Turning her loose - and you too

Jim Mountford · May 13, 2003

Today, I turned my 9 year old loose at the duck pond and she came up with some memorable photos, here is a few.

She has absolutly no photographic experiance, other then a point and shoot camera she never uses and yet these are a representation of what she did today with my digital camera. Albeit with a little coaching from her dad, nevertheless, these were taken by her 100% with as little interfierance by myself as possible and with some minor cropping in PS in only a few of these images.

My point is, if she can take duck pics as good as this, and I suppose flowers, caged animals in zoos, ect, then why are you? It is true, one needs to learn the basics before they can take the next step, and duck pics and the like are simple to take as shown here, and of course feel good about, nevertheless, if my daughter can do it, then maybe its time to streatch your imagination and move on and turn yourself loose.

Peace,
Jim Mountford

See her gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/chelsea

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Toad · May 13, 2003

What delightful Duck shots!!! You must be very proud.

Jim Mountford · May 13, 2003

I talk to her about photography and what makes a good photo, she seems to have taken those talks, somewhat to heart. Being 9 years old, her attention span is somewhere between total and non existant. Although most of her photos are unprintable, but then again, so are most of mine.

Peace
Jim

Toad said:
What delightful Duck shots!!! You must be very proud.

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

RVB Pix · May 13, 2003

Looks like she'll be "moving on" soon.

Here's one my 13 year old son took.
Of course he wasn't aiming for such a shot, but I thought it was great.

I like the way it gives this dreamy cat napping atmosphere, although the colours aren't too dreamlike.

Jim Mountford · May 14, 2003

I kind of like it too. Sometimes an accidental shot can be just as interesting as a carefully composed one.

Peace
Jim

RVB Pix said:
Looks like she'll be "moving on" soon.

Here's one my 13 year old son took.
Of course he wasn't aiming for such a shot, but I thought it was
great.
I like the way it gives this dreamy cat napping atmosphere,
although the colours aren't too dreamlike.

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

stanabraham · May 14, 2003

Hi Jim,

We take those types of shots BECAUSE WE WANT TO. We don't do it TO PLEASE YOU. If you don't like it then don't look at them but please move on and stop trying to tell others what they should or should not do.

Peace to you.

Jim Mountford said:
My point is, if she can take duck pics as good as this, and I
suppose flowers, caged animals in zoos, ect, then why are you?

I get your point but your point does not apply to everybody. Can't you get that point?

--
Stan Abraham

Vlad_NYC · May 14, 2003

Jim,

I have two questions.
Did she select the pictures? Did she crop them?

What I want to say is:
A photographer (unlike an artist, for example) same time appears as a viewer.
And selecting is very important part of creative process.

I understand you - now is very difficult time for photographers. Everything became available for the masses. And they have rights to publish it and can do it instantly.

With digital cameras they can learn fast and produce good compositions (it's easy to pick up classic rules - 1/3, etc.)

And creative photography disappears in a noise. And nobody knows where is creative photography and where is noise.

Are there ways out? I'm sure, yes they are. May be an exit is same as an entrance. We can turn out drawbacks and problems to power and creation.
We shouldn't panic.

Photography has changed radically. I think now we have one more Muse on the Olympus.

Digital photography on the surface is similar film photography but it is different inside. Selecting became a very important part of creative process.
We have to understand it too.

--
Thank you,
Vlad Kovalev

Jim Mountford · May 14, 2003

When I get multiple emails from pbase as well as users here complaining about the same thing I am, and since I'm outspoken, maybe its time someone did get on the bandwagon and take this on.

As I said, its ok to take pics like that, and even to post them, but its posted far to often here and it is apparent that some here need to move on.

If my daughter can do it, and so on and so forth. I hate to put it this way, but that is a slap in the face of snap shooters of caged animals, birds at bird feeders, flowers and ducks. Its time for them to get over it, and if I step on a few feet in the process, I really don't care. As I told you before, I care about photography, and the above, is rarely good photography...........albeit, I have seen exceptions and I've noted them.

Peace
Jim

stanabraham said:
We take those types of shots BECAUSE WE WANT TO. We don't do it TO
PLEASE YOU. If you don't like it then don't look at them but please
move on and stop trying to tell others what they should or should
not do.

Peace to you.

Jim Mountford said:

My point is, if she can take duck pics as good as this, and I
suppose flowers, caged animals in zoos, ect, then why are you?

Click to expand...

I get your point but your point does not apply to everybody. Can't
you get that point?

