photo active sense of place

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PROFESSIONAL
It's just a shadow, a silhouette, but that shape of the gondola and gondolier conjures up an immediate sense of place in the mind of the person looking at the photograph. Of course, it could only be Venice. Yes, it could be said that the picture borders on the cliché, but the fact is that a photographer would be remiss if he or she went to Venice and came back without a picture of gondoliers and gondolas: the amateur because he will find them visually interesting and a prominent part of the scene, and the professional because he is bound to be asked for a such a picture when he produces the work for his client.

OBVIOUS
In this case, the photograph has sold many times to a whole variety of newspapers and magazines. Why? The answer is simple - it is a timeless image that has 'Venice' written all over it. The image may be well executed, but its message is not subtle - it is obvious, and there's nothing wrong with that if you wish to sell your work. You can get as clever and 'arty' as you like, but when a picture editor asks for an image that sums up Venice at a glance - it is the obvious picture that will get published every time.

The professional must adapt this approach intelligently as he or she moves around. It could be, for instance, that the work worn hands of a trawlerman mending fishing nets might say more about a small fishing village than a view of the harbour itself. But don't get caught out, take a shot of the harbour as well as a close-up of the hands if you are being paid for the job.

DISPASSIONATE
Whatever you do, DO NOT BE OVERAWED BY THE SCENE IN FRONT OF YOU. If you allow this to happen you will fail to see unsightly elements that may also be in the viewfinder. Learn be be dispassionate and objective about the things you see; consider carefully how best to record them on film, and how to avoid any unsightly elements by adjusting your position. If you are visiting a new place, research it first at home to give you an idea of what to expect and how best to use your precious time when you get there.

A sense of place is one of the subjects covered during a Photo Active workshop.

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PROFESSIONAL It's just a shadow, a silhouette, but that shape of the gondola and gondolier conjures up an immediate sense of place in the mind of the person looking at the photograph. Of course, it could only be Venice. Yes, it could be said that the picture borders on the cliché, but the fact is that a photographer would be remiss if he or she went to Venice and came back without a picture of gondoliers and gondolas: the amateur because he will find them visually interesting and a prominent part of the scene, and the professional because he is bound to be asked for a such a picture when he produces the work for his client. OBVIOUS In this case, the photograph has sold many times to a whole variety of newspapers and magazines. Why? The answer is simple - it is a timeless image that has 'Venice' written all over it. The image may be well executed, but its message is not subtle - it is obvious, and there's nothing wrong with that if you wish to sell your work. You can get as clever and 'arty' as you like, but when a picture editor asks for an image that sums up Venice at a glance - it is the obvious picture that will get published every time. The professional must adapt this approach intelligently as he or she moves around. It could be, for instance, that the work worn hands of a trawlerman mending fishing nets might say more about a small fishing village than a view of the harbour itself. But don't get caught out, take a shot of the harbour as well as a close-up of the hands if you are being paid for the job. DISPASSIONATE Whatever you do, DO NOT BE OVERAWED BY THE SCENE IN FRONT OF YOU. If you allow this to happen you will fail to see unsightly elements that may also be in the viewfinder. Learn be be dispassionate and objective about the things you see; consider carefully how best to record them on film, and how to avoid any unsightly elements by adjusting your position. If you are visiting a new place, research it first at home to give you an idea of what to expect and how best to use your precious time when you get there. A sense of place is one of the subjects covered during a Photo Active workshop.



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