You don’t have to take that photo July 5, 2007
Posted by tcbp in : Photography , trackbackToday Joe and I thought we might go downtown to watch and shoot the fireworks. We were considering shooting them through archways in the old abandoned subway but the rain all day and the hazy skies discouraged us.
In spite of my doubts Joe and I left the car and walked across the Ford St Bridge (we’re in Rochester, NY if I haven’t made that clear) to try shooting from the east side of the river. We set up and started taking some test shots and trying different lenses and orientations before we both eventually gave up. It didn’t help that a guy parked himself in front of Joe so he couldn’t shoot and waved his umbrella in front of my camera and wouldn’t stop when we asked. I think he was enjoying himself.
We left that spot and started heading back towards the car. A lot of people were set up on the bridge and we even considered it but cars riding over the bridge would shake it and blur our photos. The conditions were hazy enough, we didn’t need bouncing cameras.
Ultimately, it came down to what the title says. Sometimes you’re better off just enjoying it in person because you just can’t find a way to get a photograph worth sharing. I think this is a concept that starting photographers, aspiring pros or otherwise, need to understand. You can take the photos but you have to learn to self edit whether you do it before you even shoot, or when you’re done. Sometimes it just isn’t worth taking the photograph, and if you did sometimes it isn’t worth sharing with the world.
Obviously, the above doesn’t really apply if you’re just taking the photograph as a record for yourself, nobody should ever discourage that!
Comments»
You’re right. In the enthusiasm for taking the photos, it’s easy to forget that it’s equally important to live the moment, as well.