Locations worked to excess?

Snapper · Aug 27, 2004

Brighton West Pier has got to have been done to death, and then some. My college tutor even threatened to throw anyone shooting it off the course! But still I went there to try and do something a bit different (in my eyes, anyway - see pics in my gallery).

I went to New Zealand earlier ths year - probably one of the most photogenic countries on earth - and specifically didn't look at any images before I went to keep everything fresh in my eyes when I arrived. Many of the locations I photographed were probably cliched by local standards, but I'm glad I took them anyway, I still get pleasure in still printing the pics six months later. Unfortunately, my camera broke by the time I had got to Sydney and so I couldn't 'do' the Opera House. ;-)

I am very jealous of you Kiwi apug'ers - all that on your doorstep.

Unfortunately all the most interesting locations probably have been 'done to death', but that doesn't mean we should stop trying - if we thought that we may as well sell our gear and play golf.

(PS Where/what is 'Bodie'?!)

roteague · Aug 27, 2004

Snapper said:
(PS Where/what is 'Bodie'?!)

It's a old ghost town from the 1800s, located about 50 miles south of Lake Tahoe, in California, near Bridgeport and Highway 395 near the Nevada border. See: http://www.bodie.com/

roteague · Aug 27, 2004

Snapper said:
I went to New Zealand earlier ths year - probably one of the most photogenic countries on earth - and specifically didn't look at any images before I went to keep everything fresh in my eyes when I arrived.

See, I'm just the opposite. When I plan for a trip, I try to locate as many images of the location as I can. Not because I want to copy images already done, but because it will give me ideas on what to look for. I'm sure that my images will be distinct from most of those I find.

John McCallum · Aug 27, 2004

Snapper said:
I went to New Zealand earlier ths year - probably one of the most photogenic countries ...

Shhhh! do you have ANY idea how many people view these threads at apug now!?

It's a funny thing, isn't it? Grass is greener syndrome. There are so many place in the States and Europe I'd like to photograph. Maybe it's the desire to keep the photography fresh. We joke about a friend of mine who, whenever we get to a new location (often coastal) he will immediately head for the end of the beach/top of the hill/whatever/ ...ignoring everything along the way until he finds that 'something' he is looking for.
Another way to keep it fresh is to think about the same things that you've previously enjoyed photographing in a new and different way. When you really achieve a different and improved look through thought and discipline, I think that is the time one goes through real growth in their photography - and develop their 'vision'.

phew! dropping the philosophical hat now ...

c6h6o3 · Aug 27, 2004

"The material of the artist lies not within himself nor in the fabrications of his imagination, but in the world around him. The element which gives life to the great Picassos and Cezannes, to the paintings of van Gogh, is the relationship of the artist to content, to the truth of the real world. It is the way he sees this world and translates it into art that determines whether the work of art becomes a new and active force within reality, to widen and transform man's experience.

The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep."

__________
Paul Strand, from the Introduction
to the "On My Doorstep" portfolio,
Orgeval, December 1975.

Ed Sukach · Aug 27, 2004

The "wandering around at home with nothing interesting to photograph syndrome." When we "see" things every day, we become immunized to them - We, literally, don't see them any more. I volunteer at the Town Visitor's Center. It is not uncommon for visitors to ask for directions ... and we have been, and are constantly "in training", to do just that.
From my house to the Visitor's Center, approximately two kilometers away: "Leave the front of the house, turning right. At the end of the street, take another right. Take the next left, after the Stop Sign...
This takes a LOT of thought just to write this much, to describe it to another, and get the directions right is a real challenge.
I know how to get there, automatically, without conscious thought ... without "seeing" the way.
We ALWAYS back up our verbal directions with maps.

To me, the most overworked "location" (not really a geographic location) is a sunset, any sunset. Sunsets are beautiful, the colors are breathtaking... a "gift" for all of us to enjoy. Unfortunately, I look at a sunset, and all I can see are permutations of three - four thousand images of sunsets that already have been done. How can I do something "fresh" - present something truly unique?
That, is to me, MY ultimate challenge - and my bete' noir.

I've GOT to get to work on it.

galyons · Aug 27, 2004

Very interesting thread. I sometimes fall into this negative frame of mind. When I get a little blue and can't seem to find inspiring light, my frustration screams, "Why bother? All the good shots are already taken!"

But then, usually, a cloud moves an inch, the wind ripples the water, a shadow moves just so, or the wave recedes slightly differently and I am instantly reminded that I am trying to capture a moment...never to be the same again.

If you're taking snapshots, well sorry, worry about someone thinking or saying "Same ol' thing! Boring!" If you're capturing the light of the moment that's in your mind's eye, FIRE the shutter!!

Cheers and Good Light,
Geary

anyte · Aug 28, 2004

The only problem I really see with overshot sites and subjects is when your peers expect you to follow suit and judge you accordingly.

