Archetypes of Wildlife Photography, Which One Are You?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ต.ค. 2022
- In this video, I look at 4 personality types of wildlife photographers.
Really curious about where you think you fall in. Let me know down in the comments, BUT you can only pick one. Which one do you MOST align with?
I did an IG poll with a couple hundred responses. Here is how they came out from highest to lowest. I do think there is some bias in this as most of my followers leaned artist which probably most closely aligns with me as a photographer.
Artist - 48%
Storyteller - 18%
Sharer - 17%
Technician - 16%
I think based on YT comments there are more technicians at heart than this survey represents, but again bias may have technicians not answer or answer another category because that archetype isn't what I tend to talk about or represent.
An interesting study, loving all the comments, read every one!
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I started out as a technician, but I'm evolving into the artist. But working so hard on the technical side was important for me, to now enable me to use/alter the techniques. You have to know the rules before you can knowingly break them:)
I started out just becoming a birdwatcher. I didn't even own a camera the whole first year of birding, just an awesome set of binoculars. But I developed a desire to share what I was seeing with others, so I bought and used a Nikon Coolpix set on the "bird" setting for the next 5 years. Cropped in close, too close, you know the deal. I wore out my two bridge cameras and decided to go for the real deal and got a good Nikon Zf camera and 500mm lens. I am now having a blast in nature doing what I love. If I have to only pick one of these styles, I think it would be the Sharer. I often post pics of what I see in a certain location to give other birders a realistic idea of what can be seen. But.....and I know you said we couldn't pick more than one style, I also with great delight like my images to tell a story. A Snail Kite catching an Apple Snail and flying up to a branch to eat the snail tells the story of how the bird survives in nature. Thanks for your awesome and thought-provoking videos.
Fun video, Scott! You definitely captured the spectrum of wildlife photographers with those 4 archetypes. Had to really think about it because I was torn between two. Ultimately, I decided to choose “artist” as what I most identify with, but perhaps because that’s just what I WANT to be…in reality, I might fall into a different bucket. Either way, fun to think about.
I try to be all 4 types ! I would also have another category "willing to go the extra mile to get the shot !" (Sleep deprived !)😀
I’m stuck in the middle of tech and artist…striving to be more artistic. It will be interesting to see where I’m at in a year.
Awww, you made me chose just one and I was going to say I am a conflicted technician/artist. I have been reflecting lately on my fixation with sharpness and by making me chose one, artist, I feel liberated.
NICE!
I found it difficult to place myself in just one category. Wildlife photography is only one of my photographic joys, which was born out of loving to hike and backpack camp. I also do a lot of street photography, night landscape and astrophotography. I love the magic of light, colour, and texture at night, and the etherial emotions it can invoke. It's a tough exercise to chose one category, but if I did, I guess I would fall more into the Sharer category than others when it comes to wildlife photography. That being said, I find nature and wildlife photography for me is not just about sharing the experience, but also trying to create something that does more than just document sighting of a bird or animal, but more of the moment, at times more of an environmental approach, but most often something more unique than just a "bird shot", which crowds into the artist, and even storyteller categories as well.
Thanks Todd, your emphasis on light and magic lend me to think that deep down you are an artist?
Thank you for this video! This is really something photographers should think about from time to time.
I find myself in all categories to be honest. Artist, these photos are the type I admire most and try to do myself, but I'm still learning this part. Technician, that is definitely a part of me, bigger than I want it, and I started as a pure technician. Now while this led to a fast grow of useful knowledge, I knew I wanted to get out of there and become the artist, which ist my path right now that I'm concentrating on mainly.
But I also have parts of the other two. Sharer, yes, but this is the smallest part of my photography. Documentarian, of course. While I still struggle with taking photos that really tell stories, I see myself as a conservation photographer, I even write a list of species that I photographed, with notes when and where and the subspecies and also the IUCN-status. So I am definitely a documentarian, too.
