Looking for design inspiration?   Browse our curated collections!

Return to Main Discussion Page
Discussion Quote Icon

Discussion

Main Menu | Search Discussions

Search Discussions
 
 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

Photography And Instinct

So now that I am plunging myself into photography and trying to learn. How much does your instinct play in a capture. Some people just seems to capture 'right now' pictures. Will it come with time?

Reply Order

Post Reply
 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Don't assume the "right now" photos didn't require pre-planning and waiting. A lot of seemingly lucky street photography shots are the result of finding a good background and waiting for some to walk in and complete the image.

Composition is something that will come from practice.

 

Dave Bowman

9 Years Ago

About 50/50. Sometimes I plan a shot carefully, sometimes something just catches my eye. The more you photograph the more you should get an eye for what will work and what won't. There's no hard and fast rule though.

 

Diane Diederich

9 Years Ago

Hours of planning and waiting…for the right light, the right subject, weather,etc. But…every now and then the perfect conditions happen spontaneously…like this one:

Photography Prints

The best advice I can give you is to have a camera with you at all times :)

 

The best advice I can give you is to have a camera with you at all times :) I'll second that!

Don't be frugal on the amount of photos that you take for a subject. Get different angles. There is a huge process of elimination that you have to get used to. No time for being too sentimental. Hone images down to the one that you think is right.

Tedious too! Warm up your headphones...

 

Gregory Scott

9 Years Ago

Most "just at the right moment" sgits are ither fake photoshoppedm, or pre-planned. Your planning is best when youu know what you can plan. Google Galen Rowan, spelling? and an incident with a rainbow at the main monestary in tibet. Great shot, manny photographers there, noody got the shot but galen because ke was willing to sprint with his camera, and knew atout how light and rainbows work.

typing is hard on a tqblet, even with a bluetooth keyboard! decipher my message.

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

"The best advice I can give you is to have a camera with you at all times :) I'll second that! " Thats great advise. The other day I was in Waycross and they have old farmers there. There was an old man in an old farming outfit with the hat included selling potatoes from his farm to a couple locals. He was standing on top of a mound of potatoes that was on the back of an old chevy truck. It was perfect! Like a trip back through time. I wish I had my camera then. Learned my lesson

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

mostly experience. and the thousands of images i've taken and seen, and when i see certain things come together, i shoot that. leading lines, angles, sweeping curves, interesting skies and so on. i created dozens of little rules for things that i want to get. and after a while you just get it. it clicks and you see the shot. learn how to view the shot, learn how to use a frame, and how to align things for less cloning.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Chuck De La Rosa

9 Years Ago

I think the "instinct" you're referring to is learned to some extent (to Mike's point), and it's more natural for some than others. As David said, I think it's 50/50. Many of my shots are planned, many more are not. I frequent some places quite often and shoot test shots with the intention of returning when the light is better or the weather is dramatic, or what ever. Other times I visit someplace new so I research as much as I can in advance, but with the knowledge that I cannot control the weather or lighting for the brief time I will be there. Then there is the spur of the moment, which can be the most rewarding if your "instinct" is kicking in!

That camera thing you mentioned? I'm still having trouble learning that one!

This one? Totally unplanned. But it "hit me" the second I looked at it. And still I shot 4 or 5 frames of slightly different angles.

drooping sunflower door county chuck de la rosa

All that said, you might enjoy this essay on "Fishing vs. Hunting" from the Luminous Landscape's Michael Reichmann.

http://luminous-landscape.com/fishing-vs-hunting/

 

Jim Sauchyn

9 Years Ago

I think it will differ for different people. For me it's always impromptu. However when I do see a scene I think I need to capture I always try several different angles.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

even when i'm in the car (As a passenger), i'll shoot things, partly as texture, partly as trigger response. and if you don't have the camera (shame on you), click it with your mind, things that you would have shot. i have a small camera with me all the time, but it's a little slow in reflexes. it's also about experimenting. i don't plan out trips, we go on a trip and i shoot that, making the best use of my light, usually bad light. and post edit later on. have a flash with you as a fill or for the dark or focusing. i keep the camera hidden when i'm out in the city.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Jim Sauchyn

9 Years Ago

It will of course differ if you're photographing people or still life in which case it has to be planned out and have correct lighting. I always shoot outdoors and when I go hiking I just get a feeling that something looks good. I've tried going back to favorite spots to get a better shot but it seldom works. With wildlife or animals of course it's a different story, impossible to plan in that case.

