Arranged or Spontaneous

[cliveh]

How do you feel about arranged images, as I always think they look contrived? Even when doing a still life shot, I like to throw the subject in front of the camera. Arrangement seems to destroy spontaneity and the moment.

 

[David Brown]

Carefully arranged ...

 

[Sirius Glass]

I prefer spontaneity in the moment. I almost never throw or place a subject in a scene. In fact when I shoot landscapes, I wait until no one is in the photograph.

 

[cliveh]

I prefer spontaneity in the moment. I almost never throw or place a subject in a scene. In fact when I shoot landscapes, I wait until no one is in the photograph.

Is that not a form of arrangement?

 

[bvy]

My street macros and landscapes are never arranged. In fact, if I feel that I've tampered with the scene in any way (usually by accident), then I'll just skip it entirely. Plenty of examples of in my gallery of images.

 

[snapguy]

works

Whatever works.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I have controlled chaos with my still life. I sketch out something rough then if something serendipitous happens, a fortunate mistake, I go for the shot. It's a balance for me.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I prefer spontaneity in the moment. I almost never throw or place a subject in a scene. In fact when I shoot landscapes, I wait until no one is in the photograph.

Is that not a form of arrangement?

No, I do not move or arrange anything. I just take the landscapes as I see them.

 

[eddie]

Is that not a form of arrangement?

Technically, isn't framing a scene a form of arrangement?

 

[cliveh]

My street macros and landscapes are never arranged. In fact, if I feel that I've tampered with the scene in any way (usually by accident), then I'll just skip it entirely. Plenty of examples of in my gallery of images.

I enjoyed your gallery and great shots which are obviously not arranged. Thanks.

 

[cliveh]

Technically, isn't framing a scene a form of arrangement?

No.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Technically, isn't framing a scene a form of arrangement?

No

 

[cliveh]

OP...Just depends.

A still life studio shot is not a candid street shot.

So is it arranged?

 

[eddie]

Sure it is. You're arranging what elements of the scene you're including. Now, if you mean manipulating elements of the scene (removing trash, moving branches, etc.) that would be different.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

As long as you are successful in communicating your message, it doesn't matter.

Ken

 

[gandolfi]

I love arranged images (or maybe I prefer the word staged - but as non native speaking English, I could be wrong...) - i fI didn't I'd probably not make the images I do...

"Contrived" is ment as a negative thing; right? (my dictonary is confused I think... it both explains it as "unnatural" and "constructed"...)

 

[cliveh]

"Contrived" is ment as a negative thing; right? (my dictonary is confused I think... it both explains it as "unnatural" and "constructed"...)

Correct.

 

[eddie]

Contrived has dual meanings. Negative, as in unnatural. But, it can also mean constructed, without the negative connotation.

 

[cliveh]

Contrived has dual meanings. Negative, as in unnatural. But, it can also mean constructed, without the negative connotation.

This is true, but even a constructed image can be contrived, as in specific construction.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Arranged or Spontaneous?


I guess it depends : do you believe serendipity is better than planning?

 

[removed account4]

Sure it is. You're arranging what elements of the scene you're including. Now, if you mean manipulating elements of the scene (removing trash, moving branches, etc.) that would be different.

i couldn't agree more with you ...
i had this conversation with someone a few years ago
regarding manipulation as well because no matter what you do
as soon as you put the camera to the eye, "frame" / compose it in the viewfinder
or ground glass it is manipulated, and arranged, just as when you use fast or slow shutter speeds
or different depth of fields its all manipulated + constructed ...
basically people with cameras construct their own reality by choosing how it will be viewed.
some people do this masterfully and are paid handsomely as "stylists" others rely on
the natural disorder of things to arrange the scene for them ..

 

[edcculus]

I guess it's all in the style you prefer. Don't all of the past (and present) great portrait photographers using arranged images down to exact placement and lighting?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Some people also believe: "I'd rather be lucky than good"

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

And they usually end up being neither.

Ken

 

[Nuff]

Some people also believe: "I'd rather be lucky than good"

And looking at all the great masters, most of their photos are "contrived". Even in the final print they are manipulated.
From the moment you choose a film and put the viewfinder to your eye, to the final output, the whole process is arranged and manipulated.