Posted by Sarah Marino on July 20, 2011 at 3:44 PM
This last weekend, I went backpacking with NPNers Anne and JR Rusk, Koveh Tavakkol, and one other photographer. It was one of the first times I have pursued photography in the presence of others for more than an hour or so (other than a photo tour setting, which I consider to be very different and not directly applicable to this discussion). Since this was a mostly new experience for me, it was quite fascinating to observe the creative process for each of us. The five of us made up almost a perfect continuum in terms of how we approach photography in the field, ranging from near constant shooting and experimenting to waiting for the few rare times when a moment of inspiration came along.
Do you have to be inspired or moved by a moment to pull out your camera and capture a scene, experiencing "ideal" light, realizing a visualized scene, or is experimenting a lot part of your creative process? Have you found one approach or another to produce better results or a more fulfilling experience for you?
A great subject again Sarah. I also found last weekend to be quite interesting when it comes to this subject, and also the fact that the behavior of others does tend to influence our behaviors when it comes to this subject.
For me, I think a healthy balance of the two works well. By this I mean that there are certainly times when I like to experiment with techniques and try to get creative when the conditions are obviously not ideal. I have had some great success in situations like this, but also some failures. This experimentation though also helps to refine my decisions for the next time I am faced with similar conditions, having had the experience of knowing if it works or does not. This then leads to sometimes taking a relaxer and putting away the camera to just enjoy being there.
The bottom line though, when I am outside in these type of situations, I simply try to enjoy myself. If that means shooting, then I do that, if not then I don't. Taking a good photograph is not my only motivation for being out there.
Posted by Phillip Noll on July 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM
My Creative Process:
1. Arrive at incredible location completely out of breath and near death.
2. After I come to, stand and stare in awe for a moment.
3. Drop backpack.
4. Set up Tripod.
5. Start framing different compositions.
6. Take a few shots.
7. Oh crap! Left the timer on. Fix that.
8. Take a few shots.
9. Oh crap, forgot to reset Exposure comp! Fix that.
10. Take a few more shots.
11. Move to another location for a new comp.
12. Take a few shots.
13. Oh Crap, just realized I forgot I was still at ISO 3200 from last night. D’oh! Fix that.
14. Go back to first location/comp and reshoot.
15. Move back to 2nd location/comp and shoot.
16. Find more comps and shoot.
17. Realize that the polarizer has overpolarized the sky—fix that.
18. Reshoot.
19. Majestic Elk walks into frame. Shoot like mad!
20. Elk leaves. Realize that the shutter speed was too slow and I had no depth of field! D’oh! Delete, delete, delete….
21. Decide to shoot flowers since there is no wind and they are perfectly still.
22. Set up camera, double check settings, wind gusts begin.
23. Another photog sets up next to me and asks “What are ya shootin’?”
24. I answer, “My previsualized interpretation of this scene.”
25. Photog leaves mumbling insults. I’ve made yet another friend! D’oh!
26. Pack up and move on down the trail!
Posted by Pam Colander on July 20, 2011 at 7:11 PM
I would put myself more in the experimenter category. I generally will head out to a pre-determined location with something in mind to shoot. However, on the way I am easily distracted if I see something that looks interesting and often will stop and at least investigate if not shoot. This sometimes screws up the initial destination plan but it doesn't matter that much to me. Sadly, I am not the type of photographer that will stake out a location days in advance evaluating light, comp, moon and weather. This is not ideal for getting the amazing shots, but being the curious sort that I am it is satisfying in an adventurous way. I am notoriously unlucky in getting great conditions because of my haphazard methods. I have never gone out with even one other photographer to shoot so I have no idea how I would behave in that situation. I am a technique fiddler and find my self experimenting with ISO settings in particular especially in lighting extremes. Like Koveh said I am happy when I am shooting and am equally happy to enjoy my surroundings and NOT shoot. I am a sunset type of person who wishes I could motivate myself more to get out for sunrises...don't know if that will ever happen though and I probably won't lose any sleep over it
Posted by Pam Colander on July 20, 2011 at 7:12 PM
Your post should be a sticky, Phil. How many times have we all done something like that?
I tend to like old, familiar places and hang around them numerous times until people think that I am actually part of the scene and start asking me to get IN the frame.
Take the Mill...please (any Henny Youngman fans?). I've been to the mill countless times and have enjoyed the scene from every legal angle, listening to the water, wind and voices that remain from generations. Then I realize I left the camera at home and go fishing.
Living in Indiana I am rather far away from my favorite subject- the West. I tend to do a lot of pre-trip research and look over as many images as I can find (websites, books, etc) of the places I plan to visit. I like to know what options I have for locations before I go. If it's my first time visiting a place, my research can get exhausting and I buy everything i can find on the subject at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I make up daily schedules (which I use simply as guidelines) with best places to shoot at which times of day, lodging and rental car information, etc. I even put sample images on my agenda so I know what the possibilities are! I carry my reference books in the car or in my camera bag so if one location doesn't work out, i have other options at my fingertips. Once I get in the field, I turn into such a tourist and my A.D.D. kicks in. I get so excited by all the cool things to shoot that I tend to rush my first couple days at a new location. After that, I start to slow down and visualize a little more (though i'm still not great at it) and have been trying for less grand scenics and more simplistic images (I get so caught up in the grandeur of the scene I forget to look for details). I rarely process images in the field and it usually takes me several months or more to get through the processing. Once I've done the trip, I lose the excitement and don't feel like messing with the post-production.
