One of the appealing aspects of photography for me is the various disciplines within the craft for one to experience. I think of myself as a capture specialist and enjoy the process of seeing comps in natural settings and then applying the appropriate tools to get a pleasing arrangement of elements. I enjoy exploring our garden especially and discovering the delights that Chrissy has planted. On infrequent occasions I'll do some faux studio work by setting up an area indoors and shooting multiple comps and angles of a single set of subjects. OTOH I generally feel much less competent in the digital darkroom. Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it? What appeals to you most in photography and why? What do you see as your strengths? Where do you need/want to improve? Looking forward to your thoughts. >=))>
Posted by Steve Kennedy on March 20, 2011 at 1:39 PM
For me, I consider myself as a complete beginner at every aspect of photography. Mostly, I'm struggling to find my vision. Post processing is probably my weakest area. I think I'm improving the most at working with light in a faux studio environment. I'm not sure if what I like the most is the challenge of finding and capturing a good image or actually capturing a good image.
What I want to improve the most is my vision, may ability to see in my mind what I want to capture in the final image. I've always been a very linear black and white person and creating art is always a struggle to me. Almost 20 years ago my oldest son introduced me to his 5th grade class as "my father the nerd." That probably says it all.
Posted by Ian Wolfenden on March 20, 2011 at 1:53 PM
A few thoughts, Bill.
I suppose I now see the camera work and the computer work as complementary. At first I was hesitant about editing on the computer - trying to get things absolutely right in camera ( in the days of film I never learned developing ). I have come to find I have to rely on software to get me out of a fix or improve an image. Post-processing is therefore one area I keep aiming to improve on.
Though I'm wedded largely to macro photography, which I enjoy enormously for the amazing and beautiful forms and patterns which emerge in the interiors of flowers, I also want to try to work more outdoors and on a larger scale. I have always found that difficult, especially in getting a good composition and in dealing with `messy’ backgrounds.
Regarding competence, I guess you do have some sense of your strengths and weaknesses but I joined this site partly to find out where I stood and to learn. Much of what I've learned as a floral photographer over these past few years is down to the many helpful comments and suggestions I’ve received on Flora.
Posted by Mark Windom on March 20, 2011 at 2:07 PM
I gave up a career in veterinary medicine nearly 20 years ago to concentrate on stock photography on a full time basis and haven't regretted it one single day. I think to get good at something you have to enjoy it over the long term....and enjoying it over the long term allows you to get good at it....not that I've reached that point yet.... If you don't enjoy it there will be no long term.
I think what appeals to me the most about photography is the complete freedom it gives you not only in the day-to-day planning but also in terms of artistic expression.
There is always room for improvement. I switched the main emphasis of my work from landscapes to macro about a year ago and feel I have alot to learn. The challenge of finding pleasing subject matter and complimentary compositions along with the appropriate lighting whether in the field or in the studio keeps me humble and energized.
Great questions, Bill. Look forward to reading others' responses.
Posted by Dan Roberts on March 20, 2011 at 2:57 PM
What I enjoy most about photography is the fieldcraft. In my youth I had an absolute passion for hunting and as I matured I realized the real passion was for the outdoors and wildlife. Plus all of the thrill of the hunt still exist when wielding a camera and it is even more challenging to get a quality image than to pull a trigger. I also am a professional in a technical field so the camera for me is simply a tool for capturing and sharing my field experience with others.
Where the photography challenge comes in for me is in attempting to capture an image that conveys the emotional response I had in the field to a given moment in time, wildlife encounter, etc. Capturing the deep purple, velvety look of a wild iris in the damp of its first morning before the sun has dried and faded the petals. That's a special moment that, amazingly, few people experience. Trying to convey that in an inanimate image on paper or an LCD screen is a real challenge for me.
Similarly, when I spend the time to study wildlife, locate it's habitat, and track it down or lie in wait, I get a real sense of connection. Perhaps intimacy is a better word. Logically I recognize such a connection is false, the bear would surely rip off my face or the bull moose gore me given a chance, yet the emotion exists.
As far as the computer work, it serves two purposes. First, it helps correct my poor skill with the camera. And second, it allows me to relive the moment of the capture. Vividly.
So in direct answer to the question, I guess what I'm best at is gaining access to, and recognizing unique opportunities for captures. It's also the part I enjoy most. Thanks for starting this thread. Gave me reason to ponder this point.
