Mixed Up Mixed Cameras
- Thread starter Wes Hall
- Start date
Dave Farnes
Well-Known Member
What a fine set of varied images.
The numerous verticals in the arches draw the eye; the two iron pillars, (presumably to support the old structure), just look so wrong in contrast to the quality stonework.
The old boat is facinating. The subtle tones and textures really match the dacaying old wreck.
Love the contrast between the gnarled old trees and the solid stonework in the church pictures.
The old punk is a fine character study, very good.
The numerous verticals in the arches draw the eye; the two iron pillars, (presumably to support the old structure), just look so wrong in contrast to the quality stonework.
The old boat is facinating. The subtle tones and textures really match the dacaying old wreck.
Love the contrast between the gnarled old trees and the solid stonework in the church pictures.
The old punk is a fine character study, very good.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Good interesting shots, Wes, but I find myself struggling to experience what it felt like for you to be in each situation. I guess you were just testing out various pieces of equipment, which is fair enough. I’d just like to see an engagement with what you were feeling, thinking, experiencing. I’m not pointing a finger, just wondering out loud, as it were. Sorry if you are offended! That would be the last thing I would want.
Wes Hall
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the kind words Dave, the old punk was a nice chance moment. As for what Rob says, no offence taken or inferred 
I actually agree with the thoughts that it would be good to show a story or path of development for a series- these were simply the results of me developing my eye and enjoying a day out with a good friend and some vintage lenses for the boat/deadwood/cemetery shots.
The punk was a moment seized from an afternoon wandering Blackpool's prom and mostly turning up empty for inspiration.
I'm actually attempting to work on a personal project at the moment, and just deciding how long this particular series may be. I've never done anything like this before and it's proving a unique challenge. It would be interesting to know what has motivated or driven you and others on this forum in past endeavours of the like.
I actually agree with the thoughts that it would be good to show a story or path of development for a series- these were simply the results of me developing my eye and enjoying a day out with a good friend and some vintage lenses for the boat/deadwood/cemetery shots. The punk was a moment seized from an afternoon wandering Blackpool's prom and mostly turning up empty for inspiration.
I'm actually attempting to work on a personal project at the moment, and just deciding how long this particular series may be. I've never done anything like this before and it's proving a unique challenge. It would be interesting to know what has motivated or driven you and others on this forum in past endeavours of the like.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Cheers, Wes. I used to shoot anything that did or dind't move, just for the enjoyment of being out and about with a camera. The law of averages meant I got a few pictures that looked okay, pretty good, even. But a lot of the stuff was "meh". After a few years I started losing interest.
And then I started a project on my local river, the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. I'd never thought of a project before, and this was a big one: to document it over the season changes of a year, but also to try to document what the river meant to me, and how I felt about it and the world...and then covid started. I think my photography took a leap forward. Every shot had a meaning, and emotion for me, sometimes even a philosophical point.
Don't get me wrong, there I times when I still go out and shoot for the heck of it, something to do that is enjoyable. But I've learned the value of focussing the mind on a project. I did think of pulling it all together in a book, but I can't be bothered. The doing it, living it, was more important. You can view a little of it here: https://imagesrm.com/water/
So I'm interested that you are thinking of a series. Often in a series the individual shots don't matter so much as the collection, and I find that very interesting. I look forward to what you come up with!
And then I started a project on my local river, the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. I'd never thought of a project before, and this was a big one: to document it over the season changes of a year, but also to try to document what the river meant to me, and how I felt about it and the world...and then covid started. I think my photography took a leap forward. Every shot had a meaning, and emotion for me, sometimes even a philosophical point.
Don't get me wrong, there I times when I still go out and shoot for the heck of it, something to do that is enjoyable. But I've learned the value of focussing the mind on a project. I did think of pulling it all together in a book, but I can't be bothered. The doing it, living it, was more important. You can view a little of it here: https://imagesrm.com/water/
So I'm interested that you are thinking of a series. Often in a series the individual shots don't matter so much as the collection, and I find that very interesting. I look forward to what you come up with!
Wes Hall
Well-Known Member
Thanks Rob, I'm going to spend some time looking though the link you posted and thinking on your views. I'm still at the stage of developing technique and trying out new gear (Chris has been excellent with his patience and lending me (getting me hooked...) vintage lenses to trial), but I'm starting to find what this all means to me.
It was originally a hobby I could do to get me out and about after a bout of illness, and one which I could do for me, lowering stress. It's morphed a touch since then, but I keep heading back to the thought of 'stress' and my desire to reduce my interaction and storing of it.
I'll float the thought that's run in my head starting my project- 'looking back'.
It was originally a hobby I could do to get me out and about after a bout of illness, and one which I could do for me, lowering stress. It's morphed a touch since then, but I keep heading back to the thought of 'stress' and my desire to reduce my interaction and storing of it.
I'll float the thought that's run in my head starting my project- 'looking back'.
Dave Farnes
Well-Known Member
Must admit, motivation is a bit lacking at the moment. Maybe it is just down to the current times, or perhaps it is that I have always lived in the same area. If I have a day out somewhere I see lots of things to photograph, but day to day I see the same things I have seen so many times before.
Getting out certainly does reduce stress, leaving the everyday behind and going somewhere different leaves the everyday worries behind too.
Getting out certainly does reduce stress, leaving the everyday behind and going somewhere different leaves the everyday worries behind too.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Sorry, Wes, I was probably thinking more of my own photography. But the idea of series and projects does tend to focus the mind away from just shooting. Something to consider, Dave?
