What do you do when you've took an epic image?

Stuart Mc

Stuart Mc

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Stuart McGlennon
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Just been pondering this - as I write I think I may have taken the best image I've taken (others may think it's rubbish when I put it out there :LOL:) just wondering what different people do during the process of taking the shot to processing the final image (and I mean one you're really excited about, not the average stuff).

I've basically had blind panic from the minute I took the shot to getting home, then once there resisted the urge to immediately process it and share it and instead had a nice evening with the Mrs.

Later on I've sat down and processed it (thankfully nothing went wrong at capture although I was sure something would have scuppered it) and now I'm going to sit on it for a day and then revisit it to see if my feelings towards it change.

Just wondered if others have the same approach - normally I can't wait to look at them but from now on I think I'm going to take a more relaxed and measured approach.
 
Dunno mate. I've never been in the right place at the right time to get one yet. If you've got one, the world's press are going to be knocking at your door very soon.
 
Stuart Mc said:
Just been pondering this - as I write I think I may have taken the best image I've taken (others may think it's rubbish when I put it out there :LOL:) just wondering what different people do during the process of taking the shot to processing the final image (and I mean one you're really excited about, not the average stuff).

I've basically had blind panic from the minute I took the shot to getting home, then once there resisted the urge to immediately process it and share it and instead had a nice evening with the Mrs.

Later on I've sat down and processed it (thankfully nothing went wrong at capture although I was sure something would have scuppered it) and now I'm going to sit on it for a day and then revisit it to see if my feelings towards it change.

Just wondered if others have the same approach - normally I can't wait to look at them but from now on I think I'm going to take a more relaxed and measured approach.
Click to expand...

I've not really given it any thought, which must mean I haven't captured 'the one' yet. I'm kind of interested to see your photo though!
 
Stuart M said:
Dunno mate. I've never been in the right place at the right time to get one yet. If you've got one, the world's press are going to be knocking at your door very soon.
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Haha maybe epic is the wrong word - I'd certainly consider the best image I've taken in terms of 'right place, right time' and the quality of light. Problem is my standard of photos could be considered crap so it might not be a very high bar :D
Applemuncher said:
I've not really given it any thought, which must mean I haven't captured 'the one' yet. I'm kind of interested to see your photo though!
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I guess I only considered it because I've seldom been that excited from the moment of taking the image to actually processing it and reviewing it as I have this one. As I say I'm going to leave it a day and see if I feel the same.
 
I look forward to seeing this shot when you do launch it dude! I'm scratching my head as to what you have gone out and shot, because the conditions this side of the Pennines has been crap
 
MattyW said:
I look forward to seeing this shot when you do launch it dude! I'm scratching my head as to what you have gone out and shot, because the conditions this side of the Pennines has been crap
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I was halfway up yewbarrow, massively changing weather, you know how it is. Put it this way, there was a giant rainbow over the top of gable so some sod lakeside was getting the shot of their life probably!
 
I look forward to seeing this mate! You've got it good with that side of the lakes on your doorstep! Very envious!
Just being around Gable has a good vibe to it. I've not done Yewbarrow myself, so I don't exactly know the angle you'll have. Lakeside shots are overrated anyway
 
You wonder what will happen next!
 
This past couple of months I kinda lost my photo mojo.
I kept taking shots but my heart was never in it.
The other morning, I grabbed my wee Sony RX100M3 that I bought through the classifieds a few weeks ago and went on my usual walk along the river at the back of my house.
The morning had a nice autumnal feel and the sun's rays were shining through the trees.
I couldn't resist the shot.
When I got home, I immediately went onto the computer and processed it.
I was really pleased with it - possibly the best I've taken for a while
I posted it on here and guess what - not a single reply!!! :(

Oh well, back to the drawing board

Mike
 
mstphoto said:
This past couple of months I kinda lost my photo mojo.
I kept taking shots but my heart was never in it.
The other morning, I grabbed my wee Sony RX100M3 that I bought through the classifieds a few weeks ago and went on my usual walk along the river at the back of my house.
The morning had a nice autumnal feel and the sun's rays were shining through the trees.
I couldn't resist the shot.
When I got home, I immediately went onto the computer and processed it.
I was really pleased with it - possibly the best I've taken for a while
I posted it on here and guess what - not a single reply!!! :(

