Photography?

[Kuu]

I've read that photography is a common interest among INTPs. I would like to know who else is interested in this subject, and why. (I wasn't sure where to put this thread, it's not entertainment, nor literature, nor handmade/blogging... so it's here)

Personally, I love photography. As a graphic art, it is interesting in the way that it allows us to capture reality, but never perfectly. It is always an interpretation. A photograph can convey subjective opinions, transmit feelings or moods, and suggest narratives. It also helps to remember things, and I love the melancholy of seeing old photos and how things have changed since then...

I also enjoy post-processing digital photos (photoshop junkie), though I do not use it to cheat people... I will not lie saying something is natural (straight out of the camera) when it is not. Sometimes I just make minor adjustments to "polish" a shot, and sometimes I make some montages and unreal colorations for artistic fantasy. I think both are valid.

Unfortunately I don't have the money to get decent equipment where I'm not constrained by technicalities (DAMN YOU high ISO noise!), but still I work with what I have and make up with skill and dedication. It is also a time consuming activity, time I usually do not have, so there's also that...

 

[Olba]

I cannot really say that I have a keen interest on the subject, nor can I say that I do it a lot.

Actually, about a month ago was the first time I had a camera with me on a trip. Well, let's just say that I realized something there. I realized that manipulating the meaning of pictures via well-placed description.

I actually found it funny, and for the first few hours in the bus I was taking pictures of a lot of ordinary stuff, like people sleeping or reading magazines or wearing sunglasses or playing a game. Basically, I was taking pictures based on the descriptions and not for the visual content.

The result? I started wondering whether it's disrespectful for the art of photography to take pictures based on something else than the visual content. In the end, I deleted most of the pictures that were taken on that basis. I ended up taking about 200 pictures of the scenery in northern Norway. And damn, it's good.

 

[motrhead]

I am seriously into photography, more so with film than digital, but I'm also a collector/hardware junkie, and want to try (and inevitably collect) all of the unusual and mechanically interesting cameras I find. I try to use obsolete formats, but so far (on purpose) haven't tried large format.
I am always endeavouring to capture reality, so I rarely use flash, and prefer slide film so that I more accurately capture what I see.
I too, enjoy the nostalgic, and sometimes melancholy feelings evoked by old photographs.
I always enjoy viewing my father's old slides, and his choice of slides over print film has influenced my photography to this day.
I don't enjoy post processing. I want to capture what I see, without having to fix it. My only digital camera is a Canon Digital Elph SD1000 compact camera. One of these days I will break down and buy a digital SLR, but at the moment I have almost two hundred film cameras to enjoy! The digital is always accompanied by at least two film cameras, one being a Minox submini that I carry in my pocket.
I usually take pictures of scenery, nature, mechanical things, or places I am visiting . Other than pictures of my family , I don't shoot people on purpose. I'm not really that interested in "street photography", but I do enjoy capturing patterns, textures and unusual objects, or pieces of objects.
Photography is probably my primary hobby/obsession. I belong to somewhere around sixty camera and photography groups (!) on the net. Wow, I didn't realize quite how many until just now! Okay, I will admit that it has become obsession.
I probably only frequent twenty to thirty of those groups. I'm always trying to learn more about the technical side, and the enjoyment is as much from the camera as the photograph for me. I do my own camera repairs as well.

 

[Kumori]

I get a sense of awe when looking at photos of, or being near, urban decay, it feels like it has been forgotten by the world, it's hard to describe.

I'm into photography, not hugely, but I am interested.

 

[Mischz]

I like photography! To me it's like storytelling in a different way... it allows me to capture a moment in time without being diffused by an imperfect memory.

Here are a few shots I took during my backpacking days in university. The first is in Paris, the second in Siem Riep, the third of a river in Kerala. ^^ They evoke very crisp memories...

Wish I had my own camera. All were taken using a friend's.

 

[Aphasia]

Would you mind if I steal your photos? :P

I like photography, but I usually forget to take pictures of things, even when I'm taking the camera around with me (I can hear people saying 'blurcase' from the other side of the world =.=). Also, I tend to forget to take the camera.