Chris Bennett
Well-Known Member
Why not try giving yourself a bit of creative constraint, Dave. For example, use a focal length you wouldn't normally consider when going to your usual places. Or look for one common theme - I do that quite a lot. For example, I have a thread here somewhere about only photographing circles.
Chris Bennett
Well-Known Member
Wes, the old punk is superb and I really like the low aspect of the shot with the chapel with the grass in the foreground.
Wes Hall
Well-Known Member
No need to apologise Rob, what you say is a realisation I'm coming to, the purpose is there with an intentional series.
Dave, I like the advice offered by Chris and Rob, self-imposed rules really can help change the perspective of otherwise dull locations we're over familiar with. I did this (and still do) in my local village walks- it's not always inspiring scenery so I try to set techniques to practice (like framing a specific focal length, or making it about a specific object) or I try to capture a specific type of visual effect (I tried smoke and lights at night once- images attached as they came from the camera) and this actually helped spike my interest in trying to improve night time shooting.
Ta Chris
, that punk pic is one of my current faves- I keep coming back to that tattoo, but he is the embodiment of the Blackpool I grew up experiencing and knowing.
Dave Farnes
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies, some good ideas to consider there.
Pete Askew
Admin
An intersting selection of images there, Wes. The elderly punk is fabulous and I also like very much the boat and the tree trunk.
I'm a bit late to join in the discourse about motivation. I have been very poor at making images of late, partly due to lack of inspiration and partly due to being busy with work. I do have ideas for some things inside and hopefully I'll get to those soon. As to what motivates me, that seems to depend. If I am travelling then new locations can inspire me to get out and record what interests me as can an event. Sometimes its a mood or just something that attracted my attention. I do have some long term interests regarding photography especially the way all pictures tend to infer a story and the way one can exploit that to imply a dialog that does not actually exist.
For example, Hong Kong (and meeting Aldous) was a great opportunity to create a set of impressions.
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/red-bus.15516/#post-121552
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/Photos/doesnt-stand-a-chance.117/
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/a-glimpse-of-the-harbour.15553/#post-121918
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/you-want-two.15594/#post-122374
But, it was the sound of the trees in the wind that triggered this set:
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/the-rage.11354/
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/tree-in-motion-iii.11371/#post-91238
Whereas this was a specific conceptual project:
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/the-keeper-of-secrets.11188/
I'm a bit late to join in the discourse about motivation. I have been very poor at making images of late, partly due to lack of inspiration and partly due to being busy with work. I do have ideas for some things inside and hopefully I'll get to those soon. As to what motivates me, that seems to depend. If I am travelling then new locations can inspire me to get out and record what interests me as can an event. Sometimes its a mood or just something that attracted my attention. I do have some long term interests regarding photography especially the way all pictures tend to infer a story and the way one can exploit that to imply a dialog that does not actually exist.
For example, Hong Kong (and meeting Aldous) was a great opportunity to create a set of impressions.
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/red-bus.15516/#post-121552
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/Photos/doesnt-stand-a-chance.117/
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/a-glimpse-of-the-harbour.15553/#post-121918
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/you-want-two.15594/#post-122374
But, it was the sound of the trees in the wind that triggered this set:
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/the-rage.11354/
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/tree-in-motion-iii.11371/#post-91238
Whereas this was a specific conceptual project:
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/the-keeper-of-secrets.11188/
Wes Hall
Well-Known Member
Never too late Pete, the joy of internet forums for me is that conversations can take time to percolate .
Those scenes from HK take me back, I visited there on a holiday with a life long friend in 2004, has left me incredibly nostalgic for that place, yet it's unlikely to be quite the same now. That shot of the garden city is very crisp, and you get the sense of bustle so well with the bus stop (I got on a double decker bus in HK through Kowloon- was eye popping the reckless way they drove but impressive as everyone just managed to move where needed).
That series gives me the sense of a film still capture, albeit I would hark to more modern films like 'Hereditary' and 'Midsommer' for the sensation the faceless but calm figure evokes. As you state, you had inspiration from films and other artists, which helps to stimulate the creative ideas. Maybe this lack of inspiration is actually a call to caution from your sub conscious to give yourself more 'me' time, although I appreciate how very hard that is to do when work is forefront in the mind.
I'm going to be posting a project series myself in the near future, I'd love some constructive feedback on it when I do, from you and the other members. It will be my first and some guidance for future will be invaluable.
.Those scenes from HK take me back, I visited there on a holiday with a life long friend in 2004, has left me incredibly nostalgic for that place, yet it's unlikely to be quite the same now. That shot of the garden city is very crisp, and you get the sense of bustle so well with the bus stop (I got on a double decker bus in HK through Kowloon- was eye popping the reckless way they drove but impressive as everyone just managed to move where needed).
That series gives me the sense of a film still capture, albeit I would hark to more modern films like 'Hereditary' and 'Midsommer' for the sensation the faceless but calm figure evokes. As you state, you had inspiration from films and other artists, which helps to stimulate the creative ideas. Maybe this lack of inspiration is actually a call to caution from your sub conscious to give yourself more 'me' time, although I appreciate how very hard that is to do when work is forefront in the mind.
I'm going to be posting a project series myself in the near future, I'd love some constructive feedback on it when I do, from you and the other members. It will be my first and some guidance for future will be invaluable.
Russ Butner
Well-Known Member
Some very nice images in that set
Wes Hall
Well-Known Member
Thanks Russ (apologies you're getting lots of replies across the threads!)
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