For all photogs, at the bequest of Antoni...?

Question

Everyone has a favorite shot, not just because it turned out great, but because it took an inordinate amount of work to get, or maybe it was just plain luck. Irregardless, it sticks out in your mind.

How did you get your favorite shot?? Luck, skill, tenacity??

Answer 1

You know, I'm not sure I HAVE a favorite shot. Looking back over my adult life, I've been shooting "seriously" for almost 40 years. My volume can't match yours, but there are thousands of shots to consider. Also, I virtually always took pictures because I wanted to and not because I was sent on an assignment. Even at family functions, if I wasn't in the mood, I just left my camera home. I am sure that for most of you, it will be different. When you do this all day every day for a living, your whole approach is different from mine. Trust me. I can relate this to my practice of dentistry more than you know. All three factors come into play there in ways that would be too boring to discuss. "You win some, you lose some." Well, if I "lose" one, I get the chance to improve it by doing it over. (haha)

Asking what my favorite shot is would be about the same as asking what my favorite song is. Ask me today and I'll readily give you an answer, but in the same breath I will name 2 or 3 close contenders. Ask me tomorrow, and you'll get 2 or 3 different songs.

There are some that come to mind, though, and land on the short list of my personal favorites. You know what? I'd say that all three factors were important in each one.

First, you have to have some degree of luck to happen upon a scene that is worth photographing. One of my favorites that has been catagorized as a "TopTen" shot is a brilliant sunset. I forget the year right off, but it was about 1970. I was driving out to my girlfriend's house, which was about 4 miles from home. I don't remember what we had planned, but I told her that I had to go back home to get my camera so I could take a picture of the sunset. If I had left home 15 minutes earlier, I would not have seen the sunset developing the way it was. If I had left home 15 minutes later, I would have missed the whole show.

Secondly, having some degree of skill really increases the odds that the shot of a lifetime will translate the way you wanted it to. I thought of that sunset shot first, so I'll act as if it's my favorite. As always, I was loaded with transparency film - probably consumer grade Ektachrome 64. (I had not discovered EPR yet.) Still, a stop or two will make or break an image. I never used filters (other than occasionally using a polarizer) so this is the scene as it presented. I admit that this one is pretty easy to meter, but let's say there was at least some skill involved. Most of my other favorite shots can be described similarly. I had to be lucky to arrive on the scene when I did and I had to have my "photographer's eye" (since this is for Antoni) with me or I would not have had the skill to convert what I saw into a picture in the first place. Knowing what CAN be accomplished makes you view a scene or subject through "skilled eyes" in a way that a lack of skill would not allow.

Tenacity is rarely a factor for me, as I don't do this for a living. If I don't get what I want, I move on. This was especially true in my pre-digital days. If I was shooting penny-a-shot Plus-X, I could go out the next day and try again, but there was usually a week or so lag between the time I took a picture and the time I saw the result on film. There just wasn't opportunity to go back and fix it. In the studio or on assignment, you guys might be forced to stick to it until you get it right. It's a far, far cry from that, but my recent series on the crystal pitcher makes me appreciate that. I have at least one more in the series waiting for a time when I can set things up differently so I can do it again. It has now gone somewhat beyond the original intent of making a picture that was okay for eBay.

I've got to get ready for the real world (work) so I will end for now. Maybe that will be it for my discourse and maybe not.

Since I spoke about one shot, let me show you a small scan of the print that was made from the slide well over 30 years ago. It has held up pretty well. I did not go over the scan at all for dust, etc., so I will down-rez to 72 dpi. When I get the time, I will replace this with a larger version. If you are curious about the unadulterated sunset, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1069930727/ and check it out. Part of the luck in this shot is the small light on the horizon. It is just a regular street light. I could clone this "catch light" out, but I kind of like it better with the light there.

Answer 2

It's not my favorite shot, but it's the only one that ever won me an award (Kodak's KINSA). I was living in San Antonio, Texas at the time, and my sister from Houston was visiting with her young daughter. We were touring the San Antonio missions, and it was a very hot day. My neice sat down in a cool window, looking absolutely wilted. At that particular window was a large stone dedicated to someone's memory, so the shot had a look of sadness about it. I used my FM2 and a 50mm 1.4 lens, as natural light shots have always had a special appeal to me. I even developed the film and printed the picture myself, another reason to be proud of it. My sister has a framed copy in her house. She loves it!

So was it skill, luck, or what? I think it was capturing the "decisive moment", so it was mostly timing, mixed with some seeing what I liked and taking advantage of the opportunity. But the developing and printing were skill all the way, baby!

Answer 3

I have a lot of favorite shots. A few were just lucky, being at the right place at the right time, most had some element of planning and a bit of skill. And, for Antoni, maybe the "eye"?

Answer 4

ok for me it was the image that lead to some awards and alot of work.

now when i look at it it looks like someone elses image my style has evolved so much!

a grey iron fence!

my brief make it look warm and inviting (didnt even understand what the Architect meant!)

so some English leasons and alot of thought and a reece (site vist) was required,

I was still a student at the time so it was a massive challenge for me.

Ended up making about 15 images during the change of light,
one was a winner (i liked it, the client liked it, and it won the national award for best architecture image of the year - Mr Ryan you wanna a peak email me)

The image was make 100iso F8 @15 secs

the cold iron was lit by the warm yellow colours of the low sun and did look warm and inviting!

thats my fav, not my best by a longshot, it was my lucky image!

oh i dont believe in luck, alot of bad shots, study, wasted film and passion made the image not luck.

now i make images, have i ever "taken" a good shot maybe once! the rest are made

i make the images in my head for a few days to months before then decide lens and other factors, hire the gear and then go "take" the shot,

1000 thanks Ryan

FFFFFFFFFFFFFF


EDIT: Dr Sam, a name your image cielo rosso

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Answer 5

Patience.

Setting up, knowing your location, and waiting for the right moment. Sometimes it happens quickly... sometimes you watch the conditions for days or weeks before finally finding the right moment to take the picture. A lot of effort and waiting always goes into a picture that impresses me!

Answer 6

Always luck. My favorite shots are of children. Luck and lots and lots of Patience!

Answer 7

probably just thinking about how I should take the picture before I took it

Answer 8

luck in my case

not skilled yet