Hello everybody!

Just a silly question and will see where it will lead to.

Is a certain photography style does reflect a photographer's thinking, attitude, mood?

Like to hear what you think about it.

seeyus  Tunde

I believe the mood reflects in the Photographers work, and that a style of Photography can
reflect  in mood, attatude as for me some stuff can become really boring and I will not deliver my best work.

Fascinating thought! I suspect we are all different, I look forward to reading what folk have to say.

I am not sure I present a particular style, or one particular to me.  And then, when a photo is shot it often is simply a result of emotion at the time...reflecting in me but perhaps not in the photo my feelings at the moment only.   Other times..a shot is because I planned to photograph somthing like that and was fortunate enough to find it.        Tom.

Maybe......that is if the photographer really sticks to a special style.
But my photos dont at all present any style. I mostly take shots of what I find interesting at that moment,  I discover the object. I do not often plan on taking special kinds of shots and not because I am in any special mood.  Atleast not that I know of.

For those that know how to 'read' images, a photograph, or better any series of images can tell us quite a lot about a photographer, even things you wouldn't expect: how he lives, what he likes, how he thinks, how creative or how restricted he is, how loose or how meticulous, how profound or how superficial, how capable he is at making abstraction, and how intelligent he is.

Even if you think that you have no particular style at all, your images might be telling exactly who you are... Scary, isn't it?

:unsure:

I will have to live with that...having realized the evidences of me are different than those of someone else, regardless of a recognized style.  My writing does the same thing..however some professors did go a bit overboard on analysis of a particular essay, missing the  forest for the trees as it is.   Good comment, btw.

The judgement based on what is seen can be off base with a tilt to one side or the other..still, evidences are there we are told.

Geert, yes it is very scary! But would that fact stop the photographer to keep shooting in a style he/she likes or interested in or alter the style to be "hiden"?  I think this risk has to be face and just go on.

Tom, you are right about the writing too, it is all there we excep it or not. In photography I think we all drawn to subject what we like. It is okay if a photographer specialized in bird shot, pretty harmless. Different case if a photographer/artist like to capture pictures in dark mood or using gloomy deppressing tones only.

What makes me think thou I know photographers from first hand, they just exploring a style what they are comfortably,  yet all ready "tagged" whith some certain style. Would this make them change a thinking of what they shoot next time? I know it depend on a person if let this "taging" alter him/her. After all we taking pictures for our own etertainment not fo others unless we got payed for it then is a different matter.

seeya  and thnk to respond.

Well Tunde, since many artists choose a particular form of art as a means of self-expression, I don't see why they should choose to hide their inner most thoughts and feelings... Some really need their art to express themselves to the world, to make themselves known, often because they have a hard time to be expressive in any other way. Something like: "You ask me who I am..? Well, just look at my images, they're shouting at you, and you do not see..?"

Sometimes that need for self-expression can take on obsessive and desperate forms. I once knew a girl who had nothing but ice cream cones in her images. She drew images with dozens of different cones in different colors and shapes, all nicely divided in horizontal and vertical rows. She made screen prints, stone prints, linoleum prints and etchings with nothing but countless ice cream cones... and not just for a short period; in the five years that I've known her, I never saw anything else but ice cream cones in her images, and she was very productive and determined about it. Don't ask me what that meant in psychological terms... but after a while you could read in her images if she was happy or sad, open or closed, expressive or distant, certain or insecure... Although it seemed totally incomprehensible at the beginning, and she never gave any explanation about it except for "I like ice cream cones", those images were her means of self expression to the world...

Fascinating Geert, thanks to respond back.

seeya  Tunde

a fascinating topic you've raised here Tunde, and some great thoughts expressed.. very interesting story bout the ice cream cones!

I think a distinction should be made partly in who the photos are taken for.... a professional in a certain sector will need to have something to make their approach unique, employable, and capable of generating enough interest/income to make it a worthwhile ongoing career... in essence their livelihood depends on being able to produce something which will satisfy the demands of the market... in such circumstances the primary concern must surely be to produce technical excellence which 'meets the brief', rather than satisfying any personal, emotional motives.... an example of such a sector which springs to mind would be something like advertising or stock photography... but for continued recognition and success the photographer in most cases would probably need to develop a style identifiable as theirs, and in part that has to come from the photographer's own individual view of the task/ the world which surrounds them...