For those of you are actually are 'good at it' I'm going to bet you got that way because you enjoyed it. Right now I'm at the level where the ONLY thing I'm good at is the enjoying it. Like Dan, I've traded a passion for hunting for a passion for photography. I guess what I enjoy most is the excuse to get out and bask in the freedom of the great outdoors. Last night, I announced to friends and family that I was going out to 'shoot the moon'. I spent two hours on a windswept rock, breathing starlight and listening to a coyote serenade, miles from the nearest hint of civilization. The eastern sky was heavily overcast and the moon didn't even make an eerie glow in the clouds. I didn't even take my camera out of its bag, but I was doing what I love and, because I had a camera with me, no one questioned my sanity! Someday, I might actually get good at photography. Especially with all the help from you all at NPN. Until then, I'll still enjoy. As for post processing...until I joined NPN, my computer was a high priced deck of cards for solitaire. I'm learning PS from you guys. Thanks for all your help.
Posted by Lon Overacker on March 20, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
Great question and topic. I think. It's almost like the classic questions, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" or "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?"
But after thinking about your question for a bit, I think I have solved the riddle; at least for myself. How would one know if they were good at something until they actually tried and participated in it? (of course this isn't limited to photography.) So one would think that naturally you would have to enjoy something before you became good at it. But then I think about the natural born and talented prodigy child who seem destined to be great (Michael Jordon, Tiger Woods, AA, etc.) They were good before they knew they enjoyed it. I think though that these are the rare cases.
For me, very similar to Dan, in my youth I remember the family trailer vacations across the American West. The Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, the Great Sand Dunes. All with my Kodak Instamatic. It was also the few hunting and fishing trips with my father. Watching the sunrise hidden among the cattails when it's freezing, waiting for the sound of the goose overhead... (we never shot any, Dad said they were too high and the shot just bounced off them...) And the fishing trips, tossing your line in and it's nothing but you and the river. The sound of rushing water is still one of the great pleasures in life.
So in the end, "being there," out enjoying nature and the great outdoors is what I enjoy and that I think has lead to what I think I'm best at. I also truly enjoy the processing of capturing that beauty with a camera. And just like Dan, I truly enjoy reliving those moments when processing my images and that has made me better at PhotoShop, because I enjoy the process.
Are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
I'm improving at what I do because I enjoy it, for sure. I do enjoy it because I'm improving at it, too, though. If I didn't feel that I had the prospect of being good, I don't think I'd enjoy it at all, and I most likely wouldn't do it.
What appeals to you most in photography and why?
If I was pursuing photography in general I'd say that what would appeal to me would be the satisfaction of creating an image that would be very, very good in the context of its purpose. That applies also in nature photography, of course. It also appeals to me to have the opportunity to promote awareness of and appreciation for the world around us. But I think I'd have to say that what appeals to me most in nature photography is, as Nancy said, being outdoors with a camera in my hand, whether I use it in any given situation or not.
What do you see as your strengths?
I see my strengths as my love for nature and for the outdoors and my lifelong ability to see beauty in the world around me. (As a side note, I was able to pass that along to both of my kids, and I'm so thankful for that.) I suppose my persistence is also a strength, though my daughter asked me last weekend if I thought I might have an addictive personality.
Where do you need/want to improve?
Everywhere, especially composition and every single aspect of camera work. I also need/want to improve in post processing, though the computer aspect of post processing is not the challenge for me that it is for some because I've worked with computers and tons of computer software of all kinds for years.
It would be interesting to me to answer these same questions a year from now, and maybe a year after that, too. I'd like to think my answers would get a bit more specific than they are now.
Posted by Eva McDermott on March 20, 2011 at 8:31 PM
First off, this is a great topic Bill and should be in a more general forum since the question is appropriate for all. I happened to notice it through All Topics.
I'll start with flora which is not my forte but I like to capture plants and trees in their natural setting with no alteration (black cloths, gray cards, whatever). In many cases I use my macro lenses which also leads me to some of my other abstract work. I hike a lot locally (MA, NH, ME, NS), not high adventure, but pleasurable to me. I also like traveling to iconic places but try to share a different view. Seascapes are my real love though.
I enjoy photography in all forms. I have been doing it since 1972. I did a lot of darkroom work from the '70's through the '90's (35mm, med format, 4X5) mainly of my travels to Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Desert SW, Pacific NW, California, and home int the NYC area. I love the chemistry and physics of it all (after all I am a chemist).
