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Ideas for photos. Drawing a blank.

Posted by: Ric Trexell (IP Logged)

Date: December 29, 2009 08:44PM

How do you come up with ideas for pictures? This is probably a question faced by all photographers, including those that just do it for fun. In stock photography the question of what to shoot is probably always followed by...there must be 1000 photos of that already. After all, how many times can a picture be made of a guy on a bicycle? One standing by it, one on it, one fixing a flat and maybe one of the guy carrying it. Where do you go from there? How do you come up with ideas? It seems that is what seperates a stock photographer that has a nice little income and the photographer that just has a great picture to show his friends. This by the way is just used for an example, yes, I can come up with a few more like a guy riding out the back of an airplane, hopefully with a parachute attached. But seriously, how do you approach this? Thanks. Ric.

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Re: Ideas for photos. Drawing a blank.

Posted by: BrianYarvin (IP Logged)

Date: December 30, 2009 08:11AM

Rick:

Everything is always changing. There are new bicycles, clothing, roads, and who knows what. If you're in touch with serious cyclists, you'll learn when they ride in new places or new ways. If you're not getting the information you need, start asking cyclists. I'm sure that a few good questions will get you enough information for many solid shoots.

And BTW...Brian Bailey, considered by many to be the leading stock photographer of outdoor sports, is said to have a seven-figure income from this. "A nice little income" indeed.

Check out his work:

[www.brianbaileyphotography.com]



Brian Yarvin
Author, Photographer, Educator
[www.brianyarvin.com]

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Re: Ideas for photos. Drawing a blank.

Posted by: dcphoto (IP Logged)

Date: February 18, 2010 09:15AM

In photojournalism there is a term, "Three shot sequence," that will get you looking at each subject in three different ways. The sequence is long shot, medium shot, close-up. Long shot: an overall view of what is going on. Medium shot: introduce the subject and the action. Close up: allows the viewer to actively participate in the action.

Add to that a vertical and horizontal views of each and you have a lot more to consider. Editors like this because they can match your photos to their stories.

One last thought - most of us have a favorite type of shot (I like close-up's, as an example). By focusing on the three shot sequence every time, it will get you out of a rut and expand your shooting style allowing you to view everything in a more complete way.

Okay, this is the last thought - this doesn't have to be accomplished in any specific order = it just needs to be accomplished!

David Crockett
www.davidcrockettphoto.com

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Re: Ideas for photos. Drawing a blank.

Posted by: kbarrel (IP Logged)

Date: March 4, 2010 10:07PM

Ric,

Know your topics. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to see the need for deep coverage as well as what that coverage should be. Drugs is a good example for recent shoots of mine.

A casual observer would probably think that one photo of meth, one of heroin, one of crack, one of powder cocaine, one of weed etc would pretty much cover it. I have over 20 different photos of different types of meth, from various parts of the country, sporting different colors, consistency etc. Sure enough, I get specific requests for "ice" (meth that looks like crystals or ice), "mexican meth" (dark red or brown in color) and so on. With more knowledge come more ideas, and I think that's true for any topic.

Although I must admit I have been out of ideas lately for a different topic. I've been US correspondent for a Swedish trade magazine for the Swedish meat industry for over ten years now. At ten to twelve articles per year that makes a lot of articles about all things meat, and as of late I must admit it is getting harder and harder to come up with new ideas. Then again, I can always grab one of Brian Yarvin's excellent cookbooks and seek inspiration there!

Mike

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