the biggest non-technical failings of new photographers

[Alex_B]

I think photogs should spend more time and effort getting a background in art, art history, and photographic history, and spend more time at art museums and galleries looking at real prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc... That's what helps and inspires me to improve.

I agree that these things can be of help to some, just to open their mind towards certain things, and to learn to see, but it is not a requirement. Some people are totally unaware of any sort of history and background, and still simply take bautiful and well composed images. And some spent more time in exhibitions than at home, but still don't produce a single image worth talking about.

 

[Alex_B]

I was going to say something in reference to sex and shooting quickly, but that would be inappropriate for the forum.

Well, since sex in not digital where you can take thousands of images on a day, every shot sort of counts and has to be close to perfect

 

[The_Traveler]

Perfection is clearly debatable. I might love my photographs while another person may not like them very much.

Same with sex.

 

[Alex_B]

Perfection is clearly debatable. I might love my photographs while another person may not like them very much.

Same with sex.

I totally agree, but at least there should be something which at least you yourself, and maybe a few others like.

Hmm, this thread went a bit astray

 

[mysteryscribe]

What you find usually in vertical composition is the same thing I was talking about in horizontal. If you set the eyes on the center you get a large empty (of subject anyway) space at the top. The eyes on the third is more about balance than about rules.

Balance in a composition has very little to do with rules in general. In general if you emerse yourself in what is good photography, or good art for that matter, you develop a feel for it. Balance is that a feel, good composition is about that balance plus analysis of the total image for impact.

Example: I remember a photo here, which was not mine, that showed concept more than anything I can remember in recent times. It was a shot of a homeless man off in the edge of a frame. It was balanced because there was a bright store front that covered 90% of the frame off to his left. However there was a good sized chuck of brick work over the store front that distracted the eyes from the story below. Once he cropped the brickwork out, it became the perfect composition. See it isn't all about balance. The shot was balanced even with the brick work, but part of it's impact was lost.

There is also that totally different thing in play. There was a matter of cleaning out the non essential items those which distract. So good composition is as much about feel as rules.

One more point

People post their work here for lots of reasons. I test cameras and about half the time I post, not because they are great shots, but just because they are good enough that I don't want to just throw them away. I keep very, very few of the shots I shoot. Most I capture at 6000x4000 resolution save at 600x400 resolution and post of a forum somewhere, then I record over them.

So I suppose I am posting for vanity. Would I mind someone saying that looks clumsy to me. No, I probably would agree. If I had a reason for doing it, I might say so or I might just say yeah. Sometimes people who hate what I shoot. hate it for the wrong reasons but that's okay, no accounting for people's taste. Mine are certainly not mainstream.

I hate to see really bad composition being complimented as good composition. I hate to see shots that could be easily fixed being let slide because a slight composition correction is considered some kind of giant insult. Someone said you can't learn from your mistakes, if you don't know they are mistakes.

In my own case, now and then someone sees a thing in a shot that I didn't see and can be easily fixed so I do. Someone doesn't agree with my color choice, I don't think I would ever fix that. Most of the time I shoot for an older audience, so the themes are lost on the majority of the viewers. That maybe why I seldom get any comments. Of course I prefer to think it's because I leave everyone in awe lol..

If I do tell someone something it is in the spirit of teaching even when it sounds harsh. I know that it is hard to hear your child/photograph needs braces, but sometimes they do.

Just for la photo this post has been spell checked.... LOL. I know you are teasing but it is also a wake up that I'm a long, long way from perfect.

 

[The_Traveler]

One of the difficulties in a forum as diverse as this is that people are at dramatically different stages in their development as a photographer and this makes it pretty difficult to give useful critique.

Another difficult thing is to come along and be the fifth commenter and want to say something quasi-meaningful but the first 4 commenters have said something along the level of "cool", "neat shot", "pretty baby." I feel like the only sober person at a party.

BTW

Just for la photo this post has been spell checked.... LOL. I know you are teasing but it is also a wake up that I'm a long, long way from perfect.

good sized chuck of brick work

spell-check isn't perfect either.

 

[mysteryscribe]

Lol i love that.... I get to blame it all on spill chick that s88t

 

[craig]

Number one failing of young photographers is forgetting that art is a journey. We learn from our mistakes. No way around that. Not sure I get the point of your question.

