Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Janette on February 28, 2009 at 9:48am

My photography hobby started out as just a way to share my first loves, backpacking, hiking and outdoors pursuits in general, with my folks back home. Mum never understood why I wanted to be out tromping up and down hills in the pouring rain or searing heat. I started carrying a camera way back in my teens just to show them what it was all about. I still have literally thousands of little 3 x 3" instamatic prints taken from back then. I have my family to thank for that. The photos back then were incredibly basic, and generally pathetic attempts to show an entire beautiful landscape in one shot. Looking at them now I realize that they would hardly generate any enthusiasm for what I was doing. When I look at them though, I don't see the picture, but I do remember the circumstances that each (well most) were taken in. The memories they evoke are still incredible 30 years later.

As my cameras improved I think my photography did also. Obviously that is subjective, photographic skill being in the eye of the beholder. I have found that now, rather than massive landscapes I tend more toward small detail, sometimes way too small for the viewer to even figure out what I was attemping to capture, but to me the image is either what I wanted, or at least evokes that precious memory. Thanks to the advent of digital cameras I can take several shots of the same thing. Several years ago a good friend showed me how to use the manual settings on my camera. What a revelation! Now I'll take several different shots at different zooms, aperature and speed settings, etc. My ultimate selection of which is the "best" of the shots is where the subjectivity comes back in. I like colors, shapes, oddities, etc.

I'm hard on cameras (see equipement post) and have gone through several in the past couple of years. I also found that the more I tried to protect a camera the less likely I was to take it out and shoot pictures. After several trips with almost no photos I opted to go for smaller and lighter so I could keep it handy on my backpack strap.

I'll post some of my photos in your favorites discussion. Critism always welcome.

Permalink Reply by Kate on February 28, 2009 at 12:08pm

I, too, love to evoke the memory with the photograph. Yep, everyone's eye is different...still, it's great to know that a great photograph os a great photograph..... meaning, the "rules" of photography can help get that shot, and gives a guideline as to what to look for.

I'm hard on cameras in a different way. I take so very many photographs that I wear mine out in 1 to 2 years or so...up to 4. My current one is heading that way but I'm debating whether I can afford to upgrade to the Canon Powershot SX10IS that I want so badly. Because of this, and my clumsiness and hatred of changing lenses, I WON'T buy a DSLR. Too much money to begin with AND I wouldn't get much more wear out of it... I literally took more than ten thousand photos with my current camera since June of 2007. My previous camera I completely wore out the focusing ability.

LOVE your photos!!!

Permalink Reply by Janette on February 28, 2009 at 2:10pm

Wow, I thought I took a lot, but you've got me beat!

Thanks for the comments on the photos. Love yours too. Funny how someone elses subjects always get me wanting to try something/somewhere different.

Permalink Reply by Kate on February 28, 2009 at 3:52pm

And that's one of the greatest things about photography :) Getting new inspiration from other's experiences and photos.

On one day, in the space of just under 4 hours, during the winter olympics in Yellowstone at Old Faithful, I shot more than 1000 (probably closer to 1200 or more) photos! That's one big reason why I like digital. I can shoot all I want to, and no worries about having to pay (like with film) to see and choose my photos.
Also I liked to "document" the things I saw while I geyser-gazed around the Upper Geyser Basin. So, hundreds and probably thousands of photos there. It adds up... But I learn as I go and I'm more of a visual photographer meaning I don't do calculations. I look at what I'm getting, adjust settings, view photo, adjust again if need be...I shoot on the fly.

Permalink Reply by Janette on February 28, 2009 at 3:04pm

Loved the puctres you posted on the top discussion. The cupola is defintely the type of composition I go for in building photography, and I've always shied away from firewioks because of the shake, but that's a really neat effect.

Permalink Reply by Kate on February 28, 2009 at 3:54pm

Thanks! I'm not normally into photographing buildings. But that one, a Hare Krishna temple, was so beautiful I couldn't resist. Fireworks come out far better with my Canon than they ever did with my other cameras. I did get some clearer shots.... but again, I'm discovering the limits of what my camera will let me do...

Permalink Reply by CISCO on March 21, 2009 at 6:57pm

I'm still a newb when it comes to photography. I'm disappointed that I don't have more pictures of places I've visited. I've tried to remedy this in the past few years and am on my 4th point and shoot digital camera in as many years one lost, one stolen and one broken.

I now have a very basic Cannon Powershot A590 and hope to use it to document my Yellowstone experience to share with friends and family. I am also interested in learning the finer points and tricks of photography and plan to start by start by simply taking a lot of pictures.

Permalink Reply by Kate on April 1, 2009 at 12:47pm

Taking lots of pictures is a GREAT way to learn more! I'm amazed I got as many pictures of my first 2 seasons (1990 and 1991) in Yellowstone as I did; I was not really into photography back then! I have a whole scrapbook. Nowadays I've taken literally tens of thousands of photos over the past seasons in Yellowstone alone...


Have fun!

Permalink Reply by Ashley Harris on April 1, 2009 at 11:37pm

Hi! I am some what of a freak. I love the dark room! I love the mixing of chemicals and timing and the love of the art. However, I do have an advanced knowledge about digital photography as well. I have a BFA and eventually want to get my MFA so I can actually teach photography on a college/university level. My main focus of my BFA was photography and painting/printmaking. I am so afraid of getting out of the "school mentality" that I have actually gone back to a jr. college to take more photo classes. I just like the opinions others have to help spur creativity, or even motivation to go out and take photos! At the University that I received my degree from, I was the president of the Film club. (It was as close to photography as they had. haha)

I worked at a local photography studio, and the best thing that I learned was how to NOT run a studio.

I hate to admit that I have been a free lance photographer for a year now, and actually declined some shoots to be able to go to Alaska. Weddings are the pits! (Brides can actually harm you, fyi.....haha)

I don't carry my "real" cameras on me at all times. This is because they are too big, and I am afraid of hurting them. I own a Cannon Dslr, Pentax 35 mm, and yes, a Kodak easy share. (The last one is always in my purse, but normally out of batteries.....)

I hate photos of the Texas landscape. I see it way too often, and it always looks the same!

Permalink Reply by Kate on April 2, 2009 at 12:33am

Very neat! So you really know your stuff! I've been the president of a photography club but I have no formal education...I'm self-taught. Love how it can be done either way, don't you? And I think you're real brave to do people photography.... braver still that you've photographed brides, some of the most crazy people out there,,,;) lol.

Permalink Reply by Ashley Harris on April 7, 2009 at 9:48pm

Oh yeah. They are some crazy people. The last bride actually pushed me. And, I think that its insanity to photograph people. lol. With an education in photography, all you get is a bigger vocabulary. lol.

Permalink Reply by Kate on April 7, 2009 at 11:44pm

:) I got to go to a couple of photography classes with my sister when she was in college some years ago, I was just a visitor...and the ideas were just amazing. When I've been in Photo clubs it's been great to see what others get for photographs, and it always inspires me and gives me new ways of seeing thing, new things to try.

The only people photography I do is candid, of my friends. Over the years, and as I meet new friends, they've all had to get real used to me with camera up to my eyes lol.

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