This is an odd thought and perhaps a bit esoteric.  I was thinking of "me" and my directions in photography.  Some photographers here cut through the sky like a sharp bolt of lightning, direction very clear and well developed in a genre of photography.

For me, I feel like a puffy cloud. :unsure: What comes up comes up and I just roool along the sky of all this.

Are you disciplined in your photographic direction? What keeps you directed?  I ask only because try as I may, a concentrated direction has eluded me so far.  Life is much like that in some ways.

Any comments are appreciated.         TomDart.

Hi Tom,

Puffy clouds changes all the time. Alot like my photography. I do it because i still get a big buzz when i know i have shot something brilliant. Also i love peoples reactions to my work. Do you still get a buzz out of a good photo you have done?

But it doesnt really matter what people think of your work unless trying to sell it or make someone happy. Whats important is what you get out of doing it. Trying different things also is great. Love learning photoshop. Wonderful people in this site that i have learnt heaps from.

**Just enjoy each moment. **

|Chris:b_smile:

Tom,

I do photography for my own pleasure and that means that if I 'stumble' at anything that grabs my attention I shoot it.

I 'do' photography as a hobby and I am addicted ... ... for 'too' many years now.

As I usually say I achieve a good photo in a hundred or in a thousand shots.
When I am able to capture exactly what I want and the way I want and feel ... that is sooooooo goooooooooooood !

I do have photos shot many years ago (the digital era was not even a dream) that I love and I am never tired of looking at them in my albums.

If (there is always an if) ... if I am not in the mood I do not even point my cam !

... and that is it

Hi Tom...

Personally, I am all over the place.I shoot whatever currently appeals to me.It's never any one thing.

However,I have seen that the true way to make great strides in your photography is to focus on one thing until you have 'mastered' it...Then,move on to another type of image that you are interested in capturing.

I think that's really the way to go...unfortunately,I'm not disciplined enough to do it.  :^(

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
Emo Philips

What I post and what I actually shoot do not tell the real story.
My goal is for in flight birds, and try to hone that skill.
But candid portraits are something I do a lot of.
Old rusty things..working boats are more of the typical images I take.
I guess I am all over the place with no set style, but that is what makes it so much fun.

I have many, many interests.  I try to capture what it is that draws me to a certain subject.  I started out with landscapes and eventually moved into macro work.  I then started shooting night shots and timed exposures because I find them fascinating.   I am currently working with portraits and abstracts.  Surrealism and IR photography are other things that are on my agenda photographically.  There are many subjects that I work on privately until I think I have them mastered, and then I show them to a select audience to get feedback before displaying them publicly.

*I guess I need to decide what turns me on?  Not likely that is going to happen.  I don't always shoot what appeals to the masses, I shoot more for my own gratification. *

Do what feels good, if other people like it, that is an added bonus.  Best of luck to you in your endeavors.

The Cynical One

My gallery here more or less reflects what I want to shoot (no pun intended ) - animals and plants and nature. But I also go with whatever strikes my fancy. For instance, I've got a recent shot of a karting car which I extremely like (and should put in my gallery). There are other such things, quite far from the animals and birds. I think I will always find intriguing subjects outside my main area of interest. In fact, I think I'll try to always be all over the place, especially in style. I don't like repeating myself and would become bored with photography (or 3D and illustration in general) if I did something like that. As Doug said, that is what makes it all so much fun.

I am gathering from this that many image posters do like a variety of subjects.  As Doug said, "this is not the whole picture" and my personal shots prove that in my case. 

The public person in on a stage  and will often choose a direction or the best to show a point. The rest, the rest is not shown on galleries even if gallery quality.   Variety is what makes photogaphy work for me.  I once thought  I would go one direction over another but find as does Cynical, certain times of interest in one area then move to another and what is inbetween. 

I hope to hear more comments. These are very appreciated.        TomDart.

I shoot several genres, and then within them there are of course sub genres.

I am usually concentrating on one main genre but will take time out to shoot something different for variety, for example I have spent the majority of time working with people, but will go out and do some landscape (or something else) work in-between projects.

I shoot for fun and enjoyment, but will take on commissions.

