Avoiding Obvious Shots a Good Idea?

[Golem]

I'm thinking of looking for more shots that aren't obvious, like photos where only part of the body appears, or only a shadow. Is this something I would have picked up if I had been industrious enough to read more about photography?

View attachment 286241

Noooooo !!! DO NOT read that crap. Your aesthetic intentions seem wonderfully adventurous ! More reading about photography is a terrible idea. The contents of such books is all counterproductive, and even toxic, to your intent. Better to read some fiction or biographies.

 

[DanOstergren]

I really love the shot of your son in the first post. The perspective is fun and different, a nod to your point of less obvious shots.

That said, I think there is a place for the more obvious shots as well, both in terms of creating photos that someone could cherish for different reasons than what makes the less obvious shots great, as well as for learning purposes. I personally have always been a fan of posed portraits, and over the many years that I've been doing it my personal style has evolved around that genre/style. I recommend letting your wife take photos the way she likes and to not be too harsh if her work strays from what you like personally. She should be given the chance to create images in a way that she wants and is drawn to. Creativity thrives with freedom, and developing a personal style often means going through those “obvious” stages too. I think folks should be given the freedom to create in a way that feels natural for them in order to develop their own style, but a little encouragement from you for her to try new things certainly can't hurt either.

 

[21limited]

Ya bottom line, take any shot that appeals to you, sort out if it meets your standards later. You never know what you may find interesting in post.

 

[Politically Incorrect]

I have to keep reminding my wife of certain things in order to prevent her from wrecking photos. For example, I have to tell her to quit posing. If I see her and my son doing something that would make a good photo, and she sees me, she will start trying to arrange a pose that looks like it came with a wallet.

Similarly, I am learning that I have missed good photos by being too obvious. Sometimes it's better to skip shooting the obvious picture.

Today my son was getting cleaned up, and I took the attached shot with the phone while he was in the utility sink. I think it's much better than most of the more-inclusive shots I've taken, where more of him is visible. I took three shots, and I like this one best because his mouth is not clearly seen. It's funnier this way. I think it would be better if his mouth were not visible at all.

I'm thinking of looking for more shots that aren't obvious, like photos where only part of the body appears, or only a shadow. Is this something I would have picked up if I had been industrious enough to read more about photography?

I lowered the babies head so you can't see his mouth...
and "less is more": Ludwig Mies van de Rohe

William, next time you photograph him having a bath, remove the curly hose, and the sponges
and the grey tray. Also push the water outlet jigger right back against the wall... they are
all distracting elements.

Regards,

Alan.

 

[Golem]

I lowered the babies head so you can't see his mouth...
and "less is more": Ludwig Mies van de Rohe
View attachment 286967
William, next time you photograph him having a bath, remove the curly hose, and the sponges
and the grey tray. Also push the water outlet jigger right back against the wall... they are
all distracting elements.

Regards,

Alan.

Cannot agree. Well placed contextual elements are never distractions.

I can mentally remove all those items and I see a baren, awkward, and somewhat confusing image showing a half of a head in a white box.

---------------------------------------------------

The Stuff is The Stuff. Include whatever you can fit. To preserve a moment, give it a real place to live in.

 

[SunriseAvenue]

Can't say I go out of my way to avoid obvious shots (which leads to me spending a ton of time just culling stuff down, but I don't mind it), but if there is a chance to photograph something in an unusual way I'd usually jump at it. Most of my pictures go to my socials as separate posts or smartshow 3d slideshows, so I don't really aim at being unique, I just photograph what I like and the way I see fits. However, looking at others' pictures I can definitely say that obvious shot draw far less attention.

 

[Jeff15]

In many cases, candid are best ...

 

[AlanKlein]

Your own shots will bring back memories that will probably be important to you.

 

[Don Fischer]

I have to keep reminding my wife of certain things in order to prevent her from wrecking photos. For example, I have to tell her to quit posing. If I see her and my son doing something that would make a good photo, and she sees me, she will start trying to arrange a pose that looks like it came with a wallet.

Similarly, I am learning that I have missed good photos by being too obvious. Sometimes it's better to skip shooting the obvious picture.

Today my son was getting cleaned up, and I took the attached shot with the phone while he was in the utility sink. I think it's much better than most of the more-inclusive shots I've taken, where more of him is visible. I took three shots, and I like this one best because his mouth is not clearly seen. It's funnier this way. I think it would be better if his mouth were not visible at all.

I'm thinking of looking for more shots that aren't obvious, like photos where only part of the body appears, or only a shadow. Is this something I would have picked up if I had been industrious enough to read more about photography?

View attachment 286241

It seems to me the only shots I take are one's I notice interesting to me.

 

[nerwin]

I don't tend to take the typical touristy shots, if I do..I just use my phone like everyone else. But I usually trying to find unique things at a location to photograph that others miss or don't see. It reminds me of a farm here in Vermont that EVERYONE takes the exact same photo of in the fall. There's hundreds and hundreds of photos of this farm and they literally all look the same. Yes it's a beautiful farm, but I have absolutely no interest in photographing it or in general anything mildly popular that's already been photographed a billion times.

I'm definitely not saying it's wrong to photograph them. If you like it, then photograph it you know? Photograph what YOU like that's the only thing that matters. Who cares if it's cliche if you are having fun and enjoying it.

I'm the weirdo who would go to a beautiful coastline to watch the sunset or sunrise where others are photographing it but I'd be looking the opposite direction photographing that run down abandoned diner or the the low light is lighting up a leaf on the ground or a wildflower. That's me.

 

[Don Fischer]

We have a waterfall here in Oregon like your farm photo. On Columbia River. Has to be a couple million photo's of it. I haven't done one. Unless something really capture's my attention or seems special, I don't shoot it!