(And yes, if you ask me something, I will mostly every time choose a bit of every option :D)
I started as a sharer, all excited to have just found the bird/bug/critter out in the world and managing to get a shot of it. As I shared I realized that I was lacking asa technician, and sharing things that weren't sharp or well lit or whatever was troubling, so I worked on my technical skills. Then... as I shared my technically good photos, I realized they didn't really have the artistic beauty that I really want to capture. An artistic value that I admired in the photos of other excellent photographers. So now I'm working on my artistic side, and hoping to get more shots that evoke an emotion. So it evolves. It changes and goes through a progression, and I'm fairly sure that my progression is similar to a lot of folks. The dynamics of learning all of the skills sets required for deeply satisfying shots takes you through a tour of all the archetypes.
This is more or less what I wanted to say only couldn't put it into words!
Thanks for the input Randall
I truly strongly identify with all of these. As a wildlife artist and photographer, as a keen nature watcher wanting to enthusiastically share my experiences, as a journalist documenting wildlife activity. And as a (long ago) child/student of a technical perfectionist journalist/photographer, I feel like I have to produce the technically perfect shot. I am strongly all of these and love the challenge....over 43 years of shooting. Thanks for the insightful video. 👍📸
Thanks for tuning in Ruth
Artist definitely resonates with me the most and I’ve really struggled with that over the years because of other archetypes dictating what makes a good photograph. I still struggle with it at times, but my heart is always drawn to making art with my photos
Beautifully summarised photographers in four categories. The best part is that descriptions of the categories are unbiased and comprehensive. I agree that one may be doing works which fit with all, at the heart one is definitely of one category. I would place myself among “sharers”. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
I’m a technician love to see every feather in glorious detail
It's tough to pigeonhole Scott, but if I have to chose only one it's got to be sharer. I shoot a lot in local nature preserves and greenways. My post typically include a bulb about the bird, what they are doing, and where the photo was taken. I want to raise awareness of local wildlife and encourage people to outside and experience it themselves.
Intersting video, Scott, and I have to say I’m neither in, nor ever have been in one camp or the other. Depending on the environment and subject matter, I can safely say that I’ve flirted with all of them. Tellingly, no sooner do I run through a few criteria that would bias me to one of those categories, I can equally identify other characteristics that would put me in another. I kept thinking to myself that I’m not good enough to be an artist, I don’t know enough to be a good technician, my photographs don’t always tell a story and I haven’t been devoted enough to making a documentary…but I love being out and trying to create good images.
I'm probably a story teller, but I always shoot wide open and almost always flip my images so the subject is looking to the right and positioned to the left.
I'm so glad I found your channel - your content is to aspire to - now I actually see this as a progression in Wildlife Photography for myself - I'm a sharer for sure - but I see myself progressing into the artist and a technical artist as well - there are things I definitely won't share now but would have months ago.
I think of myself as a storyteller, but not sure it always comes across! My favorite photos, though, to take and to see from others are photos that tell a story.
Storyteller (since you asked for one). I consider my best images are ones that display a behavior and my wife would never have those images hanging on our wall 🙂However, I can see a bit of all your categories in my work. For example, a clean background and good lighting are important to me but I'm too old & fat to take the extra effort to get down at water level. Good video, Scott.
Love ya Jer
I started out as a sharer but nowadays align with the artist archetype. I still get joy and excited by awesome encounters in the field but am focusing on taking artistic photos of the natural world.
Love this video Scott! The types do make a lot of sense. I probably started out as the Technician but now I am definitely the Artist!
I'll add a new category for you the hunter, I tend to go out to photograph more as an excuse to get outdoors and pit my skills against the little creatures I'm going to photograph. For me just getting the shot is the real goal, trying to put myself in the right place right time and in right position (light), to get the shot. I really do not worry so much about technical, I don't really share many of my images, I do some, but some are just not worth sharing. But I look at years ago when I would photograph something, and it was about 20 pixels in size in my image and I had to crop it to the max lose all detail just to see what I was photographing to where I am today with birds and fill most of the frame with a detailed image.
Interesting...... You may be on to something! for the hunter its the thrill of the chase that drives them!
Forced to pick just one, I'd say that I'm an artist at heart. At the same time that's what's keeping me from sharing a lot of my pictures because I simply don't find them 'artsy' enough to be worth sharing.
Its a curse, when you are the "artist" its hard to post images that aren't feeling..... artistic?
