Choosing a style (should have been - choosing a subject)

[JohnN]

Hi,

Previously I always focused on macro and birds in flight - that sort of thing, but now I seem to be leaning more toward portrait.

Its been a long time coming and I've got through a lot of kit trying areas out - macro, wildlife, drop art, portrait, landscape, light painting, strobes, action, the list just goes on and on, but have I at least found a direction worth pursuing?

I did ask my wife, but she (as I do) have a bit of a block - the vast majority of the recent images are of our kids which gives the shots meaning to us - you good people however can see them for what they are, just a picture of someone's kid.

Now I promise this isn't click bait and wouldn't like to pick out any specifically as my selection would be skewed, but if you wouldn't mind taking a few minutes just to look at these two areas as they show both my recent stuff and some of the better ones from the past.

• My recent stream (here)
• The 50 top interesting ones (here)

Also feel free to comment on anything specific, even rip them apart - be brutal, anything right up to "quit, you're s***" is welcomed

@Pookeyhead this is open day as I know in the past you've been very (almost hurtfully) honest with me and belive it or not I have tried to take some things on board - I do still suffer from G.A.S but its getting better - honest guv!

Thanks again for at least reading through this drivel.

John

 

[Ed Sutton]

There's no rule says you can only take photos that fit one genre. IMO, that is the biggest trap hobbyists fall into. When they do only take bird photos, or landscape photos, or portraits, they end up doing the same thing as every other amateur who concentrates on that particular genre because they take photos to please other photographers in the same limited genre. As a result their pictures are trite and they don't develop a style of their own.

A personal style is determined by how you look at the world, what interests you, what amuses you, what makes you angry. All that informs the way you approach your picture making. Keep on photographing stuff that you want to photograph and from that will come a style. It won't come quickly, there's no Lightroom plug-in for choosing a personal style, but come it will, and without you realising it. Then it won't matter what you take photos of, they'll still liook like you took them.

Enjoy the journey.

 

[Carlh]

As Dave above said - stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and shoot what you want. I enjoy photography so much that if I thought that I should stick to a particular genre - I would lose interest - there is so much beauty (and ugliness) in the world, it needs to be documented and you're a part of that documentation process. Why miss out on a good landscape if you have your camera out when you were going to shoot some wildlife.

I like your photographs - you take good landscape, people and animal photographs. Keep doing that, if that is what you love to do. Lay off the presets though its the best thing I have done and I only use them for creative stuff when I am bored. I dont know if I have a "style" yet, I just keep shooting - whatever I fancy taking a photograph of and love it.

 

[Nostromo]

Just shoot anything that floats your boat.
I love wildlife photography, but it's just to God dambed expensive to get images that i see on here.
Thankfully i have many other interests, so i follow those instead. Others may think they're boring, but i do it for me, not them.

 

[JohnN]

Thanks all - I guess I have just been taking pictures of what I like - I suppose what I'm trying to do is help myself focus, while I've been trying different things I've been buying the best I could afford to help me - which gets pretty expensive, plus while flitting from a to b to c and back to a then off to z I'm just being a jack of all trades, mastering none, not that of course I'd ever say "No I can't take that lovely landscape because I only do portraits now" - thats just silly and self defeating - its not like I'd be being paid or on someone else's time.

 

[Cg_Girl]

Absolutely nothing wrong with being random, instead of seeing it as flitting here there and everywhere, maybe change your perspective in that you're not stuck with one genre?

 

[juggler]

Hi,

Previously I always focused on macro and birds in flight - that sort of thing, but now I seem to be leaning more toward portrait.

Its been a long time coming and I've got through a lot of kit trying areas out - macro, wildlife, drop art, portrait, landscape, light painting, strobes, action, the list just goes on and on, but have I at least found a direction worth pursuing?

I did ask my wife, but she (as I do) have a bit of a block - the vast majority of the recent images are of our kids which gives the shots meaning to us - you good people however can see them for what they are, just a picture of someone's kid.