I was very fortunate in this one, the lighting was perfect and changing by the second and the pose of the animals was priceless.
Photography Prints

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

then there is autopilot

oh my god, there is too many things to shoot all at once. like a room or a spot with many images. in this case i'll shoot full wide, then get close and close to the scene blocking off areas of interest in each frame. framing the next shot while shooting this one. you'll look like a paparazzi doing this, but its very effective.

1. a wall of bottles
2. 2 shelves of bottles
3. the other sets of shelves
4. a close up of one shelf with interesting bottles, in a sequence of 3-8 items in one image. trying to group them up in bunches.
5. a portrait view of a few shelves.
6. an angle shot of those shelves coupled with something else.
7. move on to the next section, and repeat.

in one spot you may take 15 images, but you'll have the whole thing. and with me, i'll switch back and forth to hdr, flash, normal, etc. you have to slow down and think, if you get too tired, you'll forget steps. have a rule book in your head. like i know that if i'm inside and the room is dark, then i'll need a flash and maybe hdr. if the light is crazy, with windows and dark subjects, then i'll reprogram the camera to shoot 5 frames instead of 3, but then switch back to flash mode for details. it just goes on like that.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Travel Pics

9 Years Ago

The 'right now' as mentioned is often down to a lot of waiting for people, or cars, to get out of the way. At other times you're praying for the 'right' person to come along.

Apart from admiring the work of great photographers being published in magazines, look at bad photos and teach yourself to see why they don't work (in your mind); then you'll learn what not to shoot.

 

Bill Tomsa

9 Years Ago

Glenn McCarthy Art and Photography
"Don't be frugal on the amount of photos that you take for a subject."

Great advice.

That takes me back to (get ready for it) 'THE OLD DAYS"! Yes, Melissa, back when we were shackled to what we called "F - I - L - M" and were limited by the number of shots we could take in a single session by the number of rolls of film in our camera bags. Can't tell you how many good shots I missed because my film counter showed I only had a couple of shots left and I didn't want to be out of film when "THE SHOT" came up.

Now with my new fangled digital camera I just shoot to my hearts content and never worry about how many shots I have left. Now the battery...that's another story. But I have learned the hard way to carry a fully charged spare with me. Also. I never (almost) get in the car without my camera sitting in the beverage holder.

Lastly, no better advice, as in most new things, than Practice Practice Practice. Just like getting to Carnegie Hall.

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

Chuck I think I would be more of a fisherman than hunter. Love that article . Thanks for sharing.

Mike your right..'shame on me' I dont care if I look like a tourist anymore. And me living in such a historical place I should be taking advantage of it. Ill remember your 'rules' insights. Never thought of it like that.

Travel Pics I guess when I say 'right now' I mean thats what the photo looks like. It looks like your capturing a specific moment in a place in time for someone or something.

Bill thanks for the advise :)

 

Toby McGuire

9 Years Ago

I spend a lot of time just walking around looking for photos. I'd say about 70/30 unplanned vs planned. If I'm heading off at sunrise somewhere you can bet it was planned. If I'm walking around after work then you can bet I'm going to get a lot of unplanned photos.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

when i shoot, i'm a machine. i don't see people, and if your talking, you might as well be a tree. i keep attention to the reflection on my screen to see if anyone is behind me. and just shoot, frame, shoot, frame. helps to have a good zoom. AND ALWAYS - check your shot in the screen each time. i've shot things without looking and found the settings were totally wrong. i had to do them again. i've set a button to zoom in so i can pixel peep - was it in focus? is it over exposed? etc. i've been able to readjust as i move on to the next target.

the bad thing to this approach is - i don't really enjoy the area i'm in, i'm only looking for the next item. and i don't remember where i was until i look at the images i took.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

Toby that makes perfect sense. Thank you . So much time it takes to get that perfect shot. Whoa just channeled Yoda :P

Mike I love to shoot and be able to see it on the screen. I never thought about the zoom button to pixel peep. Good idea.