Am I good at it? Many times I think not..... others times yes. But more importantly, I enjoy it. I try to convey the emotion of the scene with as little manipulation as possible but still maintaining the mood of the scene..
My strengths..... Knowing the particulars of "my areas"..... light and weather, sunrise, sunset conditions of mid coast Maine and Cape Breton Island NS in particular and specializing in that.
Where I need/want to improve..... Photoshop techniques. Tony Kuyper's Luminosity masks have been indispensable to me but I know there is a lot more to learn.
My view is ever changing even after +35 years of doing it.
Posted by Pat Sampson on March 20, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Interesting Bill.
I'll limit my answer to flora photography including landscapes because for me wildlife and avian are so different from flora that it's not even the same activity. You have a camera with you when you do either but it pretty much ends there - at least for me.
I think I'm better at capture than at post processing. To me it's like shooting and I shot firearms and bow regularly for years beginning in grade school. If I shoot RAW and concentrate on my technique and pay attention to the light, I usually get an exposure/s that I can work with. (no guarantees of course.) However, again for me, nothing comes alive when I click the shutter. The image comes to life in post processing. It's also where I have a lot more techniques and fine control at my disposal. I'm not rushed. I can start over again completely if I don't like where I've ended up. (I almost always do throw the first couple of tries away.) The pressure is off and I can just play. I much prefer post processing to capture. So to finally answer your question, I think I get better at it because I enjoy it more and spend a lot more time doing it.
Do I still enjoy the solitude and beauty of nature? Absolutely. I'm just not sure that photography per se doesn't diminish the immediate quality of the experience for me rather than enhancing it. I enjoy being out most when I don't have another agenda for being there and when I've laid my camera down. Do I still enjoy nature photography? Yes, very much and it's frequently what gets me outdoors but it's not the photographic act or the planning, it's the images of nature that I like and then only as a substitute for the real thing. They're the next best thing to being there.
pat
Posted by Brad Mangas on March 21, 2011 at 8:56 PM
Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
I think it may be worth mentioning that within the realm of the "arts" it is possible for someone to enjoy what they do and not be good at it, who's to say maybe I'm that way right now it all depends on who I ask. I say that because what the creator creates or envisions may be just what "they" want but everyone else may think it's garbage, so does that matter? Who is to say your work is good or not. Is it better that you enjoy the creative process and like the results whether anyone else does or not, or is it better you enjoy the creative process but never seem to like the end result but everyone else thinks your work is great.
Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
This is a mobius strip type of question no matter how you twist it or answer it becomes I'm good at it because I enjoy it and I enjoy it because I'm good at it. It's like Yin and Yang can't have one without the other. I guess my return inquiry would be are there any photographers good enough to make a living yet not enjoy their career like most people detest their job?
What appeals to you most in photography and why?
Creating an image that makes a connection with the viewer at a deeper level than a postcard. Photography is one of the most awesome means of non-verbal communication As is all art.
What do you see as your strengths?
Planning, setting myself up for success in the field. Being there when all that comes together in the memorable image.
On the other half of that coin Spontaneity, grabbing the camera in a creative moment and setting out to find it's expression.
Where do you need/want to improve?
Technical skills in capture, processing and printing. It's where I'm weakest.
Tried to be brief Bill, I can ramble on at times.
Paul
Posted by Lorna Taylor on March 29, 2011 at 8:30 PM
What appeals to you most in photography and why?
Great questions Bill, I guess what appeals to me is the motivation photography gives me to be out in nature more and being able to get more personal with it. We love nature but with a camera in your hands you are more likely to be found crawling around on the ground on a more intimate level with a flower or insect.We are able to truly see and appreciate all the beauty even a frog can convey.
What do you see as your strengths?
What do I see as my strengths is being able to view the world around me in detail and have a deeper appreciation for my impact on nature.To show others I meet through my images to look deeper ,that the wow shot can be as small as a ladybug on a leaf !
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Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
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This question is a little harder for me, I enjoy getting lost in my photography , that wonderful moment when everything else disappears and you are immersed in the moment with your subject! Do I enjoy it because I am good at it , that's the hard part I don't feel I have reached a level where I feel I am good at it. Not in a bad way as this is what motivates me everyday to find a new way of seeing .I often joke if my hard drive were to be wiped tomorrow I would not miss what I have done, it would almost be a new beginning , and inspire me to do new things with my subjects.
Where do you need/want to improve?