Hi Scott, greetings from Ireland. Am a big fan of your videos, really enjoyed this one. I'm definitely a sharer, all my images reflect the beauty of nature and the wildlife that inhabit it and nothing gives me more pleasure than sharing that beauty with everyone. That's all that matters in my wildlife photography. That was a fascinating video and thanks again for all that you do. I've learnt so much from your channel.. Jim.😉👍
Interesting video. Myself like many, I would fall into different categories, depending on my trip and thoughts for the day. And I think there are many the same. When I was doing film, most days I set out with a plan, and as with many trips, you see that one shot that was not planned, but too nice to pass up, and that is the joy of photography. Now if I think of what I do most, and what I do with most of my photos, I will say I am a sharer, because I like to let others see what I did, where I was and even if it is not perfect, it gets the message across. Also, with social media now, it makes it so easy to do this. Now as for the categories. Not sure where these would fit in, or if it is a whole other topic. But you have the manual camp and the automatic camp. Not saying it is right or wrong to use either, but in classes you will always see the ones that are learning the camera and doing manual, and the automatic group that always want that perfect picture, without understand of how to adjust the camera. I get to each their own, but just stating that there is these 2 camps as well. Thanks for all the tips, and many interesting videos.
Very interesting video, presented and explained very well. I guess I fall into the technician bucket because I constantly crop and zoom in and love to see the details...what I can't see with my own eyes. I love photographing in my own backyard the best. Photography helps me to see the story that I wouldn't see if I didn't have the camera. It forces me to focus. I'm frequently surprised when I zoom in on the computer and see that the bluebird wasn't just flying down, he dropped a worm and caught it midair. I see that the robin at the bird bath didn't have a leg. I see a bug stuck to a woodpecker's beak. I love the detail. But the detail just tells me the story, so perhaps I'm a documentarian/storyteller. Hmmm.... very interesting video. PS: I just found your channel last nite, where you compared the 4 Nikon lenses at 400mm (great video...thanks). I LOVED your 400, f/2.8...detail incredible! But, the lens would be way too physically challenging (weight) for me to continue enjoying seeing the birds and their "stories". So, even if I had the $ for the 400 f2.8, I'd buy the smaller lens first, so that I could still focus on the story. I guess I'm a documentarian/storyteller. Thanks again. I've subscribed to your channel.
I feel like I'm a technicion...learning about how to be an artist.
I am 51% sharer who loves finding new wildlife, then the other percents are heavier to story teller but moving towards artist. As I progress, I would like to be majority artist. In other words, I've done the snapshots and now I want the wow.
I’m still learning my camera, not understanding light room, story telling not my thing. That leaves me solidly in the sharing group, which I am happy with. I am an octogenarian new to bird photography. I don’t know whether my photos are technologically correct or my photos are artistic, but many look real good to me and I’m happy to shoot a few photos to friends.
thanks for the input, hope you are enjoying the process
Great video! Most people cross more than one category, however, I see myself more as a technician at this point, striving to become more artistic. Except for news / sports photographers, we all became photographers as a means to express ourselves “artistically.” I never could “paint” with words or a brush, but with the assistance of my camera as a tool, my artistic expression can shine.
Thanks for sharing!
This was a great topic Scott. Had to really think about it. I think I’m definitely more of the Artist when it comes to creating images. Although I think I’d like to be more of the story teller or the technician, nailing the image straight out of camera, most times I just like to capture or photograph what I see in the most creative, artistic way I can. Learning the artistic technique was always challenging and enjoyable. Cheers
Just now watching this one… interesting archetype concepts. Of your choices I’d have to pick sharer. I enjoy it for my own joy and share for others to enjoy. But I’d like to do it well so I end up bringing some artist and technician along.
Interesting topic. I was a Sharer, but have shifted to Technician and then now towards Artist. I’m just not sure I’m one without the others. Need to think about it more.
