special o_O universalist or universal specialist ?

Hmm, an interesting question. I love to photograph all kinds of things I see and I do follow special interests at the same time too. One of my all time faves is the night. Another theme more recently that I like to follow and go into more deeply is street photography.

But I think it is best to follow the personal interest that fits best at a certain time, following moods and atmosphere individually.

think i'm doing quite the same as you. i'm getting unsure whenever i discover streams of people having a very own always recognizable visual language...

I think as a "pro", if you want to make a living from photography you need some specialisation - as in each profession. As an amateur I enjoy the complete freedom to take a picture wherever something whispers to me "take a picture", be it a stone, a house, a cat, a flower or a naked lady 8-; Thus, the amateurs are the *real* photographers enjoying the complete freedom of art. I love it.

not even in my profession as a graphic designer i'm able to limit myself to just one area ( i'm working in ), just one language etc. i wouldn't want to always make brochures for shoes or book covers for the rest of my days... so i'm hopping from corporate design, to illustration, to whatever mainly in print...
btw. your expression "whenever something whispers to me *take a picture*" is brilliant and i'll make it to one of my mottos, if it's ok with you !!!

I herby put this posting solemnly under the protection of the public domain and the non commercial Creative Commons Licence 8-)

I end up taking mostly pictures of flowers, but that's just because they don't run away or complain or have to sign a model release before publishing. And, of course, they are just beautiful and I love flower pictures. I think most pros specialize on one subject or at least put the emphasis on one subject. However, I'm not a pro, so I just take pictures of anything that grabs my attention and stands still long enough to get into the frame.

I think the personality of a good photographer comes through in any picture regardless of the subject - and I think your pictures do have individual character.

think most pros specialize simply because it makes it easier for the customer to choose. the one who made good pics of strawberries will come up with the same quality next time... or - oooh, if you're the daring customer - he will make a good pic of bananas too :)
i like your reason to select flowers as a topic ! did you ever think about taking pics of stills ( they don't run away either ), or stones or... :)
btw. thanx for seeing the individual pixels in my soup ö_=

yes, sometimes I take pics of stills and stones too, and of course of my meals. when I was younger, I would take more pictures of architecture, but now I'm more fascinated by living things, like plants - or cute furry animals of course. or teddybears. or teddybears that look like bananas. ;-)

What is best? Photography has always seemed like a mysterious art to me. If not for the existence of my "coolpix" camera I don't think I would have ever taken it up. So from my point of view it's all a big experiment and therefore variety rules.

Even the most experienced professional photographer might go either way depending on their temperament.

long live your "coolpix", ombre ! no seriously, think you have a tufu-language. all your fantasmo / collage / found still live pics, they are very tufu-zonk-stylish :)
and i'm glad they found their way to this part of the universe

For me taking pictures is a way of wondering and admiring things. What interests me at a given moment can be known by looking my photos. In principle, it can be anything (in certain limits). In practice, there are some themes in my life and in the world that keep me wondering time after time and trying to picture them. So I guess that the interest comes first and then the pictures, and not so that there is a certain genre in which I want to specialize. At the moment I'm especially interested in nature, silence, sensing and that kind of stuff because I'm daily reflecting those things in my life, but who knows what happens in some other era of life. I'm totally amateur and free to follow my interests and instincts which makes taking photos so interesting! --And, about your photostream: you certainly have a style of your own that can be read from your photostream, no matter how mixed your pixel dishes might be, so please please keep shooting and surprising us! :)

thanks dear ! wasn't thinking about giving up this way of expressing at all. it became too important as a means of exploring the world around and expressing the world inside. i'm so very sure you understand this, 'cause we're very alike in this aspect of our being, seeing and feeling ( i think ). i still owe you some answers, i didn't forget... i'll be there soon :)

I guess I know what you mean, something in me at least knows and understands :)

Now it's up to me to say: whatever you like best :-) I share your impression on certain streams, they seem so pro and steady and far superior. On the other hand, even these streams can get very boring as soon as you've seen enough pictures using the same style.

My personal keyword is: boring: I get bored so easily that I simply can't use the same technique for a longer period. Working for my living is boring enough, so why should I continue that misery in my hobby :-). As ghoermann says, we're free! I enjoy the freedom to use whatever technique I like and explore new ones whenever I like.

