Just for fun, what are the 'cliche' shots
24,203 posts
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 10:59
I think we need to be very careful not to fall into the Camera Club Judge Trap (not all are guilty) of being jaded from seeing too many photos of the same subjects. "This has all been done before" is not an argument in my book, because it could well be the first time a particular photographer has seen that subject. The real challenge is to look at it and decide has it been well done in itself, as if we are looking at it for the very first time too.
We are all surrounded by the same subject matter, so it's the individual way of seeing that will set our images apart. Keep going back time and again to the same place, dig deeper every time, really explore the subject matter. Learn to see. All very difficult for most of us and something to work on.
If you want to take one of the things suggested as a cliché, why not have an impromptu competition and we can prove to each other that we can see these things anew and that the cliché problem could be as much in the jaded eyes of the viewer as in the inspiration or not of the photographer?
Best regards, John
We are all surrounded by the same subject matter, so it's the individual way of seeing that will set our images apart. Keep going back time and again to the same place, dig deeper every time, really explore the subject matter. Learn to see. All very difficult for most of us and something to work on.
If you want to take one of the things suggested as a cliché, why not have an impromptu competition and we can prove to each other that we can see these things anew and that the cliché problem could be as much in the jaded eyes of the viewer as in the inspiration or not of the photographer?
Best regards, John
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 11:33
Here's my cliche: A child laughing, caught in an unselfconscious moment of joy.
I've seen millions of shots like that... so it must be a cliche. Right?
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
I've seen millions of shots like that... so it must be a cliche. Right?
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 12:03
Me personally, I think all Big stopper filters need to be banned, unless taking pictures of the sun.
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 12:29
newborn baby in a topless dad's hand in black and white of course with added contrast....
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Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released
PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography
Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 12:30
family shots by V*****e
David
David
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 12:33
If they like those milk pond effects (which personally do nothing for me at all) that is great. It is their photo, and their interpretation of the subject before them.
I take more than my fair share of clichéd photos, my hard drive is full of them - of grandchildren, dogs, or when travelling places like the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Oregon coastline, the British and Dutch landscape, all done by millions before and after me, clichés every one.
I take more than my fair share of clichéd photos, my hard drive is full of them - of grandchildren, dogs, or when travelling places like the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Oregon coastline, the British and Dutch landscape, all done by millions before and after me, clichés every one.
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 13:29
Personally, I think the problem isn't that the shots in themselves are clichés.
It's that in addition, mostly they're not done very well (especially my own, but that's why I don't post very many).
It's much easier to criticise (as opposed to critique) a shot for being a cliché than it is to figure out what's wrong with it.
I don't see much criticism when the shot is actually excellent, even if it is a cliché. Which IMO, it often isn't. Who among us looks at beautiful scenery and thinks "I hate that, I've seen nice views before"?
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Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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It's that in addition, mostly they're not done very well (especially my own, but that's why I don't post very many).
It's much easier to criticise (as opposed to critique) a shot for being a cliché than it is to figure out what's wrong with it.
I don't see much criticism when the shot is actually excellent, even if it is a cliché. Which IMO, it often isn't. Who among us looks at beautiful scenery and thinks "I hate that, I've seen nice views before"?
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Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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Last Edited by ChrisA on 05/02/2014 - 13:31
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 13:36
Mountains, trees, birds, plants, animals, the sea, buildings, people...
Oh. That's just about everything...
Completely agree with John's post above.
For me, it's all about taking pictures which move you, the person taking them. Not much you can do about it if other people don't agree, or see in them something they feel they've seen before...
Best
Bill
BillWardPhotography
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Oh. That's just about everything...
Completely agree with John's post above.
johnriley wrote:
I think we need to be very careful not to fall into the Camera Club Judge Trap (not all are guilty) of being jaded from seeing too many photos of the same subjects. "This has all been done before" is not an argument in my book, because it could well be the first time a particular photographer has seen that subject. The real challenge is to look at it and decide has it been well done in itself, as if we are looking at it for the very first time too.
We are all surrounded by the same subject matter, so it's the individual way of seeing that will set our images apart. Keep going back time and again to the same place, dig deeper every time, really explore the subject matter. Learn to see. All very difficult for most of us and something to work on.
