The perils of choice
by Mark ~ December 2nd, 2009. Filed under: composition, creativity, landscape, nature photography.
Life everywhere
I was thinking about how sometimes when I go into the woods I develop the photographers’ version of writer’s block. When there isn’t specific wildlife in front of you, or some grand scenic, when you simply have a wooded forest, it can be difficult to concentrate on one particular composition. There is actually abundant subject matter here. Life is everywhere. New compositions by the inch. If you bring an arsenal of lenses, it somewhat compounds the issue in that you also have a variety of lenses to approach any particular subject with. There are any number of ways to photograph almost everything in sight. It is like having a 8 foot long dessert table in front of you – it’s all good, but you can only eat so much. If you don’t have any particular craving, sometimes it can be crippling to have so much variety.
Generally if I find myself in this state, I just pick a lens and start photographing something – anything. It helps get my brain seeing and thinking about compositions. Gradually after snacking on this or that, I start narrowing down what I am interested in. I will settle on something that tastes just right. Some people will just go out with one lens, or to solely photograph sticks – just to limit the amount of choices available. What are some techniques you use to limit the perils of choice?
December 3rd, 2009 at
First off, I just love that image, Mark. The rich, deep greens are magnificent and the background through the trees is quite fascinating.
While I have an arsenal of lenses, I often become a single lens man. I will decide that today I want to shoot with the 24-70 or 70-200 or go macro or slap on the Lensbaby and maybe use the IR-converted camera. Then I look for comps that seem to work with that lens. Many times, I do not change the lens for the entire session. I don’t know that that is a good thing in the long run but it is what I find myself doing maybe half the time.
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December 3rd, 2009 at
I have downsized all my equipment over the past few years, eliminating the biggies and carrying the smaller stuff. I’ve made this choice do the amount of travel I do and because my back just ain’t as strong. Now when I travel for work I carry one lens, 35mm f1.8 on a APS sized DSLR. I also enjoy selecting one lens on walks into the local parks. It’s less to carry and frees me up to move around easier. Also importantly, I have less stuff to lose by laying it down and walking off. I zoom with my feet when carrying a small prime, play with the DOF and focus on images within that view finder. We do become more creative! Great post, Mark.
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December 3rd, 2009 at
I usually have only one or two lens with me when I go out for a general photography walk. While I do have certain favorite lens for these journey’s I’ll sometimes pick a lens I don’t use as often because I believe I discover more if I push myself outside my comfort zone. When viewing results I often wonder why I haven’t use this lens more often.
Mark, love the photo and your post-processing of it.
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December 3rd, 2009 at
Based on that shot, your approach works
I do somewhat the same thing, but I also carry limited gear, especially when I’m backpacking. For the dSLR, I carry a wide angle, a 105mm macro, and a teleconverter, plus my 4×5 and 3 lenses (naturally, those are all primes). It seems to work for me, and using primes makes me move around a lot; I have to be very careful about where I place the tripod to get the shot I want, since I can’t zoom in once I’ve set things up, for example.
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December 4th, 2009 at
Really love that image, Mark! such wonderful green tones and textures of the moss and trees. Great analogy as well! its funny how I could be in the same place on different days and sometimes feel that there’s something interesting anywhere I point my lens, and sometimes feel that I just can’t locate a reasonable composition of anything. But in either situation, I agree with your philosophy of just start clicking away, and soon enough you’ll find what you want.
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December 5th, 2009 at
Mark: I constrain myself to one lens with on options. I leave the car taking only the camera and selected lens. Then, I set about ‘working the dessert table’.
Like you, I just shoot here and there for a while until something captures my eye or piques my interests. Like Earl, I’ll grab a lens that I’ve not used in a really long while and just give it ago. Sometimes it actually works and I get that same feeling: Now, why haven’t I been using you before?
My favorite single lens though is the Tamron 90mm macro. It’s got a pretty narrow field of view; however, I like how close it can focus, down to 1:1, and that can make for some very interesting photographs.
Lastly, that’s a very beautiful and haunting image. It looks like a medieval forest that might be full of enchanting, or perhaps enchanted, things.
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December 5th, 2009 at
Thanks follks. I only wish I had more time to explore this area, and in particularly when it wasn’t blowing wind and rain where everything near the forest floor was blowing like crazy.
I definitely need to try more of these single lens outings.
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December 8th, 2009 at
I am quite opposite in my approach. I would rather have more equipment with me than less. One of my favorite lenses is Canon’s 28-300mm L because it gives me more options not less. I want long telephoto, wide angle and macro with me at all times (can’t always do it though). I don’t make visual choices based on an equipment limitation but by looking immediately for the most exciting light, color or geometry. If I feel overwhelmed, I just stop where I’m at and start making images. The first ones are usually not my best work, but it at least gets me started “sketching” so that I can begin to react more calmly. There is no right way to go, but this seems to work for me.
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December 10th, 2009 at
When I go for a photowalk, I almost never have more than one lens. I can’t manage to tote more than that comfortably and hate changing lenses outside. Occasionally, I fuss at myself about the limitation, but always end up being grateful for the structure imposed by that so-called limitation.
I agree with Paul that the forsest appears medieval. The textures are beautifully rendered.
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December 13th, 2009 at
I almost always go out with one lens, and if I can’t figure out what to shoot exactly, I start looking down. Getting low and on the ground (and sometimes looking up from that level) helps me to see things that I wouldn’t pay attention to otherwise. I find that focusing my attention in this way is always rewarded with good images.
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