Apart from family shots, I do try to avoid clichés, but even then if the light is particularly striking, I will still go for it. For what I think is my 'real' photography (that's excluding the aforesaid family stuff!), my motivation falls into one of several sources: something catches my eye, such as some amazing graffiti in my neighbourhood, there is a documentary project such as the post-flood reconstruction images I'm working on currently, or it's all about the light, where the light _is_ the subject. My April 'Memories of Kodachrome' PUG entry falls into the latter category, as it was entirely motivated by having seen the same scene many times under different lighting, but recognising that there would be a striking image if the light happened to be just so.
Often working on improving on the last effort on a topic doesn't work, but I think constantly trying to improve on that last effort in whichever category can only help to make me a better photographer. John Coyle Brisbane, Australia -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Darren Addy Sent: Saturday, 2 April 2011 4:12 AM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: Re: Why do you shoot? I also thank Collin for the thought-provoking post. I think we know what you mean by "cliche images" but I disagree with the concept entirely. I think what you call "cliche images" might more readily be called "obvious beauty". Sunsets, flowers, cute babies, etc. They are likely subjects that we all notice and want to capture. They are almost empirically beautiful and it may be hard not to be attracted to photograph them. However, there is a difference between noticing "obvious beauty" and capturing it well. Frankly, I think that if we are going to condemn artists for capturing obvious beauty, then we probably need to condemn Ansel Adams for taking another damn photo of a mountain (or other landscape) or stone Georgia O'Keefe for choosing to do a painting of yet another damn flower. I think that is silly. You could spend your whole life just getting better at photographing one genre of "obvious beauty", if you chose to do so. Now where I think Collin provides some inspiration and food for thought is in challenging us to extend our vision beyond "obvious" beauty, or perhaps leaving beauty altogether. One way that I like to challenge my eye is to go somewhere without obvious beauty and then try to find some by working only with the lines, shapes and colors that are there. Collin's theme suggestion is another good way to stretch one's eye/vision/execution. That would be my "spin" on Collin's word: Take out "cliche images" and replace it with "obvious beauty" and allow people to start there or stay there, if they so choose - but also consider growing/expanding your subjects. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