Where to improve this is easier , I want to improve on staying motivated and seeing the shots, staying creative .Learning how to get out of my head and in to my camera quicker, and break the creative slump quicker.
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It would be interesting to me to answer these same questions a year from now, and maybe a year after that, too. I'd like to think my answers would get a bit more specific than they are now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I like Barbara's question ,it would be interesting to see if our answers would be the same in a year. A lot can change in a year!
Photography is the only medium I think I have a chance at expressing my need for creativity. I would like for my work to show steady progress in artistic vision. To not just pursue formulaic images, but to seek my own vision. An endeavor I am finding most difficult. And yet highly rewarding.
Bill this is a very good question (or very good subject with interesting questions). I can answer it very fast in simple way. I'm a spontaneous photographer. I'm carrying my camera with me whenever I can (or better say my camera is my good & faithful companion during my daily activities). I’m always happy when I have captured the subject as I’ve seen it without necessity of an enhancement. I’m not a friend of staged photography (not only flora & fauna abut also street life photography; I try to capture the nature subject within their natural surrounding so as I try to capture the street life and people around without asking them to smile. I do not expect big applause, but I’m always happy when I see or hear a sign of appreciation of my photo work.
Excellent thread!
I'm the little kid who used to disappear into the woods all day, alone, starting before I was 5. (Things were safer then, back in Ohio) . I still find peace and serenity primarily in the woods and near water - and now in the woods/water with a camera to try to preserve the peace and serenity.
My loves are birds and macro - an odd combination and completely different. (and both needing expensive lenses, eek) I used to be free to travel very frequently for my photography, but now have primary responsibility for a very old and pretty ill mother with dementia. I'm lucky if I can get away to Baylands for birds - 90 min away once a month. BUT!! there are flowers in the back yard, all around the neighborhood, and at Safeway, if needed. No need to travel! Thus, my love of macro/flower work.
I think I'm much better with birds and BIF than with macro. I still struggle with every macro image to visualize what I want to convey, and how to process it to get there. My PS skills are poor, at best, with macro. SOO many things on my list to try to learn..
Ian said, above, " I have come to find I have to rely on software to get me out of a fix or improve an image. " God knows this is true for me. I'm still having to rescue WAY too many images and it's frustrating. But at least I CAN rescue them now, with some of the great new PS stuff. I wish I still had some of the images I threw away a few years ago - I'm certain they would be quite good with present processing help.
Thanks to all for the C and C in macro, and especially to Bill and Pat whose thoughtful comments have made me see many new things. I learn and grow every day in this Art I love because of this forum.
I love the beauty of creation and I love experiencing the peace and regeneration of being with my Creator. The camera is a reason for me to be going out. It causes me to be more observant of everything around me when I am in the outdoors. I don't especially enjoy just taking pictures. That is why I do not do studio work or even shoot flowers in the garden. I get my greatest satisfaction shooting images of objects in their natural setting. In saying that I will sometimes shoot images in a zoo or botanical garden, but my first love is being in and photographing the natural world. I also find great satisfaction in producing and image that is not only technically good, but can invoke positive emotions in others. But some of my favorite images sometimes only evoke positive emotions in me.
Where do I want to improve, that is an open ended question. I see the need for improvement in so many areas. I am not a very good detail person, so thinking through all the process of making a good image in the field needs lots of help. Remembering to check, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, white balance, background distraction, etc., etc,. etc. The critiques in NPN are helping me to think about those things more. I also need to learn much more about post processing, because it has already saved some of my favorite images.
My strength is probably desire. Desire to improve and keep trying. It is a great confidence builder to post an image and get a lot of views and positive comments, but it is also not so good for the ego when you post an image that you like a lot and get 20 views while everyone around you are getting 50 or 100. I can usually forget about both of those situations, try and learn and go on.
I appreciate very much how helpful everyone on NPN has been. I can see improvement in my images for two reasons. Since I retired about 1 1/2 years ago a week rarely goes by when I an not out in the field shooting some images, so just shooting a lot more. Secondly is the great help from everyone on NPN. THANKS.
Do I enjoy what I do because I am good at it or good at it because I enjoy it? If I ever get good at it I will let you know. I am still very much on the steep part of the learning curve. I focus mostly on landscape and flora is a natural addition. I photograph mostly just because I love the outdoors. I haven't hunted for years but still backpack every year and fly fish quite a bit. I bought my first DSLR three years ago because I was so frustrated with trying to capture the beauty of what I saw with a P&S. Sometimes have to force myself to get back to photoshop but love the experience of seeing an image transformed by even my meager skills. I still chuckle when I hook a nice trout in a mountain stream and shake my head in wonder that it even works. I am emotionally attached to the high mountains-especially at and above tree line.