 

[ksmattfish]

Some people are totally unaware of any sort of history and background, and still simply take bautiful and well composed images.

Some say that ignorance is bliss. I'm not buying it.

 

[The_Traveler]

Some say that ignorance is bliss. I'm not buying it.

If that had been true, I should be the happiest person in the worls (according to former wives).

 

[markc]

Some say that ignorance is bliss. I'm not buying it.

Ditto. I know a couple of people who don't want to get to know other people's work because they don't want to be "tainted". I used to think something along a similar vein when I started, but after being exposed to many other photographers' works, I realized it only helped me realize my own personal vision. Even Picasso was clasically trained before he went his own way. I don't think it held him back. If anything, I think it helped him.

Even if you want to totally break from traditional methods, or especially then, knowing what came before is, in my opinion, almost mandatory. Otherwise how will you know if you are falling into a well worn rut? You may be on a path traveled by many others and not even know it, not being able to recognize the territory. I'm all for blazing your own path, but you can't do that until you can recognize trail markers.

Anyway, that's my rant. I'm not saying that people need to raid the library in order to become a good photographer, but that the reasons for not doing so are often rather lame.

 

[markc]

One suggestion for the 'failings' list is not asking 'What do I want this picture to say?' when composing the exposure. At our best, we don't open our mouths to speak until we have something to say. [Arguably, one could predict the collapse of the cellphone industry if this was taken to heart and followed by most users!] The same concept can be applied to opening a camera's shutter. To carry the analogy a step further, many exposures taken without thought can be compared to the babblings of a baby.

I think this is one of the most important steps in developing your photography. I think there are certain common stages that people go through as the shoot more and more. First it's just to record events, like holidays and travel; then it's to capture something "neat" looking; then a cohesive, beautiful image; and finally, to consciously say something important to them. Not everyone is going to go through all of them or in that order, some people don't need to do more than make a beautiful image, and for some, saying something is part of it right from the start, but from my limited observation, this seems to hold up in general.

 

[The_Traveler]

then it's to capture something "neat" looking

RANT FOLLOWS - beware

























Yes, this is a sore point with me. It seems that forums are inundated with people who take 'neat' pictures or who critique pictures as 'neat' without ever making an attempt to go beyond that.

When I open up a thread and the text accompanying a picture says that the OP was just messing around, my first response is to think, "well if this is of so little importance to you that it's just 'messing around', why should I bother to treat this as anything to take up my time?" and I go somewhere else.

When posters treat a forum as if it were 'myspace' and post every kind of crappy snap just because they actually could find the shutter button to press it, I just want to leave to find someone or somewhere that I fit in better.

I want there to be a magic button that, when I press it, they go away somewhere, a happy place for them, where everyone posts lots of pictures and the only comments allowed are 'neat' or 'cool' or similar and the ideas of composition, focus, dof, iso don't exist.

 

[LaFoto]

Well, on this forum we allow for any photos, we don't want to be exclusive, but I for my part speak my mind ... politely, with manners ... but I hope I mostly say what I think, and if I feel I can't because I lack the words or mine would be too harsh, I go away and don't say anything...

That said, a comment spoken by my father-in-law only an hour ago or so tonight springs to mind when he talked to my daughter about painting (canvasses, in oil, that sort, you know?). She is interested and likes it and wants to try out more. So she got an easel and brushes and colours for Christmas. And he said: "Don't start out trying to 'create something great'. It won't work. PLAY. Test things out. Get a feel for what 'is in your hand'. - But hey, one piece of advice: don't get stuck with flowers! That is a cul-de-sac. They are pretty, paintings of flowers can be pleasing to the eye, but they don't lead you anywhere. Try more, feel more".

(She's only 13, so "PLAY" is the right thing for her, she still has all the time of her life to learn more about the history of art and all that).

(He does not take photos at all. He paints.)

 

[The_Traveler]

Well, on this forum we allow for any photos, we don't want to be exclusive, but I for my part speak my mind ... politely, with manners

I understand that completely.

I am active on another forum and every new member receives an email/PM telling them the goals of the forum. This seems to work to orient new members very well.