Describe your photography

[tom_harvey3]

<p>What Julie said!</p>

[the celt 2]

<p>Since I have no real "formal" schooling in photography, these are not easy questions. I learned all my technical aspects from my late Dad. And the rest was "on the job" in the USAF, and just going out to shoot. I suppose I was gifted with a good eye for composition, or I've been very lucky that some of my pieces have garnered some sales, and some awards , albeit small. A few years ago I dated a woman who was very into the "art scene", she was constantly frustrated that I was able to acheive the compositional results I did with out any "formal" art education. I had a conversation with one of her "arty" friends once, and he refused to accept my lack of education. Personally I don't think you can teach art. You can teach technique, and some basic rules, but (again just my opinion) a person either has it, or they don't. I have been told that my work has a "dark side" if that counts for any thing. Oh, I'm not dating her any more. She also didn't like my music, or my driving to fast.</p>

[barry_hennessy_photo]

<p>@Ed: I haven't got a scrap of formal Art education either*, but I still feel the need to answer such questions. On top of that it hasn't held me back one bit either, although I do feel I'd be better connected to galleries and other potential outlets if I had such a background. <br>

*(I'm actually trained/training as an Engineer/Computer Scientist/Usability expert.)</p>

<p>@Marius: Yeah, something tells me eternity's <em>probably </em>going to win eventually.</p>

<p>@David: I quite like your <em>"structure and details in waves".</em> It's simple and effective, there are some very beautiful shots in that series of yours.</p>

<p>@Jeff: Movie stills that never existed. Nice Idea, do you think of back-stories or just go for the mood?</p>

<p>-Barry Hennessy.</p>

[MathewDH]

<p>From all of the comments, one can see a pattern of the photographer either wanting or needing to take the picture. Something about the moment and the view in front of their eyes entrances them to push the button. Their brains perceive something special, an awarness of light, color, detail and everything is in synch for a nice photo. Many times I have been shooting and noting the changing light. Five minutes later the scene is dull and lifeless and I move on. However I do not give up and sometimes I return to the same sight to reshoot and see what the day brings me. and most of the time I try shooting it in a way that I had not considered before. Repetition and persistance can lead to some delightful images.</p>

<p>In my earlier post I talked about the shots at the Glines Canyon Dam, but I never got all of the views I wanted due to parts of the area being gated off. Today I was at the Lower Elwha Dam and had a long conversation with the manager of both dams. I had gone there to get some shots of it before the dam removal, and maybe shoot it during the demolition. I found out a lot of details of what will happen in the future and other historical aspects of the dams. The end result was he mentioned he would be up at the Glines Dam on Wednesday and would gladly give me access to the gated areas for the other shots I wanted. I could not have asked for a better working relationship. I want to take the photos and hope I get something to print that justifies my seeking them.</p>

<p>While I get what I want in pictures from my view, I do marvel at the images that others are presenting here. For I will never be at most of the places, and other photographer's efforts enhance my view and create a push to do better in the places I am visiting.</p>

<p>CHEERS...Mathew</p>

[pryssysphotos]

<p>I believe that I can capture the memory in a moment .... Times that your mind can see but can't always pull up the visual. I love capturing something that, for example, one of my children do that I want to cherish forever. This is an example of just that... <br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11466173-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="454" /></p>

<ul>

<li>What is it about your photographs that makes them special? </li>

</ul>

<p>Simply, I take my time. I don't get the "rushed" feeling. Photography is something I feel you should do without a watch on your arm... take your time ... feel the moment. Capture it inside your brain before clicking the camera.... </p>

<ul>

<li>What concepts do they explore, if any?</li>

</ul>

<p>That every picture is a lasting memory....</p>

<ul>

<li>What purpose do they have?</li>

</ul>

<p>To freeze time... simply put. Freeze a face, a smile, a flower bloom... </p>

<ul>

</ul>

 

[will_prouty]

<p>I look for relationships. I like when the elements of the image illuminate each other, and create a whole much greater than any one of the single parts.<br>

Conversely, I also like to focus on a single element, and let the rest of the emptiness in the image refocus attention on that original element. A meditation, as it were.</p>

[mike l]

<p>Bad</p>

[joe_taylor5]

<p>Not anywhere as good as I would like it to be. A diamond once in a while but mostly crap.</p>

[nathangardner]

