Posted by Rick Lamb on October 27, 2006 at 3:48 PM
Well isn't that interesting!? BTW I made the link in your post clickable Darren.
Posted by Mark Hudon on October 27, 2006 at 9:20 PM
It for a booth at a motion sickness show. You know, the kind of thing that makes one hurl?
I guess it's incorrect to say I have nothing against Trillium Lake shots. I think I've seen more identically boring and uninspiring Trillium Lake shots then even shots from Artist Point in Yosemite or Half Dome from Glacier Point.
The fact is, if a photo from that particular scene doesn't have severe a WOW factor, it's been done a million times and it's BORING! Several million photographers have stood on that same little stretch of beach and taken the same exact shot! BORING, BORING, BORING! Just because some business wants to buy one doesn't make it any less boring or more valuable.
All in my humble opinion of course.
Posted by Rick Lundh on October 27, 2006 at 9:36 PM
As you know, its boring to you...and me, but not little granny from Pheonix with her pocket book out who has never ever seen a shot from that location.
I think there are plenty of shots from Trillium that aren't overused and worn out like the standard one of lake and mountain. I still like this one, back in 2004 with some of you there too,
Posted by Mark Hudon on October 28, 2006 at 12:32 AM
This, of course, is not the shot the untold millions take. This shot takes an imaginative eye and a creative brain to see.
Walking up to the edge of the Grand Canyon when the sky is going off in the most awesome sunset of the year and taking a photo does not make you a good or creative photographer. (the photo might be nice, but sunsets and sunrises happen everyday, they are a sensation, like a pop song, i.e., anything by Britney Spears vs. Beethoven's 9th, music that has stood the test of time, a classic) Seeing, the details, the un-noticed and overlooked relationships of shape, color and texture at the edge of the Grand Canyon (or Trillium Lake) make you a great photographer and your photos worth showing, they are classics.
It's up to you, do you want to be making pop songs or classics?
Posted by Lee Newman on October 28, 2006 at 3:27 AM
Hi Mark,
I don't disagree with the sentiment you're expressing here, but I think many people in their pursuit of photography (and in becoming better photographers) feel they need to emulate some of the work (common or not) they've seen - I think its one of the stops on the path to creative thinking. My wife and I were just in the Mt. Hood area and wanted a photograph of it - aside from the one from the road (Hwy 35). I looked at the map and we ended up at Lost Lake - I had absolutely no prior knowledge of the lake before we went to see it. There, as I predicted, was Mt. Hood in the distance behind the lake and in the right place for the evening sun to cast its spoils. Unfortunately, the sunset was a bit modest, but I took a few shots anyway. I tried to be original despite standing in the same general area as at least two other photogs that showed. I like the photo I got, but the point is, as I'm sure you can guess, is that I took the time to think about where to shoot from, found a spot on a map, then set up well in advance of the light trying to make sure I made a photo that would reflect (excuse the pun!) what I saw. I actually learned a great deal about landscape photography that day. The fact that untold millions had shot the same thing (or something very close to it) is, to me, irrelevant. Now, if someone were to pay for that shot - gravy!
I think before you can create a 9th, you have to get the Britney out of your system.
Cheers,
Lee
Posted by Rick Lamb on October 28, 2006 at 9:31 AM
I agree with both Mark and Lee. Both of you make excellent points! I've stood in the tripod forest at Reflection Lake in Mount Rainier Nat. Park and of course both came home with something MANY others have AND I learned a LOT doing so.
Now what I need is to get that Britney tune outa my head!!!
Posted by Mark Hudon on October 28, 2006 at 10:51 AM
I think before you can create a 9th, you have to get the Britney out of your system.
Great line, Lee! Good point also.
You could also say that Beethoven crumpled up and tossed a lot of Britney on the floor (now there's a mental image, eh) on his way to the 9th. To Beethoven's credit, he realized it was less than his best and deserved being crumpled and discarded. Believe me, I've shot Trillium Lake and Lost Lake dozens of times. I've certainly learned from it and I actually have a Lost Lake shot hanging in my office right now.
There IS a way to photo Hood from Trillium Lake with a non-descript sky and still come away with an awesome photo. You just have to find it. That's the part that takes brains and creativity.
Posted by Darren White on October 28, 2006 at 11:15 PM
I sure did not mean to start a huge conflict over an image....
I was just trying to post a link so some of you could have the chance to make a little $$...thats all....
and in my opinion....I have never been to T-Lake so I have no idea where all the viewpoints are....when I see a shot on here that I like...I try to get one of equal quality for myself....this website has really made me take a look at my skills and what I need to improve on... and even if we all have the same shot......I guess the question then comes down to who gets it out there for others to see....after all if you are trying to make some cash on your work...it won't do any good if the file is sitting in your computer in a folder...or your only print is hanging on your wall of your house......right???? Ya gotta let people know this is what ya do....but hey...maybe thats just me!!!!!
Cheers and happy shooting this weekend......Mark H...Ill be in your neck of the woods tomorrow....tooling around the nw side of hood most the day!!!
Cheers
D
Posted by Rick Lundh on October 28, 2006 at 11:46 PM
Posted by Lee Newman on October 29, 2006 at 12:56 AM
Hi Darren,
I certainly don't want to put words in Mark's mouth, but I think it is safe to say that there really wasn't any conflict. In fact, Mark and I completely agree on the use of such common images. However, I simply think that Mark and I may be coming at it from two different directions - he's a lot more experienced and capable than I - I've only been shooting landscapes (as a hobbyist) for about 2 or 3 years so the more common images probably inspire me more so than someone more experienced. (Prior to my interest in landscape photography, for the last 15 years or so I mainly shot aquarium fishes for some of the aquarium hobby magazines.)