In your poll on IG, I voted Technician as that resonates the most today.
right now im a sharer
Wow, this caused me to do a lot of deep thinking on a Monday morning! :) Overall, I'm a sharer. If II'm outdoors see something interesting, I want other people to see it, sometimes even if I didn't quite nail the shot. I like to go kayaking, and I'll try to post a shot on Facebook of any animal I see that day. CAVEAT: I am much pickier on what I post to Instagram or put on my Flickr page (Yup, I still do Flickr). When it comes to what I like to see in other people's photos, I like the storyteller's images the best. Great topic!
I still love Flickr lol i actually use it like an archive system since the camera roll sorts by date.
i am a sharer. But as I improve, I’m kind of leaning more into artist.
Currently at the beginner level, a technician hoping to become the artist
I really enjoy your videos. Very down to earth and informative. If I had to put myself into a category it would probably be a technician but the other categories play a role in what I do. I'm still relatively new to wildlife photography so I may slop over into other categories therefore I think there may be a 5th category...a generalist.I wonder how many folks would put themselves into that one? Thanks.
Artist. I agree that the majority of people fall into one of these four as the main focus and probably dabble in one or more of the other categories in some way. And I also agree that you can quickly tell who falls into each category based on their work and what they share. Interesting topic 👍👍
thanks JJ
I'd put myself in the Artist category.
My photos/photography as I experience it I love to share my experience.
2nd I actually at times if requested I'll give away my print or file so I can share my art .
Very interesting video, Scott. You encouraged me to do more photography. Your photographs are amazing, well done 👏
I love to capture Story teller images. Greetings from Sri Lanka.
Great to hear!
I am firmly in the documentarian/ story teller category. I rarely nowadays take a portrait like shot and almost always shoot bird images in life settings as to convey a bit about the bird or animal I am shooting as well as with minimalist processing. Almost paraphrasing your own words, Scott. Documentarian/ Storyteller.
Great input thanks!
A really great video that I will share with our group (Cairns Birders - I write a column "Shutterbird" in their newsletter). I started as a technician to master the craft. But have gravitated to story teller. There's always a picture in the picture!
I think a lot start at technicians or sharers and evolve to artist or story teller.
Scott, this video has come at a juncture where I feel I'm transitioning from artist into documentarian. So final answer as of now, documentarian. Reason being is I've found wildlife photography (especially small song birds) to be extremely difficult using my older model Sony A7rII paired with the newer Sony 200-600mm. Needless to say, I've missed many of focuses that initially discouraged me. But recently my interest in switching to video and manual focus has yielded exciting results that continue to push me to make more. It's not so much about the tack sharp focus on the eye, as it is watching a song bird jump from branch to branch and practicing my manual focus abilities. Once I'm done with grad school, I do plan to upgrade my camera body so I can benefit from the real-time autofocus.
A great video that resulted in a lot of introspection.
I have been a sharer as part of my profession as an experienced electric distribution utility engineer, training new engineers, often using photography of pole-mounted and pad-mounted equipment as part of that training. While the goal may have been to take pictures as a sharer, I strived to make my photographs highly technically precise as possible with high mega-pixel cameras and high-quality (heavy) name-brand lenses.
As I approach retirement and am looking at a shift of my hobby to nature and landscape photography, I struggle with trying to develop the skillset to move away from the technical archetype to a more artistic archetype.
Great insights! I think it is important for each one of use to be self-aware, and to analyze ourselves and contemplate our motivations and objectives in a way that can be clearly defined and articulated.
Personally, the only one of the 4 archetypes that I cannot relate to at all is the sharer. Friends often wonder why I don't post more of my work, or update my website more than once every year or three, so I know that sharing publicly is not what drives me.
I have a little technician in me, but am not primarily driven by technical perfection. For me, technical proficiency is important as the means to an end, and of little value on its own.
I can relate to the documentarian, but not really the storyteller ... so it is interesting to me that you combined these into one, as I do not see them being as similar as you see them.
As for the documentarian in me, I am keenly interested in showing the specifics of a certain individual within a species, inasmuch as unique coloration is concerned ..... such as the different patterns that different Whitetail Deer have in their facial coloration, or the variations in the pattern of Mountain Kingsnakes as you look at one individual vs. another individual. But "storyteller" seems to mean using a photo to show the viewer what happened, and I am not very interested in using my photos in that way at all.
