It depends what I'm shooting. Photowalks are seldom planned. I just pick
spot, wander around, see what I can find. Travel is probably 50/50. When
traveling, sometimes there are certain sites I want to photograph & I do,
but then I also wander around and find things, which is part of the spirit
of travel anyway. Outings are little different. I try to find the story in
the outing--turn it into a photo story. Sometimes it works out, sometimes
not. A couple of years ago, I shot the cross-town game of the Cubs & Sox at
Wrigley field & I knew the kind of shots I wanted to go for. I was able to
anticipate what I would probably see. Last year when I shot the cross-town
game at Sox park, I didn't know what to expect because I wasn't that
familiar with the area, the energy and activity, and I was discombobulated
and the pictures suffered, the photo story suffered, but having that
experience was good; I learned from it. Next time I'll be more flexible to
make adjustments--see differently more quickly--recognize the unexpected
story more quickly--hopefully, anyway. The theater shoot last August was
mostly planned. I made sure I saw the play before the shoot and picked the
dramatic scenes and I worked with the director as well. The construction
story, which is nearly finished, is often planned. When I can get down
there, usually I am going to shoot some specific moment in the construction
process, but you have to keep your eye open for the unexpected as well.
I've learned so much during this shoot--mostly because I made so many
mistakes :-).
I think my favorite part of photography is arriving on a site then
immediately launching into assessing the situation. I love trying to find
the energy, the groove, the patterns, the colors, the shapes, the
people--identify that which I might have planned for, anticipated. Then the
camera rises to the left of my nose, and I try to begin capturing the story.
When I'm in practice, it's like breathing--it comes so naturally and the
next thing I know I'm in the zone. But when I'm out of practice, ugh, it's
ugly, and I'm clumsy, and I'm usually on my way home much sooner than I
anticipated having thrown in the towel to defeat. I can also become
overwhelmed by a shooting situation to the point where I can't settle down,
can't get focused--I'm just shooting aimlessly. I hate that. Makes me feel
like a frame grabber as opposed to a thoughtful photographer. But it does
happen to me, though less then it used to, thank the gods.
So, it depends what I'm shooting. Different strategies for different
shooting situations. In the end though, I would say that the best
photography comes out of good planning AND an eye for the unexpected.
Cheers, Chrisitne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Colen" <[email protected]>
To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 3:44 PM
Subject: finding pictures or making pictures?
While waiting for my backdrop to dry at the laundromat, I had fifteen
minutes to kill, so I went for a short photo walk. On my way back, I
realized that the fast majority of my photography is mostly "finding
photos" rather than "making photos" where I set out with a particular idea
planned out.
I'm curious how often the people on this list work from even a rough plan,
versus just going out and seeing what they find.
--
Larry Colen [email protected] sent from i4est
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