Did You Take That?

Hey all,

 

I've been showing friends and family members prints and e-mails of some of my favorite

recent photos, and I have been getting a lot of:

 

Did you take that?

 

My initial reaction was: Why would I send you something that I didn't take?

 

I could have attached a very nice jpeg of Avedon, Ansel Adams..(go right down the alpha

list)... but...

 

the best answer is: Yes, I took that!

Not sure this post belongs in "philosophy", but I get the opposite. I collect photography. Frank, Evans, Friedlander, Bravo, Weegee, Faurer, lots of contemporary stuff as well. Often when people visit our house they ask, "did you take those".

 

Whaddaya going to do? People are clueless.

>>>People are clueless.<<<

 

... I exhibited in a small show and overheard this brief exchange; A young couple were

looking at the prints. My prized possession was my most recent (at the time) and favorite

image, which was the 3 negatives individually exposed dancer image. The girl said, "wow!

cool picture". The young man shrugged and said, "my camera will do that".

 

I didn't say anything. Acted like I didn't hear.

Janet , His camera might "have done that", but not with the Grace, Elegance of composition , and inspiration that your camera did. I guess you must have gotten the deluxe model.

It's funny, I felt I had 'arrived' a few weeks back when someone finally said it- 'Your camera takes good pictures!'

 

What could I say?

Janet,

 

I'm always exapserated by people who look at a photograph and say, "I could have taken that". Then why didn't they take it? Answer - because they lacked the imagination. I always try to get over to my students that photography is not about machinery, and buying all the latest gadgets, it's about ideas.

I often ask myself, "Did I take that?"

"Why would I send you something that I didn't take?"

 

I think it shows that they're surprised by your skills, which is a compliment, although possibly a cack-handed one!

>>I'm always exapserated by people who look at a photograph and say, "I could have

taken that". Then why didn't they take it? <<

 

A friend was telling me once about a recent art sale. I don't recall the (modern) artist's

name, but one of his drawings had sold recently at auction for a record amount. I snorted

and said (jokingly), "I coulda done that!" My friend just said, "Yeah, you could, but you

DIDN'T." One sentence summed it up.

MIKE BUTLER: "[...] Did you take that? [...]"

 

Did you write that?

<blockquote>

The young man shrugged and said, "my camera will do that".

</blockquote>

It's a guy thing:-)

<p>

But you know, I often pause a couple days later and look at what I think is a more successful

image I made and feel as if someone else took it. I was wondering when that was going to

stop.

<I>I've been showing friends and family members prints and e-mails of some of my favorite recent photos, and I have been getting a lot of:<P>

 

Did you take that? ...</I><P>I think it is generally a compliment but my favorite response to that is: No I didn't take it. I made it.

"Did you take that?" is more a clumsy conversational gambit than a real question

 

The old "I could do that" is just insecurity/jealousy. I used to know these two women at work who would constantly say "I could have gotten into law school too" (I'm an attorney) and I finally said "I could have a baby, why don't I bring Jack Jr. to your graduation?"

 

And I have to admit that on a beautifully sharp photo, I'll tell the photog "that's a sweet lens", meant as a compliment on equipment choice

i actually got the "your camera takes nice pictures today" moderately funny because all i had with me when i took it was a old(2-3mp) point and shoot. i also like the "you have a good eye!" ok we are all being condescening intellectual snobs or at least i am, im going to stop.

I once asked a guy on-line whether HE had taken a particular picture. He said that he DID take the picture and then gave me the URL to the gallery where he copied it from. So, I guess he did TAKE it...but he didn't photograph it.

" Did you take that?"A: (modestly) " Yes" " Wow, I never knew you were so good." " Well thank you, I try" " Many try; you succeed." Oops that last was from a movie. Take it as a compliment obviously. Then ask size print they want to buy and refer them to your web site. If you say you "made it," one might get the loony tune stare, but that could lead to an interesting conversational opening and some new students.

<P>This is the time and the place to trot out that old anecdote about Jack London. Whilst having his portrait done, he remarked to the photographer (whose name escapes me) that he admired the man's work, and "...you must have a good camera."</P> <P>To which the photographer replied: "I love your work too Mr London, you must have a great typewriter."</P><P>If only we all operated at this level of repartee. Mostly it's confined to l'esprit d'escalier.</P>

I pretty much agree with all of the above, as the comment "Did you take that?" is really a back-handed compliment from someone unsophisticated.

 

However, how do you react to the opposite -- someone floats around an image they shot, which has many flaws but "everyone likes it." How do you say anything (or nothing?) without hurting feelings?

 

(I.e., how to not come across as a boring, intellectual, snob know-it-all with a 'nice camera' but not compromise your tastes and say you like it when it's really awful? ;)

<P>Ken, this is pretty easy, because it's dependent on the situation. If the someone is not an expert photographer and is waving round some ordinary snapshot, you're polite and say how nice. Just the same as you're polite about someone's new baby, even if it looks like the missing link.</P><P>But if your photo acquaintance has a bit of ability and comes to you asking for an honest critique, you give it to them. As long as you are polite and constructive, you owe it to them to be as rigorous as possible, within the limits of what you know they can take.</P>

For a living, my wife and I write books and articles about photography.

 

If someone reads what we wrote, or looks at our pictures; and says, "I could do better than that"; and then DOES better than that; then we have succeeded. We have persuaded someone to get off off their bum and go out and take better pictures. Result!

 

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

"I could take, write, make, sketch... that". To me, it's just genuine ignorance applied to the pelculiar art, mixed with a little bit of arrogance. it's not worth responding nor querreling.

"You have a good camera". Again, not worth a polemic answer.

Of course I have a good camera, I love this bloody hobby so much to spend over 5000 of my very scarce bucks and all my spare time to practice it.

And if you liked the picture, it's enough to me.

If the particular comment came from an "illiterate", it's not worth commenting.

If it came from a pro, it's a compliment.

So, why worry?

Oddly I get that too, for the life of me I dont know why. But Mike, one thing I have noticed is beautiful photographs are beautiful to non photographers because to put it simply and be repetitive, they are beautiful. I say bask in the glory and thank them for not tearing it apart technically, hahaha. Remember you dont take photos for other photographers, you take them for yourself and/or regular people...

Cheers!!