If I have a strength i think that I am developing an eye towards seeing and composition but I am weak on the technical aspects of shooting and processing. Getting better is why I participate here and not to showcase my pics. I push all pride aside and post to be able to learn I apologize if I keep posting subpar images but you are my mentors. Thanks for that!
Posted by Brad Strong on January 31, 2016 at 4:13 PM
"are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it? What appeals to you most in photography and why? What do you see as your strengths?"
For me, I can't enjoy anything unless I'm good at it, so I get good at things in order to enjoy them, photography included. Early on my images suffered from blown out skies, camera shake, weird depth of field issues, and so on. I read books, talked to more experienced photographers I worked with, watched videos, and practiced until I got the results I wanted.
The thing that appeals to me the most about photography is the art that can be created with it. I spent the first 6 months with my first DSLR in love with artistic, dusky twilight images with mountain silhouettes and roses taken at public gardens. I edited them however pleased me. Some of them were garish, and I needed direction in that. I then spent the next 7 years torturing myself with photo realism standards imposed on me by other photographers. Now that I've rejected photo realism (thanks to Ken Rockwell), I'm much happier.
I absolutely love the digital darkroom! That's where the real magic happens. Taking a well-shot, raw, image and turning it into what I envisioned when taking it. This is where it all comes together. Many people, it seems to me, really struggle with a moral dilemma in the digital dark room. Like anything other than photo realism is a lie or cheating. These same photographers shun editing as immoral while setting their camera to landscape mode and then oohing and ahhing over the automatically, heavily manipulated image. It's so liberating to get past that!
I think my strength is knowing when not to shoot. When conditions aren't right or I'm not feeling anything, I don't shoot anything. It's nice to not have 250 boring images to delete when I get home.
I just bought an old Nikon FE and 28mm Prime. I plan to shoot more film than digital this year. I have some Ilford 400 and Ektar 100. I also bought an old 4x5 view camera that I plan to use to achieve the results I want. The regular plane (Or should I say plain) of focus is getting in the way of what I want to do in some images. The movements of the view camera, will help overcome that. I am looking forward to slowing down and shooting film this year.
Discussion
18 repliesWhat I want to improve the most is my vision, may ability to see in my mind what I want to capture in the final image. I've always been a very linear black and white person and creating art is always a struggle to me. Almost 20 years ago my oldest son introduced me to his 5th grade class as "my father the nerd." That probably says it all.
I suppose I now see the camera work and the computer work as complementary. At first I was hesitant about editing on the computer - trying to get things absolutely right in camera ( in the days of film I never learned developing ). I have come to find I have to rely on software to get me out of a fix or improve an image. Post-processing is therefore one area I keep aiming to improve on.
Though I'm wedded largely to macro photography, which I enjoy enormously for the amazing and beautiful forms and patterns which emerge in the interiors of flowers, I also want to try to work more outdoors and on a larger scale. I have always found that difficult, especially in getting a good composition and in dealing with `messy’ backgrounds.
Regarding competence, I guess you do have some sense of your strengths and weaknesses but I joined this site partly to find out where I stood and to learn. Much of what I've learned as a floral photographer over these past few years is down to the many helpful comments and suggestions I’ve received on Flora.
I think what appeals to me the most about photography is the complete freedom it gives you not only in the day-to-day planning but also in terms of artistic expression.
There is always room for improvement. I switched the main emphasis of my work from landscapes to macro about a year ago and feel I have alot to learn. The challenge of finding pleasing subject matter and complimentary compositions along with the appropriate lighting whether in the field or in the studio keeps me humble and energized.
Great questions, Bill. Look forward to reading others' responses.
Where the photography challenge comes in for me is in attempting to capture an image that conveys the emotional response I had in the field to a given moment in time, wildlife encounter, etc. Capturing the deep purple, velvety look of a wild iris in the damp of its first morning before the sun has dried and faded the petals. That's a special moment that, amazingly, few people experience. Trying to convey that in an inanimate image on paper or an LCD screen is a real challenge for me.
Similarly, when I spend the time to study wildlife, locate it's habitat, and track it down or lie in wait, I get a real sense of connection. Perhaps intimacy is a better word. Logically I recognize such a connection is false, the bear would surely rip off my face or the bull moose gore me given a chance, yet the emotion exists.