Now I promise this isn't click bait and wouldn't like to pick out any specifically as my selection would be skewed, but if you wouldn't mind taking a few minutes just to look at these two areas as they show both my recent stuff and some of the better ones from the past.

• My recent stream (here)
• The 50 top interesting ones (here)

Also feel tree to comment on anything specific, even rip them apart - be brutal, anything right up to quit, you;re s*** is welcomed

@Pookeyhead this is open day as I know in the past you've been very (almost hurtfully) honest with me and belive it or not I have tried to take some things on board - I do still suffer from G.A.S but its getting better - honest guv!

Thanks again for at least reading through this drivel.

John

I photograph stuff which it interests me, not because I'm interested in photography - that's secondary.

I really do think it's worth focusing on a small number of subjects to get good at them. I hate being cr*p at things - whether it's photography, acrobalance, cooking, mathematics, whatever - if I'm going to do something then I want to do it as well as I can. I just don't have the time to get good at every aspect of photography and I'm not interested enough to put in the hours to master e.g. traditional golden-hour-landscapery.

I wouldn't equate subject with genre though - the traditional photographic genres are bound to be limiting. Those who are really good or successful - not the same thing! - tend to explore a small number of themes in depth, developing the skills they need for those themes as required.

I do sometimes photograph other things too but that's mainly for the technical exercise & to develop my skills.

Back to the original question.. do you enjoy photographing children in general or just your children? Do you like interacting with other people's kids?
Or if you like candid stuff perhaps go out and do some street photography? If you enjoy directed portraiture then maybe start learning about lighting. That'll keep you busy for a bit.
Do you have any other interests? Is there a way of combining portraiture with those interests?

 

[JohnN]

Great ideas there Simon, other peoples children - no - to be honest with the exception of my own and friends kid's I don't much like them - to small and odd Also if someone elses kid wanders into shot I put the camera down, I really don't fancy having a mob of angry parents with pitchforks coming after me!

I have been thinking about lighting and even had some studio lights at one point (and still have shed loads of speedlights), but not the room or the willing subjects to practice - that said I remember doing a sort of painting like shot with some fruit a couple of years back I really liked so I might have another go at that.

I also tried street, but apart from having the balls of a gnat I wasn't all that struck, nor generally often like others street shots all that much, as yo other interests - coding on the PC and MMO (read computer) gaming - now they would make rubbish shots, an old fat bald guy lit by a couple of screens.... okay maybe that wouldn't be that bad a shot.

BTW, some lovely shots on Flickr - you're now officially stalked

 

[juggler]

I also tried street, but apart from having the balls of a gnat I wasn't all that struck, nor generally often like others street shots all that much, as yo other interests - coding on the PC and MMO (read computer) gaming - now they wuld make rubbish shots, an old fat bald guy lit by a couple of screens.... okay maybe that wouldn't be that bad a shot

A series of portraits of gamers or coders could be a bit special. You could do environmental portraits, perhaps lit by the screens as you say. Or go completely OTT and find some gamers who are also cosplayers. Then you could do something in a documentary style or get in a studio and go overboard with dramatic lighting. Lots of possibilities!

 

[JohnN]

Thats great - sadly more of a lone gamer geek if you get me - one friend over here (I moved a few years ago) who's not the being photographed type and another about two hours drive away, still a self portrait session might not be a bad idea - or again collar the kids, lit by tablets...

Thanks again, loads of stuff to work with - and more importantly the chrysalis of ideas.

 

[TheBigYin]

Maybe instead of trying to "pick a style"... instead decide to "shoot to a project" - come up with an idea, around something you know, understand, and feel passionate about... then shoot all the particular types of shot that you'd need to "document" and explore that project fully...

For example - I've been a keen (not good, by any stretch of the imagination, but keen) cyclist, interested in club cycling, and the whole way it takes over your life...