Now I come to the Artist, which I can relate to more than any of the other archetypes. While shooting, I am primarily obsessed with things like the background and the tonal contrast between my subject and that background. I am also obsessed with creating a clean composition that is free from any distractions. If there is a leaf in the scene of a wildlife photo, and that leaf is turned upside down, so that it reflects more light than the other leaves around it, that will drive me insane and I will have to find a way to get that out of the composition. Ditto for a twig or blade of grass that doesn't quite match the other twigs or blades of grass. I am also obsessed with choosing exactly what part of my subject intersects with the horizon or other major lines in the composition. Exactly how out of focus will everything in the frame be? This stuff all matters so very much! If I can't get all of these things just right, then I would rather not even bother taking pictures at all.
Lastly, there is one other archetype that I have seen quite a few of, that you missed. It is The Collector.
By "The Collector" I mean the wildlife photographer - usually a birder - who is primarily interested in getting a decent image of each species, and one of each sex of that species in species which exhibit sexual dimorphism. These are typically people who are very serious about their photography ..... but they are almost as serious about birding as they are about their bird photography. To them, a successful outing is one in which they get solid photos of their target species, or at least one solid image of each one of a list of species which they targeted. They highly value rare or uncommon species, and shun photographing commonly seen species. The temptation may be to say that these Collectors are primarily birders, who just happen to do photography as a part of their birding. But no, they are just as serious about bird photography as those who do not keep detailed lists of species they saw. They represent a big chunk of wildlife photographers, as there are simply so so so many photographers who fit this Collector profile.
I am a technician and love all the intricate details but I am always looking toward wanting to be more of an artist...but tech I am! Thanx for the video Scott.
I am mainly a sharer, but do see aspects of the others in my photos too. I do strive for technical perfection, I do like documenting behaviour and do take some purely artistic photos - but sharing my joy of nature is my main motivator.
I have just discovered your channel - som really interesting videos, thanks!
Thanks, I try to mix up topics, reviews and interviews, hope you enjoy
I’d have to place myself in the sharers category but more broadly defined as a focus on the activity or experience. It is internally driven and may or may not contain the sharing aspect of the archetype. I believe the technician, artistic or story telling aspects can be included but they are not the fundamental motivation. There is an interest to learn and grow but ultimately I’m seeking images I feel good about.
I'd have to put myself in the Artist category Scott. I strive to capture images with an artistic aesthetic using in-camera techniques and different lighting conditions that require minimal enhancement in post. I'm definitely not comfortable with an "anything goes" approach in post processing, I like to create my images in camera. Great topic and as much as lean towards an artistic style, I also really admire images that tell a strong story. Some of the work I see from conservation photographers and photo-journalists documenting the natural world are incredible!
Hi Scott, great video. If pushed I’m an artist, well in the making.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do!
Only choosing one, I would have to share I am a sharer, because I love to share what I see/experience/learn. The things I share are not always perfect technically. But I do always try to learn to take technically better images, artistically edited, that are documenting the natural word around me. When I can catch a moment that tells strong story I am so overjoyed. But, then I love to share it with the world and talk to people about what I saw/captured.
Startet as technican but now i would say Storyteller
I like seeing interesting poses and interactions since they all ask the same question of "What is it doing?". I generally edit to reinforce what I have in mind, and as such I don't mind if the colors are unnatural, at first brush, or if the shot is noisy or deviates from freezing action.
I think that's why I preferred storyteller photos the most, with the artist photos following closely in second place.
I started out as a sharer and moved to an artist. Sharing puts a smile on my face and on the viewers face too. As my technical skills improved I starting removing the distractions. I don't always have the perfect light so I might add color too. Mother Nature has a lot to offer so I try to put her subjects in the best light possible.
I would consider myself a sharer. I just want to share with my family & friends the experience I've been through. I'm in that phase I see a bird for the first time, I take a picture to try and identify what breed it is. I would sometimes even take the picture with the phone as it is easier to share. Sorry! 🙂 In the future, I would love to evolve as a storyteller but I think it will take time to watch the birds and get to know their behavior. A few days ago, I saw for the first time a kind of parakeet extremely colorful, I was in such an awe, that I forgot to grab the camera that was on my table just in front of me 🤷🏻♂
I’m definitely a Sharer
Scott - very interesting. Ran through all the aspects - definitely eliminated the sharer and most likely the documentarian.
