topic Re: Do you take photographs or make them? in General Discussion

Do you take photographs or make them?

stevet1 — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 04:49:17 GMT

On a personal level, do you take photographs, or make them?

More and more, I want to strive for the latter.

Steve Thomas

Re: Do you take photographs or make them?

Tronhard — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 09:51:56 GMT

'Making' as opposed to 'taking', suggest a predetermination of the result and some control over the situation.

To me, photography is a subtractive art as opposed to painting, where one starts off with a blank canvas and places the elements to taste. With a photograph, one begins with an existing scene over which one may or may not have control (e.g. studio vs wild), but to concentrate the viewer on the intention, one must eliminate or degrade distracting elements. The more control one has over the environment, the more one can make an image, I think...

Working with wild animals mostly, in their environment, I often have limited control but I would say I do a bit of both: taking and creating: i.e. either/or, and sometimes a combination - I see an opportunity and strive to improve what is offered by some controlling element of my own - be it exposure, zooming, shutter speed or relocating myself relative to the subject. Often that means getting the animal to engage with the camera - striving to capture some essence of the animal that makes a viewer pause and consider it a bit more deeply.

Re: Do you take photographs or make them?

stevet1 — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 12:07:41 GMT

Trevor,

In addition, I would say that making a photograph forces you to slow down, and think about what you are doing and why.

Steve Thomas

Re: Do you take photographs or make them?

Tronhard — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 23:07:13 GMT

I agree, Steve. It is for that reason that I have the Nikon Df as my favourite camera - it is made in such as way as to echo the camera bodies I used back in 1980 when I started photography. The control dials encourage one to linger and savour the process of taking an image, when the activity itself is to be celebrated and not rushed - it makes each photograph an occasion.
With wildlife that is often not possible, but I do take images in other genres: still life, portraiture, scenic where the subjects are far more amenable to that process, and it is a very enjoyable, refreshing and satisfying endeavour.

Re: Do you take photographs or make them?

stevet1 — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 12:55:12 GMT

Trevor,

That's why I enjoy long exposure photography.

I haven't been at it long, and I'm not very good, but I enjoy it.

Steve

Re: Do you take photographs or make them?

Tronhard — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 17:24:35 GMT

There is are a couple of excellent proponents of the genre:

Michael Levin, whose work you may find interesting: MICHAEL LEVIN : B&W and ,,,

Michael Kenna: Michael Kenna
(19) A Conversation with Michael Kenna - YouTube
6 Minimal Landscape Photography Tips I Learned from Michael Kenna (youtube.com)

I hope you find their work interesting and inspiring - I wish you well with your journey!

Re: Do you take photographs or make them?

LydiaMay — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:10:15 GMT

It is very informative, thank you so much for sharing.