I read something a couple of days ago, where the old club "reliability runs" were being superseded by the new style "sportives" - same thing really - a long, challenging group ride, but one of them is a club event where you're charged a couple of quid to enter, there's no route-cards, no signposting, no motorcycle outriders, and no "goodie bag" and T-Shirt at the end of it. The Other one, has all the above, but costs £50 or more to enter, and gets non-club cyclists joining in, who have no clue about the tricks and rules of riding in a large fast moving group. So, they're dangerous.

So, I had an idea, that at the start of next season, I think I'm going to contact a couple of the local clubs, see if I can pitch up at the start/finish of a couple of the reliablity runs, maybe even join one of the easier ones myself, and try and document it... So, there'll be some "establishing" shots - signup sheets, the village hall "headquarters", riders setting off into the mist/fog/rain/ whatever... maybe a few informal portraits and candids, the odd posed shot .... A "product shot" or two - I do love a bit of bike bling, and these guys spend good money on their bikes...

Then Maybe do the same at a sportif, and do the whole "compare and contrast" thing...

And the end result comes out later that year in book form - maybe an exhibition at the Clubs "clubhouse" or Annual Dinner....

Just one idea, but something that gives an example of how a Project can take you into different ways of shooting, whilst not just flailing around trying different styles and genres at random...

 

[viewfromthenorth]

Being a contrary sod, I do the complete opposite to all the above. Other than family and holiday snaps, I pretty much only take pictures of my chosen genre. Sure, it makes me pretty two dimensional as a photographer but in doing so it's meant that I've been quite successful. The flip side of it is I'm hopeless at many other areas of photography, fortunately I've little interest in them!

 

[JohnN]

@TheBigYin Yeah, I see where you're going with that - especially as you're comparing two different but similar events and being interested in the subject is bound to help, but I see that more as documenting, whereas I'm really drawn to the pretty (and often highly processed) stuff, for example I was looking at some of this guys before and afters (link) and wondering (not £100 worth of wondering) how that was done as thats much more the sort of image I want to produce, which considering I much prefer shallow depth of field "poppy" images makes sense - to me at least.

Andy - I've seen some of your stuff before and they're really nice - very moody often, certain a look I'd go for were landscape my thing, I was about to ask if you'd done any urban exploring when i saw your most recent facebook image - nice

 

[Pookeyhead]

You title the thread "choosing a style", but what you're actually deliberating is subjects... not style. Any of the things you shoot could be shot in the same "style"... except maybe "BIF" because if you try anything different in THAT forum you'll just get a hammering from the old guard... BIF is creatively redundant.

You're wrestling with WHAT to shoot, not how to shoot it. The problem with shooting images of your children is they mean nothing to me or anyone else. Some are really nice photographs, but there's no interest for me in most of them, as I've no connection to them. I don't know your children, and they aren't really telling me much about them either, so there always going to be of limited interest to me (or anyone else). I can admire them technically, but then again there are millions of images out there I can do that with, and again... that's not really going to hold interest for very long.

It's all down to what you are doing this for. If it's just because you enjoy it, then I wouldn't worry too much... just enjoy your hobby and shoot whatever you want, however you want it. You seem to be asking for crit, but in what manner? Technically? There's too much to comment upon as you posted a link to your entire Flickr feed. There's some good stuff in there technically... you clearly know how to use a camera, so I'm not sure what you'd gain from that. What I'd like to say however, is the random nature of your photography. Kids, birds, landscape.. none of it for any particular reason (apart from the kids... we all do that to some extent) is indicative of someone who likes photography from a technical point of view, and likes taking photographs, but isn't really interested in photography as a subject in itself... it's more about cameras and shooting. Such people invariably get fed up and bored with photography as they tend to repeat themselves often.