The top three

Main genre: People

Sub genres: Portraits, fashion, glamour, art, art nude, nude, body parts (mostly eyes and mouth/lips) and action

Main genre: Landscapes (such a vast area to cover no pun intended)

Sub genres: Wide with emphasis on sky, wide with emphasis on land, detail (natural) Trees rock formation etc, detail (man made/artificial), walls, old buildings, sunset/rise.

Main genre: Natural history

Sub genres: wild or domesticated bipeds/quadrupeds static and action, plants, fungi, this can extend into close up and even macro.

The others

Main genre: Textures

Sub genres: pretty much anything from grass, fur, wood, tree bark fungi again, stone, rock, skin, hair the list in non exhaustive.

Main genre: Still life

Sub genres: just about.

Main genre: Macro

Sub genres: As still life.

Main genre: Modes of transport

Sub genres: cars, boats etc and related locations.

Main genre: Sport and pastime

Sub genres: any sporting event/style.

Some of these of course can merge and fit into several different genres

Once I have decided on a project I will concentrate solely on that until I have completed what I set out to achieve.

I used to just go and see what happens/comes up, this can work well sometimes and sometimes you can end up with nothing.

Intresting thread and reading,

For me, I shoot landscapes, why, probally because I'm surrounded by it. If I lived in a town, I have no idea what I would do. I would like to do other projects, I have some ideas in my head but at the moment spare time is against me but that will change this summer.

However, if i stumble across a subject and I have the camera to hand, away I go. I'm really itching to do some studio work, but that will have to wait until later.

Steve

Personally I'm more interested in light, texture and form than any one genre or medium ~ so on the surface I may seem to be all over the place.

 A good exercise is to go thru everything you've kept that you've done and look for patterns of interest; it may be that you've subconsciously made choices that you have yet to recognize.

Me I do all that Simon says plus another genre -

Miscellaneous - anything doesn't fit in any of the above.

Quote - Me I do all that Simon says plus another genre -

Miscellaneous - anything doesn't fit in any of the above.

He he, me too, thats most of waht I do!

Dragonfly 2000 said, "A good exercise is to go thru everything you've kept that you've done and look for patterns of interest; it may be that you've subconsciously made choices that you have yet to recognize."    With me, that is very likely very true.

Very kewl thread with many interesting views. For me it's what ever strikes me while out on a shoot. Sometimes I have pre-conceived ideas on a location that I might want to shoot, but on the way there something might catch my eye and I never make it to my intended destination. That use to kind of annoy me that I would so easily be distracted, like I had A.D.D. or something. But to my surprise some of my best stuff has been shot unexpectedly because I strayed from my original plan. I've come to realize that I need to pay more attention to times like this and not feel guilty about straying off my intended course. Some how by following my basic instincts rather than staying on the beaten path, you can develope your own style and find what you really want to shoot.

Of course not everything we shoot is going to be framed and adored by everyone. But it will reflect what we have a passion for. For me the passion is photography as I see it happening before my eyes, not knowing what I will shoot is part of the high for me....getting the shot right as I have seen it is my reward. I can't really tie myself down to one genre, everything is fair game to me...and that's how I like it!!

Quote -  For me it's what ever strikes me while out on a shoot. Sometimes I have pre-conceived ideas on a location that I might want to shoot, but on the way there something might catch my eye and I never make it to my intended destination. That use to kind of annoy me that I would so easily be distracted, like I had A.D.D. or something. But to my surprise some of my best stuff has been shot unexpectedly because I strayed from my original plan.

Been there, done that, completely understand where Dave is coming from here.  Some of my best works are from impromptu shoots.

The Cynical One

Hey, Tom...

I just started actually looking around for things to shoot since I got my first real camera so I can't really say. It is my personal thought as of this moment, that you should take pictures of anythig that makes you take notice. Eventually you will find a subject that suits your personality. I was that way with my 3D work. I did that for 5 years before I realized that texturing and lighting is what I loved about it. And I only realized that through the comments here at Rosity and those of my family and frinds.