As far as the computer work, it serves two purposes. First, it helps correct my poor skill with the camera. And second, it allows me to relive the moment of the capture. Vividly.
So in direct answer to the question, I guess what I'm best at is gaining access to, and recognizing unique opportunities for captures. It's also the part I enjoy most. Thanks for starting this thread. Gave me reason to ponder this point.
Great question and topic. I think. It's almost like the classic questions, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" or "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?"
But after thinking about your question for a bit, I think I have solved the riddle; at least for myself. How would one know if they were good at something until they actually tried and participated in it? (of course this isn't limited to photography.) So one would think that naturally you would have to enjoy something before you became good at it. But then I think about the natural born and talented prodigy child who seem destined to be great (Michael Jordon, Tiger Woods, AA, etc.) They were good before they knew they enjoyed it. I think though that these are the rare cases.
For me, very similar to Dan, in my youth I remember the family trailer vacations across the American West. The Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, the Great Sand Dunes. All with my Kodak Instamatic. It was also the few hunting and fishing trips with my father. Watching the sunrise hidden among the cattails when it's freezing, waiting for the sound of the goose overhead... (we never shot any, Dad said they were too high and the shot just bounced off them...) And the fishing trips, tossing your line in and it's nothing but you and the river. The sound of rushing water is still one of the great pleasures in life.
So in the end, "being there," out enjoying nature and the great outdoors is what I enjoy and that I think has lead to what I think I'm best at. I also truly enjoy the processing of capturing that beauty with a camera. And just like Dan, I truly enjoy reliving those moments when processing my images and that has made me better at PhotoShop, because I enjoy the process.
Lon
I'm improving at what I do because I enjoy it, for sure. I do enjoy it because I'm improving at it, too, though. If I didn't feel that I had the prospect of being good, I don't think I'd enjoy it at all, and I most likely wouldn't do it.
What appeals to you most in photography and why?
If I was pursuing photography in general I'd say that what would appeal to me would be the satisfaction of creating an image that would be very, very good in the context of its purpose. That applies also in nature photography, of course. It also appeals to me to have the opportunity to promote awareness of and appreciation for the world around us. But I think I'd have to say that what appeals to me most in nature photography is, as Nancy said, being outdoors with a camera in my hand, whether I use it in any given situation or not.
What do you see as your strengths?
I see my strengths as my love for nature and for the outdoors and my lifelong ability to see beauty in the world around me. (As a side note, I was able to pass that along to both of my kids, and I'm so thankful for that.) I suppose my persistence is also a strength, though my daughter asked me last weekend if I thought I might have an addictive personality.
Where do you need/want to improve?
Everywhere, especially composition and every single aspect of camera work. I also need/want to improve in post processing, though the computer aspect of post processing is not the challenge for me that it is for some because I've worked with computers and tons of computer software of all kinds for years.
It would be interesting to me to answer these same questions a year from now, and maybe a year after that, too. I'd like to think my answers would get a bit more specific than they are now.
I'll start with flora which is not my forte but I like to capture plants and trees in their natural setting with no alteration (black cloths, gray cards, whatever). In many cases I use my macro lenses which also leads me to some of my other abstract work. I hike a lot locally (MA, NH, ME, NS), not high adventure, but pleasurable to me. I also like traveling to iconic places but try to share a different view. Seascapes are my real love though.
I enjoy photography in all forms. I have been doing it since 1972. I did a lot of darkroom work from the '70's through the '90's (35mm, med format, 4X5) mainly of my travels to Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Desert SW, Pacific NW, California, and home int the NYC area. I love the chemistry and physics of it all (after all I am a chemist).
Am I good at it? Many times I think not..... others times yes. But more importantly, I enjoy it. I try to convey the emotion of the scene with as little manipulation as possible but still maintaining the mood of the scene..
My strengths..... Knowing the particulars of "my areas"..... light and weather, sunrise, sunset conditions of mid coast Maine and Cape Breton Island NS in particular and specializing in that.
Where I need/want to improve..... Photoshop techniques. Tony Kuyper's Luminosity masks have been indispensable to me but I know there is a lot more to learn.
My view is ever changing even after +35 years of doing it.
I'll limit my answer to flora photography including landscapes because for me wildlife and avian are so different from flora that it's not even the same activity. You have a camera with you when you do either but it pretty much ends there - at least for me.