--
Stan Abraham

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Jim Mountford · May 14, 2003

We selected them together. But that does not matter, what matters is, a person with an elementry understanding of cropping, composition and PS work could do exactly the same. Give her a few months, and she could do exactly what I did. That is, if it held her interest enough.

Artists and photography go hand in hand. Back in the 30's there were major disagreements between the art community and photographers. Now a good photographer is also considered an artist. And it takes a while to become a good photographer.

The reason I posted this, is because I see people stuck on the pretty pictures of caged animals in zoo's, ect, ect, ect and there is a whole world out there begging to be photographed that few photographers are doing.

Peace
Jim

Vlad_NYC said:
Jim,

I have two questions.
Did she select the pictures? Did she crop them?

What I want to say is:
A photographer (unlike an artist, for example) same time appears as
a viewer.
And selecting is very important part of creative process.

I understand you - now is very difficult time for photographers.
Everything became available for the masses. And they have rights to
publish it and can do it instantly.
With digital cameras they can learn fast and produce good
compositions (it's easy to pick up classic rules - 1/3, etc.)

And creative photography disappears in a noise. And nobody knows
where is creative photography and where is noise.

Are there ways out? I'm sure, yes they are. May be an exit is same
as an entrance. We can turn out drawbacks and problems to power and
creation.
We shouldn't panic.

Photography has changed radically. I think now we have one more
Muse on the Olympus.
Digital photography on the surface is similar film photography
but it is different inside. Selecting became a very important part
of creative process.
We have to understand it too.

--
Thank you,
Vlad Kovalev

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

kel3at · May 14, 2003

Children are always taken in the world around them. Everything is new and exciting. They see things different than adults. Maybe thats why they pick up photography so easy. Maybe we can learn from children.

Jim Mountford said:
Artists and photography go hand in hand. Back in the 30's there
were major disagreements between the art community and
photographers. Now a good photographer is also considered an
artist. And it takes a while to become a good photographer.

The reason I posted this, is because I see people stuck on the
pretty pictures of caged animals in zoo's, ect, ect, ect and there
is a whole world out there begging to be photographed that few
photographers are doing.

Peace
Jim

Vlad_NYC said:

Jim,

I have two questions.
Did she select the pictures? Did she crop them?

What I want to say is:
A photographer (unlike an artist, for example) same time appears as
a viewer.
And selecting is very important part of creative process.

I understand you - now is very difficult time for photographers.
Everything became available for the masses. And they have rights to
publish it and can do it instantly.
With digital cameras they can learn fast and produce good
compositions (it's easy to pick up classic rules - 1/3, etc.)

And creative photography disappears in a noise. And nobody knows
where is creative photography and where is noise.

Are there ways out? I'm sure, yes they are. May be an exit is same
as an entrance. We can turn out drawbacks and problems to power and
creation.
We shouldn't panic.

Photography has changed radically. I think now we have one more
Muse on the Olympus.
Digital photography on the surface is similar film photography
but it is different inside. Selecting became a very important part
of creative process.
We have to understand it too.

--
Thank you,
Vlad Kovalev

Click to expand...

--
I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more
junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always
worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Jim Mountford · May 14, 2003

that she wanted to take pictures of ducks because she likes them, not to take pretty pictures, but to take them for herself. She's a bit embarrased I even posted them here, but she also understands why I did, as I have had converstions of why some subjects are overdone, and some scream for a photographer.

Peace
Jim

PSknr said:
Jim Mountford said:

Artists and photography go hand in hand. Back in the 30's there
were major disagreements between the art community and
photographers. Now a good photographer is also considered an
artist. And it takes a while to become a good photographer.

The reason I posted this, is because I see people stuck on the
pretty pictures of caged animals in zoo's, ect, ect, ect and there
is a whole world out there begging to be photographed that few
photographers are doing.

Peace
Jim

Vlad_NYC said:

Jim,

I have two questions.
Did she select the pictures? Did she crop them?

What I want to say is:
A photographer (unlike an artist, for example) same time appears as
a viewer.
And selecting is very important part of creative process.

I understand you - now is very difficult time for photographers.
Everything became available for the masses. And they have rights to
publish it and can do it instantly.
With digital cameras they can learn fast and produce good
compositions (it's easy to pick up classic rules - 1/3, etc.)

And creative photography disappears in a noise. And nobody knows
where is creative photography and where is noise.

Are there ways out? I'm sure, yes they are. May be an exit is same
as an entrance. We can turn out drawbacks and problems to power and
creation.
We shouldn't panic.