What interests you apart from photography? Photography is a tool to discuss subjects. Just as any creative medium, it's about the subject. Poetry needs a subject.... painting needs a subject... writing needs a subject... music needs a subject. Even landscape, which seems to be the go-to subject for a great many amateurs needs a subject: Look at the greats... Adams, Godwin, Burtinsky etc... they all have a passion for the SUBJECT.. not necessarily photography. While Adams clearly DID enjoy playing with his gear, his passion for the landscape and it's conservation was evident both in his work, and his writing. You can have both by all means, but you can't really just shoot random stuff and expect an audience. The audience will come from the subject more than anything else. Shoot something you're passionate about, or know a great deal about. Explore a subject and take the viewer on a journey... get involved with something more long term.

You'll shoot less, but you'll only pick up a camera when you need to. This is the problem as most in here would hate that as for most, the enjoyment in the "hobby" is getting out there with a camera and taking pics. They've invested in the gear and they want to use it at every available opportunity. However... the outcome of such shooting is often really boring for anyone else to look at as it's just random stuff shot with no real purpose.

So you're interested portraits? Why? What do you want to show? Who will you be shooting? If it's your kids.. what are you going to try and capture? How will you hold my interest?


Obtain a copy of "On Being a Photographer" by Hurn & Jay... it's probably one of the best "advice" books on photography out there.

There's a PDF here...

http://www.purbecku3a.org.uk/PHOTOGRAPHY/On Being a Photographer.pdf


It contains absolutely NO tutorials, hints, tips, lighting diagrams etc... but it's the best book on photography ever written in my opinion.

 

[Pookeyhead]

they end up doing the same thing as every other amateur who concentrates on that particular genre because they take photos to please other photographers in the same limited genre. As a result their pictures are trite and they don't develop a style of their own.

This^^^

**** other photographers.. think of the audience. If you're only audience is other photographers, then what exactly is the point?

A personal style is determined by how you look at the world, what interests you, what amuses you, what makes you angry. All that informs the way you approach your picture making. Keep on photographing stuff that you want to photograph and from that will come a style. It won't come quickly, there's no Lightroom plug-in for choosing a personal style, but come it will, and without you realising it. Then it won't matter what you take photos of, they'll still liook like you took them.

Again, bang on.

You won't get a style by copying other people, or shooting to get likes, or shooting to please other photographers and getting their approval.

A great amount of my stuff gets heavily criticised on here, but that's because they're hobbyist photographers who assume what we all want is to take photos that get the approval of other photographers. I couldn't give a s**t about what other photographers think of my work. Why should I? The fact remains, I've had 6 exhibitions of my work in the last 18 months.... they haven't.. so nerrr! What any gallery or publisher wants is something that will interest an audience, not something that only other photographers can jerk off over.

Enjoy the journey.

Exactly.

As I said above... if you're just doing this for enjoyment... just carry on. Stop worrying about what other people think if you're just enjoying your hobby. Stop seeking approval from other photographers.. who says they're right any way? The vast majority are just amateurs like yourself. It's just an opinion. Most crit I see in here (with a few exceptions) will just suck your creativity out of you and have you making formulaic crap any way.

 

[Carlh]

Cheers for the link David - everyone loves a free e-book if its worth the read

 

[JohnN]

Thanks @Pookeyhead - sorry, poorly chosen title.

What you say about my kids shots is exactly what I thought - with no connection to them they are just that - pics of kids, now I'm pretty happy that at least it seems that technically I'm doing fine, which to me for a while was an obstacle, as to why - yeah it really is just that, documenting the kids growing up, but I don't just want them to be snaps - when I do I pull out the phone, I choose a "proper" camera so I can take the sort of shots I like to see, some with context, some not, some simply because of a comment that was said in passing like the one I did of my son with the 70's looking shirt on.

One of the problems I had with BiF was that with a exception of literally a couple of shots that were a bit more creative was that they all looked the same, and that was to me. When I asked a friend of mine how my stuff was coming along he said that it was all quite nice and that one thing I did know how to do was to let the view know exactly where I wanted them to look, then a said at least its not a thousand picture of bloody birds any more.

