Photography as an art form

[Ramsden]

Hi from the North of  England

I've had my EOS 90 D for nearly two years and planning my next steps. I take quite a lot of photos on my regular walks around the Pennine footpaths, and I also like trains and railway architecture.

I should add that I have really enjoyed learning how to use this camera as well as I can. Still a way to go...

So last week, prompted by a warning that I was running out of storage space on my ipad - I started a clean up.

Cut a long story short, in 2 yrs I'm already seeing repeats of landscape, flowers and general wild life. It looking pretty repetitive and boring to be honest. I feed my photos through an amazon alexa screen, and I'm not on a mission to enter competitions.

So I'm looking for inspiration to start treating my photography as an art form. For instance playing with shapes and colours.

Can anyone recommend an interesting book that covers this topic - and/or tell me about your own experience for inspiration.

Appreciate your help

Thanks

Ramsden

[Ramsden]

Thanks Tim

I'll check out Ted Forbes, and I'm glad he likes Henri.

I have only skimmed his book at the moment, but I was struck by a couple of sentences on p3. ...'But there is no standard plan, no pattern from which to work. You must be on the alert with the brain, the eye, the heart; and have a suppleness of body'

Thats a good starting point.

I live in West Yorkshire, in the North of England. Its the home of the industrial revolution, so I have lots of old mills and buildings to look at.

Cheers

Ramsden

[Ramsden]

Hi again Tim

Just watched Ted Forbes on composition. Layering makes complete sense, and though my photos probably have layers, it wasn't by design. Equally, Smith would take numerous shots till he got what he wanted. I really need to start doing this, as I have been far too casual, and worrying about the exposure triangle!

There's a C19th graveyard near my house and its a bit unkempt and spooky, so I have it in my sights as a project.

Cheers

Ramsden

[Tintype_18]

Adding one thing that helped me as I was totally new to photography...book, Digital Photography for Dummies.

[Ramsden]

Thanks

I'll have a look - it sounds about my level!

[Tintype_18]

Allow me to add an observation: I belong to a group that focuses on our state of Tennessee. One of the most impressive photos, to me, was a simple gold leaf floating in a creek. I call it plain elegance.

[Ramsden]

Hello John

That sounds perfect to me.

At the moment, here in the North of England, its full of beautiful Autumn colours and a photographic heaven - if only it stopped raining!

Ramsden