Oh well, back to the drawing board

Mike
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I so empathise with that, It's happened to me several times and then someone puts up a very similar photo a day or two later and gets a dozen positive comments. I just went and had a look and I do remember looking at "River Don Woodland" when you first posted it,

Regarding the original question, what do I do? Not a lot TBH, I've got some that I thought were very good but the reaction from family, friends and local competitions/exhibitions that I have put them in has generally been luke warm. I guess as Spike Milligan said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder, get it out with Optrex"
 
MattyW said:
I look forward to seeing this mate! You've got it good with that side of the lakes on your doorstep! Very envious!
Just being around Gable has a good vibe to it. I've not done Yewbarrow myself, so I don't exactly know the angle you'll have. Lakeside shots are overrated anyway
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Yep, very lucky indeed - we only got halfway up yesterday as I'd gone with the aim of getting a shot of the great door looking across to Scafell but the rain was torrential for about 45mins and we were pushed for time as it was so turned back. I like the lake level stuff as well I'm just finding now that you have to have exceptional conditions to get something really great where as the mountain stuff the view is nearly always exceptional, just a bit more graft required!

alfbranch said:
You wonder what will happen next!
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Hi Alf - been looking at it again this morning - funny how your feelings change towards an image over a short period of time. I still like it, whether it's the best one I've taken on reflection perhaps not, but in terms of satisfaction and what was required under testing circumstances probably my favourite. Anyway it's on Flickr now and I'll put a thread on here for it to be shot at lol

mstphoto said:
This past couple of months I kinda lost my photo mojo.
I kept taking shots but my heart was never in it.
The other morning, I grabbed my wee Sony RX100M3 that I bought through the classifieds a few weeks ago and went on my usual walk along the river at the back of my house.
The morning had a nice autumnal feel and the sun's rays were shining through the trees.
I couldn't resist the shot.
When I got home, I immediately went onto the computer and processed it.
I was really pleased with it - possibly the best I've taken for a while
I posted it on here and guess what - not a single reply!!! :(

Oh well, back to the drawing board

Mike
Click to expand...
I wish I'd seen this one now, I've just searched it and you're right it's a great photo, I certainly couldn't offer much in terms of trying to improve it anyway. I posted a similar themed image with a tree where the light was exceptional (image maybe not I don't know) but didn't get an awful lot of responses but it's no problem. With posting on here I wouldn't hold much stock by no. of replies - a lot of factors influence when/how people reply and sometimes no replies can often mean there's no real way of trying to improve it which has to be a good thing - although I know what you mean when people clearly are looking but don't bother to comment!
 
Well i guess its a dilemma isn't it! On the vary rare occasion that EVERYTHING comes together and you get that perfect exposure (in you're own view of course). It is exciting and i think we all know when its happened.

Now i can only imagine what this feels like:rolleyes:. However from my limited experience, I like you, do not process the shot immediately, or even take it off the camera straight away. I think that's because i'm thinking at that point, maybe it was a figment of my imagination or that for some reason it will vanish if i upload to the PC, or when viewed on a decent screen it may in someway be not half the photo i had anticipated.

When i eventually get the courage to upload it and view it, its either a euphoria or disappointment. Assuming its positive i will see what the "Bosses" reaction is. I will copy it and back it up as the first job.
The other thing i consider is how different photographs display on the web in various medias like Flickr, 500, Photobucket or whatever, so i will (rightly or wrongly) temp view a copy through the eyes of the web... Sometimes i have seen things in the image i haven't noticed before when looking, while processing.

I normally with any image I never upload it online before i have viewed it a few times. I think processing when you are tired or perhaps not in the correct frame of mind can have a negative influence on your processing. On a number of occasions i have gone back to an image and thought what the hell was i on when i processed that!

The acid test of course is when you upload it. As per Mike and Chris's comments above this often happens and can at best be disheartening ....

I cant wait to see the image, now you have filled us full of anticipation!!!
 
69Bonni said:
Well i guess its a dilemma isn't it! On the vary rare occasion that EVERYTHING comes together and you get that perfect exposure (in you're own view of course). It is exciting and i think we all know when its happened.

