erik_lerfald

Hi! Very late to the thread, obviously, but my observations and thoughts are these:

• There are some very common yet still very striking images - some call them "postcard photos." Half Dome partially illuminated by the setting sun, the brim of Niagara Falls, an ultra-wide shot of Horseshoe Bend in the Grand Canyon, and on and on... They're common simply because they're amazing views. There's nothing wrong with taking the same photo that a million other people have taken. Emulating - "copying" - can be a very effective form of learning. It has helped me learn some basics of the craft. Copy until you don't want to anymore.I didn't invent the "golden hour", off-camera flash, mirror lock-up or unusual perspectives on different subjects; but having seen these tips and techniques through the work of others I have been able to take photos that have been very satisfying for me, if not for others.
  
• I have taken some of those tips and techniques mentioned in the previous point and applied them to subjects that are new (to me) and tried to apply them in different ways, just to see what happens. Some have worked out, some have not. I've printed some of my attempts and some (many!) have resulted in an immediate "delete." Get creative! Chances are you'll look silly and people will question your sanity when you're trying to shoot a photo upward toward a seeding dandelion and into the sun. Chances are most of your attempts will be "failures." The beauty of these "failures" is that if you learn from your failures and occasionally get a shot you like, you can point to an image and say "Check this one out!"
  

There's nothing wrong with being a "beginner" to photography. You're a "beginner" every time you shoot a new subject, a new style, under new conditions or with new equipment. Sure, you have the experience that came from similar situations in your past and you can make assumptions based on the "basics" of ISO, lighting source, focal length, aperture and shutter speed; but even shooting the exact same subject under different conditions can throw you some serious curves.

Emulate! Experiment! Just keep shooting!

Most of all... Enjoy doing it.

<p>I have to admit I initially struggled with greed on this "what if?" There are any number of astonishing places that I'd give my eye-teeth to photograph for my own personal pleasure (Victoria Falls, the Great Barrier Reef, the Serengeti, Antarctica, etc...) All have been explored, photographed, and reported on extensively. I had to ask myself what, when I finished documenting, would I be most proud of? What would carry the most meaning - not just for me, but for an audience? <br>

I came to the conclusion that if I was given the opportunity to photograph anything that my heart desired, I'd chronicle how well or how poorly our Veteran's Administration health care system - specifically set up to care for our wounded Veterans - actually serves them. How we treat those who ensured the freedom of our nation and ensured the freedom of nations not their own is, in my mind, very telling of the thankfulness of a people. A side story would be the history of those veterans that I followed through the system. This would not be designed to be a story on either socialized medicine or corporate profits - just a photo story about people; and how we, as a nation, treat them. I wouldn't set out with any preconceived notions other than wanting to bring to light the good, the bad, and the ugly for the benefit of those to whom we owe so much. <br>

Regarding the photo gear involved, I think the most important gear for this assignment would not be exotic lenses (except for the occasional micro shot), but rather some portable studio lighting equipment. Photo gear would consist of a Nikon D700, 14-24, 50mm f1.4, a couple other wide primes, 70-210 f2.8 VRII, SB-900, and remotes. Since my laptop is on its last legs I'll probably have to spring for one of those also. <br>

Great question, and some really interesting answers!</p>