I don't want to get too deeply into this as some aspects raised overlap with some of the discussions I intend to make in my dissertation, so I'll probably ramble on for several boring pages... but!.... consider a landscape by contrast.... there is such a sense of universality and also nationality embedded in the landscape that it can be a very emotive subject, and to have the greatest impact one might argue it is the duty of the photographer to convey as best they can the emotions they experienced while capturing the scene.... it reminds me of a very simple piece of advice I heard when starting out - take pictures of that which interests/moves you, and with sufficient technique you should be able to convey the interest which spurred you to take the picture on to your audience.

Certain other kinds of photography (I'm thinking street/sport/wildlife photography here) rely on a sense of timing, and arguably test the photographer's reactions more than their considered artistic planning. I'd say they also rely more on solid technique, as there is little to time to think about it when the moment counts. Just look at the work of Cartier-Bresson for example.... some have controversially referred to his photos as 'snapshots', but through his masterful technique, sense of composition, and eye for the 'decisive moment', many of these 'snapshots' have stood the test of time as profound works of art..

Not wanting to go on too much here, I'll leave you with the notion that some of the world's most famous and revered works of art came out of times of extreme emotion for the artists concerned...

The style of photo that I take at a certain time definitely reflects my mood, even if I am taking a specific photo at the instructions of someone else. Just like a painter or a songwriter, my mood can't help but be reflected in the photos I take. That’s just me anyway.
Andrew

helanker said 
'Maybe......that is if the photographer really sticks to a special style. 
But my photos dont at all present any style. I mostly take shots of what I find interesting at that moment,  I discover the object. I do not often plan on taking special kinds of shots and not because I am in any special mood.  Atleast not that I know of. '

I wonder though if your mood is reflected in what you find interesting an any particular time? Mine sure does.

IMO, style has little to do with content or subject, and style lies in the presentation.

Looking at my photos, you see drama. I can shoot a basket of bread, a grade school spelling bee or a sunset over the water... no matter...I will bring my lighting and placement of subject nearly always to the same level of drama. I will often take what I feel is a lesser image into photoshop, add dramatic touches. I do not pull at emotions or urge viewer participation, I try to hit people over the head with a 2x4 and light a fuse.  Conversely, I am naturally shy, withdrawn, non-vocal, passive, non-confrontational and often confused. In that vein, my work reflects who I am because I embibe all the things I wish I could be into my photos.

Others, are more comfortable with who they are and present photos as just who they are. At best, I think you can tell who is a more comfortable at home or with a family feeling, and who is more apt to be adventurous with locations.

What a fascinating question!  I think my gallery probably shows an accountant's mind.  Orderly, not too far off the path in any direction, not too wild, but not boring, either.  Going by the things I say when I post images, one might get the impression that I'm fluffy ... but read my poetry, and that word will never cross your mind in a million years. 

Someone asked for a constructive crit on an image the other day, and I provided a suggestion.  He sent me an e-mail thanking me, and said he was surprised that I would "dare" to leave a crit!  He must have only seen the "fluffy" side.  I'm maybe 5% fluffy.  :)  The rest of me is quite aware and down-to-earth.

I wonder ... how much of that comes through in my photography?

Hmmmmm.....

I see a very critical and analytical mind at work in your photos. I see a very good-natured person as well.

And one that has a formula in mind for experimenting and is not haphazard in the approach. You have an orderly house, well organized lifestyle and a quick mind that may be proceeded by an even quicker eye. There is a great deal of strength revealed in your photos.

What a great question! I have often wondered if I will "find" my style. I see some photographers here that do have what I would call a particular style to their work. Then I see others, like myself, that have a huge hodgepodge of work in their gallery. I don't do much "set up" shots. I tend to "see" a shot and try to capture what I see.
One thing that I do that I don't really consider a "style" per se, but often try to portray in my photos, is my perception of beauty or interest. I seem to find beauty or interest in the things less seen. I live in an area where photographers are always trying to outdo each other with shots of the same iconic landscape. The well known places! Yosemite is just an example. I tend to seek the road less traveled, the things less seen, the things that I think should be seen. I don't know if you could call this style, but you could probably pick out moods by some of my shots.

