Beginner Do You Feel Pressured to Make Photos Bright?

[Phil V]

No, I really think there is a bias against photos that reflect actual lighting conditions. The world isn't a studio, so it is unrealistic to expect every candid shot to look like it was taken with perfect lighting. It can be acceptable for a photo to show things as they are, not as they would be under studio conditions. I see people on the web "correcting" photos that aren't particularly bright and lighting people's faces up like Japanese lanterns.

This is a complete misunderstanding of the nature of photography.
A successful photograph is well composed, it is considered, it is a piece of ‘work’. It’s the culmination of the photographers knowledge and skill to create a picture that conveys something to the viewer.

My 7 yr old granddaughter can pick up a camera phone and just take a ‘snap’ of a person in front of her.

If I’m picking a camera up to take a ‘candid’ my thought process begins with ‘where’s the light?’ Because OBVIOUSLY to ‘photograph’ is to paint with light.
The other considerations, what’s in the frame? If it’s not adding to the picture it’s detracting from the subject, then, finally I attempt a pleasing composition.

Just so you know where I’m coming from, I also hate when someone reacts to me aiming a camera at them, though sometimes that interaction actually improves the image (life lesson - always keep an open mind)

You can continue taking ‘snaps’ or you can endeavour to take a photograph, but while ever you believe that your ‘opinion’ of your snaps turns them into photographs, that’s not going to happen.


I’ll remind you that when you joined here, you asked for blunt advice. And at the top of the page it says ‘talk photography’ not ‘talksnaps’

 

[ancient_mariner]

Thread locked. This has gone way beyond trying to help someone make better pictures.