I think I'm better at capture than at post processing. To me it's like shooting and I shot firearms and bow regularly for years beginning in grade school. If I shoot RAW and concentrate on my technique and pay attention to the light, I usually get an exposure/s that I can work with. (no guarantees of course.) However, again for me, nothing comes alive when I click the shutter. The image comes to life in post processing. It's also where I have a lot more techniques and fine control at my disposal. I'm not rushed. I can start over again completely if I don't like where I've ended up. (I almost always do throw the first couple of tries away.) The pressure is off and I can just play. I much prefer post processing to capture. So to finally answer your question, I think I get better at it because I enjoy it more and spend a lot more time doing it.
Do I still enjoy the solitude and beauty of nature? Absolutely. I'm just not sure that photography per se doesn't diminish the immediate quality of the experience for me rather than enhancing it. I enjoy being out most when I don't have another agenda for being there and when I've laid my camera down. Do I still enjoy nature photography? Yes, very much and it's frequently what gets me outdoors but it's not the photographic act or the planning, it's the images of nature that I like and then only as a substitute for the real thing. They're the next best thing to being there.
pat
I think it may be worth mentioning that within the realm of the "arts" it is possible for someone to enjoy what they do and not be good at it, who's to say maybe I'm that way right now it all depends on who I ask. I say that because what the creator creates or envisions may be just what "they" want but everyone else may think it's garbage, so does that matter? Who is to say your work is good or not. Is it better that you enjoy the creative process and like the results whether anyone else does or not, or is it better you enjoy the creative process but never seem to like the end result but everyone else thinks your work is great.
This is an excellent topic.
Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
This is a mobius strip type of question no matter how you twist it or answer it becomes I'm good at it because I enjoy it and I enjoy it because I'm good at it. It's like Yin and Yang can't have one without the other. I guess my return inquiry would be are there any photographers good enough to make a living yet not enjoy their career like most people detest their job?
What appeals to you most in photography and why?
Creating an image that makes a connection with the viewer at a deeper level than a postcard. Photography is one of the most awesome means of non-verbal communication As is all art.
What do you see as your strengths?
Planning, setting myself up for success in the field. Being there when all that comes together in the memorable image.
On the other half of that coin Spontaneity, grabbing the camera in a creative moment and setting out to find it's expression.
Where do you need/want to improve?
Technical skills in capture, processing and printing. It's where I'm weakest.
Tried to be brief Bill, I can ramble on at times.
Paul
Great questions Bill, I guess what appeals to me is the motivation photography gives me to be out in nature more and being able to get more personal with it. We love nature but with a camera in your hands you are more likely to be found crawling around on the ground on a more intimate level with a flower or insect.We are able to truly see and appreciate all the beauty even a frog can convey.
What do you see as your strengths?
What do I see as my strengths is being able to view the world around me in detail and have a deeper appreciation for my impact on nature.To show others I meet through my images to look deeper ,that the wow shot can be as small as a ladybug on a leaf !
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Which brings me to this question for you to consider; are you good at what you do because you enjoy it or do you enjoy it because you're good at it?
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This question is a little harder for me, I enjoy getting lost in my photography , that wonderful moment when everything else disappears and you are immersed in the moment with your subject! Do I enjoy it because I am good at it , that's the hard part I don't feel I have reached a level where I feel I am good at it. Not in a bad way as this is what motivates me everyday to find a new way of seeing .I often joke if my hard drive were to be wiped tomorrow I would not miss what I have done, it would almost be a new beginning , and inspire me to do new things with my subjects.
Where do you need/want to improve?
Where to improve this is easier , I want to improve on staying motivated and seeing the shots, staying creative .Learning how to get out of my head and in to my camera quicker, and break the creative slump quicker.
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It would be interesting to me to answer these same questions a year from now, and maybe a year after that, too. I'd like to think my answers would get a bit more specific than they are now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I like Barbara's question ,it would be interesting to see if our answers would be the same in a year. A lot can change in a year!
Cheers,Lorna
I'm the little kid who used to disappear into the woods all day, alone, starting before I was 5. (Things were safer then, back in Ohio) . I still find peace and serenity primarily in the woods and near water - and now in the woods/water with a camera to try to preserve the peace and serenity.
