How many tries did it take to get that hard shot?

[slackercruster]

Ever have to shoot and re-shoot the same subject to get a shot your satisfied with? (or worse, still not get it?)

If so, how many tries did it take to get that hard shot?

 

[JoshuaSimPhotography]

It depends, if it is something like a sunset and i want to use a long shutter speed i'd only take about 5 but if it was a portrait it would be around 20

 

[Jaemie]

Somewhere in the 10-15 range seems about right when I'm working a subject that I know has good potential. I take a few from different angles and make slight changes to my settings. I think once I go beyond a certain number of shots, the artistic spark loses energy and my analytic mind begins taking charge. That's when I know I should move on.

 

[imagemaker46]

It's an ongoing thing, but probably in the thousands at this point.

 

[cgipson1]

Sometimes one shot.. sometimes ten to 20 shots, sometimes never....

 

[tirediron]

What he said. ^^ Exactly!

 

[KmH]

With experience and professionalism you can work out in advance what you need to do to get the shot you want so you don't waste time or lose the light once you start shooting.

You might make a few extras shots to explore some minor variation possibilities and to provide a 'don't have to re-shoot' margin.

 

[imagemaker46]

With experience and professionalism you can work out in advance what you need to do to get the shot you want so you don't waste time or lose the light once you start shooting.

You might make a few extras shots to explore some minor variation possibilities and to provide a 'don't have to re-shoot' margin.

That's a pretty general statement that doesn't apply to all photo situations. Particular photos wanted may be more difficult to achieve than just taking a few extra shots. I am a very skilled professional photographer with a lot of experience, but that doesn't always matter when it comes to certain shots that I'm looking for.

 

[amolitor]

It is the business of the professional to get a good enough shot as efficiently as possible. "good enough" in this case is generally pretty good, this is not a low bar here.

That said, you can almost always do better if you have a chance to re-shoot. It's rare that my work does not improve, pretty much endlessly, if I have the will and ability to re-shoot with purpose. This is an advantage, in a sense, that the amateur has over the professional. The professional must do fine work on a schedule. The amateur, being unpaid, has no schedule and is free to do the best possible work on no schedule at all.

There's a difference between:
- producing a good shot of whatever it is (this might be what the poll is about) and that should be one exposure only, or go back to practicing
- producing the best possible shot of whatever it is, and that is arguably an unending process, as long as your patience and whatever it is are available

I generally get a decent version in one exposure, if I have a clear notion of what I want. Searching for the image takes 1 through infinity shots, though, if I do not know what I want.

 

[cgipson1]

With experience and professionalism you can work out in advance what you need to do to get the shot you want so you don't waste time or lose the light once you start shooting.

You might make a few extras shots to explore some minor variation possibilities and to provide a 'don't have to re-shoot' margin.

Some things I get right the first time consistently.. no need for a reshoot. Sometimes my first shot is a guide... as is the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. But I do get the image I want in the end. It all depends on what I am shooting, how picky I can be with it (or how much time to I have to work with it).. whether is for me or a client, and many other factors.

It almost sounds like you are saying that if one is good enough.. it is a perfect first shot every time! I suppose that would go along with the "If you are good enough, you can get it right in camera.. and DON'T need post" Right?

 

[imagemaker46]

I don't re-shoot, I am experienced enough with a camera, pay attention to what my clients require to do it right the first time. I looked at the thread as a general question. I have been trying to get a specfic shot for my own personal use, no clients involved, I have all the gear and knowledge to end up with what I want, and I have come very close to getting exactly what I want, but I'm still not happy with the end results. It isn't a really difficult shot to achieve, but it is one where I am working around several things. If I just sat down and shot for an hour straight, put a few hundred frames though the camera I could probably get it. I expect to have the shot by the end of july.

 

[rexbobcat]

I don't make mistakes.

 

[tirediron]

I don't make mistakes.

You post here don't you?

 

[Fred Berg]

Two or three tries is normally about right, I think. The advantage I have (as I see it) is that I mainly use 35mm film, so I don't get into the situation of taking a shot and then instantly analysing what result I achieved - a few days have passed before I know. This time lapse allows my mind to focus on other things and I look upon the result with fresh eyes, and new ideas if it didn't work out as planned.

 

[unpopular]

sometimes things cannot be photographed. i don't get frustrated by this, for me it just illustrates the magnificence of our universe.

I don't like reshooting, I don't like how we get into this "conquest" mentality. Like a subject is there for our taking. For me photography is more about the moment I find myself in, and the interactions I have.