Photoshopping sounds fun/ useful. Maybe when I become more serious about it (haha. Ha) I'll get the program.

 

[Vrecknidj]

My favorite picture that I've taken myself.

I was at my in-laws and noticed that the eclipse that was occurring cast peculiar shadows through the leaves on the tree.

Dave

 

[Mischz]

Would you mind if I steal your photos? :P

I like photography, but I usually forget to take pictures of things, even when I'm taking the camera around with me (I can hear people saying 'blurcase' from the other side of the world =.=). Also, I tend to forget to take the camera.

Photoshopping sounds fun/ useful. Maybe when I become more serious about it (haha. Ha) I'll get the program.

I don't mind. And they're not photoshopped in any way. I don't know how to use it (although I believe it's somewhere in this MacBook...).

Oh ya, if you want them in higher resolution P.M. me your email and I'll send it over. I just realised that these are quite small. ><"

 

[Kuu]

Basically, I was taking pictures based on the descriptions and not for the visual content.

I don't understand what you mean by "based on the descriptions"?

I am always endeavouring to capture reality, so I rarely use flash, and prefer slide film so that I more accurately capture what I see.

If you own 200 cameras and make your own repairs, then I take it you know quite well about the technical limitations of cameras... Wouldn't you say that it's impossible to accurately capture what we see? I mean, there's perspective distortion (wide angle stretching or telephoto flattening), depth of field (cameras can go much shallower) and also a limited dynamic range (to even roughly approximate the eye you would have to do some compositing...)

I get a sense of awe when looking at photos of, or being near, urban decay, it feels like it has been forgotten by the world, it's hard to describe.

I know what you mean. Derelict, old or ruinous things can have an eery appeal. And the pictures tell a story of life and death and tragedy. But I get tired of urban decay rather quickly, I practically live surrounded by it so it's quite depressing...

I like photography! To me it's like storytelling in a different way... it allows me to capture a moment in time without being diffused by an imperfect memory.

I sometimes think of my photography as a sort of diary; images that say more than words but at the same time are more ambiguous: abstract feelings, fleeting thoughts, ghostly impressions of events that were but are no more... They are a part of me in that sense, a story about me... things or moments that I have crossed paths with me... things unexpected, beautiful or interesting to remember...

Here are a few shots I took during my backpacking days in university. The first is in Paris, the second in Siem Riep, the third of a river in Kerala. ^^ They evoke very crisp memories...

That last one is quite nice! If the highlights weren't so blown, it could have been a great early morning shot... You wouldn't happen to have a second shot with a different exposure showing the sky, would you?

I like photography, but I usually forget to take pictures of things, even when I'm taking the camera around with me (I can hear people saying 'blurcase' from the other side of the world =.=). Also, I tend to forget to take the camera.

Heh I guess that is possible with a small point and shoot... Cuz it's somewhat hard to forget to take pictures when you're lugging around a clunky SLR... And I sometimes forget to take my camera as well, but that's why I have a cameraphone! A crappy phone photo is better than no photo at all!

Photoshopping sounds fun/ useful.

It is! It's good for my photography hobby, and also good as a professional skill. I use it a lot at school, making CGI buildings and then putting them in the photo of the context where they are supposed to go...

My favorite picture that I've taken myself.

I was at my in-laws and noticed that the eclipse that was occurring cast peculiar shadows through the leaves on the tree.

Interesting shadow patterns are great. Eclipses unfortunately don't occur as frequently as I'd like them to...

 

[Mischz]

That last one is quite nice! If the highlights weren't so blown, it could have been a great early morning shot... You wouldn't happen to have a second shot with a different exposure showing the sky, would you?

We spotted wild elephants the very next moment so my focus shifted entirely! HAHA. Damn I need to go travelling again...

 

[motrhead]

If you own 200 cameras and make your own repairs, then I take it you know quite well about the technical limitations of cameras... Wouldn't you say that it's impossible to accurately capture what we see? I mean, there's perspective distortion (wide angle stretching or telephoto flattening), depth of field (cameras can go much shallower) and also a limited dynamic range (to even roughly approximate the eye you would have to do some compositing...)

