The Hardest Type of Photography?

[ChevyBaby]

After looking at this forum and being absorbed by so many fabulous images and seeing the critisism I started to ask myself what is the hardest type of photography?

I'm starting to think Macro is a bit of a bitch.

What's the hardest shoot you've ever done?

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[Sisco]

I think its all a tough nut. They all rely on basically the same things.

[thruthelens]

Sports photography for me, you've got to anticipate the moment just before it happens and that split second timing is crucial.

[ChevyBaby]

Yeah, sports is true enough! When i first started photography, i was so closed minded about landscape photographs, then i realised all the troubles with lighting scenes. My gosh!

[Abby Rose]

People for me. My dear little camera isn't easily capable of blurring out the background so I have to come up with other ways to put the focus on the person (which I have not been successful with ) and I dont usually connect with people very well anyway so I can't make their shot special.

It also seems that people and macro photography require the most involved equipment. Usually. But that could just be my perspective, and certainly you could get a bunch of equipment to enhance your, say, landscape photos, if you wanted. Landscape doesnt seem quite as difficult because if the scene is there, and the light is there, then you mostly just have to frame it. Not that it doesnt involve skill, of course.

Animals are difficult also, for me. They don't usually want to pose for a picture so you really have to be ready for whatever they throw at you. I usually am not.

Wow. I pretty much just mentioned the majority of types of photography... I must suck.

[ChevyBaby]

No, you're right about the equipment! The lighting for people as well as the props and styling that make them feel comfortable is a mission!

[CNCO]

As mentioned before it's all tough.

[Ron Evers]

Birds, I don't have anything longer than 210mm.

[Proteus617]

Just spent a few hours looking through the altprocess group on flickr. You have no idea how difficult the wet-plate process is.

[Overread]

I'm going to say that pretty much any specific area of photography is going to be almost equally as hard as the others as each different area will have its own demands on both the artistic and technical levels.

I will perhaps say that insect macro photography and wildlife photography are two of the harder areas not just from a technical standpoint, but also from a practicality point that you have almost no control over your subject - nor any control over where they will be. They both require application of an extensive series of skills outside of photography itself in order to get the truly best results possible.

Of course then we can't forget war reporters who are often in areas where their subjects are out to kill them or their companions with deliberate intent.

[Light Artisan]

Underwater photography has to be up there pretty high on the list. Sure, anyone can buy an underwater housing/camera - but to actually make a beautiful photograph under water takes a lot practice and skill.

[Jcampbelll]

The type your least experienced with?

[clanthar]

No contest, has to be sports.

[Overread]

Underwater photography has to be up there pretty high on the list. Sure, anyone can buy an underwater housing/camera - but to actually make a beautiful photograph under water takes a lot practice and skill.

Ahh true point - underwater shark photography must be up there as one of the hardest (not only have you got to find the shark - but also get close enough for a good shot and avoid being eaten* all at the same time )

No contest, has to be sports.

Try doings sports when the players aim is not to play the game but to avoid you - welcome to wildlife photography Sports is (like wildlife) expensive because you are often needing long reach in poor lighting

* yes I know sharks don't dominantly predate on people and that most shark attacks are surfers trying to look like seals

[Infidel]

Try doings sports when the players aim is not to play the game but to avoid you - welcome to wildlife photography Sports is (like wildlife) expensive because you are often needing long reach in poor lighting

At least with wildlife photography, your editor won't know whether you missed a good shot or not.