Such people invariably get fed up and bored with photography as they tend to repeat themselves often.

You're spot on there, but I can't decide if its down to simply repetition or if its because I'm never that happy with the final result when I look back - even when I was at the time.

What do you want to show? Who will you be shooting? If it's your kids.. what are you going to try and capture? How will you hold my interest?

Now I think if I had those answers I wouldn't have started this post

The fact remains, I've had 6 exhibitions of my work in the last 18 months.... they haven't.. so nerrr!

haha, love it

Stop seeking approval from other photographers.. Most crit I see in here (with a few exceptions) will just suck your creativity out of you and have you making formulaic crap any way.

You sound just take the mate I was talking to the other night, he's a teacher so has a way of making me feel like a rebellious kid despite him being younger than me and I'm on my 40s - it must be something to do with the training. Now he's basically quit both photography and forums in general, in part because he was sick of hearing about the "law" of thirds and so on, that and his interests have moved to something else - he claims its a lack of time, but I don't buy that.

Now a lot of stuff I see in galleries and in print I don't like - maybe its because I don't get it or perhaps I just don't want to, but some stuff is just excellent - funnily enough its generally the "greats" that I don't like, but thats just personal opinion, and more likely that not because I don't see through to what they're trying to say but get stuck at the "damn thats out of focus" stage - my problem not theirs.

After breaking down what Dave (aka Ed Sutton) said, somehow I picked p on the detail and meaning a lot more than the first time round so am going to read through everything posted again.

Cheers for the link, I'll get that on the kindle and work my way though it and see how that works out.

 

[JohnN]

I photograph stuff which it interests me, not because I'm interested in photography - that's secondary.

Currently I feel am at the interested in photography stage, struggling for a subject that interests me enough - my day usually consists of work - seeing the kids, then work call or emails, so deal with work - watch something with my wife, while still at least having to check work emails, sleep (sometimes with an interlude from work) and so on - don't get me wrong I (usually) enjoy my job, but it is all consuming - even as I write this on my day off I have my work emails on the other screen - its not an excuse, or maybe it is but when work takes up so much of your life then it makes it hard to get into teh swing of anything else.

I wouldn't equate subject with genre though - the traditional photographic genres are bound to be limiting. Those who are really good or successful - not the same thing! - tend to explore a small number of themes in depth, developing the skills they need for those themes as required.

Sound advice and I very much agree with the good\successfully bit - I think if this thread has told me anything its that I need some sort of subject or focus at the very least, that I can explore - even if its just finding a better way for the kids personalities to come across then making the most out of that image, so that it means something by itself and not just to me - that isn't me seeking approval from anyone else - its just where I want to go.

 

[JohnN]

Now what you guys didn't know is what originally made me ask my wife in the first place - it was supposed to be a blind test to see if all those bird shots were as boring as my mate suggested and also if any of my more recent images held any merit without any connection to the kids - so the thought of this thread was born.

You have all given me so much to think about and despite where the original thoughts came from they soon evolved into something much greater and more fundamental to the way I look at photography.

Right, off to try and get away fro work for an hour and start that book.

 

[Scirocco_09]

All you can do is take the pictures that interest you and I imagine after a while it'll become clear if you want to specialise in one genre. Was there anything in particular you bought the camera for? In my own case it was capturing the scenery I visited, but I found once I bought my first DSLR everything and anything became a subject for a year or so, eventually going full circle and realising landscape was my passion and concentrating on that. I think there are advantages to specialising as you'll improve in a genre far quicker when you're fully dedicated to it, and you'll also be able to present a more consistent portfolio which is important if you're hoping to get noticed and build a reputation as a photographer. There's no point forcing a decision and stopping yourself shooting the things you enjoy though, it's supposed to be fun at the end of the day!

 

[JohnN]

Well originally I got it for something creative to do, then upgraded for the birth of my daughter, and really started to being able to see things I couldn't with the naked eye, so very fast shutter speeds or x2 plus macros, you know any mandibles that sort of thing. Eventually I lost interest mostly due to a lack of diversifying and the fact they were record shots.

Now I'm starting to focus a bit but am no longer satisfied with a snap of the kids, I want more, I want the images to come to life.

 

[juggler]

Now I'm starting to focus a bit but am no longer satisfied with a snap of the kids, I want more, I want the images to come to life.

I'm not commenting on your current output or ability at all.. but you're going to have to devote more time to it than you seem to have available. Photography requires a selfish degree of concentration, it's impossible to do it and other things at the same time. About the only form of photography I can do with the family in tow is family snapshots - and even those mean I'm not concentrating fully on the family when I should be.

 

[Scirocco_09]

Well originally I got it for something creative to do, then upgraded for the birth of my daughter, and really started to being able to see things I couldn't with the naked eye, so very fast shutter speeds or x2 plus macros, you know any mandibles that sort of thing. Eventually I lost interest mostly due to a lack of diversifying and the fact they were record shots.

Now I'm starting to focus a bit but am no longer satisfied with a snap of the kids, I want more, I want the images to come to life.

Why don't you buy a couple of photo books to give you some ideas? Outdoor Photographer of the Year (Portfolio One) has some inspirational macro photography in it. The images will only start to come to life when you shoot what you're passionate about and mixing knowledge of lighting, composition and technique

 

[Eltheza]

@David/Pookeyhead - thanks very much for the link to that PDF!

 

[viewfromthenorth]

I'm not commenting on your current output or ability at all.. but you're going to have to devote more time to it than you seem to have available. Photography requires a selfish degree of concentration, it's impossible to do it and other things at the same time. About the only form of photography I can do with the family in tow is family snapshots - and even those mean I'm not concentrating fully on the family when I should be.

^This. Part of the reason I've specialised is due to my interest in my subject matter, but I have to make time to do it as my family have little interest in wandering round mongy old mills and coal mines. So to do my photography involves getting up early, finishing work early, finding the odd hour or two when my wife and daughter are shopping or at parties, and even taking days off. The rest of the time my photographic output is family snaps which mean a great deal to me and my family, but have sod all interest to anyone else and little aesthetic or artistic value.

 

[Pookeyhead]

@David/Pookeyhead - thanks very much for the link to that PDF!

You're welcome.

 

[chris malcolm]

I didn't worry at all about developing a style or choosing specific subjects. I just followed my nose and enjoyed myself learning how to take better photographs of the things that interested me. I started hanging out with photographers, reading photography forums, reading books about improving my photography. I was told I ought to focus on a restricted range of subject matter and develop a style. This worried me for a few years, and I made no progress. In fact I made reverse progress, because I became interested in a wider range of different subjects. It seemed to me that different kinds of subject matter would necessarily involve different styles. How could you apply the same style to photographing babies and building sites?

I started asking why it was necessary to develop a style and focus on a few specific kinds of subject matter. It appeared to be a marketing thing. It would help me to get exhibitions, sell photographs, sell my photography services. That involves doing the kinds of photography that other people like. Luckily I don't have to do that. So I stopped worrying about focus and style and such like. I became a happy photographer again

 

[Pookeyhead]

You will all have a style. You all have a style of speech unique to you... you all have individual voices... looks... dress sense... taste in food, music, books, film... Why is it do difficult to understand that you will all have an individual style of photographing? Do we not all see the world differently? Do we not all have different opinions and viewpoints... personal philosophies?

The reason all amateur work ends up looking the same, is that you are inevitably all told how to shoot... how to compose an image... where to focus... where to place your subjects in the frame... and nowadays... how to process it. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy... you'll even end up criticising other people's work if it doesn't fit the rules. It's as if there's one way only... the camera club way.