Photography has changed radically. I think now we have one more
Muse on the Olympus.
Digital photography on the surface is similar film photography
but it is different inside. Selecting became a very important part
of creative process.
We have to understand it too.

--
Thank you,
Vlad Kovalev

Click to expand...

--
I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more
junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always
worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Click to expand...

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Paul Larson · May 14, 2003

Jim Mountford said:
Today, I turned my 9 year old loose at the duck pond and she came
up with some memorable photos, here is a few.

She has absolutly no photographic experiance, other then a point
and shoot camera she never uses and yet these are a representation
of what she did today with my digital camera. Albeit with a little
coaching from her dad, nevertheless, these were taken by her 100%
with as little interfierance by myself as possible and with some
minor cropping in PS in only a few of these images.

My point is, if she can take duck pics as good as this, and I
suppose flowers, caged animals in zoos, ect, then why are you? It
is true, one needs to learn the basics before they can take the
next step, and duck pics and the like are simple to take as shown
here, and of course feel good about, nevertheless, if my daughter
can do it, then maybe its time to streatch your imagination and
move on and turn yourself loose.

Peace,
Jim Mountford

See her gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/chelsea

--
I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more
junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always
worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

--
Paul

Todd B. · May 14, 2003

Jim,

I have to echo what Stan wrote. Believe it or not sometimes I just like to look at the pictures that other people take. I don't need to critique them or anything like that. I just get to look at them. I like animals and other people like animals. I see nothing wrong with someone taking a picture of an animal in a zoo. Heck, it may an animal I never get to see but I get to see it here. I haven't seen people trying to pass these off as animals out in the wild. I would have a problem with that.

I have said this before and I will say it again. This is a forum open to everyone to show their pictures. Your level of expertise or lack of doesn't matter or shouldn't matter. Those that want more will seek more. It's not up to you or anyone else to tell someone how they should take pictures or what subjects they should take pictures of. They shouldn't have to worry about posting a picture of a flower and have old Jim come and dog them out for another flower shot. If they want help or advice they will ask. Basically you are trying to censor what people photograph and that is the worst thing you can do. You are good at what you do and you take your work very seriously. Not everyone else is like that so let them be or rather LET IT GO! You have your supporters I know but some of us are just tired of reading this over and over again.

"All we are saying is give Peace a chance"

Todd

stanabraham said:
We take those types of shots BECAUSE WE WANT TO. We don't do it TO
PLEASE YOU. If you don't like it then don't look at them but please
move on and stop trying to tell others what they should or should
not do.

Peace to you.

Jim Mountford said:

My point is, if she can take duck pics as good as this, and I
suppose flowers, caged animals in zoos, ect, then why are you?

Click to expand...

I get your point but your point does not apply to everybody. Can't
you get that point?

--
Stan Abraham

Todd B. · May 14, 2003

On a different note from my reply below. Your daughter did a good job. I think it's great to have a dad that is involved with his daughter and shares his passion with her. More dads need to do this.

Todd

Knum · May 14, 2003

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. "

Seems to apply here.

Drew
-----------------------------------------------------------
Panasonic FZ1, Canon S30, Olympus C-700
http://www.pbase.com/knum/

Jim Mountford · May 14, 2003

Rarely do I comment on photo's I don't like here, unless someone asks. It is an overall observation of what I see here far too often.

As far as animals in zoos, while I understand the value of them, from social to understanding our animals in this world, I find zoos very depressing and very sad. Also, in retrospect, I don't think a magazine like National Geographic would be caught dead with photographs of animals in zoos, other then if its an article about them.

I suppose I have supporters, but I'm not here to get support, I'm really enjoying getting some very talented people to come out of their self impossed cocoon.

Peace
Jim

Todd B. said:
I have to echo what Stan wrote. Believe it or not sometimes I just
like to look at the pictures that other people take. I don't need
to critique them or anything like that. I just get to look at
them. I like animals and other people like animals. I see nothing
wrong with someone taking a picture of an animal in a zoo. Heck,
it may an animal I never get to see but I get to see it here. I
haven't seen people trying to pass these off as animals out in the
wild. I would have a problem with that.

I have said this before and I will say it again. This is a forum
open to everyone to show their pictures. Your level of expertise
or lack of doesn't matter or shouldn't matter. Those that want
more will seek more. It's not up to you or anyone else to tell
someone how they should take pictures or what subjects they should
take pictures of. They shouldn't have to worry about posting a
picture of a flower and have old Jim come and dog them out for
another flower shot. If they want help or advice they will ask.
Basically you are trying to censor what people photograph and that
is the worst thing you can do. You are good at what you do and
you take your work very seriously. Not everyone else is like that
so let them be or rather LET IT GO! You have your supporters I
know but some of us are just tired of reading this over and over
again.

