Plan vs Planning

bjorke · 2025-09-12T17:12:46-0400

I'm out for a few weeks shooting, and wrote some notes on my chaotic process... because the world's just that way.

Vaughn · 2025-09-12T23:09:38-0400

Very cool image. I even try to keep the planning to a minimum...

F4U · 2025-09-12T23:34:24-0400

D-Day, the invasion of Normandy was planned to the last detail. So was Apollo 13. In the end, both were "successful failures". At 68, I've decided paying for and reserving my cemetery plot has a 50-50 chance of being the exact geo-positioned 4x8 plot of dirt. Plans work out sometimes, and its good to have them. But as I recall my old boy scout motto, "be prepared"

djdister · 2025-09-12T23:34:27-0400

You know what they say: "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail"...

Vetus · 2025-09-13T02:08:22-0400

The best purchase I've ever made with regard to wet feet are waterproof socks for when your Goretex boots are saturated.

koraks · 2025-09-13T04:41:26-0400

@bjorke, I think this is an interesting topic you bring up. I hope you don't mind if I quote from the link you posted:

I'm working on a project far from home. While there have been many weeks of preparation, research, emails, written reflections on the purpose, detailed itinerary and contact lists, from the first day of raging thunderstorms and lightning strikes things have been: different. Not the plan.

But also: the plan. The real plan. To let the local gods have their way, and to simply be their herald. The research and expectations provide ideas of what could be, while the mud on my boots from the seven waterfalls of Yude tells me truths unavailable from my desk. The research just helps open my eyes a little to see past my over-organized location and shot lists.

As Eisenhower's often quoted: "plans are worthless. But planning is essential." The chaos is the organization.

If I paraphrase a bit, the purpose of the planning is to set the stage and provide direction, but the actual path the project takes is part of a bigger 'plan' that we cannot really influence - but that's at the same time essential. Planning is critical in getting the job done, but the outcome isn't worth the mud on your boots if it only reflects the planning, and not 'the plan'. Can I put it that way, or am I twisting your words beyond recognition?

'Spontaneity' comes to mind, and the somewhat ambiguous relationship a photographer may have with it.

bjorke · 2025-09-13T08:51:50-0400

koraks said:
'Spontaneity' comes to mind, and the somewhat ambiguous relationship a photographer may have with it.

I have my project shot list. I write "NOT THE SHOT LIST" across the top as a reminder. If I get 30% of it and a bunch of other stuff -- about right.

koraks · 2025-09-13T09:04:02-0400

bjorke said:
I have my project shot list. I write "NOT THE SHOT LIST" across the top as a reminder. If I get 30% of it and a bunch of other stuff -- about right.

That sounds sensible to me.

How does your experience in cinematography influence your approach of this photographic project?

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