 

Chuck De La Rosa

9 Years Ago

My approach is often similar to Mike's. Don't talk to me, I won't hear you anyway. What I do different is to take it all in and enjoy it first, then look for what represents best what I'm looking at. A trick I learned from some of the photographers that shoot and write for Outdoor Photographer, enjoy first and soak up the ambiance. Not only because you really do need to enjoy it, but because it also gives you time to think about shots. And I only have to look at my photos, even years later, and I'm mentally transported right back there. The magic of photography! My wife shot my avatar photo. Every time I look at it I feel the exhilaration of standing on that rock in the Merced River, and just being in awe of the power of Yosemite.

 

Rumyana Whitcher

9 Years Ago

Photographers need to be ready for unexpected and unique moments, and for the rare chances that the situation can offer. Yes, the experience, the knowledge and skills are important and if a rare chance appears our intuition can help to see it and react quickly. I think that improvisation is very important in photography, like in any other forms of art. Often we are planning and preparing for a specific conditions or subjects, but happens to see more than we were planning, different opportunities. Haven't we all have had regrets when we did not bring our cameras and we have missed a unique capture.
I didn't expect to find a bumble bee on a crocus flower, I felt so lucky then. Through photography we learn about the outside world, about nature, which is great. Now I know approximately in what conditions I could expect a bumble bee pollinating a crocus flower, but this I may never witness again...
Sell Art Online

 

Kathy K McClellan

9 Years Ago


I bought a small point and shoot to make sure I had a camera with me at all times. But when that Bald Eagle flies over our back yard, eye level with me on the porch you can forget taking pictures. He's gone before I can get the on button pushed in. So I soak in every bit of excitement at seeing him so close and forget the regret that I didn't get that perfect capture.

I agree with others that say it is some of each (planned and unplanned). Some of my best work has been unplanned. Right time, right place with camera in hand and on. :)

Kathy K. McClellan
http://keppenart.com

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Melissa,

I don't know if "instinct" is the right word. The huge advantage you have,over somebody just picking up a camera, is that you have a "trained eye" and you will "see" art, everywhere. If it would make a good painting, odds are, it will make a good photo. And vice versa. If you wouldn't bother painting it, probably not the best subject for photography,

Looking forward to your "new" images!

I'm not a big fan of have a camera with you ALL the time,especially if it's expensive and "handy". IF I KNOW I'm going somewhere, that will likely have some interesting iamges, I'll lug my camera and tripod and either leave it in the car's trunk or grab the camera and then, if needed, go back for the tripod. With the quality of smart phone cameras, most, if not ALL surprising images,can be captured with the phone camera.

With your eye, I would "assign" yourself projects or jobs and go to specific places that you know about and maybe even painted,gardens,countryside,etc. and now with a viewfinder, revisit these places, since they worked for your paintings..............

Rich

 

Tony Murray

9 Years Ago

Instinct in photography, I'm with Rich partially on this one. I think the better mode to be in is to force your eye to see and capture things that no one else has or will. That takes imagination,purpose,drive and training, not instinct.

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

Rich yes I think a 'trained eye' is a better term.
Tony yes I agree. I guess that what I meant when i said instinct.

 

Cascade Colors

9 Years Ago

I have learned a lot over the years as to what makes a more lackluster composition and what has more of the 'wow' factor. A lot of it is becoming really aware of surroundings, weather, lighting, all of the things that can come into play to make that 'perfect' composition and image that you're wanting. The Ideal of a particular location.

There's also being in the right place at the right time; sometimes it's luck, especially with nature/wildlife photography. The clouds suddenly part and you get amazing, interesting lighting and shadows. Or a bird flies in really close to you. Of course these things happening also plays into your knowing your surroundings and being aware of probabilities, but yeah.

