Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
Mr. Slade asked the questions in his New Years thread,:
Personally I think some of us missed the mark as to what he was looking to discuss,... but perhaps not. Either way this thread is my attempt at a clean slate, as it's devoted solely to IMAGE MAKING. It's not about gear, it's not about business, it's not about making a name for yourself, because personally, I have no interest in these things here. If you want to talk about the art, the creative process, and how we make compelling images, well this is the place.
First though, a disclaimer for all us ego driven gear junkies. By taking part in this thread you agree to refrain from talking about anything not having to do with image making. Agreed? Sweet!
I'll start by laying down a few assumptions. First let's assume that those who take part in this conversation understand the technical basics of a camera, meaning you know what aperture, shutter speed, ISO, all those buttons, lenses,etc, are and do. If you don't know but want to understand, check out the manual that came with your camera, most manuals describe these things in great detail. Yours doesn't, BS, even super duper cameras like the Nikon D3S's manual describe these things in great detail, so get reading.
Alright, so how about a primer to get things started. Let's start with the basics and look at some fundamental ways we can improve our images.
One way if you're just starting out is to fire away. Personally I feel if you are new to photography you need to do this. Every aspiring photographer worth his or her weight has done this and it needs to be done so we can understand later on where we go so wrong. Start with 10,000 images, if you want take more. This is the age of digital so this shouldn't be a problem.
Once you've done that, stop and review. What worked, what didn't, and ask yourself why. Asking why is an important step. Was something distracting in your image, was the light good, was your image exposed right? Does the image reflect what you saw or are trying to convey? Color, is it adding something to the image or is it distracting. Be brutal with yourself. Mediocre efforts here will only result in mediocre images later. For 99.9% of us the difference between those who make good images and those who make so so images has nothing to do with talent, no, it is more a reflection of our desires to really excel at what we do. Personal note: I've only been taking pictures for about two years, and somehow I've managed tp fool some of you into expressing approval for my shots, which is great and very flattering, but I assure you my improvement is not a reflection of talent, no, quite the opposite. My first images were junk, and many still are, if I had real talent it would have been apparent early on. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those naturally gifted visionaries, no, in the world of photography I'm an Ox. I plod along day after day exerting a ton of effort to simply to bring my images to a point that I find presentable, and I am still miles away from where I want to be so the effort continues. My point? There is hope if you're not satisfied with your shots, but you'll need to be prepared to get dirty. You'll need to spend long hours reading, reviewing, looking, and seeking understanding. Art is complicated, and to do it well requires a lot of effort. Real artistic talent is extremely rare, and the honest to goodness truth of the matter is most good photographers, even the really good ones, are simply very hard workers.
Ok, so back on track. Let's say you've taken your 10,000+ shots, great. Now go out and limit yourself to only 5. Most of us have trouble here because most of us don't really think about what we're doing when we shoot, actually most of us simply point and shoot and hope to find something that works. If you can only take 5 shots though you'll want to make them count. Slow down. Look through your viewfinder and really examine every element in the frame from corner to corner. Do you like what you see? Did you notice that stray tree branch in the corner of the frame? How's the light, is it working? Maybe you should come back to this spot later when the light is better. Whatever, slow down. Make sure every element in the frame adds to the image, if it doesn't, move, reframe, and analyze again.
Next is rules, I say avoid them. The rule of thirds, blah!!! This one gets spouted like the gospel but the only thing anyone looking to learn actually takes from this all too often spouted nonsense is move the target cross-hairs. Let me ask you this, have you ever asked or wondered what exactly are you trying to achieve by using a rule of thirds? The answer is simple but rarely explained. The answer is balance, but here's the kicker, balance within the frame is rarely found in perfect thirds which is precisely why I think this "rule" is such nonsense. I would suggest that the next time you pick up the camera you forget thinking thirds, and start thinking about balance. Be aware of the visual mass objects have in your image, and get rid of those damn cross-hairs, a camera is not a gun. Sometimes a singular element works best if it centered or statically balanced, sometimes not. Sometimes two objects in a frame work best if balanced at opposite corners of the frame, dynamically balanced, sometimes not. This is where some understanding of visual aesthetics comes into play. You as the photographer have to decide what works best for your image, but having an awareness of how elements are balanced within the frame will give you better results than simply sticking to some ill-conceived rule. Understanding balance is essential to good image making, but that's not to say that you always want a balanced image. Sometimes an unbalanced image is what you are after. An unbalanced image can create tension for the viewer, so if tension is what you are trying to convey, then having an unbalanced composition may be appropriate for your shot. Again though, this requires you to slow down a little and think a about what you're trying to say with your image.
