What do you choose for subject matter?

ohnewton35 · Jun 25, 2015

As a beginner often times I find myself disillusioned with all the possible choices of things to photograph and while I'm aware that choice and how it's done is what defines photographic art I also feel that perhaps there are some areas that are well done and trodden such as flowers and plant life but what is it that you as a photographer have chosen to photograph and what have you done differently that makes your photography unlike any other? Do you choose one subject and stick to it? Is it determined by geographical interests? Do you find yourself straying from what you define as your niche or does it all come utterly naturally?

Rick A · Jun 25, 2015

Don't concern yourself with what others do, carry your camera with you everywhere and shoot what interests you.Sometimes, it's the minor details that are visually more important than the big picture. Don't be afraid to look at everything, and look closely. If you are going to settle in on black and white, ignore the colors and see textures and patterns. I find color a distraction, tho there are those moments when only color will do. It's all about projecting your vision, and getting the viewer to see the way you did. Following someone else's examples doesn't fare well, it isn't your vision. It's okay to study what others did, but you must translate that example to what will work for you without outright mimicry.

ColdEye · Jun 25, 2015

To me, it is people most of the time. I always want the human element. But I tried a lot of different subjects. Just do whatever ideas you have, what helped me was listing them down and crossing them out once I have tried it. With my film stuff I prefer portraits of friends, but now I will try portraits of strangers, I find it difficult and challenging because I am a bit of an introvert. With my non film pursuits its wide field astrophotography. With that I feel very comfortable being alone in the middle of nowhere.

removed account4 · Jun 25, 2015

hi ohnewton35

I've come to the conclusion( for me ) anything is photographable
and i don't need to go far to find something interesting. within minutes
of where i live .. don't worry about the subject, or what others might think about it
just photograph whatever you want and get used to using a camera, seeing stuff, and how to photograph it
processing the film and getting a print. short term or long term projects .. whatever ..
the stuff you do for kicks might end up being something you do long term ....
back in 1986 i started photographing strangers and i still do it .. it used to be with a 35mm or 6x6
now its with a 8x10 .. im not worried and i don't care if it isnt' "art"
just have a good time, that's all that counts anyways ...

have fun
john

DWThomas · Jun 26, 2015

Hmm -- for me, it's not a very conscious process. As I travel about, things catch my eye and I try to capture them with some thought as to lines, shapes, angles and lighting. If I look back over the past few years, it appears I like "old rusty stuff" and historic structures, with some occasional interesting trees or landscapes thrown in. Some of my most successful pieces in terms of attention from others have been relatively abstracted details, an unusual perspective or a small detail of something relatively ordinary that the average person walks right past.

But then I'm old and retired and have no delusions of "making a living" from it, I just do what I feel like!

I do shoot a lot of more documentary stuff- vacation snapshots, ceramics demos at my local community college (where I also dabble in those arts); I don't necessarily see that as my "art," but it does keep me practiced in camera use. Some examples of the work I've actually taken the trouble to print and submit to exhibitions, and yes, on rare occasion one sells!

Sirius Glass · Jun 26, 2015

All good suggestions. I do not try to emulate others. Sometimes I will give myself an assignment on a theme or topic. Sometimes I have a vision of what I want that day. When traveling I look for something that peaks my interest. One thing I do will look at what is posted on Large Format Photography Forum to get ideas for a new [for me] approaches on subjects I have photographed before. I do not stick with any one thing.

If I as photographing landscapes, it make myself look for things that are close by so that I am not only looking in the distance.

chriscrawfordphoto · Jun 26, 2015

You have to have something to say, something you want to show the world. Most photographers worry about making individual photos that will catch people's attention, but they end up with a lot of photos that lack depth and meaning.

I've spent more than 20 years working on several long-term projects. Some come from a desire to tell the story of a place or people I have encountered, like these:

The Last Days of General Electric in Fort Wayne

Richard Youse

Patriotism in Indiana

some are about people I cared about:

Grandpa

And some are about my own feelings and life:

The Doll House

Find something to say, or something you want to show the world, and it'll all come together.

ajmiller · Jun 26, 2015

I used to think 'projects' were the way to go but these days I've slackened off on the constraints of a project as I'm not sure that way of working suited my personality. I photograph what I like now, what catches my eye, what I think I can try and make into a great print and like jnanian writes, there's a lot on your back door step worth looking at. Don't concern yourself with being 'original' - that's a sure-fire way to a photography coma!
It's important to have interests outside photography that you could use as subject matter.

ohnewton35 said:
As a beginner often times I find myself disillusioned with all the possible choices of things to photograph and while I'm aware that choice and how it's done is what defines photographic art I also feel that perhaps there are some areas that are well done and trodden such as flowers and plant life but what is it that you as a photographer have chosen to photograph and what have you done differently that makes your photography unlike any other? Do you choose one subject and stick to it? Is it determined by geographical interests? Do you find yourself straying from what you define as your niche or does it all come utterly naturally?

ohnewton35 · Jun 26, 2015

What brilliant advice. I spent my day researching photographer before me and I came to adore the work of two photographers in particular; Larry Burrows, and Gary Winogrand. From all that I've read as well as the inspiration that I've seen I've learned that each of these indivuals all seemed to tell a story and not a single picture was just that of "random rock I found in my backyard" each was something I could sit and wonder what the photographer was thinking and what made that particular frame worth the crank of a lever and the click of a shutter and I adore that quality.

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 26, 2015

Thread moved to the "Aesthetics and Composition" forum.

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Nathan King · Jun 27, 2015

I photograph what I find tells a story, is interesting, pleasing, remarkable, beautiful, or otherwise noteworthy.

In doing so, I have found that I tend to gravitate toward architecture and natural portrayals of people (in order of frequency). Some of my best photographs have both, and I expect my tastes to evolve over time.

cliveh · Jun 27, 2015

Whatever floats your boat.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 27, 2015

ohnewton35 said:
As a beginner often times I find myself disillusioned with all the possible choices of things to photograph and while I'm aware that choice and how it's done is what defines photographic art I also feel that perhaps there are some areas that are well done and trodden such as flowers and plant life but what is it that you as a photographer have chosen to photograph and what have you done differently that makes your photography unlike any other? Do you choose one subject and stick to it? Is it determined by geographical interests? Do you find yourself straying from what you define as your niche or does it all come utterly naturally?

beautiful naked women comes utterly natural to me

ohnewton35 · Jun 27, 2015

RalphLambrecht said:
beautiful naked women comes utterly natural to me

And there I was considering buildings. What better way to capture humanity than naked women. Brilliant [emoji23]

frank · Jun 27, 2015

That's my thing too, but I'm a frustrated artist.

What do you choose for subject matter?

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