There's another way. The way YOU see the world. Stop trying to impress other amateur photographers and winning crappy competitions that are only going to measure your work against a set of prescriptive rules.

Use your images to talk about something, and do it in a way that feels right for the subject and right for you. In YOUR tone of voice. Remember, that photography books and exhibitions are not put on or published for other photographers to buy/visit... they're for critically thinking people who like the creative arts. They'll want engaging work that enlightens them about a subject... makes them think... react... that may challenge them, or speak to them in some way perhaps. Even at the most commercial, low end level... people just want images of their kids that make them look beautiful and happy... they don't give a crap about your composition, depth of field or whatever. Your audience should not be other photographers. What's the point in that? Art gallery goers maybe, yes.... the general public.. possibly... a local company, or large corporation... maybe... but another photographer? I don't think so.

The biggest problem with amateur photographers is that they inevitably start producing work to impress other photographers, and that leads to the arms race of shiny things... of showboating with "skills". Mine has more impact than yours... etc.


The audience is not necessarily a photographer... or shouldn't be. If the only people seeing or commenting on your work are photographers, then surely you're doing something wrong.

 

[JohnN]

As always an interesting read, it's funny how when starting these sort of threads that you're hoping for a clear cut answer but the fact of the matter is that there really are no significant shortcuts and that you're going to have to find you're own way, as was said earlier there are no Photoshop plugins that will give you your own style.

If I've taken one message from this it's be yourself, do what you enjoy and don't worry about the opinions of others.

 

[Phil V]

As always an interesting read, it's funny how when starting these sort of threads that you're hoping for a clear cut answer but the fact of the matter is that there really are no significant shortcuts and that you're going to have to find you're own way, as was said earlier there are no Photoshop plugins that will give you your own style.

If I've taken one message from this it's be yourself, do what you enjoy and don't worry about the opinions of others.

And stay on the bus

 

[Ed Sutton]

Use your images to talk about something, and do it in a way that feels right for the subject and right for you. In YOUR tone of voice.

The biggest problem with amateur photographers is that they inevitably start producing work to impress other photographers, and that leads to the arms race of shiny things... of showboating with "skills".

I think most hobbyist photographers pick up a camera because they have seen shiny things and want to make shiny things of their own. They never aspire to anything other than that because they don't want to. Why they don't want to is a whole new debate.

 

[JohnN]

And stay on the bus

That's cool, I'd never heard of that one

 

[Pookeyhead]

I think most hobbyist photographers pick up a camera because they have seen shiny things and want to make shiny things of their own. They never aspire to anything other than that because they don't want to. Why they don't want to is a whole new debate.

Because it's easy, formulaic, and requires less critical thought and creativity. It's easy to emulate, repeat and achieve, especially with digital.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Because it's easy, formulaic, and requires less critical thought and creativity. It's easy to emulate, repeat and achieve, especially with digital.

I think it goes beyond that. Some people pick up guitars to emulate their heroes and never do anything else beyond becoming extremely skilled mimics. Others pick them up, never become technically great, but make their own distinctive music. There must be a reason some are happy to copy while others want to create new stuff.

 

[Pookeyhead]

I think it goes beyond that. Some people pick up guitars to emulate their heroes and never do anything else beyond becoming extremely skilled mimics. Others pick them up, never become technically great, but make their own distinctive music. There must be a reason some are happy to copy while others want to create new stuff.

I'm not sure it does. Yes, some people want to pick up a guitar and do what people they admire do, but never do anything else. That's because they like the guitar, and want to play the guitar, but do not have any creative skills when it comes to composing their own music or writing their own songs... they're happy to play.. just like my brother who can faithfully play like Mark Knopfler... but he only ever plays stuff like the guitar solo from Sultans of Swing... he never "jams"... or just lets rip. It's like listening to Mark Knopfler... which seems pointless... because I can do that already.

As you say... others aren't arsed about being technically perfect, but will produce their own stuff... stuff with soul perhaps. SOme will be both...