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on July 20, 2011 at 9:31 PM
Such a great topic! It was really interesting to see how everyone's creative process worked this weekend. It was great to study the different approaches for landscape images. From a macro standpoint, I usually have to settle into a scene to start seeing the finer details around me. Once I find potential subjects, I have to determine if the environment is right to create any images (wind, available light, bg options). Then, ultimately, it all depends on my mood. If I am not in the mood to shoot (another way of saying I am not creatively inspired), that feeling is generally reflected in my images. On the flip side, I have found that when I'm not moved to shoot, if I take my camera out of the bag, I quickly find inspiration around me (and then my process closely resembles Phil's!). I have decided I need to push myself to work the scene beyond my comfort zone and practice my craft. Mainly meaning, I need to start experimenting with landscapes the way I do with macro!
I have no idea how to articulate my creative process but I'l try. For me, it's all about the research, and getting there on time, then see what happens! Organic shooter. . I suppose. Early research involves: where's the light gonna hit/ what angle, at what time, on what perspective. Idea first, Google Earth second, National Geographic TOPO 3rd, Photographers Ephemeris 4th.
I don't know if I like these discussion subjects. I have to think and that makes my head hurt. (jk...I love this stuff) But this is a subject that I've thought a lot about over the years and, in fact, wrote an essay about it on my blog a little over a year ago. I won't bore you with a link but let me know if you're interested.
I've contended for a long time that my "creative process" is a right brain/left brain effort. Granted, the subject matter I search for varies from trip to trip depending on what interests me at the time. Right now I'm in a place where the grand landscape has no interest for me. I'm tending to look for detail shots or something in the grand scene that I can extract with a tele. But back to the topic: Once I've found a subject I want to photograph the creative side of my brain starts working. What's the best angle of view? Is the light good or would it be better another time? What about background elements? Is there an interesting foreground? Leading lines? Contrasting elements? Lots of things going through my mind including what I'll need to do in post processing to make the image match my vision.
Once the process is done and I've decided to shoot something, the mechanical side of my brain kicks in. What about the perspective? Do I want to stretch or compress? What about fstop and shutter speed? Do I need to stop motion or is everything static? Which lens to use...that kind of stuff.
Sounds like a lot but this all is done in a relatively short period of time. Probably in less time that it took me to type this. (Maybe I should learn to use more than one finger)
Relating to some of the other posters here, one of the main components to my creative process is that I've learned, for the most part, when NOT to shoot. Unlike when I was younger I don't shoot just for the sake of shooting. If I'm not inspired, I put the cameras away. Nothing worse than deleting 2/3 of the images from a shoot because I wasn't feeling it.
That is an absolute riot, Phillip!
The opportunities are so few and far between that I am so grateful just to be out trying. I have learned to just take what is given as a gift for me that day. I have a place in mind that I am hoping will work out for light, but try to remain open to anything that presents itself. Todd knows the quote from Dewitt Jones about "If you're out to shoot lightning but Mother Nature is serving rainbows, you'd better shoot rainbows." That has become my mantra. If it's not close to the front range I try to research the area. Otherwise I check the forecasts and pray it turns out to be worth my time. Who am I kidding, it's always worth my time.
My photo playground is the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. I've gotten to know through experience when the wildflowers will be best, what the best light is for a certain area, where you will find certain species of animals, when the trees turn in the fall, certain weather conditions and the list goes on. I have what I think are great compositions in the back of of mind when I visit certain areas. I often wait for years for things to be just right. And then there are times when nothing works out. It's a crap shoot. The greatest is when you find those areas you thought would never produce anything and the unexpected happens and you come away with a great shot. Ah that feels good! I just try and keep an open mind and look hard and keep looking. BTW if any of you are coming to Yellowstone the wildflowers are the best I've seen in 20 years.
Oh, and I forgot. Alot of my inspiration comes from fellow photographers here on NPN and other photographers out there, so here's to you .
I've heard photographers can be broken down into two groups. Hunters and Gatherers. Gathers are the photogs that have a shot pre-visualized and will go and gather it. They will wait at their comp for the light to be just right; wait for hours for the clouds to dapple a field just right or return day after day or year after year to the same scene trying to get the shot they've decided they want. Hunters on the other hand are always on the move, tracking down photographs instead of waiting for one to come to them. If the light's not right, they'll move. If the comp's not right, they'll move always on the hunt for that great photo.
In this system I think I'm a little of both (aren't we all?) but I'm more hunter than gatherer. I can wait in one location only so long before I start to hear a little voice in my head telling me about all the shots I'm missing elsewhere and I should move and go find them.