PJ...you need to avoid such keen analysis of ME.  Yikes!!!   You have a very clear and perceptive eye.

Bentchick friend, you do a fine job with a more intimate view of an infinite land.

Tom, I seem to do it with everyone but - don't we all to some extent? :-)  Don't worry. I do tend to see alot in people but I'm one who does not use that to judge... it just helps me to get along with people and not disturb their balance. If you are at all curious, I do find you are exceptionally well suited for both your profession and your interests/hobbies. And all three seem to come from the same place. And you are totally an individualist which is not to say you stand out in a crowd, because I don't think you want to stand out - but you don't fall to peer pressure at all and once a pursuit becomes a goal, you are not swayed. You are not one to say "look at me" but you are one who gets great satisfaction just knowing you did your best and did it well. For that, you are often noticed.

PJ,  you are very insightful and right on.   :  )

Wow!  I feel like I've just been to see a palm reader.  A really GOOD palm reader!  Now this is what I want to know, my friend ... does my gallery tell you if I will be rich, or meet someone tall, dark and handsome?   LOL!

:)

Kim your gallery is not haphazard in any way.  I am never in doubt about what it is you saw, and what you wanted me to see as a result!  Your gallery has variety, which is not the same as being random, and every shot tells a clear story. 

You see light, you photograph what you see, you post the image, and I see light.  I never have to guess at your intention, never wonder "now why on earth did she post THAT?"  You have a wonderful eye, and a fantastic talent for sharing your vision.

All I know about you from your gallery, Tom, is that you like to be outdoors more than indoors.  I think you like your job, but probably sit there working on a piece of jewelry wishing you were outside.

I'm sure PJ would be able to tell me if I'm wrong.  :)

Ok, I wasn't going to further comment on Tom out of respect for his privacy, since I feel he is a very private person, but my impression is that Tom is equally content indoors and out. He doesn't figet to get loose while working on his pieces because it is a challenge and an art form for him. He is well balanced in that he can be content at inside, and just as content outdoors. He could be happy sitting indoors researching something of interest or he would be happy to be outside finding things of interest, but the most satisfying of all is to bring the two together... read about a place or event and then going to see it and explore it, or visa versa - but the key is, he is most fulfilled when the two are blended together and no loose ends are hanging. His exploration of past and future give him a very enriched present.

And with that, I leave Tom to be the private person he is. I hope I have not invaded Tom's space and if I am off base, he will let me know. These are just my impressions.

Thank you Tom and Tara! I appreciate the ego boost, I think I needed it!
Whew...... I think I'm lucky I got away without the scrutiny of PJ's magnifying glass!!!
Tom , on the other hand, you will no doubt be the next cover model for GQ, with your life splayed out for all to see!!!  JK !  LOL :P

Kim, you are so self-explanatory that you need no explaining. :-) BTW, you are an awesome photographer and artist. The wild mustangs you're doing really excite me!

Thank you, PJ! I'm flattered!
I'm very passionate about the mustangs. They are a vanishing breed and I am so grateful to have an outlet like RR, where I will be able to send out a message to others. This will be the first series I am going to post with a message behind it. A friend of mine got me into watching the mustangs several years ago and we have been talking about collaborating on a book together. She adopted a mustang last year and so we also have alot of first hand information going for us too.
So stay tuned, I've got several shots that are really incredible!

I am really wanting to see more of the mustangs, too!

The mustangs have been a big interest for me for most of my life. After losing the buffalo, it seemed it was all too close to us also losing the wild horses. I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting for more.

Cool! I'll be posting some links for several sites and articles too. Some of the stories I've read are very sad, but there are also a lot of people out there lobbying to protect them more. 
I won't be able to post every day, but I will try to post several pictures a week.
Thanks for the interest! :)