Now i can only imagine what this feels like:rolleyes:. However from my limited experience, I like you, do not process the shot immediately, or even take it off the camera straight away. I think that's because i'm thinking at that point, maybe it was a figment of my imagination or that for some reason it will vanish if i upload to the PC, or when viewed on a decent screen it may in someway be not half the photo i had anticipated.

When i eventually get the courage to upload it and view it, its either a euphoria or disappointment. Assuming its positive i will see what the "Bosses" reaction is. I will copy it and back it up as the first job.
The other thing i consider is how different photographs display on the web in various medias like Flickr, 500, Photobucket or whatever, so i will (rightly or wrongly) temp view a copy through the eyes of the web... Sometimes i have seen things in the image i haven't noticed before when looking, while processing.

I normally with any image I never upload it online before i have viewed it a few times. I think processing when you are tired or perhaps not in the correct frame of mind can have a negative influence on your processing. On a number of occasions i have gone back to an image and thought what the hell was i on when i processed that!

The acid test of course is when you upload it. As per Mike and Chris's comments above this often happens and can at best be disheartening ....

I cant wait to see the image, now you have filled us full of anticipation!!!
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Haha it's on here now mate. I seem to have unwittingly set myself up for a fall lol although the thread was more a just a general question rather than any real reflection on my image. I know what you mean though with taking more time and something I think we're all probably guilty of is jumping the gun a bit rather than letting things settle a touch. I guess that comes with experience.
 
Stuart Mc said:
I wish I'd seen this one now, I've just searched it and you're right it's a great photo, I certainly couldn't offer much in terms of trying to improve it anyway. I posted a similar themed image with a tree where the light was exceptional (image maybe not I don't know) but didn't get an awful lot of responses but it's no problem. With posting on here I wouldn't hold much stock by no. of replies - a lot of factors influence when/how people reply and sometimes no replies can often mean there's no real way of trying to improve it which has to be a good thing - although I know what you mean when people clearly are looking but don't bother to comment!
Click to expand...

Yep, I would consider no replies to a thread less damaging to the ego than 20 replies hating your image!
 
Isn't it why we love landscape photography, for the rare moment everything seems to fall into place and we are there to capture it? I don't think I've had the feeling you described, sure many times I've thought... Nailed it! Only to find out I hadn't.
But sure that buzz, I want more.
 
mothdust said:
One of the nice things about mostly shooting film is that I forget I've taken a really nice shot until it appears, 3 months later, when I finally get the roll developed. Surprise!
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I had that once with my 4x5 at Buttermere following a downpour resulting in an amazing rainbow at the end of what I thought was a decent composition. Waited a week or so to get it back. On reviewing the image I realised i had not changed the exposure meter from 400 (HP5) to 5 (Velvia). I actually got a blank transparency with a tiny bit of a log visible if you really squinted. As for what you do when you have taken an epic image...I have no idea, I have never done it! Personally though it is probably best to wait a bit so you don't get caught up in the feelings that you had when the photo was taken as opposed to having a bit of time to reflect.
 
Nguss said:
I had that once with my 4x5 at Buttermere following a downpour resulting in an amazing rainbow at the end of what I thought was a decent composition. Waited a week or so to get it back. On reviewing the image I realised i had not changed the exposure meter from 400 (HP5) to 5 (Velvia). I actually got a blank transparency with a tiny bit of a log visible if you really squinted. As for what you do when you have taken an epic image...I have no idea, I have never done it! Personally though it is probably best to wait a bit so you don't get caught up in the feelings that you had when the photo was taken as opposed to having a bit of time to reflect.
Click to expand...

Nooooooo! That is part of the fun of film, I always think. It's zen-like, accepting that it may all come out black...
 
If you hype it up too much and then over analyse it, you'll start nitpicking at any flaws in it. Eventually you won't think it's any good and just leave it on the hard drive to fester. Your excitement and enthusiasm will turn to disappointment and your confidence will dwindle until the point you can't even be bothered going out with the camera anymore.

Get it posted and have done with it, then move on to the next one :p
 
I do a happy dance and normally sing at the top of my voice. It's not pretty to witness...
 
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