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on July 28, 2011 at 10:21 AM
That is such an excellent way to look at photography, Matt! What's so funny to me, is that when I tell people what I'm doing (as I walk aimlessly through an area) or what I'm going to do for the day (shooting-wise), I tell them "I'm hunting flowers" in my best Elmer Fudd impression. That truly is what I am doing! I find an area that looks interesting, I walk around it to see what angle I like best, then I get low and move in slowly. Those blooms never know what hit 'em. I am definitely in the "hunter" camp!
Discussion
14 repliesDo you have to be inspired or moved by a moment to pull out your camera and capture a scene, experiencing "ideal" light, realizing a visualized scene, or is experimenting a lot part of your creative process? Have you found one approach or another to produce better results or a more fulfilling experience for you?
For me, I think a healthy balance of the two works well. By this I mean that there are certainly times when I like to experiment with techniques and try to get creative when the conditions are obviously not ideal. I have had some great success in situations like this, but also some failures. This experimentation though also helps to refine my decisions for the next time I am faced with similar conditions, having had the experience of knowing if it works or does not. This then leads to sometimes taking a relaxer and putting away the camera to just enjoy being there.
The bottom line though, when I am outside in these type of situations, I simply try to enjoy myself. If that means shooting, then I do that, if not then I don't. Taking a good photograph is not my only motivation for being out there.
1. Arrive at incredible location completely out of breath and near death.
2. After I come to, stand and stare in awe for a moment.
3. Drop backpack.
4. Set up Tripod.
5. Start framing different compositions.
6. Take a few shots.
7. Oh crap! Left the timer on. Fix that.
8. Take a few shots.
9. Oh crap, forgot to reset Exposure comp! Fix that.
10. Take a few more shots.
11. Move to another location for a new comp.
12. Take a few shots.
13. Oh Crap, just realized I forgot I was still at ISO 3200 from last night. D’oh! Fix that.
14. Go back to first location/comp and reshoot.
15. Move back to 2nd location/comp and shoot.
16. Find more comps and shoot.
17. Realize that the polarizer has overpolarized the sky—fix that.
18. Reshoot.
19. Majestic Elk walks into frame. Shoot like mad!
20. Elk leaves. Realize that the shutter speed was too slow and I had no depth of field! D’oh! Delete, delete, delete….
21. Decide to shoot flowers since there is no wind and they are perfectly still.
22. Set up camera, double check settings, wind gusts begin.
23. Another photog sets up next to me and asks “What are ya shootin’?”
24. I answer, “My previsualized interpretation of this scene.”
25. Photog leaves mumbling insults. I’ve made yet another friend! D’oh!
26. Pack up and move on down the trail!
I tend to like old, familiar places and hang around them numerous times until people think that I am actually part of the scene and start asking me to get IN the frame.
Take the Mill...please (any Henny Youngman fans?). I've been to the mill countless times and have enjoyed the scene from every legal angle, listening to the water, wind and voices that remain from generations. Then I realize I left the camera at home and go fishing.
I've contended for a long time that my "creative process" is a right brain/left brain effort. Granted, the subject matter I search for varies from trip to trip depending on what interests me at the time. Right now I'm in a place where the grand landscape has no interest for me. I'm tending to look for detail shots or something in the grand scene that I can extract with a tele. But back to the topic: Once I've found a subject I want to photograph the creative side of my brain starts working. What's the best angle of view? Is the light good or would it be better another time? What about background elements? Is there an interesting foreground? Leading lines? Contrasting elements? Lots of things going through my mind including what I'll need to do in post processing to make the image match my vision.
Once the process is done and I've decided to shoot something, the mechanical side of my brain kicks in. What about the perspective? Do I want to stretch or compress? What about fstop and shutter speed? Do I need to stop motion or is everything static? Which lens to use...that kind of stuff.
Sounds like a lot but this all is done in a relatively short period of time. Probably in less time that it took me to type this. (Maybe I should learn to use more than one finger)
Relating to some of the other posters here, one of the main components to my creative process is that I've learned, for the most part, when NOT to shoot. Unlike when I was younger I don't shoot just for the sake of shooting. If I'm not inspired, I put the cameras away. Nothing worse than deleting 2/3 of the images from a shoot because I wasn't feeling it.
The opportunities are so few and far between that I am so grateful just to be out trying. I have learned to just take what is given as a gift for me that day. I have a place in mind that I am hoping will work out for light, but try to remain open to anything that presents itself. Todd knows the quote from Dewitt Jones about "If you're out to shoot lightning but Mother Nature is serving rainbows, you'd better shoot rainbows." That has become my mantra. If it's not close to the front range I try to research the area. Otherwise I check the forecasts and pray it turns out to be worth my time. Who am I kidding, it's always worth my time.
Oh, and I forgot. Alot of my inspiration comes from fellow photographers here on NPN and other photographers out there, so here's to you
In this system I think I'm a little of both (aren't we all?) but I'm more hunter than gatherer. I can wait in one location only so long before I start to hear a little voice in my head telling me about all the shots I'm missing elsewhere and I should move and go find them.