Anyway, I feel that photography is like a lot of other creative processes - you have to learn some basics, but then one is constrained only by imagination.
Darren, I think your thread sparked some interesting discussion. Thanks!
Lee
PS Nice image Rick.
Posted by Rick Lundh on October 29, 2006 at 1:35 AM
This is an awesome discussion. I think we all agree on:
1. we each have our own artistic directions
2. we all start somewhere and hopefully never end up in a dead end
3. we all want to sell photos so we can buy some more camera bling
4. Mark has problems keeping food down
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on October 30, 2006 at 12:33 PM
Well, whoever needed photos took down the link, it's dead as of today. Hope someone here was a SUCKER and made some money.
Discussion
13 repliescheck it out
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/crg/224684905.html
D
I guess it's incorrect to say I have nothing against Trillium Lake shots. I think I've seen more identically boring and uninspiring Trillium Lake shots then even shots from Artist Point in Yosemite or Half Dome from Glacier Point.
The fact is, if a photo from that particular scene doesn't have severe a WOW factor, it's been done a million times and it's BORING! Several million photographers have stood on that same little stretch of beach and taken the same exact shot! BORING, BORING, BORING! Just because some business wants to buy one doesn't make it any less boring or more valuable.
All in my humble opinion of course.
Walking up to the edge of the Grand Canyon when the sky is going off in the most awesome sunset of the year and taking a photo does not make you a good or creative photographer. (the photo might be nice, but sunsets and sunrises happen everyday, they are a sensation, like a pop song, i.e., anything by Britney Spears vs. Beethoven's 9th, music that has stood the test of time, a classic) Seeing, the details, the un-noticed and overlooked relationships of shape, color and texture at the edge of the Grand Canyon (or Trillium Lake) make you a great photographer and your photos worth showing, they are classics.
It's up to you, do you want to be making pop songs or classics?
I don't disagree with the sentiment you're expressing here, but I think many people in their pursuit of photography (and in becoming better photographers) feel they need to emulate some of the work (common or not) they've seen - I think its one of the stops on the path to creative thinking. My wife and I were just in the Mt. Hood area and wanted a photograph of it - aside from the one from the road (Hwy 35). I looked at the map and we ended up at Lost Lake - I had absolutely no prior knowledge of the lake before we went to see it. There, as I predicted, was Mt. Hood in the distance behind the lake and in the right place for the evening sun to cast its spoils. Unfortunately, the sunset was a bit modest, but I took a few shots anyway. I tried to be original despite standing in the same general area as at least two other photogs that showed. I like the photo I got, but the point is, as I'm sure you can guess, is that I took the time to think about where to shoot from, found a spot on a map, then set up well in advance of the light trying to make sure I made a photo that would reflect (excuse the pun!) what I saw. I actually learned a great deal about landscape photography that day. The fact that untold millions had shot the same thing (or something very close to it) is, to me, irrelevant. Now, if someone were to pay for that shot - gravy!
I think before you can create a 9th, you have to get the Britney out of your system.
Cheers,
Lee
Now what I need is to get that Britney tune outa my head!!!
Great line, Lee! Good point also.
You could also say that Beethoven crumpled up and tossed a lot of Britney on the floor (now there's a mental image, eh) on his way to the 9th. To Beethoven's credit, he realized it was less than his best and deserved being crumpled and discarded. Believe me, I've shot Trillium Lake and Lost Lake dozens of times. I've certainly learned from it and I actually have a Lost Lake shot hanging in my office right now.
There IS a way to photo Hood from Trillium Lake with a non-descript sky and still come away with an awesome photo. You just have to find it. That's the part that takes brains and creativity.
I was just trying to post a link so some of you could have the chance to make a little $$...thats all....
and in my opinion....I have never been to T-Lake so I have no idea where all the viewpoints are....when I see a shot on here that I like...I try to get one of equal quality for myself....this website has really made me take a look at my skills and what I need to improve on... and even if we all have the same shot......I guess the question then comes down to who gets it out there for others to see....after all if you are trying to make some cash on your work...it won't do any good if the file is sitting in your computer in a folder...or your only print is hanging on your wall of your house......right???? Ya gotta let people know this is what ya do....but hey...maybe thats just me!!!!!
Cheers and happy shooting this weekend......Mark H...Ill be in your neck of the woods tomorrow....tooling around the nw side of hood most the day!!!
Cheers
D
point and case...please read comments.
I certainly don't want to put words in Mark's mouth, but I think it is safe to say that there really wasn't any conflict. In fact, Mark and I completely agree on the use of such common images. However, I simply think that Mark and I may be coming at it from two different directions - he's a lot more experienced and capable than I - I've only been shooting landscapes (as a hobbyist) for about 2 or 3 years so the more common images probably inspire me more so than someone more experienced. (Prior to my interest in landscape photography, for the last 15 years or so I mainly shot aquarium fishes for some of the aquarium hobby magazines.)
Anyway, I feel that photography is like a lot of other creative processes - you have to learn some basics, but then one is constrained only by imagination.
Darren, I think your thread sparked some interesting discussion. Thanks!
Lee
PS Nice image Rick.
1. we each have our own artistic directions
2. we all start somewhere and hopefully never end up in a dead end
3. we all want to sell photos so we can buy some more camera bling
4. Mark has problems keeping food down