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My Pet Peeve for the Day
- Thread starter jklotz
- Start date
Amin
Active member
I mean like the way almost everyone says it.You mean like primitive peoples sometimes think a camera can take something away with it in a literal sense, like soul? Interesting
Photographers saying "make a photo" instead of "take a photo" is like Rastas saying "overstand" instead of "understand". I get the reason and have no objection, but in each case I prefer to go with the more prevalent English phrasing.
mountainjoe
Member
As one photography instructor explained it to me - he preferred using the term "make" a photograph rather than "take", as the term "make" connotes direct intent and forethought when creating a photograph. To take a photograph doesn't convey much of a process other than pressing the shutter.
His point was, you should be consciously making a photograph every time - i.e. thinking exactly about what sort of image you want to create and executing to that vision.
Yes - it may only be a matter of semantics but for me it helps me to remember the process and not just start snapping off shots (sorry Jono
) without a well thought out intent.Different strokes...
Cheers,
TRSmith
Subscriber Member
<sarcasm>
Everyone knows that REAL men TAKE photographs. Through the sheer force of their dynamic will, a photograph is ripped from the reluctant and unforgiving fabric of space and time. And then it's printed. Period.
And no, real men don't "make" photographs, that's what retired librarians do in their senior-center Macramé class.
For sure, they (REAL men) most certainly do not have anything to do with effete processes like "giclee".
</sarcasm>
Everyone knows that REAL men TAKE photographs. Through the sheer force of their dynamic will, a photograph is ripped from the reluctant and unforgiving fabric of space and time. And then it's printed. Period.
And no, real men don't "make" photographs, that's what retired librarians do in their senior-center Macramé class.
For sure, they (REAL men) most certainly do not have anything to do with effete processes like "giclee".
</sarcasm>
Godfrey
Well-known member
+1As one photography instructor explained it to me - he preferred using the term "make" a photograph rather than "take", as the term "make" connotes direct intent and forethought when creating a photograph. To take a photograph doesn't convey much of a process other than pressing the shutter.
His point was, you should be consciously making a photograph every time - i.e. thinking exactly about what sort of image you want to create and executing to that vision.
Yes - it may only be a matter of semantics but for me it helps me to remember the process and not just start snapping off shots (sorry Jono
Different strokes...
Cheers,
Ah, semantics ... the English language is SO much fun.
Make means "to cause to happen," " ...to bring into being," which implies a deliberate decision to act or to create. A camera doesn't do anything without an action by the photographer.
Take means "To get into one's possession by force, skill, or artifice." ... so that word also works, but seems less appropriate for a more creative action.
Capture is a bit dicey. Its primary meaning is "A thing taken by force, surprise, or stratagem." It is a bit aggressive and militaristic in general tone and manner, but I guess could be applied to some photographers ... like Paparazzi
So, if some think that digital images aren't photographs, then is it photographers making the digital images?
Maybe we are digigraphers or pixigraphers ... :ROTFL:
-Marc
Make means "to cause to happen," " ...to bring into being," which implies a deliberate decision to act or to create. A camera doesn't do anything without an action by the photographer.
Take means "To get into one's possession by force, skill, or artifice." ... so that word also works, but seems less appropriate for a more creative action.
Capture is a bit dicey. Its primary meaning is "A thing taken by force, surprise, or stratagem." It is a bit aggressive and militaristic in general tone and manner, but I guess could be applied to some photographers ... like Paparazzi
So, if some think that digital images aren't photographs, then is it photographers making the digital images?
Maybe we are digigraphers or pixigraphers ... :ROTFL:
-Marc
jonoslack
Active member
I'm with Bob here - I try to think as little of the process as possible, I rely on my eye and my instinct, so, it's snaps for me.Yes - it may only be a matter of semantics but for me it helps me to remember the process and not just start snapping off shots (sorry Jono
Different strokes...
Cheers,
But on a slightly more serious note . . . whilst I can see the advantages of make but whatever the word is, it's not going to have the slightest impact on the way I take photographs.
shtarka1
Active member
Lloyd
Active member
Actually, I believe that the only way to resolve a thorny issue like this is to get say a Nikon D700 or a D3s, and a Canon D7000 or 5D Mark II, and using a 50mm 1.4 on each, "take", "make", "snap" and "capture" an "image" or a "picture" or a "photograph". Then we post them all here, and see which is better! Just sayin'.
No need for specific cameras, a simple device to show the difference in everyday real world testing would be to study the hat the photographer is wearing in each case. A baseball cap put on backwards would jibe with the 'snap' 'capture' and 'take' pic's and 'make' would be wearing a Sherlock Holmes style dearstalker to create his image.
Steve
Haha...I think you're on to something thereA baseball cap put on backwards would jibe with the 'snap' 'capture' and 'take' pic's and 'make' would be wearing a Sherlock Holmes style dearstalker to create his image.
Steve
How about photo vests? What would a guy wearing a photo vest say?
Hi Lars, don't be so assuming
Most people take pictures for their own enjoyment, but there are a few that make a living shooting for the audience. This isn't directed at you but is just a general observation:There's a few commercial photographers around here and they can probably relate to the situation of being hired by an art director and then realizing that he can't exactly explain what he wants. At this point, the photographer has to turn into a mind reader and be able to decipher what the client wants by just a few words or clues that might exist. A similar situation exists for content producers targeting a certain audience. These are good reasons to take theory seriously. Personally, I don't care what words people like/dislike and don't place value judgment. But the choices they make usually reveal something that can be useful when trying to make money from them.
Lloyd
Active member
So... in that case, it would be to "conjure" the picture, or image, or photograph, or... Right?Haha...I think you're on to something there
How about photo vests? What would a guy wearing a photo vest say?
Hi Lars, don't be so assuming
There's a few commercial photographers around here and they can probably relate to the situation of being hired by an art director and then realizing that he can't exactly explain what he wants. At this point, the photographer has to turn into a mind reader and be able to decipher what the client wants by just a few words or clues that might exist. A similar situation exists for content producers targeting a certain audience. These are good reasons to take theory seriously. Personally, I don't care what words people like/dislike and don't place value judgment. But the choices they make usually reveal something that can be useful when trying to make money from them.
What do you think, Lloyd? Certainly you can answer your own question?
Not every person asks a question because he is interested in an answer. Some question as a setup to try and mock any person that might try to give an answer.
Lars
Active member
Well, I certainly can tell the difference between taking and making a photo in my own photography. I spent the last four weeks on an island in the Baltic, shooting an 8x10" portfolio of old wooden fishing boats. 25 exposures in four weeks. Lots of scouting, planning, testing compositions, timing visits to the different fishing camps with good lighting conditions. A purely contemplative, deliberate approach. Definitely in the "making" category. While there, I stayed with my brother's family, lots of social snapshots. Quite a contrast, and perhaps different terminology is warranted for.
Lloyd
Active member
What is your point, Mike? Are you trying to bait me? I'm making light of this entire discussion because it's entirely a matter of semantics and opinion. If you like one term, use it. Every comment I made here is tongue in cheek. Sorry if that wasn't clear to you.
Lars: Good point. Different alchemy in different circumstances.
Chuck Jones
Subscriber Member
Mike, AMEN brother! I wish I had a dollar for every AD or CD I have worked with over the years that wanted me to "Read Their Minds" and "Create" the Photograph they envision. Most seem to have plenty of creative vision, they just lack in the ability to translate that into a working verbal dialog! Verbal Communication 101 should be a required course in art school, in my opinion.
Someone should issue "Captain America Official Decoder Rings" to every professional photographer, along with a Crystal Ball.... or the private phone number for The Amazing Kreskin!