To herald in the new year I decided to do something different, nature photographically speaking I think I should "broaden my horizons" and find subjects other than only landscapes. To post something worthy in the avian gallery for example. Now that would be a challenge for me.
There! I made the announcement. Now I am committed. Hopefully I will fullfill my goal this spring.
Exloring new photography, both in subject matter and technique, sounds like a worthy New Years resolution for each of us! I know I need it.
Posted by Richard Wong on January 2, 2007 at 5:45 PM
Two years ago I decided that I didn't want to be a one-trick pony so I studied other genres and worked to expand my mindset to be a well-rounded photographer so I could be more marketable. Unexpectedly, I found out that I enjoyed shooting many different subjects though landscapes will always be my bread and butter. This year I would like to add still life and studio photography to my repertoire in addition to my regular stuff.
Posted by William Brozy on January 2, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Congrats on your decision Will. I have been actively broadening my photographic pursuits/subject matter. I find that shooting new subjects make you more familiar with your camera. A couple of photographically related goals I have: working on a couple of portofolios (including one on NPN); understand PS beyond my basic familiarity (and how to fix a double-profiling issue I have); and begin to get my images out there.
This is an interesting discussion, specially coming at a time when I am trying to narrow my scope (instead of widening it). For a while now, I have been getting the feeling that my portfolio is directionless - lots of different images and no real depth. I am therefore thinking of picking one or two subjects this year and concentrating on them. Hopefully, this will result in something more substantial than what I currently have. Of course, I could be wrong - time will tell.
Posted by Matt Dallos on January 2, 2007 at 8:36 PM
I feel like you can widen your scope in many different ways...One direction is to look for other types of photography and another direction is to take a more in depth look at something that you are already doing and enjoy. I feel that you can't go wrong either way.
Posted by beth summer on January 2, 2007 at 11:16 PM
B&W...I'm becoming fascinated with it and I notice that I do alot of experiment shooting with B&W in mind for later conversion. It might be time for me to go back to film and do B&W...who knows BUT always, I keep looking for new ideas and experiments to challenge myself. And NPN members continue to give me "food for thought" in their photographs!
I think I will narrow my horizons down even further, concentrating even more on landscapes, milk out the bad compositions, weak light situations and strive for the new, fresh, uncommon looks one can find in landscape photography. It's the one area in photography I want to be real good in and I'm afraid it would be impossible if my mind would be on other parts of photography for any time. I have yet to make a single landscape photograph, of which I could say I'm 100% satisfied with it! So I'll throw myself outta there more than the usual six months, do even more recherching, planning and stay out longer, to let the good things happen more frequently! It's so exciting and too much fun.
Maybe 2007 is the year!
georg
"It's the one area in photography I want to be real good in and I'm afraid it would be impossible if my mind would be on other parts of photography for any time."
Georg, considering the photographic work that you and Verena do, that is a profound statement and I am really taking it to heart. It makes me think that photography, whatever area one may chose, is an unconquerable mountain. You just keep climbing higher, reap the rewards as you go as the views get better and better but the summit will always stay out of reach. Unless you lower your expectations. Which we are not wont to do.
I wanted to broaden my horizons by dabbling in another area of nature photography because I wanted to challenge myself. On the other hand I can certainly challenge myself to improve in the area of landscape photography. Climbing that mountain, the summit is soaring very high and I have a long way to go.
Discussion
9 repliesThere! I made the announcement. Now I am committed. Hopefully I will fullfill my goal this spring.
Do you have any goals or plans as well?
Thanks for your replies.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
I'll keep an eye peeled for your new stuff.
Maybe 2007 is the year!
georg
Georg, considering the photographic work that you and Verena do, that is a profound statement and I am really taking it to heart. It makes me think that photography, whatever area one may chose, is an unconquerable mountain. You just keep climbing higher, reap the rewards as you go as the views get better and better but the summit will always stay out of reach. Unless you lower your expectations. Which we are not wont to do.
I wanted to broaden my horizons by dabbling in another area of nature photography because I wanted to challenge myself. On the other hand I can certainly challenge myself to improve in the area of landscape photography. Climbing that mountain, the summit is soaring very high and I have a long way to go.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada