Well in my experiences a photographer has make it big by taking an unbelievable picture. I’ve read about a few photographers that say that, if you ask about what camera you need to make it big, they say your asking the wrong questions. I totally agree, I believe that if you go out and spend thousands of dollars on a good camera, you should be able to take a picture. Only thing is you can have the best camera in the world and it still wouldn’t help you become a great photographer. When taking a picture you should know how to take a picture without a camera, you would need to visualize what you want to take a picture of. Now when you take that picture you are not going to make it big by going back to a computer and making a lot of manipulations. Some of the best pictures I’ve seen where back when digital cameras were in the future. For example the photo “lunchtime atop a skyscraper” which was taken in 1932 was a great photo and will always be remembered. Photos don’t have to be about something important like, the first plane flight or the first person to low craw across the United States or something. A photographer needs to have a good eye and know what he wants his or her photos to be.
I believe that a photo should be personal and have emotion. If a photo has a person smiling it is just another photo but if a photo of a person holding a cone of ice cream with the ice cream falling in front of their face has more of an appeal. When taking a picture you need to take a photo with enthusiasm, make the photo want the person looking at it laugh or cry or give any other type of emotion that a person can give. For example the picture of the “Migrant Mother” taken by Dorothea Lange shows you the hardships that the mother in the picture has gone through. When you look at that photo you feel remorse, exhaustion and other emotions just by looking at the photo. Most of the photos that you see today have some sort of emotions that is what I believe that makes a photo good.
Before I take a picture I think what I want in that picture. I look at what I’m about to be taking a picture of and try to imagine what it will look like thru a camera and what I can do to make it better. For example I take a lot of picture of my German Sheppard, I’ve taken a lot of her face with her emotions. I started taking pictures of her playing in our pond or playing with a ball more because it makes a person looking at the picture feel her joy, which is exactly what I want in my pictures. Now also its taken me a few pictures to figure that one out, which is why I think that if you want to be a good photographer you should always carry a camera and take pictures of things to see what you like to photograph.
Noble Wolf Creative
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Belief That a Picture Will Take Your Soul.
There is a belief in the world that if you take a picture of a person that it will take their soul. Now in this belief there have been instances where a picture was taken of an object and after something happened to that object in the picture. There are many blogs that will support what I’ve said. Like if you do a search for bleeding edge column: art of stealing souls it shows some pictures that things have happened to the pictures. For example on in the article there is a picture of a statue angel that was in a fire and there is a burn surrounding the angel but the angel is untouched. I believe that some things can’t be explained and are coincidences, but in these pictures it seems that there is more to them. Now believing that a picture will take your soul I can definitely understand with the things I’ve seen in some of the pictures. One of the major things that makes me think the way that I do is, the pictures you see with unexplained blurs or shadows (granted most are fakes) but some are real.
Now many people in the world think just the same way; some of the aborigines of Australia refuse to have their pictures taken because of this belief. Also, there are some towns in Mexico that still believe in the old Mayan ways and they won’t have their pictures taken either. There is a church in Chiapas, Mexico that won’t let picture be taken in the church. I’m curious if so many people believe in something does it make it true? One of the most famous Native American stories is that of Crazy Horse, even on his deathbed he would not let anyone take his picture. There is a religious ceremony that the Navajo Indians do; it is called “Sing”. This ceremony is a very complicated dance usually done by the medicine man of the village; it is believed to recover a person’s soul.
Leslie Marmon Silko is a Native American author who argues that in order to understand her idea of photo narrative, we must attempt to understand how Native Americans view photography. Modern Native American aesthetics differ greatly from those in past years. Much of the older photography concerning the culture of the indigenous peoples of America reflects the 'otherness' that is traditionally attached to Native American identity. If one examines an older photograph of an American Indian, many of which were taken by white photographers, the emphasis is on exploiting the superficial aspects of Native American culture such as feather costumes. I was told along time ago that I was part Native American but I have never looked if I was or not. Now my beliefs are almost the same as Silko’s. I know that I will never take a Native American’s photo without their permission.
So there are many different beliefs out there about this subject many are right online, so if you are a new photographer it is good to know this stuff if you like that kind of photography. I have always loved the Native American culture that is why I have researched what I have.
Now many people in the world think just the same way; some of the aborigines of Australia refuse to have their pictures taken because of this belief. Also, there are some towns in Mexico that still believe in the old Mayan ways and they won’t have their pictures taken either. There is a church in Chiapas, Mexico that won’t let picture be taken in the church. I’m curious if so many people believe in something does it make it true? One of the most famous Native American stories is that of Crazy Horse, even on his deathbed he would not let anyone take his picture. There is a religious ceremony that the Navajo Indians do; it is called “Sing”. This ceremony is a very complicated dance usually done by the medicine man of the village; it is believed to recover a person’s soul.
Leslie Marmon Silko is a Native American author who argues that in order to understand her idea of photo narrative, we must attempt to understand how Native Americans view photography. Modern Native American aesthetics differ greatly from those in past years. Much of the older photography concerning the culture of the indigenous peoples of America reflects the 'otherness' that is traditionally attached to Native American identity. If one examines an older photograph of an American Indian, many of which were taken by white photographers, the emphasis is on exploiting the superficial aspects of Native American culture such as feather costumes. I was told along time ago that I was part Native American but I have never looked if I was or not. Now my beliefs are almost the same as Silko’s. I know that I will never take a Native American’s photo without their permission.
So there are many different beliefs out there about this subject many are right online, so if you are a new photographer it is good to know this stuff if you like that kind of photography. I have always loved the Native American culture that is why I have researched what I have.
Has the art of photography been lost?
I know there are photographers out in the world that can take an antique camera and take an exceptional photo. I also know that there are photographers out in the world that need a digital camera just to take a photo so they can manipulate it later. I believe that in some shape or form that the art of photography has been lost in many ways. First of which is that some photographers have lost their patience, they can’t wait for a photo. Another reason Is that photographers need a digital camera to take a picture, they don’t like the process of developing the photos old school like. Also I think that photographers don’t do enough to make their photos memorable.
So what do I mean by photographers have no patience? Well for starters I think that a photographer should wait for the “perfect shot”. What I mean by the “perfect shot” is that, photographers tend to rely on programs to fix their mistakes. Why not take your time set up the shot make sure the sun is right? Now I know it would be hard to do in a nature scene, but what about portraits why do you need a program to make things attractive or beautiful? Like for instance the well know photo of Sharba Gula on the cover of National Geographic Magazine was taken by journalist Steve McCurry, there was no editing of the photo. That photo is one of the most well know photos ever taken, and nothing had to be done with it, that photo s taken in 1984. So I know that there are photographers out there that can photograph amazing pictures, but are too lazy to take the time and photograph what the want correctly.
Now I am not saying anything bad about digital cameras I like to use them, digital cameras are great tools. That aside, I would like to see more “old school” photos. What I mean by “old School” is taking a picture using and old camera. When a photographer uses a digital camera I believe that the photo was taken quickly and less passionately. When a photographer uses an old antique camera they take their time to make everything perfect before they take their shots. Like if a photographer uses a 35mm camera and takes hundreds of photos it is going to be very expensive to develop all of those photos. So photographers take their time to take photos when using a 35mm camera. For example there were many Iconic photographs took in the 1940’s by Farm Security Administration photographers. Those photos are beautiful and you can see how passionately the photographers were about their work. The website http://gtbarnes.com/2008/09/09/color-photography-of-the-1940s/ shows what these pictures that I am talking about. So I believe that if you use a non-digital camera a photographer will be more patient and passionate about their photograph.
Photographers’ in the world today can take amazing photo and may be world-renowned but if they are what photos can you remember? We all remember Steve McCurry’s photo of Sharba Gula and Joe Rosenthal’s Photo of the American flag being put up on the island of Iwo Jima. Those photographs will always be remembered. Those photo’s and many more out there were taken by a photographer before digital manipulation and before digital cameras were around. I believe that photographers need to use everything around them to make a memorable photo. If they have to use digital manipulation to do this then so be it, but I think that a photographer should be passionate about their photo and use their eyes to take a memorable photo.
So what do I mean by photographers have no patience? Well for starters I think that a photographer should wait for the “perfect shot”. What I mean by the “perfect shot” is that, photographers tend to rely on programs to fix their mistakes. Why not take your time set up the shot make sure the sun is right? Now I know it would be hard to do in a nature scene, but what about portraits why do you need a program to make things attractive or beautiful? Like for instance the well know photo of Sharba Gula on the cover of National Geographic Magazine was taken by journalist Steve McCurry, there was no editing of the photo. That photo is one of the most well know photos ever taken, and nothing had to be done with it, that photo s taken in 1984. So I know that there are photographers out there that can photograph amazing pictures, but are too lazy to take the time and photograph what the want correctly.
Now I am not saying anything bad about digital cameras I like to use them, digital cameras are great tools. That aside, I would like to see more “old school” photos. What I mean by “old School” is taking a picture using and old camera. When a photographer uses a digital camera I believe that the photo was taken quickly and less passionately. When a photographer uses an old antique camera they take their time to make everything perfect before they take their shots. Like if a photographer uses a 35mm camera and takes hundreds of photos it is going to be very expensive to develop all of those photos. So photographers take their time to take photos when using a 35mm camera. For example there were many Iconic photographs took in the 1940’s by Farm Security Administration photographers. Those photos are beautiful and you can see how passionately the photographers were about their work. The website http://gtbarnes.com/2008/09/09/color-photography-of-the-1940s/ shows what these pictures that I am talking about. So I believe that if you use a non-digital camera a photographer will be more patient and passionate about their photograph.
Photographers’ in the world today can take amazing photo and may be world-renowned but if they are what photos can you remember? We all remember Steve McCurry’s photo of Sharba Gula and Joe Rosenthal’s Photo of the American flag being put up on the island of Iwo Jima. Those photographs will always be remembered. Those photo’s and many more out there were taken by a photographer before digital manipulation and before digital cameras were around. I believe that photographers need to use everything around them to make a memorable photo. If they have to use digital manipulation to do this then so be it, but I think that a photographer should be passionate about their photo and use their eyes to take a memorable photo.
What has digital manipulation done to the people’s perspective?
I think that digital manipulation programs have changed people’s perspective on a lot of things in today’s advertisements and photos. Most photos and advertisements have been changed way too much in fashion and advertisements. There is a website that I like to look at every once in awhile, its called www.photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com it shows some horrible ways that Photoshop has been used. For example a Domino’s pizza box shows a person with six fingers, and it’s quite noticeable when a person has six fingers. This website is a good website for future web designers and photographers, it will show you what not to do. There is also a video on YouTube called “Dove Evolution” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U) it show how much a model goes through before a photo shoot and how much Photoshop does after. With this video I believe that there should not be that much work done to a model just to make them pretty. When you see this video, it will show you how the model is made to look taller and skinnier, it is just sad. After reading some of the comments after the Dove video I saw that someone wrote this; “We need to see more of this. Reality. Our females are being destroyed the moment they are born. They are convinced to hold themselves to impossible standards to the point that they are completely hidden even from themselves.” I completely agree with this comment, I believe there is a natural beauty and it should be shown in advertisements, there shouldn’t be a computer program that makes a person pretty. Most of the younger generations are concerned more and more with their looks, and even some of the older generations.
So why change the looks of the models to make them thinner or taller or whatever, all it does is make the generations want to be like them. If a person sees a photo of their favorite actor or actress and there has been a lot of digital manipulation done to them the actor or actress, that means to me at least, that it isn’t real. For example there is a Marissa Miller photo from Victoria Secret’s magazine, it shows her with a hand on her shoulder with nobody behind her. That is just bad digital manipulation or the person was just lazy. So if a person sees someone that isn’t real yet they want to be like that actor or actress. So say a young girl sees a photo of her favorite actress and likes her so much she wants to be just like her, If the photographer “photoshoped” the actress to make her skinnier and the young girl sees her skinny she is going to go on a diet or do some unhealthy things to become skinny. That is not right in my eyes, I believe that people should see models, actors or actresses naturally not with hours of work done to them. I also believe that people are too reliant on digital manipulation programs; they should be able to take a model and make him or her beautiful just by taking a picture. Even when going to school they teach you about digital manipulation programs and some teachers rely on the program for their business. So I’m curious, what do people think about digital manipulation? Do they think that we should use it all the time or do they think that we should be able to take a model and make them beautiful just by taking a picture?
So why change the looks of the models to make them thinner or taller or whatever, all it does is make the generations want to be like them. If a person sees a photo of their favorite actor or actress and there has been a lot of digital manipulation done to them the actor or actress, that means to me at least, that it isn’t real. For example there is a Marissa Miller photo from Victoria Secret’s magazine, it shows her with a hand on her shoulder with nobody behind her. That is just bad digital manipulation or the person was just lazy. So if a person sees someone that isn’t real yet they want to be like that actor or actress. So say a young girl sees a photo of her favorite actress and likes her so much she wants to be just like her, If the photographer “photoshoped” the actress to make her skinnier and the young girl sees her skinny she is going to go on a diet or do some unhealthy things to become skinny. That is not right in my eyes, I believe that people should see models, actors or actresses naturally not with hours of work done to them. I also believe that people are too reliant on digital manipulation programs; they should be able to take a model and make him or her beautiful just by taking a picture. Even when going to school they teach you about digital manipulation programs and some teachers rely on the program for their business. So I’m curious, what do people think about digital manipulation? Do they think that we should use it all the time or do they think that we should be able to take a model and make them beautiful just by taking a picture?
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