I honestly could not determine where I fell between the technician and the artist.
Good stuff.
Technician. Lol.
I responded to your IG. I am an artist. But I am stuck in a technician body. I explained that though, basically I used to draw and be very artistic. I became an actual technician for 20+ years and after about 6 years of wildlife photography I am constantly dissatisfied with my pictures being technical. I have been trying to bring out the artistic side of myself again as artistic photos resonate with me FAR more than technical.
I am technical but I hate that I am, I feel so much more joy when I take an artistic shot and I am working on doing that more.
I think once you are wired to be a technician. like really hardwired, its hard to get past. Once you see razor sharp images, it can be tough to accept anything less.
@@WildlifeInspired very true. I think the only one that is a true rabbit hole is the technician. I think anyone of those other three can become a technician… but it would be hard for a technician to become any one of those other three. I would say the difference for me is that I enjoy pictures that elicit an emotion. I do not enjoy technical pictures. That’s why I do believe that I am an artist at heart.
Hahaha, I am a technician to a tee :-) I carry around a stupid heavy 500mm f4 on a tripod to capture the ultimate in detail.
I'm striving to be an artist, but I'm still working out how to capture what I see. As a result, I'm often more of a sharer. I try to take mental notes about what worked, and why it worked, so I can apply that knowledge to future outings so eventually I can focus on the art and know what I need to capture what I'm seeing in my mind's eye.
hey... now that i look back at my photos, I'm more of an artist...geeezzzz never come across my mind
I have progressed from sharer through technician to artist - I think 😀
Like so many others who have responded, I probably fit best into the category of sharer--I want other folks to see the world as I do, primarily through my macro and telephoto lens. Aspirationally I would love to think of myself as an artist and do manage to take a fair number of "artsy" photos, but they are quite often serendipitous rather than intentional. I loved the way you presented this--all too often "wildlife photographers" are pigeonholed into narrow categories and your archetypes fit the universe of wildlife photographers better. As I thought about the archetypes, I could help but deciding which ones would be most likely to have a TH-cam channel; to enter photo competitions; to try to sell prints; or to lead a photo tour. Different strokes....
I fit into the documentarian/ storyteller category for sure. I love capturing wildlife going about their daily business in their natural environment, action shots, or pictures in rain and snow to show how hard it is for them out there. I don't edit out branches or anything like that and I often like to show some environment to add context to photos. My wildlife photos that tell a story get me the most excited.
I really admire story tellers wont lie. I consider myself more artist, but I love images that tell stories.
I think artist. Def started more technician/sharer.
This is such an interesting video. I think you’re onto something. I think this subject could open up a lot of good conversation. How about producing a longer video using input and debate among your viewers? Thanks for posting!
maybe if i ever do another live show.... havent done one in a while
Have to say that I am primarily a technician. Would love to have the "best" equipment for the job at hand. I am retired now but worked in the Medical field as a technician and always enjoyed learning the whys and how to's. To make my wildlife photography unique to me , my style ??? Interaction between species , storytelling is a major player. Thanks for all your insightful videos.
Thanks Mark
Great. I've learned I'm a technically artistic sharing documentarian. :D
Thanks for sharing!
I'm a Technician and strive to continuedly improve and learn. I feel like the best way to get the attention of any viewer is a sharp image of the subject in great light with a decent background..
Hi Scott,
I joined and liked. Although I am far from the sharer I watch and enjoy many of your videos and they have been helpful to me. Therefore you got the uncommon like and join participation. I could. go more into the Jungian archetypes, but feel that was not your idea. At least not consciously. :)
That was really fun. I see myself as all of those and honestly can’t pick one. I want my images to be of good quality and to be engaging but I’ll edit them until they convey the feeling I want them to. However, at the same time, I’m just excited to be in nature, photographing wildlife and I’m happy just to share that experience. What I would strive to be is the artist and maybe one day I’ll manage it 😊😊😊
I think if its emotional for you, you are likely a sharer.