<p>My photography is very mechanical. I am very left brained and I see and apply logic. I really struggle with creativity and seeing things in a new way so I rely on knowing my camera inside out and knowing exactly how to manipulate the settings to get the effect I want. As for purpose, I'm not gonna try to come up with some B.S. "to get the viewer to feel what I felt" type statement. If the viewer is really moved then that's great, but I'm not a good enough photographer to go out with the intention of taking a photo that will move people and succeed, at least not often and not on command. So for the purpose of my photography, its something that I really enjoy doing and enjoy learning about, so it's purpose is to give me a passion and hobby that I love so that I don't sit around the house like a bump on a log.</p>

[AJHingel]

<p>"Describing your photography" seems to be almost embarrassing question to most. Sarah, among few others, seriously tried to answer the three questions, and succeeded to give some meaning to her photography. So let me try in a few words.</p>

<ul>

<li><em>What is it about your photographs that makes them special?</em></li>

</ul>

<p>They are surely special to me. Whether they are special to others I cannot say, but each of my photos are brand-marked by the place, the surroundings, the moment, the feeling, the messages and the challenges I put myself when shooting them. They are therefor all hundred percent personal expressions. As I'm not present when a viewer looks at my photos and have no opportunity in length explain myself, as here on photonet, what is special about my photos, if anything, must to a certain degree be different from what I see myself. It is therefor mostly for others to say.<br>

I would think my photography is marked by a certain style of composition more in line with unspoken "rules" than contradicting them. My photographic eye sees esthetics and pictorial balance when certain rules of composition are present (lines, colors, light, contrasts, scenes) that I think fit to the themes and scenes. <br>

To a large degree my "theme" of photography is the play between people in big cities and the surrounding town structures, architecture, stones textures and urban activities going on. The theatre of urban life is my theme together with the "abstracts" of cityscapes in big structures as well as small details. To catch the "soul" of a city, different from city to city, is my impossible ambition.</p>

<ul>

<li><em>What concepts do they explore, if any?</em></li>

</ul>

<p>That of a structured, conscious and planned and technically high quality snapshotting (a contradiction - I know!). I never carry tons of material and I "work" mostly by moving around with one camera and one lens only, at a time.</p>

<ul>

<li><em>What purpose do they have?</em></li>

</ul>

<p>To expres myself by photography like I do by writing, painting and dialogue. To give pleasure and a source of reflection to others.</p>

[vancouverphotographer]

<ul>

<li>What is it about your photographs that makes them special?</li>

</ul>

<p> There's nothing particular about them that makes them any more special than anyone<br>

else's.</p>

<ul>

<li>What concepts do they explore, if any?</li>

</ul>

<p> They don't explore any concepts really ... it's just a hobby for fun.</p>

<ul>

<li>What purpose do they have?</li>

</ul>

<p> No great purpose except to document what I saw at that moment and possibly if it's<br>

people shots, the person in the pic might have some use for them.</p>

<p>I didn't see any of your own photos in your profile though Barry?</p>

 

<ul>

</ul>

 

[barry_hennessy_photo]

<p>@Dela: To be honest I don't use photo.net to show my images, they're on www.barryhennessy.com if you want to have a look. Try 'Neighbourhood' or 'All work and no play' for relevant photos.<br>

<br />@Michael & Joe: Well at least you're honest! :)<br /><br /><br>

@Anders: I agree that this seems to be an 'embarrassing question' to some, but like Sarah put it "artists' statements can sound rather big-headed". And these are artist's statements in a way.</p>

<p>What I find strange is the fact that there are far more responses on the side of 'I just shoot for fun/self satisfaction' than those that have attempt to create something for others. I always thought of photography as a form of expression, and what I can't understand is the lack of desire to show it to others.<br>

Expression doesn't really make sense if you keep it to yourself, does it?</p>

<p>-Barry Hennessy</p>

 

[AJHingel]

<p>Barry I think that expression makes sense even if you keep it for yourself. Photography like painting or singing for example can bring quality of life to the individual artist because of their potentials of individual expression. Showing photos to others is working on the level of recognition and sharing with there own rationale.</p>

[anthony_babatunde_ola_mart]

<p>Interesting question...</p>

<p>My photography is.. The best I can do to capture what I am feeling visually at the very moment in time with whatever contraption(for this purpose, a camera).<br>

At one time it was a selection of film based cameras, now it is a digital camera that I could finally barely afford( my opinion on digital? overrated over priced and virtually disposable). Before this it was my pen an sketch book (I still use these). The resulting focus of my images tend towards a feeling, thought or expressed emotion. I would argue the accuracy of my capture as who knows what is really going on in the peoples mind I have shot.</p>