My loves are birds and macro - an odd combination and completely different. (and both needing expensive lenses, eek) I used to be free to travel very frequently for my photography, but now have primary responsibility for a very old and pretty ill mother with dementia. I'm lucky if I can get away to Baylands for birds - 90 min away once a month. BUT!! there are flowers in the back yard, all around the neighborhood, and at Safeway, if needed. No need to travel! Thus, my love of macro/flower work.
I think I'm much better with birds and BIF than with macro. I still struggle with every macro image to visualize what I want to convey, and how to process it to get there. My PS skills are poor, at best, with macro. SOO many things on my list to try to learn..
Ian said, above, " I have come to find I have to rely on software to get me out of a fix or improve an image. " God knows this is true for me. I'm still having to rescue WAY too many images and it's frustrating. But at least I CAN rescue them now, with some of the great new PS stuff. I wish I still had some of the images I threw away a few years ago - I'm certain they would be quite good with present processing help.
Thanks to all for the C and C in macro, and especially to Bill and Pat whose thoughtful comments have made me see many new things. I learn and grow every day in this Art I love because of this forum.
Sandy
I love the beauty of creation and I love experiencing the peace and regeneration of being with my Creator. The camera is a reason for me to be going out. It causes me to be more observant of everything around me when I am in the outdoors. I don't especially enjoy just taking pictures. That is why I do not do studio work or even shoot flowers in the garden. I get my greatest satisfaction shooting images of objects in their natural setting. In saying that I will sometimes shoot images in a zoo or botanical garden, but my first love is being in and photographing the natural world. I also find great satisfaction in producing and image that is not only technically good, but can invoke positive emotions in others. But some of my favorite images sometimes only evoke positive emotions in me.
Where do I want to improve, that is an open ended question. I see the need for improvement in so many areas. I am not a very good detail person, so thinking through all the process of making a good image in the field needs lots of help. Remembering to check, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, white balance, background distraction, etc., etc,. etc. The critiques in NPN are helping me to think about those things more. I also need to learn much more about post processing, because it has already saved some of my favorite images.
My strength is probably desire. Desire to improve and keep trying. It is a great confidence builder to post an image and get a lot of views and positive comments, but it is also not so good for the ego when you post an image that you like a lot and get 20 views while everyone around you are getting 50 or 100. I can usually forget about both of those situations, try and learn and go on.
I appreciate very much how helpful everyone on NPN has been. I can see improvement in my images for two reasons. Since I retired about 1 1/2 years ago a week rarely goes by when I an not out in the field shooting some images, so just shooting a lot more. Secondly is the great help from everyone on NPN. THANKS.
If I have a strength i think that I am developing an eye towards seeing and composition but I am weak on the technical aspects of shooting and processing. Getting better is why I participate here and not to showcase my pics. I push all pride aside and post to be able to learn I apologize if I keep posting subpar images but you are my mentors. Thanks for that!
For me, I can't enjoy anything unless I'm good at it, so I get good at things in order to enjoy them, photography included. Early on my images suffered from blown out skies, camera shake, weird depth of field issues, and so on. I read books, talked to more experienced photographers I worked with, watched videos, and practiced until I got the results I wanted.
The thing that appeals to me the most about photography is the art that can be created with it. I spent the first 6 months with my first DSLR in love with artistic, dusky twilight images with mountain silhouettes and roses taken at public gardens. I edited them however pleased me. Some of them were garish, and I needed direction in that. I then spent the next 7 years torturing myself with photo realism standards imposed on me by other photographers. Now that I've rejected photo realism (thanks to Ken Rockwell), I'm much happier.
I absolutely love the digital darkroom! That's where the real magic happens. Taking a well-shot, raw, image and turning it into what I envisioned when taking it. This is where it all comes together. Many people, it seems to me, really struggle with a moral dilemma in the digital dark room. Like anything other than photo realism is a lie or cheating. These same photographers shun editing as immoral while setting their camera to landscape mode and then oohing and ahhing over the automatically, heavily manipulated image. It's so liberating to get past that!
I think my strength is knowing when not to shoot. When conditions aren't right or I'm not feeling anything, I don't shoot anything. It's nice to not have 250 boring images to delete when I get home.
I just bought an old Nikon FE and 28mm Prime. I plan to shoot more film than digital this year. I have some Ilford 400 and Ektar 100. I also bought an old 4x5 view camera that I plan to use to achieve the results I want. The regular plane (Or should I say plain) of focus is getting in the way of what I want to do in some images. The movements of the view camera, will help overcome that. I am looking forward to slowing down and shooting film this year.