Just keep clickin'! :b_cool:

Mark

When first opening this thread, I worried that I might be considered a puffy little cloud of a photographer. But upon reading it, I see that most of us are that way so I guess I'm in good floaty company. :m_laugh: What I am seeing and agree with is that we all do have certain interests that we come back to again and again, but we are open to exploration. In fact, that is a big draw for me. When I go out with my cam, I may have an idea of what I want to achieve, but I'm open to letting the muses guide me and almost count on happy accidents happening. I have interest in macro, landscape, nature and IR photography, but am always open to doing something else if it interests me. I think I would go crazy if I only ever did just one thing. Trying new things leads sometimes to areas of interest we never considered before. Now, if there were just more hours in the day... :m_sleepy:

everything & anything.. i take my cam everywhere.. cuz i never know what might strike my fancy.. or see something i might use in a collage later on..   which i luv to do the most of.. to make my work unique & add my own style.. but after i get my new DSLR, who knows.. maybe my landscapes will improve ..right now i use the cam as just another artist's tool to achieve the final image

have also found my work comes out better when i have a preconceived idea of what it is i want to convey.. then i set up the individual shots i need..

do wish there were more people i could shoot & get into studio work..

interesting topic & replies

OOOOO, what new SLR??? =]

looking at the new EVOLT series.. hard to give up the Olys ;] but i might change my mind after combing through all the reviews.. need to make a trip into the big city & feel them all up.. LOL.. i want to hold them first..

Replying to Cyn: I've had a love affair with Olympus for over twenty years now (from my first OM2). And would have a hard time to give them up. Still have one of the IS series too (analog). And waiting for the $$$ for a new DSLR... About the subjects: there are only 3 subjects in my gallery: nature/landscapes, (old) architecture and people. No flowers, no animals, no studio work though. None of it planned either, just shooting what appeals to me at the moment. Way back in the early days, I did set up some things with predetermined ideas, but those were mainly 'artistic' experiments for my art school. So, I guess I can join the floaty company, Kort LOL. It's been a pleasure reading all the replies here!

Hijacking the thread... :-) Cyn, depending on your budget, you might want to wait till autumn, cause the E-1 successor will appear for Photokina. OTOH, E-500 is one of the best cameras in its range, as well as one of the cheapest. And Olympus lenses are to die for... Unfortunately, the top-of-the-line lenses are the most expensive. OTTH, you can buy E-1 cheaply now. It will certainly be suitable for somebody who is not focused on any particular genre - it's sealed, so you can shot in rain or in heavy dust. Hmmmmm. How many of us would be even more all over the place if we had cameras that can stand extreme conditions? There's a thread over at dpreview where a guy posted a photo of e-1 totally covered in dust. I mean totally, you can't see the surface of the camera. And it still works without a hitch.

(slight detour).. ok, thanks for that erlik! & geert.. think i'll go check it out :D i am a bit partial to em..

Well, I will take this floaty cloud to a bluegrass/mountain crafts fun thing today..the camera is my sidekick there.  The shots obviously are not set-up but I have a clue what to expect..mostly people and maybe a mule.   I am not an "event" photographer but going to have fun and having the camera always makes for a couple of good shots.           Tom.

Cindy, your work certainly shows the cam as a tool for the final artwork. Enjoy!

Hello, Looks like most of us have obsessive compulsive shooting disorder, lol ....... After having read the little "dilema"about being on a "puffy cloud". I thought to myself about my own stand on this. I think, and woud agree with most of you, that in fact, maybe the "lack" of direction as to what we choose to photograph on each occasion is perhaps the best way to go. I believe that the most interesting photos are those "shot" at the spur of the moment. I , on the other hand have been on that puffy cloud for too long, and can't seem to take that leap of the imagination.. I am stuck on the flower images and can't seem to go beyond, as much as I would like to. My dream is to move on to crystals, (natural stones), but yet something holds me back... I always have this feeling that I will come across some beautiful, awe-awakening flower that will be "bigger" and better than the previous one(s). It's almost like havind one boot stuck in the mud......... Hugs , tofi

Mini-hijack: I hope you seriously look into the E500 Cyn. Great cam from all the reviews and having held one I have to say I like it a lot. But I would be sorely tempted by the Canon and Kodak DSLRS out there too, sigh. Good luck! -->back to your regular programming now...

For me it's all about how close you can get, great compo (interest) and totally dif POV's - just my 2c althou with inflation over the years it's prob 20c by now...