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Re: [OM] Aesthetic sense.

Subject: Re: [OM] Aesthetic sense.
From: "**= Selena Goth =**" <selena_38c@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 11:18:34 CDT
>From: Winsor Crosby <wincros@xxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: [OM] Aesthetic sense.
>Reply-To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>>There has been some great feedback to my original question. I am in 
the same
>>position as most on the list. The technical aspects of the picture, 
i.e.,
>>correct exposure, proper focus, dof correct, composition technically 
correct
>>(rule of thirds and other such observed), I have no problem with. 
These
>>things can be perfected simply through an understanding of the 
technical
>>aspects of photography and as many have said, practice, practice, 
practice.
>>
>>Developing the "vision", the "eye", the way of "seeing", I find 
harder. Yes,
>>I have studied the work of the greats, and for the most part I 
understand
>>what makes those pictures "work". But unless I want to duplicate 
exactly
>>what they've shot, it doesn't help with developing a vision of my own. 
There
>>are several books on the market that show great landscape shots, and 
tell
>>exactly what equipment was used, the time of day, the season, the 
weather,
>>and even EXACTLY where to stand or place one's tripod. Ansel Adams was 
even
>>guilty of producing one of these. Providing you can read and have 
access to
>>the location and the equipment used, great photos are almost 
guranteed.
>>
>>How does one develop a sense of "seeing" a great photo as one observes 
the
>>things around them. I think Doris and Matthew come close when they 
talk
>>about evoking a mood or emotion that transmits what you are trying to 
say to
>>the viewer. But what if you have nothing to say. How is it that two 
people
>>can look at a scene and one of them sees nothing worth saying anything
>>about, and the other sees an emotion that they then convey to the 
viewer
>>through a photograph. That is the "vision" that I'm talking about. How 
does
>>one develop that vision? Or is it something that one is either born 
with or
>>isn't, and it's not possible to "learn" to be a good photographer?
>>
>>Regards,
>>John Austin
>>
>I think that you have to have an emotional reaction yourself if you are
>going to transmit it to someone. I think that many of us started(once 
past
>the family record stage) by taking travel pictures because we were so
>excited by what we saw that we wanted to share our experience with more
>than just talking about it. If you are bored by what you observe, what 
is
>the point of taking the picture. So go see something new that gets you
>excited.
>
>Beyond that is realizing that what you see going down the trail or down 
the
>road is not what you see in the viewfinder. Walk around and just look
>through the viewfinder. See how many ways you can see your surroundings
>through that little tunnel. You do not even need to trip the shutter. 
Just
>look.  I had a friend in the Army who got a twin lens reflex and he 
carried
>it around all the time for a couple of months before he put film in it. 
He
>had lost his Nikon in a card game. He took some great pictures with the
>Yashica.
>
>I think abstraction, at least in nature and travel photography, helps 
in
>spite of the usual selling point for SLRs that the view is unobstructed 
and
>is what the lens sees. My friend's TLR had everything reversed. Some of 
my
>best efforts have been through a rangefinder. You get accurate focus 
where
>you want it and the framelines and shaded portions of the viewfinder 
force
>you to concentrate on composition. I have thought of getting an I-10
>Checker/Matte screen for my OM just to reintroduce some distance from 
the
>image again.
>
>And you know, *all* writers, painters, sculptors, composers start out 
by
>imitating the people they really admire and learn a lot of craft in the 
the
>process. That makes them feel powerful and they feel free to develop 
their
>own vision. Go to the library and look at a lot of photographs. Find 
some
>that make you suck in your breath because of their beauty and power. 
Then
>go out and do your best to do the same thing.
>
>Sometimes, it is just time to do something different. Put the camera 
safely
>away and take some drawing, painting, or sculpture classes. I can 
heartily
>recommend any of the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain classes. 
All
>your life experiences will inform your photography.
>
>Winsor("Put a cork in it") Crosby
>
>Winsor Crosby
>Long Beach, California
>mailto:wincros@xxxxxxxxxxx

No cork please, Winsor. Some of us appreciate your posts. We are  the 
products of our life experiences in everything we try to do.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Selena Goth



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