Situation is completely anders when Du for Geld shootst. Do you aim at that?

if i knew how do get to a satisfying compromise or how i could continue on different areas with different techniques on a really high level, i would feel happier and more self confident on what i'm doing and where my way is leading me to. i'm for sure not the person who can be satisfied with only one topic over and over again... yes this becomes boring no matter how brilliant it is. no one would like to eat only caviar (iiik, me doesn't like at all) all the time...

According to my experience, once I reached a level I had regarded as high before it didn't seem that high any longer. I think (and that's what I love about it) taking and making pictures is a neverending process of learning and improving. I would so love to have a group here where we could support each other in our quest for the best :-)

quest for the best... yep ! i'm with you.

I fear the universalist approach is exactly one of the main reasons why so many photosites get unbearable and boring very quickly: if only one or two stick to it, it's not bad, but if all shoot what they see (and as it presents itself)... it's the most boring thing imaginable (notwithstanding the techniques and skills may improve and reaxh a very high standard)

hmmm... I think this depends on the subjective view of the viewer. As I viewer I prefer mixed streams which show an insight into the life of the photographer - that was the original intent of fotolog sites: creating a visual diary, with one image a day, like a weblog, but with the means of imagery. Of course it can be used as a showcase too, but that's not the main focus in social networks, and ipernity is a social network, just with the emphasis on photography.

What bores me is to see dozens of shots of the same subject, like the usual "family album shots" where the photographer didn't filter out the really interesting stuff, generally I enjoy variety in a photostream.

See what you shoot before you shoot what you see...

another great motto ! thanks :)
i'll add it to my "wise words" collection - wirklich gefällt mir sehr.

I'm honoured!

the universalist approach - as you call it - doesn't mean you're taking pics of whatever comes your way, whenever, with whatever technique comes to your mind. a good universalist is aware of what he's doing and seeing. he also selects the pics he's showing as being interesting, technically good or even better, important for oneself or expressing exactly what the photographer had in mind etc.
i second your opinion of boring allover streams if there isn't any selection and a at least minimum of quality. but it's the same for the only one way walkers, this becomes boring too. so here we come full circle...

Do what you want, but do it all the time. Photography is like drawing: to get good at it, you have to draw, draw, draw.
In order to specialize, you must first discover what you have to "say". You will not find your favorite words -- your language -- unless you keep "talking". I hope this hasn't been too cryptic a comment.

Very clear and true!

no your comment isn't cryptic at all, jorge . it's very understandable and nice. you're right, one has to continue doing it (taking pics, drawing etc) - again and again.
about what i have to "say": there are different things i'd like to "say", depending on what i'm going through, on my feelings, thoughts and the experiences i'm making etc. there are different favorite words, like there are different languages i love

One more thought on the universalist approach: I think in the long run we'll all find some techniques we prefer and use more often, the more we master them. I bought Photoshop some months ago and am quite a newbie concerning its possibilities. It takes time to get a feeling for a tool, to get to know its language in order to express ourselves.

No, no, no, no. You are not too mixed salad. I love a visual variety, it shows multi-talent and creativity. You could perhaps specialize in different series - this month reflections, next month bw, and so on (if you want) :-) You need to express what you feel, and you don't always feel the same thing every day!

thanks gabi... yes, i'm trying to express what's going on inside of me, quite different sometimes contradictory feelings. but there are people out here doing that too, still you can recognize their handwriting. i sometimes doubt there's one in my stream.

I think, every one has - time dependent - special interests!
They might get into work without knowing (subconscious), but they sure are there ...
Because photography is about seeing things first, you notice things of your interest first before any others ...

but there exists one improvement: you realize what the things are you want to notice (introspection), and concentrate / sharpen your percipience on those.

Actually I can't see "mixed pixels" in your photo stream! ;)
But sure you've got more than one "red line" you walk on (design, selfs, city / street life) :)

thanks for your reply. you're right everyone has interests and at the same time things that aren't appealling to him at all. like i'm not into sports pics, cars or other too technical things. i don't like the too dark mooded pics etc. i don't know if i only see things of my own interest - there's always also inspiration coming from outside. things you see and you react on them in some way

thanks for starting this post, interesting reading! Myself I think I'm still to new to photography to see if I "specialize" in anything, perhaps I do in one way as we all do, but I also try to experiment in order to learn the "language" and how I can use that language to express better what I try to say. But if one try to use photography to express oneself I think ones images will be diverse yet somehow recognizable, as we humans are. We have different moods, we experience new things all the time - all this reflects in ones pictures.. If that make sense ;-D

in my opinion your pics have a language of their own – one i love. i can see differences in the chosen topics but the visual language is a recognizable one. maybe it's due to the atmosphere, the weather and the nature of norway. what i see are the more poetical and not very coloured pics.

