jon_k
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2007
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- 213
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- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
But props given for growing out of the equipment stage. Photography is a lot more fun once you start thinking about it creatively, not technically.
This is embarrassing and I feel you've caught me with my pants down! You must read people pretty well? After thinking about what you said, you cannot be any further from the truth.
Up until this point, this week even, it has been all about gear and technical aspects of photography to me. All the while, I've been preaching "it's not the equipment, its your technique" to posters on forums. But, obviously it was just a phrase I was regurgitating, as I didn't believe it myself to the full extent. Sure, I enjoyed taking photographs and even made some pretty good ones, but something has always been lacking in my photographs, and so where I lacked, I made up for in equipment purchases.
I wasn't buying equipment because I thought it would take good photos for me, but I thought it would help me take better quality photos. Any tool is useless without purpose, direction, or motivation. A fisheye can create barrel distortion, but if you can't make a photograph that has impact and stands on its own, it won't hold water at all. A blind man can't take good photographs no matter how good his gear is.
I feel I am evolving and I'm trying to decide where to go at this point. I'm at a crossroads but which turn do I take? I need to develop my own style, and find my own niche, and find something that I enjoy photographing as much as I enjoy the act of photography itself. I then need to take that passion and wrap my photography around it to inspire other people.
I feel by studying the "greats" photographs up and down I can determine what makes the great photographs so great. I then feel I'd be able to take some of their inspiration and technique and apply it to my own efforts. I don't want to imitate them, but I want to use them to give me a path of my own.Then I feel I can spin my own style and perspective and learn to take meaningful photographs.
This hobby is as much about equipment as it is about philosophy. Unfortunately nearly all the photo forums I've visited talk all about equipment rather than feelings, emotion, and the motivation of photography. Probably because the reasons why people take photographs are about as different and many as stars in the sky. Nobody would agree on the same motivations and purposes. We can't even agree on equipment when someone brings up a brand or manufacturer. How could we agree on form of expression?
I am evolving and I'm trying to determine my path and passion. What's my end goal in photography? I'm asking questions like "Why do we take photos at all?" and "How can I effect the lives of those viewing my photo." and "How can I show the viewer what I want them to see" (Up until now, I've been taking photos for me. Taking photos of what I think /I/ see.) This is philosophical points we studied in the text book in high school photography class. I hated that part. I just wanted to snap some shots and get to play in the darkroom. I don't feel this costly mis happen path was a mistake. It was probably a requirement for me to ever come to this point.
Too bad I can't get answers from anyone on this forum to these questions. They are questions only myself can answer. The fact I'm even asking them must be worth something and shows that I might have some sign of improving. Photographs with purpose have impact. Photographs with impact have purpose. Doesn't that sound about right? I think I'll find my answers, but it won't be as easy as searching the forum anymore. All I need to do is make my photographs have impact and purpose. Easier said then done.
Has anyone come to this level of thought?
I felt like I understood photography pretty well a week ago. Now I feel like I've only scratched the surface. Imagination is more important than knowledge... said Albert, and he was undoubtedly right.