"All we are saying is give Peace a chance"

Todd

stanabraham said:

We take those types of shots BECAUSE WE WANT TO. We don't do it TO
PLEASE YOU. If you don't like it then don't look at them but please
move on and stop trying to tell others what they should or should
not do.

Peace to you.

Jim Mountford said:

My point is, if she can take duck pics as good as this, and I
suppose flowers, caged animals in zoos, ect, then why are you?

Click to expand...

I get your point but your point does not apply to everybody. Can't
you get that point?

--
Stan Abraham

Click to expand...

--

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Jim Mountford · May 14, 2003

Todd,

More parents need to do that, mothers and fathers. Its that dads get the bum rap because of some bad apples out there and bad assumptions.

Thanks

Peace
Jim

Todd B. said:
On a different note from my reply below. Your daughter did a good
job. I think it's great to have a dad that is involved with his
daughter and shares his passion with her. More dads need to do
this.

Todd

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Barry L · May 15, 2003

The reason you posted this is because this forum gives you, yet, another opportunity to preach; something you obviously and appropriately aren't afforded in your face to face, belly to belly relationships in the real world.

Jim Mountford wrote:
(snip)

Jim Mountford said:
The reason I posted this, is because I see people stuck on the
pretty pictures of caged animals in zoo's, ect, ect, ect and there
is a whole world out there begging to be photographed that few
photographers are doing.

Peace
Jim

Vlad_NYC said:

Jim,

I have two questions.
Did she select the pictures? Did she crop them?

What I want to say is:
A photographer (unlike an artist, for example) same time appears as
a viewer.
And selecting is very important part of creative process.

I understand you - now is very difficult time for photographers.
Everything became available for the masses. And they have rights to
publish it and can do it instantly.
With digital cameras they can learn fast and produce good
compositions (it's easy to pick up classic rules - 1/3, etc.)

And creative photography disappears in a noise. And nobody knows
where is creative photography and where is noise.

Are there ways out? I'm sure, yes they are. May be an exit is same
as an entrance. We can turn out drawbacks and problems to power and
creation.
We shouldn't panic.

Photography has changed radically. I think now we have one more
Muse on the Olympus.
Digital photography on the surface is similar film photography
but it is different inside. Selecting became a very important part
of creative process.
We have to understand it too.

--
Thank you,
Vlad Kovalev

Click to expand...

--
I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more
junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always
worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Paul Larson · May 15, 2003

Barry L said:
The reason you posted this is because this forum gives you, yet,
another opportunity to preach; something you obviously and
appropriately aren't afforded in your face to face, belly to belly
relationships in the real world.

If it smells like dog S*#@
It in all probability is dog S%$@

Woof

Jim Mountford · May 15, 2003

Barry,

I would say exactly the same thing if someone asked me an opinion of their work, or I was teaching a class and in that case, I'd do it with newbies to pro's.

Peace
Jim

Barry L said:
Jim Mountford wrote:
(snip)

Barry L said:

The reason I posted this, is because I see people stuck on the
pretty pictures of caged animals in zoo's, ect, ect, ect and there
is a whole world out there begging to be photographed that few
photographers are doing.

Peace
Jim

Vlad_NYC said:

Jim,

I have two questions.
Did she select the pictures? Did she crop them?

What I want to say is:
A photographer (unlike an artist, for example) same time appears as
a viewer.
And selecting is very important part of creative process.

I understand you - now is very difficult time for photographers.
Everything became available for the masses. And they have rights to
publish it and can do it instantly.
With digital cameras they can learn fast and produce good
compositions (it's easy to pick up classic rules - 1/3, etc.)

And creative photography disappears in a noise. And nobody knows
where is creative photography and where is noise.

Are there ways out? I'm sure, yes they are. May be an exit is same
as an entrance. We can turn out drawbacks and problems to power and
creation.
We shouldn't panic.

Photography has changed radically. I think now we have one more
Muse on the Olympus.
Digital photography on the surface is similar film photography
but it is different inside. Selecting became a very important part
of creative process.
We have to understand it too.

--
Thank you,
Vlad Kovalev

Click to expand...

--
I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more
junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always
worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Click to expand...

--

I believe in the KISS principle, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' The more junk you carry, the less effective you'll be because you're always worried about the mechanics, instead of focusing on the subject.
See my gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/sailingjim/galleries

Turning her loose - and you too

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