I wonder how many people start as a 'specialist' and then become a 'universal specialist' and vice versa? And do they switch back and forth over time as their photography matures?

Regardless, I think people develop a 'style' that they bring to their photography. Not everyone may realize they have one, or it may take time to evolve, but I believe we all have one. Then the question is what subjects they like to shoot. Some people like variety and shoot different subjects, but their style and character are still evident in what they do. And that is what can make their work cohesive to view.

I also think that if people are limited for time, that may affect the subjects they choose - it could be they shoot what is easier to access etc. So then their photos have a certain sameness, and sameness is different from character or style.

Myself, I like to try a variety of subjects ; )

there surely are conditions like time and space :) influencing the chosen topics you are photographing. still in this area you are the one deciding - do i take pics in colour or b/w, do i make close ups or landscapes / architecture. do i make collages or composed pics etc.
there is so much you can do. it is great to be able to chose. i'm sometimes overwhelmed by the variety, maybe therefore envie those who are able to decide :)

For me to be a specialist wouldn't be satisfying in any way, I would be bored by my own work, if I would repeat the same thing again and again. So for me diversity and variety counts. I'm a curios person I'm always trying something new. Surely I have some repetitions in my stream, but rather fast I come to a point where I get the feeling I could only slightly improve this topic more and and at least then I'm trying something new.

Of course being a specialist has two big advantages. One is that you could reach a point of perfection an universalist couldn't reach, but on the other hand mostly only specialist will notice the difference. So why trying?

The other point is, that a specialist can reach a much more constant audience that will appreciate his work in higher number. Cause people like to see certain variations of what they like again and again. Look for example through rebekkas flickr stream. She is varying the same topics again and again: herself, her children, horses, islandic land- and seascapes. So only 5 topics and always the same style. And if you ga back to her first trys you can see how perfect she is now in doing this. And people love her for that. They will comment and fav in hundreds every one of her seascapes even they look in principle all the same, but they like this style and they will love every new one, even they are waiting urgently for any new one.

And that's true others, too. If you always post hdr, blossoms close-up, nudes, portraits, bw streetshots or whatever you will soon have a loyal audience, coming always back to look at your stream. But if you have a crude mixture of styles and topics you will confuse the people, because when they come back next time, they will not get what they expect and what they want to see.

what does the viewer inside you say ? don't you get bored seeing the same topic over and over again. even if it's on the highest level ? i enjoy these pics a lot, but after a while i feel like i really would appreciate a different view. still the photographer in me isn't sure where to head and is envious about the "perfectialism" of some specialists !

The viewer inside is both. Yes, I appreciate pictures from people who are perfect on a certain field, but I have in my contact list a huge variety of specialist covering every topic I'm interested in. So in my favs you can find lots of people shots, candids, portraits or erotic, old people, young people or children, some 'wow' sunset shots, some flower or insect macros , architecture and abstracts. And so on... :)

hi, mo,

it's a fascinating topic, you've brought to us!

For me photographing is - being grateful at this moment - not for living. Although there are some of them being printed or used on internet by several people. I just do it for relaxation, for doing something other than my office work (which I like), for being with myself, looking up for interesting objects, looking for objects I'd love to take with me, just being creative.

Chiefly I love to be an all-rounder. Catching whatever comes in front of my lens.
;-}

"chiefly" i understand your point of view and i'm glad you enjoy being creative, mr. pro :)

Thank you for your comment Ms. pro ;-}
I hope to become as creative "un jour ou l'autre" as you!

What a great discussion!!!! Thanks for starting this one, bettermo*!!!

I share your feeling of being overwhelmed with the infinite possibilities, even though most of my stuff is nature oriented. It's not really a conscious 'choice', but more a matter of opportunity.

I think I have fans on Flickr that expect that of me, which shows up as increased views when I post nature macros, and tremendously decreased views when I post almost anything else. I look at it like this...I just take pics that say something to me. If you like them...great!!! If you don't, that's ok...I'm sure I'll post some more flower-pics soon enough, because I like them, too!...*+^

Also, in my first couple of years as a budding photographer, concentrating on mostly one area has enabled me to learn how to use the camera better, and I think it shows when I take pictures of something different.