Perspective. The lens we choose, the angles we shoot at, both have a huge impact on the look of our images. Looking to add depth to a shot, go wide. A wide lens will exaggerate near far relationships giving the viewer a sense of real depth. One thing people so often think is that wide lenses are for taking in more space and tele's are for getting closer or taking in less space. While a wide lens can take in a lot of real estate, it's not a reason to use one. I can take in a ton of sky with a 300mm lens if shooting at a distance. Lens choice should reflect your intended perspective. Sometimes you want to bring two elements in a frame together, for this longer lenses are what you want. Sometimes you want to exaggerate the relationship between elements, to do this you should go wide. If you want to bring two elements together but are too close to them to get both within the frame, there is a solution, back up, move! Don't let that zoom lens make you lazy. Filling the frame with 20mm looks completely different then filling the frame with the same object but shot with a 200mm. Don't believe me, try it. Shoot an apple with a wide lens, you'll need to get close to fill the frame. Now using the same apple, grab a longer lens, again filling the frame, you'll need to back up now. Now look at both of them, notice the huge difference in the look of each image? That's perspective. The same can be said for changing not only lenses but your position in relation to your subject as well. Take a picture of someone while standing on a ladder, then move low to the ground and take a picture of that same person. See how perspective influences how they appear. When you shoot up at someone it places them in a position of power, they look commanding, and the same can be said for objects. Shooting down on something does just the opposite. That's perspective, think about it when you're shooting.
Anticipate. It doesn't matter if you're shooting landscape or portraits a good photographer can anticipate the moment. Pay attention, is the light changing fast, if so how do you think it's going to look in 5 minutes? Is something funny about to happen with a child, pay attention, anticipate the surprise.
Light. A photo is nothing without light, but light is one of the least understood qualities, and this is especially true for the novice. Light above everything else will make or break your image. A perfect exposure in boring light will result in an uninteresting image. The color of light, it's temperature, direction, harshness, where it's falling, all these qualities will work for or against you. If you do nothing else to improve your image making, work on seeing the light, literally. Forget form for a moment and think just about light. Don't understand what I mean? Try this. Defocus one of your lenses and go shooting. I guarantee that in no time you'll see what I'm talking about. Some images may look a mess, but others may actually have interest, and all you've done is shot light. You've removed the form, and dealt only with light. That is the power light has. Form is secondary. And think about this for a moment, when was the last time you heard a painter say, that painting is tack sharp? Never right? That's because painting, like photography, is about light. Learn to see the light, and understand how it's qualities will impact your image and then use those qualities to express your vision.
Think sideways. Not every image should be in focus or tack sharp, sometimes a defocused image helps to convey feeling or mystery. A little motion blur can certainly convey movement. So get creative. Think about the moment, think about what's happening, and ask yourself if your vision for the scene would be aided by moving outside of the box.
Lastly, it doesn't matter if you shoot landscape or macro, people or cars. Understanding the basic elements of a good image applies equally to all forms of photography. If you can shoot people well, you'll probably be able to shoot landscape well, and vice versa.
