‘if you are not prepared to draw it, don’t photograph it’

[removed account4]

I agree as well, I think too many people look at face value of the quote instead of deeper meaning of it.

+1

 

[Heinz]

I sometimes do both. See #13 in:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I think some subjects that make good drawings do not result in good photographs and vice versa.

However I now often make a quick photo of the scene after I made a drawing. In fact I do have a new example - which I think I will post later.

 

[railwayman3]

I think it means just to take the same care with a photograph that you would with a drawing. If it isn't worth 30 minutes of sketching why would it be worth a second of photographing? Treat your photographs with value.

I can follow the sentiment behind the OP, reminds me of a similar remark...."a real photographer can go out to photograph a scene, set up his camera and tripod, compose, meter, then decide the result will not be up to his standards, pack everything up and go home".

There are always exceptions to any "rule" of course.....it just means never be satisfied with second-best, and work to the best of your abilities, (be it drawing or photography).

 

[Peter de Groot]

I once heard that part of photography is to know when NOT to take a photo. Meaning that you have to look at a scene, think about and take time to come to a conclusion. In that respect if you don't want to draw the scene don't bother taking a photo. So yaeh I like it and I think it is sensible advice if you look at the deeper meaning of it.

 

[darkosaric]

HCB: drawing is hard - you need 3 fingers for it, photographing is easy - you need one finger for it.

 

[pdeeh]

If you are prepared to draw it, do not photograph it.

excellent

 

[Peter de Groot]

@Darkosaric not true. You need a hand to hold the camera or to put it on a tripod. So drawing is actually easier since you only need 3 fingers.

 

[Nuff]

And you can finger paint with one.

 

[Darkroom317]

This is wonderful advice cliveh. I pretty feel the same when out making photographs.

 

[michr]

I think this advice takes a too conservative approach to limited resources. If I were using a huge sheet of color transparency film, then the attitude is more justifiable, but in general, being overcareful is stifling.

But like a lot of pithy sayings, there's a lot of room for interpretation. What does being prepared to draw mean? Certainly it doesn't mean that one needs to be capable of drawing first, because many of us love photography because we can't draw but still want to make images.

Does being prepared mean to have the materials ready, the time to not rush and do a good job, the forethought to choose a good scene to make an image of, and the commitment to see the process through? I can probably get behind that, at least some of the time.

 

[Jesper]

I'm not prepared to draw anything. Does that mean I should give up photography?

 

[frank]

I'm not prepared to draw anything. Does that mean I should give up photography?

Missed the point the saying is trying to make. Too literal.

 

[frank]

I think this advice takes a too conservative approach to limited resources. If I were using a huge sheet of color transparency film, then the attitude is more justifiable, but in general, being overcareful is stifling.

But like a lot of pithy sayings, there's a lot of room for interpretation. What does being prepared to draw mean? Certainly it doesn't mean that one needs to be capable of drawing first, because many of us love photography because we can't draw but still want to make images.

Does being prepared mean to have the materials ready, the time to not rush and do a good job, the forethought to choose a good scene to make an image of, and the commitment to see the process through? I can probably get behind that, at least some of the time.

This .

 

[Heinz]

As promised earlier this day here one recent example where I first relaxed drawing at a small lake - and afterwards used my Rollei 35 S for a quick snap.





I notice how much I altered the scene in my drawing, composing an image which would have been impossible to produce in photography without manipulation. In this way some places which would not 'photogenic' nevertheless can result in a nice drawing.

Thinking back to this day I do see another aspect, which is at least important for me: To be motivated to produce a drawing, the place has to be a nice place (warm weather, not too busy, a nice place to sit down and relax). This is not so important for photography, which in most cases takes much less time, even if I carefully set up my camera on a tripod etc. I this context I take a photo more easily than doing a drawing.

But it is also that slow, relaxing character that I feel during drawing even more than during photography.

 

[cliveh]

I think your drawing is really good. It has that childlike Van Gogh quality.

 

[Curt]

What exactly does "prepared" in that statement mean?

 

[Peter de Groot]

What exactly does "prepared" in that statement mean?

Prepared means willing in this statement.

 

[Ghostman]

This doesn't fly.

If you are not prepared to brew it, don't drink it.
If you are not prepared to farm it, don't eat it.
If you are prepared to write it, don't read it.
If you are not prepared to walk it, don't drive it.

It just doesn't make sense. What might make sense to me is 'If you are not prepared to print it, don't photograph it' and even then that seems absurd.

I'm going to go with Crowley on this and say 'Do what thou wilt...'

 

[markbarendt]

What exactly does "prepared" in that statement mean?

Yeah, that's kind of an odd word for that sentence if you go literal. Are the pencils handy?

 

[analoguey]

If you're not prepared to explain it, dont say it.
Or
If you're not prepared to make it easy to understand, don't say it.

:-D
:-D

Sent from Tap-a-talk

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

If you're not willing to marry her then don't...........

 

[BrianShaw]

If you're not willing to marry her then don't...........

... take her out to dinner??????

 

[michr]

When I think of only photographing when I have the willingness to sit down and spend all the time necessary to make a drawing, all I can think of is the word "stultifying". If this works for you, great, but I dislike the one-size-fits all approach. I don't see street photographers following this advice.

 

[darkosaric]

I know a guy who will not touch the shutter until he is 99% sure that photo will be good. He shoots around 5 rolls of film a year. Not fun, I shoot around 100 rolls of film a year, have many wasted frames, but it is more fun. Life is short, fun is a part of the process.

 

[frank]

Advice is usually not "one size fits all".

Some photographers who shoot indescrininantly would benefit from this advice to be more selective.

Some photographers who are already too selective would benefit from advice to loosen up and take more chances.