I wonder sometimes if my photos haven't gotten attention on other sites because I'm not shooting what everyone else is shooting - and at times it does seem that everyone is shooting the same things to the point of the photos being incredibly boring. I think that's just specific to the online boards though (APUG excluded). I have never looked at a photography book and thought that the images were over shot or boring - but the pros add something of themselves to each image (which is probably part of the reason they are pros). I think a lot of people get too caught up in competing with one another and forget to photograph simply for the joy of photographing things they enjoy or find interesting.

anyte · Aug 28, 2004

John McCallum said:
It's a funny thing, isn't it? Grass is greener syndrome. There are so many place in the States and Europe I'd like to photograph. Maybe it's the desire to keep the photography fresh. We joke about a friend of mine who, whenever we get to a new location (often coastal) he will immediately head for the end of the beach/top of the hill/whatever/ ...ignoring everything along the way until he finds that 'something' he is looking for.
Another way to keep it fresh is to think about the same things that you've previously enjoyed photographing in a new and different way. When you really achieve a different and improved look through thought and discipline, I think that is the time one goes through real growth in their photography - and develop their 'vision'.

phew! dropping the philosophical hat now ...

Perhaps I'm just young enough in this art to still feel like the same location holds endless possibilities. The light is always different, everything is moving and changing. I can only see so much at one time which means I'm missing things all the time. In one mile the possibilities extend from January through December and the next year something will have changed enough so that there is something new to photograph.

One of my favorite locations to shoot from is my balcony.

Ed Sukach · Aug 28, 2004

anyte said:
The only problem I really see with overshot sites and subjects is when your peers expect you to follow suit and judge you accordingly.

Recently, I interacted with a *marvelous* artist .. who was exhibiting her work in the Town-Owned Open Gallery that I "curate" (??? . I guess that is what I do..).
This artist is also a Roman Catholic Nun - a member of the same group (?) or whatever - as Wendy, the "Art" Nun.

We share a common philosophy about art .. and the individual freedom of expression to necessary to DO art. (note 1).

I told her I did photography - Fine Art Photography --- and was especially interested in Figure studies ... er... ah... that is ... female models unencumbered by clothes.. (gulp). She said she would like to see my portfolio. THAT required a bit of courage ... but it was done. She studied the images ... and then critiqued: "This image would have been better if ..."... etc.
When she was finished with the critique, I thanked her for her interest and her *interesting* suggestions.

There was pause, and then, she looked at me and...

Nun: "You're not going to do anything I've told you, are you?"

Me: "No."

N: "I didn't think you would. I don't let anyone influence my art, either."

STYLE!! That is what *I* constantly strive to do - refine and clarify MY style. No one can do that for me ... and I can't do that logically either. Follow your "being" - Do what fascinates YOU, what you really WANT to do. That will, invariably, be your best work.
Style is a strange thing. We all have our style -- with "doing", we refine and clarify that style. When we try to emulate others, when we are unduly "swayed" by their advice (... They are trying to convert YOUR work into THEIR work) - that can only dilute, confuse and corrupt your style.

Listening to others is not inherently bad ... at times you will hear or experience something that will change you ... your psyche, your view of the world - see Picasso's Guernica. What we have to guard agianst is trying to modify our style in defiance of our "being"... a.k.a. : "Lying".
It'll never work.
Keep you eyes open and follow your heart.

Note 1. This is NOT very sophisticated. A LOT of the terms and concepts I've cited are time-worn, and ... "Trite. adj. 1. Used so often as to be hackneyed; made commonplace by repetition."
Still - they are, in my opinion, truth.

c6h6o3 · Aug 28, 2004

anyte said:
I can only see so much at one time which means I'm missing things all the time. In one mile the possibilities extend from January through December and the next year something will have changed enough so that there is something new to photograph.

Perhaps, but that's not what's important. What is important is how you will have changed in the next year so that you will then see what was there all along. A well seen photograph has nothing to do with the subject. It has everything to do with what the photographer sees about the subject.

anyte · Aug 28, 2004

Ed Sukach said:
Listening to others is not inherently bad ... at times you will hear or experience something that will change you ... your psyche, your view of the world - see Picasso's Guernica. What we have to guard agianst is trying to modify our style in defiance of our "being"... a.k.a. : "Lying".
It'll never work.
Keep you eyes open and follow your heart.

I agree. Listen to others. Some advice will be valid whether your styles are completely different or not. Otherwise glean what you can and use it to suit your style - to improve and make your vision and your style stand out.

bjorke · Aug 29, 2004

Done to Death

Personally, I'm quite comfortable shooting tourist attractions like El Capitan or the London Eye, or just the fallen lemons in my own back yard whatever. I'm always photographing my family. I already have pictures of them but not those pictures. The cliches to worry about are not those of the subject in front of the camera, but the ones that are behind the camera. As long as you're not worrying about reproducing some picture you've seen before, or the "correct" postcardish view, chances are you'll do fine. That's my mantra, anyway.

