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ZEN or ZONE?


13 years 3 months ago #21020 by harris50
Question: Zen or Zone? We all call ourselves photographers, but how about our individual approaches to photography. Are you students? Old hands? Do you follow the strick tenents and rules? Fly the the seat of your pants? Or are you a happy hybrid of any or all of it?

Input, please.
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13 years 3 months ago #21026 by Solstar
I make it up as I go along, probably more often than I should. Sometimes I have an idea in my head that I just have to get out, but more often than not I just look at something and an imaginary rectangle forms around it. I guess this is why I am so impressed by quality studio work since it is so meticulous.
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13 years 3 months ago #21049 by Baydream
I have been taking pictures for MANY years. In the past two years I have learned to capture images. Through photo clubs, online study and experimentation, I have steadily improved myself. I try a bit of everything from nature to children to sports. By getting REAL critiques from pros, I have learned to focus (pun intended) on composition, lighting and details like catchlight in eyes. What a great ride.
Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork
Photo Comments
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13 years 3 months ago #21111 by photobod
When in the studio its a pretty meticulous enviroment, so I follow some rules but often try to break some to see what may happen, when I am doing a wedding as soon as the formals are done, if requested, I always fly by the seat of my pants its so much more fun, so guess I am a hybrid. :goodpost: :banana: :banana: :banana:
www.dcimages.org.uk
"A good photograph is one that communicate a fact, touches the heart, leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective." - Irving Penn
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13 years 3 months ago #21247 by crystal
I don't follow rules in life, why would I follow rules in photography. :rofl:
I've been taking pictures for years, but I am always learning. When I stop learning, is when I stop trying to improve my skill.
I'm just having fun.
www.crystalwightman.com
My Facebook.. www.facebook.com/cwightmanphotography
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13 years 3 months ago #21248 by crystal

Baydream wrote: By getting REAL critiques from pros, I have learned to focus (pun intended) on composition, lighting and details like catchlight in eyes. What a great ride.


I have also got real critiques from pros. I have to say, it meant alot to me from what they had to say. Especially when the photo was perfect and no need to improve. It really made me feel good to know..hey, I'm doing something right. lol
www.crystalwightman.com
My Facebook.. www.facebook.com/cwightmanphotography
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13 years 2 months ago #30544 by brandon
Me, I use the Zone System. I have ever since I finally got it a few years ago after reading The Negative my Ansel Adams. No one else could quite explain it in a way I could grasp. But I finally understood it through Adams, though he's not necessarily an easy read.
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13 years 2 months ago #30557 by Baydream
I apply the "rules" as they fit the subject matter but it is the sixth sense that draws you to the "perfect shot". Maybe its a different angle, an underexposed face, a "dead center" shot that just "works".
If everyone followed all the rules, everyone's photo would look the same.
Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork
Photo Comments
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13 years 2 months ago #30729 by LL Jazz
How about the zenny zone. :rofl:
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13 years 2 months ago #30782 by johnm
Both, for me. My priority was always maximum flexibility. I seldom knew exactly what the next day would bring: what or where or how much I was going to be shooting. i'd load my cameras - a Rolleiflex, a 35 mm or whatever I was using that then - expose for anywhere from ISO 200 to 1600 on a shot-by-shot basis and then use a compensating developer like Diafine to take care of the slop.
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13 years 2 months ago #30783 by brandon
The more I learn over the years, the more new ideas open up and the learning process continues. Technology advances at such a rapid rate that there are always new aspects of equipment and developing processes to explore. The artistic side, itself, offers unlimited possibiliies and discussions and questions and, in my opinion, is more important than the ins and outs of camera and equipment advancements.
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13 years 2 months ago #30784 by Scotty
Hybrid.
When the last candle has been blown out
and the last glass of champagne has been drunk
All that you are left with are the memories and the images-David Cooke.
Photo Comments
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13 years 2 months ago #30786 by NormC
Either / or / both. I've read Ansel Adams and Henry Horenstien's B&W photography books and think that the zone system works very well for B&W work. Lighting needs to be controlled very closely there. Other times, I'd just "go with the flow" so to speak, especially in my color work. I think color is much more foregiving than good B&W.

Bottom line, for me, is personal testing and experimentation. I've seen so many examples of what's great in Photograph A doesn't work in Photograph B. Sometimes following the rules is necessary, but sometimes you can shoot against all common wisdom and come up with that one photo in a million. That's what keeps me going out with my camera year after year.
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13 years 2 months ago #30789 by Yasko
Any successful photography is a marriage of Zone and Zen. The Zonish rules of composition, technique, and camera proficiency allow you to record your Zenish vision for posterity.

So we're all Zony Zenners...
or Zenny Zoners

:thumbsup:
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13 years 2 months ago #30802 by Joves
Well I have always seen the rules as the teacher. Then there is a point you twist, bend and break them. I especially break them now more so because of digital. I did my share in my film days but then you had to wait to see if they worked or not, now you can see wether or not it does instantly. And the best part is it costs pretty much nothing but time.
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