I *always* trust my instinct, though, if I have this instinct to head out on a given day, or I'm walking and suddenly something catches my eye. Sometimes those split-second images, things I hadn't planned, can be really, really interesting and good images.

It's a combination of a lot of things in my opinion!

 

Loree Johnson

9 Years Ago

Something I've noticed more and more over the years is that the planning and persistence usually pays off, but not always in the way I envisioned it. I plan a shot, go there at the right time, right day, right conditions, and end up getting something completely unexpected. So, I would say all the planning and experience does pay off, but not always how you expect it would. ;-)

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

I imagine its an adventure. Its not for impatient people. Thank goodness I am pretty patient. :P

 

Travel Pics

9 Years Ago

Sometimes all you have to wait for, to get the 'now it's right' image, is for a cloud to pass. Keep an eye on the sky and where the light is.

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

The counter point of having the camera always with you is --- leaving the camera behind the first day. The idea is you look around a new place with fresh eyes, scouting out locations and seeing images without the burden of having to work a camera. Then head back the next day at the right time of day.

...

Of course street photographers like Garry Winogrand happily left the house without any pre-planning other then a location. And shot thousands of images to get one or two keepers.

 

Mark Blauhoefer

9 Years Ago

Easy:

You see the clouds gathering you grab your camera and race to a good vantage point

Photography Prints

You see the clouds dissipating you grab your camera and race to a good vantage point

Art Prints

 

Afli Sam

9 Years Ago

Sometimes i cross a view and i have to fast making a shot before it gone. When you are satisfied for the majority of these shots i think you have a good photoraphy instinct. When the view or the subjet is fixed i imagine the view behind my camera as a canvas and i try to add angles, subjects, to eliminate others to move until i am satisfied with the view. I am not pro. but i love what i am doing and i try to learn more.

this shot was taken very fast. the subjet is in move.

Sell Art Online

 

Gregory Scott

9 Years Ago

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-view-like-no-other/
"His most famous image is that of the Rainbow over the Potala Palace in Tibet," said Lanting. "It shows a rainbow that connects with the Dalai Lama's palace but Galen told us that he saw the rainbow didn't come down to the palace. He actually ran for one or two miles to line the two of them up together. He chased the light, he saw it in his mind's eye and then he got to the place where he needed to be to capture the image."

The photo
http://www.mountainlight.com/posters.html

Go to PerfectlyTimePhotos.com, or any collection of that sort and categorize the photos yourself:
1. Rare unplanned random incidents of perfect timing. These are by far the rarest kind in this sort of collection.
2. Photoshopped perfect timing: the Flying UFO Cat with legs drawn up into fur to resemble a Tribble? Nope photoshop.
Three birds forming smiley face? Nope. 2 birds, the first eye cloned to make the second.. And so on.
3. Staged events. Sit on the beach and wait for a big wave to hit on incoming tide, or perhaps the wake of a passing ship. Kitten head replacing missing head on Abercrombie and Fitch shopping bag.
4. Easiest to do, and very common: Carefully chosen background angle. Usually as a photographer we strive to chose an angle which eliminates unrelated (distracting elements). But you can do the opposite, and intentionally align a background element with the foreground, which is what Galen Rowell did with his famous photo of the Rainbow over the Potala Palace. Or maybe you have a humorous photo of a friend with a tree or a streetlight growing out the top of their head.
5. Common behavior spun as uncommon: bird attacking his reflection in a mirror
http://perfectlytimedphotos.com/perfectly-timed-photo/popular/45305-dang-my-hair-look-good
6. Electronic timing aids: You can use the sound of an airgun or popping balloon or other event to trigger a time-sensitive photo. Thus we get photos of bullets cutting cards, piercing soap bubbles, and so on.
7. "Even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while" principle:
Patiently wait all day and shoot hundreds of hummingbird photos. Edit to show only the ones in focus, with good poses, and in the frame:
Here is my Hummingbird in a Tutu and Hummingbird Dracula:
Art PrintsArt Prints

If I had a checklist for shooting, it might look something like this:

Set autofocus and metering mode in advance. Choose lens in advance.
See a shot (This is most important. Could be a whole thread in itself.)
Framing. shoot?
Check background, adjust angle and or distance. Shoot again?
Recheck framing and angle, and focal hotspot placement. Reset hotspot placement as needed. Shoot again?
Are you using the best elevation? Higher? Lower? Shoot again?
Would a different aperture or shutter speed work better? I mostly work in Aperture Priority mode, and rotating the finger-wheel on my Canon will let me choose a larger or small aperture, and implicitly, a faster or slower shutter speed.
Do I want to override metering? Check the histogram, evaluate the lighting. Adjust exposure bias using thumb-wheel if in Av mode?
Do I need to change lenses for better perspective or background?

Actually, I may recheck focus more than this list would indicate.

Do these things over and over and over and they become instinctive.

 

MARTY SACCONE

9 Years Ago

Yes it will Malissa.,....as you see what interests you photographically your instinct will reveal itself.

Subjects of interest will vary as your seeing and vision develop .

I've seen gorgeous images of unimaginative subjects that when done creatively,...are beautiful.

Just today,..under recently sold images on FAA,...a nicely done image of a fishes head sold,...nicely done, and obviously appealing to a buyer.

Study other photographers work,...always a stimulating experience to see what others are doing.

A great self assignment,....Select a particular subject or place,....now work that subject over time,..you'll take all the obvious angles first,..that's easy,..THEN,...work it more,...and stick with that subject,....(boooooring),..maybe so????,...but..will makes you reach within visually to explore and see differently. (not for everyone)

Several practices that I find are helpful:

Get to know your particular camera so well its second nature to you,.. especially features that you think you will be selecting and using.
This allows you to be ready for fleeting moments, reacting by touch without fumbling, day or night.

If possible,..try to fill the frame (viewfinder) with your subject.

Learn to compose in the viewfinder the final image you envision thus eliminating wasteful cropping later.

Use a tripod when possible, not only will your images be sharper,..but will allow you to create images in situations where hand held will just not work ,..usually in amazing low light situations.

Patients is important too,...I've waited for over two hours for a bird to fly into my composition,.......I'm retired what can I say.

If you are technically inclined,...consider learning to shoot in manual mode,..(no auto focus, exposure or anything) Again not for everyone.
Being an old dinosaur myself,....that's how I cut my teeth back in the 1960's,.....nuff said.
In this case you do not have to listen to your elders ;-))

As Mike mentioned try to have a camera with you at all times,...funny how many time you'll say "wish I had my camera"
(Really enjoy your fine work Mike,...and your verbal skills as well)

Lastly,...food for thought:
If you think about it for a moment,....
All the most beautiful images you will or have seen,...
are most likely taken with a camera,...that has the same,... or less,... capabilities that the camera you are using does.
It's how the photographer envisions the subject and utilizes these capabilities.

Many times I do have a particular subject, composition or technique in mind when I venture out.
More likely though,...I have found that no expectations can result in wonderful images too by exploring and being open to anything.

Just my thoughts on a few things that work for me,....we all do the same thing,...different,....even when we're doing the same thing.
Sounds corny,...but it's true.

Most of all have fun and enjoy.

Marty Saccone






 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

Mark that is gorgeous!

Gregory thats perfect. Ill be printing this out along with the others to help me study and do the right things at a shoot. A huge thank you!

Marty thank you for your insight. So much information! "Select a particular subject or place,....now work that subject over time," Sometimes I get overwhelmed at all the things I can photograph. This sounds like a good place to start.

 

Mark Blauhoefer

9 Years Ago

Thankyou Melissa!

There are a few more things regarding equipment. They're obvious, but to avoid disappointment you need a spare battery(s) (preferably from the camera manufacturer) and a spare reliable SD card - not even the most reliable cards are completely reliable forever.

And a plastic bag and rubberband if your camera isn't weather sealed.

I would love to recommend a particular card, but read the Amazon reviews from a few years ago to the present. You mightn't need the latest nor highest capacity, nor the most blisteringly fastest thing ever devised, but tried and true tested-in-the-field reliability testimony from independent users is a great place to start.

 

This discussion is closed.