(Currently packing Tri-X and CF cards for an extended trip to Asia)

photomc · Aug 29, 2004

While I agree that there are many places that have been done before and many are 'tired', I have enjoyed making some of those same old images. Last Oct. we went to Canyon de Chelly - and yes I did the White House Ruins. That said, I still am very proud of the images I brought back - just wish they had been MF or LF (they were done with 35mm). The way I look at it is each shot I make, I hopefully learn a little more about the craft of photography. As I look at my own work I can 'see' that there are new elements that I have missed, and with each image I hope to develope my own still. It has never been my intent to find the tripod holes of others, but number 1, to visit the places that some of my favorite works were made and to see what has changed, and to see what has not been shared yet.

The main thing I have learned in the past couple of years is that the 'light' can be very special, and that if I should be fortunate enough to be at any location when the light speaks to me, I will do my best to find an image - no matter how much it has been done. Part of the joy of photography for me is not trying to duplicate someone else work, but being able to put on film/paper what I saw at the time I made the image. If someone else likes what I've done, that is Great! If is pleases me and helps me remember the place, time and enjoyment I felt while making the image..that is much better. In the past, there have been more images seen than there have been captured on film - does that make sense? It more about having my eyes and my minds eye open and hopefully getting the opportunity to put it on film than what everyone else has done, is doing.

Just my thoughts.

waynecrider · Aug 29, 2004

I didn't have time to read the whole thread as it's quite long. I would comment tho that I thought, maybe we should all take up painting, as then the images would have a different twist. (^:

In the end I guess what was more important then the same old picture over again is the fact that at least the person was off their ass shooting and hopefully someplace nice and enjoying being out and about.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 31, 2004

Another curious place you can see an original print of one of Paul Caponigro's photographs from Stonehenge is over the receptionist's desk at Lens and Repro in New York City at 33 W. 17th St. I was just there yesterday and I don't know that I had noticed it before (or maybe they rotate the prints on display), but after this thread it certainly caught my attention.

buggzz · Jan 25, 2005

Jorge said:
Certainly agree......anything with "El Capitan",

There are certainly fresh perspectives of El Capitan. Not Analog though.
http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/top10_2003/el_capitan_new_rotation_3000.jpg
BTW, this is where I work.

archaeo · Feb 14, 2005

Where/what is Bodie? - Never heard of it...
Have photographed Stonehenge mant times though

Dave Wooten · Feb 14, 2005

I went to photograph in the slot canyons but I never did see any of those nude mentioned.

SchwinnParamount · Feb 14, 2005

Listen to 'The Shoulders of Giants"

Dead Link Removed I agree with Mr. Jensen on this one!

rbarker · Feb 14, 2005

archaeo said:
Where/what is Bodie? - Never heard of it...
Have photographed Stonehenge mant times though

Bodie is a rather complete ghost town in the eastern Sierras of California, off Highway 395 in the Lone Pine/Bishop area. It's maintained as a California State Park.

DanG · Feb 14, 2005

Have a listen to today's "Lenswork Blog"
DanG

jd callow · Feb 14, 2005

Daniel Grenier said:
"Not another picture of Bodie? As there not been enough film shot there yet? Do we really need more pictures of BODIE?

I don't know about Bodie, but I don't need to see another picture of Britney Spears or M Jackson's snowwhite, eyebrow painted, alien nose sporting, wigwearing weirdness -- talk about an overworked location.

John McCallum · Feb 14, 2005

Peculiar and constantly changing geography though.

Chuck_P · Feb 14, 2005

mark said:
It seems you folks have put a lot of thought into what you don't want to see. What DO you want to see? While you are limiting your world views maybe you should ditch entire subjects too.

Fruit, flowers, trees, rocks, old buildings, new buildings, buildings in various states of decay, old things new things (because nothing is really new is it), children, people of all ages might as well be forgotten, street scenes with and without scenes, clouds, North america, south america, central america, all of africa, north west east and south asia, austraila New zealand, animal vegetable and mineral.....

Ah hell why don't you throw away your cameras now. This is a tired argument. I personally have never seen a photograph of Bodie.

Mark:

Perfectly said, I didn't even want to continue looking at all the other responses to this post; you said what I was thinking to the "T".. I kept wondering just what it is that people should do who love photography-----I mean, now that there no more subjects, themes, etc...that are worthy of further personal exploration by someone like me, a stupid forester. I just upgraded from 35mm to MF for nothing.

Locations worked to excess?

Snapper

roteague

roteague

John McCallum

c6h6o3

Ed Sukach

galyons

anyte

anyte

Ed Sukach

c6h6o3

anyte

bjorke

photomc

waynecrider

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

buggzz

archaeo

Dave Wooten

SchwinnParamount

rbarker

DanG

jd callow

Moderator

John McCallum

Chuck_P

Locations worked to excess?

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency