What kind of photographer do you consider yourself?

[Robert Hall]

My wife tells me that my photographs are very lonely. I look at them more as introspective landscapes. The subject mater of my images tends to be fairly singular.

It's also a departure for me to use something other than f/64. I do break out of my shell of sharpness from time to time, but I'm more concerned with mood over depth of field.

As for subject mater, if it's old and worn, I'll be there.

 

[roteague]

What a great thread...
the original question is not a rhetorical one.
When one defines himself/herself as a photographer....

Yes, that is it. I found that when I finally defined my photography I became a lot more productive and started producing much better images.

 

[Shmoo]

For me, Helen hit it right on the head: Taking photos of things that whisper "look at me"...

I used to worry that I lacked focus or "vision"...I don't worry about that any more. If something "speaks to me", then the camera comes out and I'll use any type of media or camera to capture it...b&w, color, polaroid, 35mm, MF, LF, etc. If I like it, that's great. If someone else likes it, better. If they buy it, best. Don't think I'll ever make a living at it, but that's not important.

I guess that makes me an unfocussed, multi-format, multimedia, sorta' amateur/hobbyist who hears voices whispering to them...

 

[Edwin]

I am a seeker, forever chasing shadows and light.

 

[Troy Hamon]

I'd have to label myself as a 'curious' photographer. I take photos because I am interested in the subject, in knowing more about it. And taking photos helps me to push for a different image than the obvious one, leading to more time studying the subject. And spending time in the darkroom gives me still more time to meditate on the subject. And sometimes, fortuitously, the image has a weight of its own that goes beyond the mere curiosity that got it started.

 

[Ed Sukach]

What "kind" of photographer am I...???

I have no answer. Ask me what "kind" of human being I am ... I don't know that either. How many "kinds" are there?

I can tell you something of the way I feel when I engage in photographing certain subjects ... how I feel ... not "why". I can provide some sort of insight into my philosophy as far as art goes....
I might try to tell you what I am trying to do... at a given time.

Edward Weston wrote that he was adamantly against against anyone trying to categorize him, or the insinuation that he was following any set system .. even something he himself had established.
Me, too.

Look at my work, and tell yourself what "kind" of photographer YOU think I am.... that is probably more important to YOU.

Notwithstanding - notes from the back of an envelope ... "If I was to engage in a totally futile and to a great extent, worthless "categorization of `Self'":

1. Unique
2. Rebellious.
3. Full of wonder.
4. Adventurous.
5. Hoping to be "free" of minutia. Come to think of it ..."Free", period.
6. At present, trying to make photographs that "speak" with the same "feeling" one gets from a Haiku.
7 And last ... A writer of incomplete lists.

 

[Charles Webb]

Hmmmm, great thread. When I began playing with photography it was a black and white with shades of gray only world. One day I woke up and found it was a glorious "Color" world. I learned to see color and found it to be
for me a much easier world to live in. On another day I began looking back at my earlier B&W work and saw the error of my way. The negatives I had made were not "full scale" but everything in between. With much effort I could print most all of them, but not to my satisfaction.

I began then a journey into photography that continues today. I became a student, apprenticed myself, did what ever it took to learn to do better photography. As I said I am still on the journey after more than fifty years.
Though I have carried the title of "Professional Photographer" and all of my income and investments has been directly from photography, I believe that the title " A Student of Photography" fits me as well as anything else. I still have far to go, and much to learn, I do not consider myself an "artist", simply a guy with a camera trying to learn how to use it.

 

[modafoto]

• People is of all kinds, but mostly girls and kids.
• Bands is mostly metal acts in Aarhus, Denmark.
• Forests is my main influence in music and photography. I love to shoot people in the forest (sounded somewhat dramatic...)
• Still-life is a little weakness I have. I often combine it with macro to do some fun shots of e.g. a Lego man in a flower.
• Erotic is a growing part of my work. I shot fetish and S/M the most. I am not that interested a plain naked girl...It is more fun to hide it a bid (with some tatex, PVC or leather.
• Lat, but not least, I like to shoot Lomo, Holga and Diana...gotta love 'em

Morten

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Well now...ya got's yer house painters, yer sign painters, yer graphic design painters and yer fine art painters...then ya got's yer year book photographers, yer Walmart/Sears/mall portrait photographers, yer passport photographers, and yer forensic photographers...I'm a fine art photographer. Have a day job I love so I can keep my photography a purely personal expression.

I photograph that which amazes me...95% nature...100% 4x5...100% B&W.

Murray

 

[Nicole]

Hmm, I'm still not sure yet. I don't like boxing myself into any category. In saying that, I haven't been showing many of my images other than people at this stage.