If I lived in a city, I think I would be a street photographer!!!!!

thanx for contributing to this discussion. i understand the choice of topic guided through the surrounding someone's in. still, there are more than one option, even if you concentrate on, just one topic, in your case nature photography. you can take pics of landscapes or animals or macros of plants etc. there's a variety on the technique you're using too: colour or b/w, playing with DoF, making precise or more dreamy pics etc.

Reading all the comments I can see that you touched on a sensitive subject. I like the community here as I can post my pictures without being judged or awarded. One or two comments are better than any Oscar or flashy diamond. And a good joke is worth a handful of gold medals. Or? :-))

i'm glad there are no such things like awards here too. i see no use in posting an award and then run away. feels like eating fast food, right. i prefer a critique on my pictures, no matter if good or bad ( but the bad without mobbing ), i love to know what the viewer likes or not about my stuff, what touches him and / or what he feels seeing my pics.

just here to say hello, Mo - still no time to really learn my way around, but thought i'd stop in for a minute - hope all is well! i'm going to come back and read through this discussion... take good care!

already awake or still not in bed dear ?
hello most wonderful, most loyal friend. so very glad to see you and so ashamed i didn't keep my promise to write you this weekend. i'll do very, very, very soon. could you say hello to harry ? how are you ? i can't wait to see you around here on ipernity again AND TO FINALLY SEE SOME PICS FROM YOU TOO. some of your colours, your dots, your sweet animals, the pottery you're making and so on. see you lovely ! hello to your nice kitty too. love mo

hi mo, die frage habe ich mir auch oft gestellt...
hauptsache der stream wird nicht langweilig ;)

es gibt sicher sehr viele durchgestylte streams mit tollen aufnahmen - die sich irgendwann zu sehr wiederholen, während andere immer interessant bleiben - wie z.B. Tampen bei Flickr.

ausserdem muss man mehr zeit investieren will man einen "style" etablieren, also insgesamt eher konzeptionell an die sache rangehen - wozu ich persönlich gar keine lust habe --- weil ich fotografie als eine art "therapie" sehe um den kopf wieder frei zu bekommen und eben NICHT nachdenken zu müssen ;)

es tut gut sich keinen rahmen zu stecken innerhalb dessen man sich bewegt... als hobbyfotograf brauche ich so was nicht, ich bevorzuge es uneigeschränkt losknipsen zu können. ausserdem kann ein stil auch zur masche werden.

grüße!

wieder mal im lande ? schön ... verweilst du diesmal für längere zeit ?
danke für deinen beitrag hier. wie du siehst gibt es hier ganz unterschiedliche meinungen. ich schätze ich werde weiterhin viele möglichkeiten besnuppern, auf der suche bleiben und trotzdem immer noch denken " vielleicht solltest du dich entscheiden...". vielleicht so ähnlich wie das viele herumreisen zu genießen und sich dabei nach einem zu hause zu sehnen ?

prendre une photo est dabord savoir regarder et apprendre a voir. au gré de ballades avec mon appareil photo ,jamais je ne sais quelles images vont se présenter à moi,et je ne m'impose aucune règle .i walk (or jump), look, admire,imagine , and clic-clac. ,une fleur,un arbre, un angle droit, une parralèle, un oiseau, un piano, un enfant, une expression, un sourire......Ect. tout est matière a etre montrer au travers de nos regards .voyons nous les choses de la mème facon? ( toi et moi , souvent ,oui!).cet avis est celui d'un simple amateur de la photographie .
peut etre qu'en temps que proféssionel , une spécialité est recommandée.je ne sais pas.
mais je me refuse a ne pas voir ce que je trouve beau. et beaucoup de choses sont encore belles dans notre monde.

ps: pourquoi tu n'as pas traduit ta question en français?
haa ,yes tu as écrits ""i'm lazy" , i'm not alone.....:)

oui... je suis lazy - tu vois j'ai eu besoin d'un mois pour te repondre - hooo !
t'as raison lill' big photographer et + .. il y sont encore beaucoup de choses belles
que nous pouvons voir et photographier. bien sur c'est comme ça - ou " what a luck
that it's like that.. encore "
mais est il pas mieux d'avoir un langue visuell et une concentration on certain topics ?
toi, tu as un langue visuell qu'on peut reconnaître ... while i jump around sticking
my nose in all kind of corners and places
o_O
kind of corners and places