Frame of mind and photography

I propped my subject on the table, set my lights, picked my point of view, took a reading and shot away. But was I missing something? I didn't sit there and say, "oh I want this image to portray... blah, blah, blah" or "this pic will make people feel... whatever!" My questions is?

Do you shoot with a particular feeling in mind?


Jerry Uelsmann shot his famous calendar black and white montages with the understanding that people generally have a different mindsets when they view a photograph. Your vision may be completely different than your best friend, and when you are upset about something, your view may be different than when you were happy a few hours before. So why shoot with a particular "feeling" in mind? The prospect art buyer or viewer will not have your same viewpoint, so why bother shooting with your "feelings" in mind, and wait to see what the public's reaction will be. Feed off of that.

The image below could be see as "life beginnings", it could be seen as "evolution", but to some... it could just be a flower in an egg, surrounded by other eggs creating a dynamic sense of form and light.



So how do you shoot? And do you agree that it doesn't matter how you feel before you create. Or do you actually need a feeling in mind to be able to create the image for others to portray as something completely
different than the original approach?
A tangled web I weave.
--
-Joe Helm
http://www.jhelmphotography.com
Photography and Custom Backdrops

So how do you shoot? And do you agree that it doesn't matter how you feel before you create. Or do you actually need a feeling in mind to be able to create the image for others to portray as something completely
different than the original approach?
A tangled web I weave.
--
-Joe Helm
http://www.jhelmphotography.com
Photography and Custom Backdrops

I have no pre-feeling when going out to shoot, whether for work or for fun. I see something, I think "cool" and then I shoot. Very simple. And afterwards I don't analyze images for deeper meaning either. The shot either works or doesn't work. I like it or don't. Simple approach!

I do a fair bit of both I think.... sometimes with a concept in mind, sometimes just to make a pretty picture....

I tend to be more proud of the concept photos. I suppose because I have seen the photo before hand in my head and then made it happen..... but the funny thing about them is that people either get them (and like the photo), or completely miss the point entirely.

Sometimes it works the other way... I have had photos where people said I was invoking this and that and commenting on all sorts of things and I am thinking "no - it is just a picture of a pretty sunset through a tree...."


Either way - if the photo is for you and you are pleased with the result.... who is anyone else to judge?...

Mykl

[richardmt68]

Interesting question. When I first got into photography a few years ago, my shots were horrible, but I didnt care because I was having fun.

After a while I wanted to do quality photos, so I began looking at other peoples photos and tried to emulate them. I found that trying to use other peoples ideas did not work well at all for me.

Next I tried 'jazzing' up my photos in a seemingly futile attempt to get other people to like them. In that, I went to far I think. I came up with some wild stuff that was not only ugly to me, but to anybody else that looked at them. It hit me finally to stop trying to shoot with themes in mind, or trying to figure out what anybody else wanted to see or trying to make people read messages into my photos. I simply decided to have fun, and if I liked it, then I was happy. I dont take pics with the purpose of trying to get people to feel certain emotions. I they do, fine. If not, thats fine too. I guess its like a golfer on the course, if they think and over analyze a shot to much, they run the risk of screwing it up. Same with my pics, when I think to hard I tend to over do it. I see what I like and shoot without doubting myself. If it works, great....if not, there is always tomorrow.

I suppose the point I am trying to get across in my long-winded way is that the only mindset I need is the feeling that "hey, I feel like taking some pictures". After that, I dont care what I shoot. I may take pics of the dog, trees, family, or whatever. I dont do it with much purpose in mind other than thinking "hey, bet that shot would look good". If I am not in the mood to shoot, I dont, because no matter what I do or try, I will not put any effort into it and seem to have no eye for choosing my shots.

Ok, blabber mode off