 

[Chuck_P]

I have absolutely no idea; I only know that I love it!

Chuck

 

[roteague]

Hmm, I'm still not sure yet. I don't like boxing myself into any category. In saying that, I haven't been showing many of my images other than people at this stage.

Why not?? I would love to see more images of where you live.

 

[TPPhotog]

I think my answer now would have to be a confused one, but hopefully the projects I have decided on for this year will get me back on track. Just need to get myself a 50mm lens to really get back to basics for a while

 

[Andy K]

I'm a 'still learning' photographer...

 

[TPPhotog]

I'm a 'still learning' photographer...

Andy hopefully we all are and the learning will never stop ..... otherwise it will get boring

 

[roteague]

I think my answer now would have to be a confused one, but hopefully the projects I have decided on for this year will get me back on track. Just need to get myself a 50mm lens to really get back to basics for a while

Tony,

I think you should get yourself a LF camera. Start off with a single lens and learn the ins and outs of it. Your work sometimes cries out for LF.

 

[TPPhotog]

Tony,

I think you should get yourself a LF camera. Start off with a single lens and learn the ins and outs of it. Your work sometimes cries out for LF.

Robert I very much agree with you, I quite often find myself composing an image on only part of the 35mm format for printing (or is that mimicing) the other formats. Once I have my thoughts sorted and the funds I think I may be making that jump

 

[roteague]

Robert I very much agree with you, I quite often find myself composing an image on only part of the 35mm format for printing (or is that mimicing) the other formats. Once I have my thoughts sorted and the funds I think I may be making that jump

Good!! The Toyo 45CF is a lightweight, low cost camera; I've heard good things about the Ebony line, but would stay away from the RSW model - it seems to lack some of the basic movements.

 

[TPPhotog]

Good!! The Toyo 45CF is a lightweight, low cost camera; I've heard good things about the Ebony line, but would stay away from the RSW model - it seems to lack some of the basic movements.

Robert thank you! I've made a note of that so I don't forget or lose it. I did a google and it looks really sweet, I could work with something like that

 

[Thomas Wagner]

Since I retired I have concentrated on my writing (history and local boating). My photography now supports my writing. I find it a great pleasure to describe a particular spot and then be able to support it with a photograph. So, the question is, am I now a photographer who writes, or a writer who takes photographs?

Tom

 

[jd callow]

I photograph things that seem to be relevant to me as an individual living today (which is not to say I am defining me, but possibly others, us and or me) -- be it a place I find or a thing I set up. To try and define further is impossible. Within the context of what it is I am shooting, I can say at that time what kind of photographer I am.

I guess in my art I try to document or understand people and or their environment, but I also like to shoot things because of what will happen on the film/print (art of the media).

As stated above it is a bit of an unneeded box to try and categorize one's type of photography.

I can tell you what I am not... but then again that does not work because maybe someday I will be that photographer.

 

[Ole]

Since I retired I have concentrated on my writing (history and local boating). My photography now supports my writing. I find it a great pleasure to describe a particular spot and then be able to support it with a photograph. So, the question is, am I now a photographer who writes, or a writer who takes photographs?

Tom

I think that makes you a multi-media artist!

 

[andrewmoodie]

I've owned a nice camera for about 5 years (now I've got a couple of nice ones) and I've been printing my own stuff for about as long but only recently, Jan 2 to be exact, did I hear myself say to someone "I am a photographer". It's kind of a good start to 2005 I think, a good omen. As soon as I know what kind of "photographer" I am, I'll let you know.

 

[liza]

Hmm.. what kind of photographer am I? Emotional is the first thing that pops out in my mind. Photohgrapher and an artist, yes, one cannot exist without the other.

Very egoistic and get annoyed when people try to get into my invisble bubble when I shoot.

Portraits are my strongest field. When I get them simple, “clean” but strong in their expression then my heart makes a double/triple jump. A MF or LF negative sharp, perfectly exposed make me wanna sing and the same when after an evening intence work – the print surprises and talks to me.

And then there is a thought all from the beginning – what will I do with this picture I´m about to take - a gum bichromate, a mordancage, a saltprint, try palladium????

The more I learn about photography - the less I know - the more I want to learn – it´s just that simple.

Eva

 

[colrehogan]

I enjoy the landscape and so I take pictures of the landscape. During the work week, I'm a chemist (nowadays, it seems more like I'm a report writer). I shoot mainly in b/w because I can develop it myself. I shoot LF because I am now doing contact prints and I don't have to rely upon someone else to print them (no darkroom). I'm currently learning how to do ziatypes.