcard of an animal. I have since learned to appreciate that there is quality to be had, and art to be derived, even from the zoo animals. Again, its the hunt that excites me.

The other thing that shifts your perspective is your gear. Maybe you are not into birds and wildlife, but then you end up with a super zoom, and it is all about birds now. I have also gone through phases where the goal was to document as many species of bird as I could in the wild.... see its the hunt again.

I am looking forward to my trip to WDW but I fear that the hunt will be too easy and every picture has been taken. Won't stop me from trying, but it might end up not being as enjoyable as spending a weekend in a park trying to get a picture of a hawk.

Ultimately the biggest problem with goals like you described is that it sends you down a road that you might be so focused on and cause you to miss other opportunities. These things become obvious when someone "discovers" a new lens. Like a wildlife photographer who suddenly opens himself up to shooting ultra wide. I have no pre planned photography shots in mind in wdw. I will go and shoot and see what moves me. Its the science of an art.

 

[SrisonS]

I am looking forward to my trip to WDW but I fear that the hunt will be too easy and every picture has been taken. Won't stop me from trying, but it might end up not being as enjoyable as spending a weekend in a park trying to get a picture of a hawk.

I'd say that most of the details have been shot before, but there is always a new WAY to shoot them. It might take some creative thinking, but it can be done.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I got away from photography for a long time. My job got in the way of hobbies! Since I never had the time to develop a darkroom (nor the skill!), the lack of creative control in film was driving me crazy. When the first digital P & S' came out, while impressed with the emerging technology, the quality underwhelmed me. Its only been about 4-5 years that my interest was re-awakened and I have been enjoying the ride of the DSLR wave. The problem now is my photography is getting in the way of my creativity. This summer has been photographing one event after another! While I am having fun, I don't have the time to grab the tripod, setup and wait for the perfect shot. I'm not able to "hunt" for THE shot. The type of events that I have been shooting don't lend themselves to whole lot of artistic creativity. Sometimes its almost like machine gun photography, "Next person, please". I have a soft spot in my heart for the Photopass Photographers. To set up in the same spot, with settings pre-determined and shoot the same image over and over again can become very boring! The only saving grace, is the guest interaction and in my case, the fans. My goal is to find time to become a more artistic photographer. While not a super fan of HDR, I would like to learn the skill better than I do now. I am looking forward to our Nov/Dec WDW trip which has some built in time for me to just wander off with the tripod and shoot!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Well put everyone, it is interesting reading what drives you all. Tonight I am going out to take some night shots, (basically what I started doing when I first got the DSLR). I'm going to shoot the same things as before but with a slightly different setup... lets see what happens with an extra 18 months of experience...

 

[GrumpyGoat]

I was talking to a pretty well known photographer locally, and he gave me some suggestions on how to improve. The oddest one he gave me was to write down what you want to do with photography. Put on paper what you like in a photograph and set goals and a style that will represent you.

Now with that said, does anyone care to share what there goals are? Or do you think that his advise is silly?

I can see some benefit to it, but I can barely use the camera, how can I define what I want to do with it? lol.

Srison, you really have found a fun way to go about it with your people of Disney, what inspired you?

DCG, your landscape and macro work is amazing! What inspired you?

There are dozens more impressive photographers on this board, please feel free to chime in! Figment, wook, Mr Cricket, Gianni, Groucho, ScottWDW etc etc...

You made a very important statement in the original post: "I can see some benefit to it, but I can barely use the camera, how can I define what I want to do with it? lol."

You are absolutely right. You can't establish a style until you fully understand the basic principles of photography and how your camera operates. You need to know how the settings on the camera relate to the image the camera produces and what the finished image may look like. Operating the camera should become second nature to you. Too many people rush into photography without learning how their cameras work; some without ever studying the camera manual, and then wonder why their pictures are junk.

Contrary to what most people believe, if you want to establish a "style" then learning post-processing skills is a must. I'm not necessarily talking about using the full version of Adobe Photoshop, but there are other, easier to learn, applications that can make a major difference in how your images look.

Only when you've mastered the technical aspects of photography can you begin to develop a style, if that's what you want to do. (I've been taking pictures for 45 years and I don't I have a "style." ) Don't be intimidated by this. One of the great advantages of digital is that it's cheap... It costs nothing to experiment. If the image doesn't turn out, delete it. It's that simple.