Anyway, that's enough from me for now. I'll leave it up to the rest of you to move this thread one way or another. We can get really deep, and talk about things like the intrinsic values of light and color, stuff like that, or we can simply stick to more basic elements like the ones I mentioned above. Either way lets talk image making, lets see who's really interested in good photography and who's just interested in having pricey gear around their neck.:elkgrin:
Personally I think some of us missed the mark as to what he was looking to discuss,... but perhaps not. Either way this thread is my attempt at a clean slate, as it's devoted solely to IMAGE MAKING. It's not about gear, it's not about business, it's not about making a name for yourself, because personally, I have no interest in these things here. If you want to talk about the art, the creative process, and how we make compelling images, well this is the place.
First though, a disclaimer for all us ego driven gear junkies. By taking part in this thread you agree to refrain from talking about anything not having to do with image making. Agreed? Sweet!
I'll start by laying down a few assumptions. First let's assume that those who take part in this conversation understand the technical basics of a camera, meaning you know what aperture, shutter speed, ISO, all those buttons, lenses,etc, are and do. If you don't know but want to understand, check out the manual that came with your camera, most manuals describe these things in great detail. Yours doesn't, BS, even super duper cameras like the Nikon D3S's manual describe these things in great detail, so get reading.
Alright, so how about a primer to get things started. Let's start with the basics and look at some fundamental ways we can improve our images.
One way if you're just starting out is to fire away. Personally I feel if you are new to photography you need to do this. Every aspiring photographer worth his or her weight has done this and it needs to be done so we can understand later on where we go so wrong. Start with 10,000 images, if you want take more. This is the age of digital so this shouldn't be a problem.
Once you've done that, stop and review. What worked, what didn't, and ask yourself why. Asking why is an important step. Was something distracting in your image, was the light good, was your image exposed right? Does the image reflect what you saw or are trying to convey? Color, is it adding something to the image or is it distracting. Be brutal with yourself. Mediocre efforts here will only result in mediocre images later. For 99.9% of us the difference between those who make good images and those who make so so images has nothing to do with talent, no, it is more a reflection of our desires to really excel at what we do. Personal note: I've only been taking pictures for about two years, and somehow I've managed tp fool some of you into expressing approval for my shots, which is great and very flattering, but I assure you my improvement is not a reflection of talent, no, quite the opposite. My first images were junk, and many still are, if I had real talent it would have been apparent early on. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those naturally gifted visionaries, no, in the world of photography I'm an Ox. I plod along day after day exerting a ton of effort to simply to bring my images to a point that I find presentable, and I am still miles away from where I want to be so the effort continues. My point? There is hope if you're not satisfied with your shots, but you'll need to be prepared to get dirty. You'll need to spend long hours reading, reviewing, looking, and seeking understanding. Art is complicated, and to do it well requires a lot of effort. Real artistic talent is extremely rare, and the honest to goodness truth of the matter is most good photographers, even the really good ones, are simply very hard workers.
Ok, so back on track. Let's say you've taken your 10,000+ shots, great. Now go out and limit yourself to only 5. Most of us have trouble here because most of us don't really think about what we're doing when we shoot, actually most of us simply point and shoot and hope to find something that works. If you can only take 5 shots though you'll want to make them count. Slow down. Look through your viewfinder and really examine every element in the frame from corner to corner. Do you like what you see? Did you notice that stray tree branch in the corner of the frame? How's the light, is it working? Maybe you should come back to this spot later when the light is better. Whatever, slow down. Make sure every element in the frame adds to the image, if it doesn't, move, reframe, and analyze again.
Next is rules, I say avoid them. The rule of thirds, blah!!! This one gets spouted like the gospel but the only thing anyone looking to learn actually takes from this all too often spouted nonsense is move the target cross-hairs. Let me ask you this, have you ever asked or wondered what exactly are you trying to achieve by using a rule of thirds? The answer is simple but rarely explained. The answer is balance, but here's the kicker, balance within the frame is rarely found in perfect thirds which is precisely why I think this "rule" is such nonsense. I would suggest that the next time you pick up the camera you forget thinking thirds, and start thinking about balance. Be aware of the visual mass objects have in your image, and get rid of those damn cross-hairs, a camera is not a gun. Sometimes a singular element works best if it centered or statically balanced, sometimes not. Sometimes two objects in a frame work best if balanced at opposite corners of the frame, dynamically balanced, sometimes not. This is where some understanding of visual aesthetics comes into play. You as the photographer have to decide what works best for your image, but having an awareness of how elements are balanced within the frame will give you better results than simply sticking to some ill-conceived rule. Understanding balance is essential to good image making, but that's not to say that you always want a balanced image. Sometimes an unbalanced image is what you are after. An unbalanced image can create tension for the viewer, so if tension is what you are trying to convey, then having an unbalanced composition may be appropriate for your shot. Again though, this requires you to slow down a little and think a about what you're trying to say with your image.
