Are some locations just too "Cliche"?

[mikewhi]

Bodie

I've been to Bodie a few times and I seem to spend all my time making close-ups of the wood grain in the buildings. Nice abstracts. I don't think I have any wide views of the place. Just isn't that interesting to me. Maybe a steeple from an odd angle or something. They do have photo workshops there where you can get in extra early and stay late to catch sunrise\sunset photos. The gift shop is where you'd sign up. Some examples of color sunsets\sunrises are there too if that's your thing.

Me, I want interesting rust on an old piece of metal.

-Mike

P.S. May be going down to Carson City this coming week so I may stop by Bodie again. Will defenitely make it to Death Valley.

 

[jimgalli]

For Andy K. Protected? Yes, VERY. Since 1959. California state parks.

 

[Doug Bennett]

Mark said:

SO, cliche to one is an undiscovered treasure to another.

So true.
Mark said:

The easy answer is to not shoot where you feel is too cliche'.

Or........ the easy answer is to shoot a cliche' and do it really well.

I have to think that, for most of us anyway, the final goal of our efforts is a print. What would you rather see: a superbly executed print of a "cliche", or a poorly done print of something more original? I'll take a fine print any day. Besides: can Yosemite, or Bodie, or magnolia blossoms here in the South, ever really be too familiar? I'd rather think not, and just shoot them.

I'll agree with what several others have said: often the difference between cliche and not-cliche is small: a couple of steps either way, turn around, kneel down, shoot wide open, maybe a filter. Also, I think that true, in-depth pre-visualization can be a great help. Really look before you shoot, with the end result in mind: where will you have to dodge, where will you have to burn, what areas will cause a problem in the darkroom? Of the photos that I look at, the majority that are not successful are so because of simple errors in exposure and composition, not because of lack of originality.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Very good question Jim and I agree. Many, many famous locations have been done to the point of cliche.

However, I will build a little upon what Tom Duffy mentioned. I think the degree of cliche is attributable to the photographer. Last Spring, I got to see Michael A. Smith's work first-hand. Two of his photos struck me along the cliche theme. (These were both 8x20 B&W contact prints.) This first was his rendition of Bryce Canyon. It was the "standard view" that countless people have shot. Except, it was B&W with the most shimmering array of gray tonal values I have ever seen. I said out loud "why would anyone say this has to be done in color".

The second was some South Western desert buttes. "Monument Valley" I reverently thought and asked? "No" replied Michael, "I don't remember where it was". A nameless place and I thought I was looking at the classical Monument Valley scene. John Ford would have drooled!

Well, not everyone of us can handle the famous and obscure so well. But with this experience in mind, I now believe its still the individual photographer that makes the difference. Wasn't it Bravo who said "those who see through another photographer's eyes are blind"?

 

[Art Vandalay]

My first instinct was to say that 'yes' it's too cliched and you should resist the urge, but then I thought of the many times I've gone back to the same damned cemetary in town, even though it's been ages since I've produced a decent shot from there. Sometimes it's just being there that really matters and you never know when, for whatever reason, you suddenly see something differently and are able to capture it.

I know you are not asking for advice etc. but I find that I see things differently if I'm in a very bad or depressed mood.

 

[Shmoo]

I think there have been many places that have been "overexposed", but I think if you shoot there one of a number of things may happen: (1) you learn better techniques, (2) you create a magical shot that inspires you, (3) you find it's not for you and you move on to another shot, etc. The most important thing is to take the shot!!!