Are there trends and fashions in photography?

[Ian]

Does anyone feel that there are identifiable trends in photography? Is there something that defines the type of photography that is popular now compared to the 1990s and the 1980s, etc.?

I don't mean the look and fashions in the subjects - these are easily identifiable - but the techniques used by the photographer?

Is there more of a certain genre now than there was in the past? And vice-versa? If so, is this related to the equipment and technology that we now use compared to the past?

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

Does anyone feel that there are identifiable trends in photography? Is there something that defines the type of photography that is popular now compared to the 1990s and the 1980s, etc.?

I don't mean the look and fashions in the subjects - these are easily identifiable - but the techniques used by the photographer?

Is there more of a certain genre now than there was in the past? And vice-versa? If so, is this related to the equipment and technology that we now use compared to the past?

Ian

My own feeling is that HDR has become very popular. Its something that digital has helped with, but its the software like Photomatix that has helped make it easier for photographers to attempt. I see HDR images all the time these days, though it can be something that you either love or hate

[Ian]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

My own feeling is that HDR has become very popular. Its something that digital has helped with, but its the software like Photomatix that has helped make it easier for photographers to attempt. I see HDR images all the time these days, though it can be something that you either love or hate

Yes, that's certainly a good example.

I think very high ISO photography is now much more popular - pushing film to ISO 1600 and higher, especially colour film, was not only technically difficult, but the results weren't very good. Early digital cameras had very much the same issues, but even compacts are now achieveing surprisingly usable results at high ISO.

Ian

[Gina]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

There are so many sophisticated settings on the mid to high end cameras now, the simplicity somehow gets lost along the way. Photographers should know their equipment so that thinking can be devoted to the picture, not to the camera. One needs to think before making the exposure. The more complicated the camera, the more things to do wrong and to go wrong.

Around 50 years ago, Kodak stated: "You push the button and we do the rest." Today, we have come full circle. Some of our cameras feature automatic film handling, and dedicated built-in flash. All the photographer has to do is point and shoot. This is tremendous progress in terms of quality. However, many cameras today are so sophisticated that some users do not know how to operate them; they put their trust in the automatic features and not in themselves. How many times have you been asked "what kind of camera do you use (meaning what make), that is a serious question by a naive person. Does one ever ask a writer what make of typewriter he or she uses?

So back to your question Ian, I think that as technology continues to evolve, photography may become more and more affected by more than just editing software. I think we ought to step away from the scene sometimes and remember that lighting is of the utmost importance; it is the basis of good photography. Creative photography requires total control over lighting, not by the camera, but by the photographer HDR is fine but over-used and often becomes just another HDR image instead of something special and unique.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

Does anyone feel that there are identifiable trends in photography? Is there something that defines the type of photography that is popular now compared to the 1990s and the 1980s, etc.?

I am seeing more and more "Grab Shots" than there were 10 or 20 years ago. I believe the reason for this is simply that people are taking hundreds of images at very little cost and selecting the 1 in a 100 that are OK. It's something very few did with film, because of the cost, and digital has provided a whole new, cheap, way of producing images.

I don't mean the look and fashions in the subjects - these are easily identifiable - but the techniques used by the photographer?

When my motor drive could eat a roll of film in 7 seconds, I was fairly careful not to let my finger rest in the release. Now I have capacity well beyond my needs and functions that allow techniques to be explored that previously had to be practiced and quite frankly took a long time to master. There are the obvious CAF capabilities that are now automated, that previously had to be achieved manually and took a level of thought and skill that had to be developed.

Is there more of a certain genre now than there was in the past? And vice-versa? If so, is this related to the equipment and technology that we now use compared to the past?
Ian

I don't think we can ignore the fact that digital photography has provided the same capability as "Polaroid", in the form of instant images, which lends itself to certian styles of photography. It is again such a low cost way to produce images and has the capability of being anywhere in the world within minutes.

The extensive capability and flexibility of the digital medium has allowed many more people to capture images than ever were with film. However the capture of the image and the translation of that to the production of a print is far lower than with film, for obvious reasons.

I for one am "experimenting" a lot more now and exploring the production of pictures that I'd never have attempted with film.

[pewidane]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

About HDR.HDR pictures are terrible,there are some photographers who can master it,but most who use it would do better to learn to shoot before they start with HDR.The colors are mostly very unnatural,ther are photographers who believe that the more extreme colors there are in the picture the better it is,We should rather go the other way and make the images simpler,images must contain a clear message and a composition that supports it.And about color, its like musik, one wrong note can destroy the hole composition.

[Stephen]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

HDR pictures are terrible,there are some photographers who can master it,but most who use it would do better to learn to shoot before they start with HDR.The colors are mostly very unnatural,ther are photographers who believe that the more extreme colors there are in the picture the better it is,We should rather go the other way and make the images simpler,images must contain a clear message and a composition that supports it.And about color, its like musik one wrong note can destroy the hole composition.

Very true Pedar

ps. was very interested to hear you had got the G10, I'm envious

[Josh Bear]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

I think selective colour was another trend.

I use selective colour but agree with others that the start point of any picture is the eye and the composition it leads you to. I do take pictures thinking about how it will look in B&W or with selective colour but I hope I look for composition first.

best regards

Josh

[Bob Ross]

Re: Are there trends and fashions in photography?

Does anyone feel that there are identifiable trends in photography? Is there something that defines the type of photography that is popular now compared to the 1990s and the 1980s, etc.?

I don't mean the look and fashions in the subjects - these are easily identifiable - but the techniques used by the photographer?

Is there more of a certain genre now than there was in the past? And vice-versa? If so, is this related to the equipment and technology that we now use compared to the past?

Ian

Hi Ian,
This is a good topic, but I had to work at remembering what was going on in the 90s & 80s
What we have now is th digital darkroom, so more images are manipulated. That is a two edged sword, because some manipulations are definitely ourside of the box. Mentioned here are the HDR and I'll add the compulsions to open shadows to see what is there and forgetting to close them and to have absolutly noise free images at any cost.
The other edge of that sword is that I see a lot more creativity in many directions.
Bob