Yes, there are limitations, but we do the best we can. You can always use a panoramic camera to more accurately capture what you would see (widescreen).
I'm happy with the view of a 35 to 50mm length lens, and the depth of field control allowed by my manual cameras.
I am quite often capturing a moment as a snapshot of my emotional response to what I am seeing, to be able to evoke that feeling when viewing that photograph in the future. That, to me, is art. It doesn't necessarily have to be a perfect record.
Other times I am merely trying to capture everything that I can in a scene, to allow me to see all of the details later, without any specific emotional response. That is just recording facts.
I do a lot of both kinds of photography.
.

 

[Olba]

I don't understand what you mean by "based on the descriptions"?

I mean if there's a situation that looks ordinary but could be made into something funny or strange with a proper description to it. Those kinds of pictures.

Some examples from my last trip. The group consisted of students of mathematics. I saw someone reading Donald Duck and took a picture, thinking that describing it with "Students of mathematics really do read highly intelligent literature." Or when someone read something related to Go and was wearing sun glasses, I was thinking "Go with style, huh?" Go is a game, by the way. Or when they were playing Trivial Pursuit, I was thinking "The students gained some totally useless knowledge, too." Or when someone was marking the roads we used, I was thinking of "Orienteering through Finland. In a bus." Or when someone was sleeping in the bus, I took a picture and wanted to describe it by "Oh, so this is how you go birdwatching and observe the nature?"

 

[loveofreason]

Is being behind the lens a kind of defensive shield? Is it akin to having a third eye, more detached even than the other two, yet combining with them to form some kind of emergent world? A super-reality that is the progeny of our minds, our technology, our subjectivity and object reality?

 

[Aphasia]

For me, no (defensive shield part). I like photography because I can capture bits of time that would otherwise pass by and fade. Also, I like to show people (including myself) how interesting the world can be. I agree somewhat with the final sentence on my views (not too sure myself).

 

[Kuu]

@ motrhead: Ok ok. Yeah I do both as well....

@ Olba: I understand now. Captioning pictures can be good, it can give it a sarcastic edge, or just add more "background" to the story that is unfolding in the image. I do that all the time! It's usually a photo of a rather common object, but the title or caption explains my rather odd thoughts about such a trivial thing, why it caught my attention. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's deep, sometimes irreverent. Of course I also do make an effort to compose and shoot a good photo...

But I've met people who despise captioning or titling (sp?) their photos, and think it is insulting or degrading to "the art".

Is being behind the lens a kind of defensive shield? Is it akin to having a third eye, more detached even than the other two, yet combining with them to form some kind of emergent world? A super-reality that is the progeny of our minds, our technology, our subjectivity and object reality?

I don't take it as a defensive shield. But the rest, yes. You pretty much summed up my views on the subject. A "super-reality"... detached but subjective... superposition of fantasy upon the objective world... the slicing of time into images that represent abstract concepts or emotions...

 

[bumblebree]

I am very into photography, it's probably my favorite past time. I take a lot of digital pictures, but I also try not to forget about my film camera. I use a Canon Rebel EOS XTi. I also have an old Holga, and enjoy collecting old cameras because of the nostalgic effect they add. I would display pictures but the little button doesn't appear to be working. There is a link to my deviantart via profile, however.

 

[Dissident]

Hello Bumblebree, I hope im not commiting an indiscretion, but shouldnt the link to DeviantArt in you profile be http://strange-town.deviantart.com/ ?
(its kinda backwards)
Welcome aboard by the way

 

[arkityp]

i'm a photographer.... http://arkityp.net

 

[PreAlgebra]

Photography is great. I got my degree in it. I am really interested in the theory that goes along with it (no big surprise there.) Now that we have finally escaped the grips of post-modernism I am really interested in how photographs function in our digital/internet driven society. Or vise-versa, how these shifts in our society have transformed our understanding of the photographic image.

I think my interest in photography started when I realized how detached I felt behind my camera. The indexical properties of the photograph and the play between subjective and objective dualism also played a big role in my interest in photography. Of course I did not think in these terms when I first started to photograph things but I am sure there was a small underlying understanding of them.