Perspective. The lens we choose, the angles we shoot at, both have a huge impact on the look of our images. Looking to add depth to a shot, go wide. A wide lens will exaggerate near far relationships giving the viewer a sense of real depth. One thing people so often think is that wide lenses are for taking in more space and tele's are for getting closer or taking in less space. While a wide lens can take in a lot of real estate, it's not a reason to use one. I can take in a ton of sky with a 300mm lens if shooting at a distance. Lens choice should reflect your intended perspective. Sometimes you want to bring two elements in a frame together, for this longer lenses are what you want. Sometimes you want to exaggerate the relationship between elements, to do this you should go wide. If you want to bring two elements together but are too close to them to get both within the frame, there is a solution, back up, move! Don't let that zoom lens make you lazy. Filling the frame with 20mm looks completely different then filling the frame with the same object but shot with a 200mm. Don't believe me, try it. Shoot an apple with a wide lens, you'll need to get close to fill the frame. Now using the same apple, grab a longer lens, again filling the frame, you'll need to back up now. Now look at both of them, notice the huge difference in the look of each image? That's perspective. The same can be said for changing not only lenses but your position in relation to your subject as well. Take a picture of someone while standing on a ladder, then move low to the ground and take a picture of that same person. See how perspective influences how they appear. When you shoot up at someone it places them in a position of power, they look commanding, and the same can be said for objects. Shooting down on something does just the opposite. That's perspective, think about it when you're shooting.
Anticipate. It doesn't matter if you're shooting landscape or portraits a good photographer can anticipate the moment. Pay attention, is the light changing fast, if so how do you think it's going to look in 5 minutes? Is something funny about to happen with a child, pay attention, anticipate the surprise.
Light. A photo is nothing without light, but light is one of the least understood qualities, and this is especially true for the novice. Light above everything else will make or break your image. A perfect exposure in boring light will result in an uninteresting image. The color of light, it's temperature, direction, harshness, where it's falling, all these qualities will work for or against you. If you do nothing else to improve your image making, work on seeing the light, literally. Forget form for a moment and think just about light. Don't understand what I mean? Try this. Defocus one of your lenses and go shooting. I guarantee that in no time you'll see what I'm talking about. Some images may look a mess, but others may actually have interest, and all you've done is shot light. You've removed the form, and dealt only with light. That is the power light has. Form is secondary. And think about this for a moment, when was the last time you heard a painter say, that painting is tack sharp? Never right? That's because painting, like photography, is about light. Learn to see the light, and understand how it's qualities will impact your image and then use those qualities to express your vision.
Think sideways. Not every image should be in focus or tack sharp, sometimes a defocused image helps to convey feeling or mystery. A little motion blur can certainly convey movement. So get creative. Think about the moment, think about what's happening, and ask yourself if your vision for the scene would be aided by moving outside of the box.
Lastly, it doesn't matter if you shoot landscape or macro, people or cars. Understanding the basic elements of a good image applies equally to all forms of photography. If you can shoot people well, you'll probably be able to shoot landscape well, and vice versa.
Anyway, that's enough from me for now. I'll leave it up to the rest of you to move this thread one way or another. We can get really deep, and talk about things like the intrinsic values of light and color, stuff like that, or we can simply stick to more basic elements like the ones I mentioned above. Either way lets talk image making, lets see who's really interested in good photography and who's just interested in having pricey gear around their neck.:elkgrin:
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