I think we need to be very careful not to fall into the Camera Club Judge Trap (not all are guilty) of being jaded from seeing too many photos of the same subjects. "This has all been done before" is not an argument in my book, because it could well be the first time a particular photographer has seen that subject. The real challenge is to look at it and decide has it been well done in itself, as if we are looking at it for the very first time too.
We are all surrounded by the same subject matter, so it's the individual way of seeing that will set our images apart. Keep going back time and again to the same place, dig deeper every time, really explore the subject matter. Learn to see. All very difficult for most of us and something to work on.
For me, it's all about taking pictures which move you, the person taking them. Not much you can do about it if other people don't agree, or see in them something they feel they've seen before...
Best
Bill
BillWardPhotography
Last Edited by thingsthatihaveseen on 05/02/2014 - 13:40
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 13:54
Cliches only become cliches because they were a good idea in the first place
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Last Edited by gartmore on 05/02/2014 - 13:54
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 16:18
johnriley wrote:
I think we need to be very careful not to fall into the Camera Club Judge Trap (not all are guilty) of being jaded from seeing too many photos of the same subjects. "This has all been done before" is not an argument in my book, because it could well be the first time a particular photographer has seen that subject. The real challenge is to look at it and decide has it been well done in itself, as if we are looking at it for the very first time too.
We are all surrounded by the same subject matter, so it's the individual way of seeing that will set our images apart. Keep going back time and again to the same place, dig deeper every time, really explore the subject matter. Learn to see. All very difficult for most of us and something to work on.
If you want to take one of the things suggested as a cliché, why not have an impromptu competition and we can prove to each other that we can see these things anew and that the cliché problem could be as much in the jaded eyes of the viewer as in the inspiration or not of the photographer?
I think we need to be very careful not to fall into the Camera Club Judge Trap (not all are guilty) of being jaded from seeing too many photos of the same subjects. "This has all been done before" is not an argument in my book, because it could well be the first time a particular photographer has seen that subject. The real challenge is to look at it and decide has it been well done in itself, as if we are looking at it for the very first time too.
We are all surrounded by the same subject matter, so it's the individual way of seeing that will set our images apart. Keep going back time and again to the same place, dig deeper every time, really explore the subject matter. Learn to see. All very difficult for most of us and something to work on.
If you want to take one of the things suggested as a cliché, why not have an impromptu competition and we can prove to each other that we can see these things anew and that the cliché problem could be as much in the jaded eyes of the viewer as in the inspiration or not of the photographer?
Indeed, and maybe that's becuase as Chris says ...
ChrisA wrote:
It's that in addition, mostly they're not done very well
It's that in addition, mostly they're not done very well
... but then that can mean that even when a superb example comes along you're already jaded to the subject matter by the squillions of mediocre versions.
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 16:32
Horseshoe bend in the Grand Canyon - what a clichés absolutely terrible, so overdone and boring, seen it on so many walls.
Wow I'd love to photo that Horseshoe bend in the Grand Canyon, it looks absolutely amazing, incredible!
So, um, there you go.........
Pentax pour des images riches en détails!
Wow I'd love to photo that Horseshoe bend in the Grand Canyon, it looks absolutely amazing, incredible!
So, um, there you go.........
Pentax pour des images riches en détails!
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 16:50
And when you do, it will be your horseshoe bend, nobody else's.
Best regards, John
Best regards, John
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Posted 05/02/2014 - 17:26
Smeggypants wrote:
... but then that can mean that even when a superb example comes along I'm already jaded to the subject matter by the squillions of mediocre versions.
... but then that can mean that even when a superb example comes along I'm already jaded to the subject matter by the squillions of mediocre versions.
FTFY - speak for yourself, you're the one moaning about clichés
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Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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RalphHardwick
Member
Norfolk, UK
- Milky waterfalls
- single tree in a field
- mirror flat seas with groynes
So, assuming you want to be 'original and 'creative' and 'stand out from the crowd' it follows that you should avoid the cliches.
I thought it would be fun to list all the so called 'done to death' images so we could then try and create a list of the things that you CAN actually take a picture of.
My started for ten is "Black and White homeless person in a doorway"
I shall now add numerous smilies to emphasise the fact that I am not being serious and not attacking any individuals style of photography
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