Photographs are amazing in every way. Even the ones that are highly manipulated.

I am curious if anyone has any ideas why it is such a common interest among intps? The only other intps that I know I have met through photography.

 

[Perseus]

Yep, it comes second to writing though.

 

[Integer]

Yeah photography is really cool. The problem comes when you want to select the best picture out of many but of the same scene. But meh, I always think photoshop is a cheaper alternative.

 

[October]

I love photography. I'm saving my money to buy a DSRL. I have a Sony Cyber-Shot which I'm pretty pleased with, but the macro isn't too good and the colours are a bit dull and then I'm forced to use Photoshop to adjust the photo a little bit.

This is my photography gallery in case anybody's interested: http://october27.deviantart.com/

 

[Kuu]

Yep, it comes second to writing though.

.......why?

Now that we have finally escaped the grips of post-modernism I am really interested in how photographs function in our digital/internet driven society. Or vise-versa, how these shifts in our society have transformed our understanding of the photographic image.

Have you read stuff from Jean Baudrillard, or Guy Debord?

I am curious if anyone has any ideas why it is such a common interest among intps? The only other intps that I know I have met through photography.

We'll I think it's because of the detachment. It's an outlet for our feelings, but still it is not so literal, like writing... it is much more veiled and abstract.

 

[Ogion]

I never cared much for photography (i didn't had anyone else interested in and showing it to me). But after reading what you guys write, and after looking some really phantastic photographs in the internet, it seems as an interesting hobby. Maybe i'll look into it. I suppose it also has the benefit of being a memory outsourcing (so you can sit in a decade and look at old photographs, which you coulnd't do with plain memory; me at least not)

Ogion

 

[Decaf]

I never cared much for photography (i didn't had anyone else interested in and showing it to me). But after reading what you guys write, and after looking some really phantastic photographs in the internet, it seems as an interesting hobby. Maybe i'll look into it. I suppose it also has the benefit of being a memory outsourcing (so you can sit in a decade and look at old photographs, which you coulnd't do with plain memory; me at least not)

Ogion

Cause, as I'm sure we'll all agree, our memory for details is not quite up to snuff without some help. I remember some things very well, but then often forget who else was there, or what city it was in. Selective memory I suppose.

 

[Ogion]

Yeah, i know that too. There are many things about my life, which i can remember only as abstract summaries. Like a few sentences that summarise a situation, but the situation itself isn't 'there' any more...

Ogion

 

[fullerene]

That's me... very few details, abstract summary, almost exactly. I have a reputation for having one of the worst memories anybody's ever seen, but at the same time if a physics class gives me a formula sheet, I don't need to take notes. Concepts: good. Details: bad.

The way around that, though, is every time you see something you want to take a picture of, try to remember the feeling or enjoyment or satisfaction or whatever it is. I climbed grandfather mountain (north carolina) a few summers ago, and hardly remember any of the scenery except how incredibly cool the trail was (it was pretty unique). There's a place there though where a metal bridge is built connecting two mountains, with a deep valley beneath, and you could see a whole forest/hick tourist town spread out beneath you. The wind would gust pretty strongly and it was terrifying... but also exhilerating. The mood and atmosphere intp's should be able to remember pretty well, but the specifics terribly. But I mean... unless you're using photography as an art form (which I know a lot of you are, and that has it's own value, I know), and you're only taking pictures as memory aides, you can get by a lot better remembering the stuff you like that makes you want to take the picture, rather than the picture itself.

 

[PreAlgebra]

.......why?
Have you read stuff from Jean Baudrillard, or Guy Debord?

I have read Simulations and Simulacrum by Baudrillard. I have not read Debord.

I am trying to read more Baudrillard but am a bit preoccopied at the moment with other material.

 

[Decaf]

So I was thinking about this recently and I thought I'd post a link to a video that is really inspiring to me. In an ephemeral kind of way.

YouTube- Ingrid Michaelson - Breakable

I saw Ingrid live once and wasn't that impressed, but that video makes my eyes shine. Do you think its related to my INTP interest in photography and its symbolism?