Great thought provoking subject. I’d have to say that I am a technician but that extends from the camera through post processing. So from a technical perspective getting it right in the end is more important to me than just getting it right in-camera. I do have an inner artist. But my inner technician keeps beating him down. I’m working on that. Lol.
lol well put
Right now a technician trying to get the sharpest image I can. And now that my gear is as good as I can afford, working my way to be an artist.
Great video. I don’t think I can really be only one type. I started as a sharer but I’ve become (trying to become) an arteeest. I’m really more of an artist that likes to provide info and document/tell a story or educate.
Goood video, Scott. I have trouble ever trying to buttonhole myself for anything. I have spent months or even years doing wabi sabi and loving it. Then, one time I spent 16 months working on one technical aspect of color processing that wasn't covered in books until I got it down the way I wanted it. And, I've told patrons at the gallery that I didn't care if some of my photography looked like watercolor paintings. I was producing art not snapshots, and what is more important? The finished image or the process? And then, when I started to concentrated on bird photography I wanted images that could be used to identify the birds as "proof" for my bird book that I had seen them and identified them. Then, as the years went on I started to be more aware of the background and the surroundings of the bird and picky about which shots I made and how I set up my blind. Now, I just finished a show at the DAC gallery with 60 of my framed bird images and I'm still processing orders. So, based on all of this going around my @$$ to get to my elbow story, I'd have to put myself into primarily the artist category at this time. When I go out shooting I'm looking for art. But I won't pass up opportunities for any of the other categories just because it might not seem to fit what I like at the time. How's that for wishy washy, Scott?
def wishy washy, but I think i got it..... sounds like artist
In my experience, artists generally have more technical skills than technicians.
Interesting video Scott. I definitely started as a sharer - sharing everything I photographed, never mind that they were not really good photos (looked good that time, hahaha). There is definitely a documentarian in me (I even have a blog to document important trips and significant lifers). Right now I find myself striving to have really good photos to the point that I am selective of what I post/share because as much as possible, I want to post only technically good photos. But artistic photos appeal to me as well. An ideal photo for me is something that is technically good (sharp, properly exposed), artistic (properly composed, etc) and tells a story (maybe an action shot). Can I be greedy and say that I am a documentarian who strives to be technically good and artistic as well?
too greedy lol if you could only create an image that evoked mood (maybe not sharp focus but gorgeous color) or had an image that was super sharp but a little bland with the light, which would you prefer.
Great video - I am a sharer :0) That means I can post photos of all your other categories - story-telling, technical, artistic it is just what I experience in the field and share. But I think when it comes to it there are lots of other categories that you don't mention - it comes down to the primary purpose or purposes a person has when they go into the field and of course this may change with time. There is definitely the collector - someone who goes out to capture photos of birds he has not captured before and then like stamps may put them in an album - which may be electronic or physical. There is the scientist - ornithologist - who captures photos for his research project - and there are infinite possible research projects they could have! There is the behaviourist who likes capturing behavioural shots of birds.... I could go on but there are many purposes and show horning them into 3 or 4 categories is probably misleading - the world is more complicated than that.
I'd say I'm a healthy mix of technician/artist. I enjoy editing them and making them look the best they can be, but I also am the person that says I have to shoot at 1/2000th haha
lol (slow it down and get the soft light for me just once)
Actually I consider myself to be focused more on the technician aspect of the photos, but I’m getting inspired by your videos to seek more for the artist side!
its a fun transition lol
iI am new to photography and learnign the basics. I am a sharer (and hope it is in focus enough). Good video - Thank you.
hope you are enjoying !
Based on my four photo essays of a good or interesting nature photo-a-day for a year I'd have to say I'm a sharer, but I also do a lot of story-teller type posts on my blog. So I guess it could be said that I'm a bit of both depending on the situation and my mood.
Thanks for sharing!
I'd have to say artist for me. I think that more often than not, the artistic pieces are also what I'm most drawn to when viewing the work of others as well, but the technical stuff still fascinates me and holds my attention rather well. 🙂
Artist 100%. 10:32
Overall, I think the archetypes make sense but I cannot pick one. It is situational for me and a number of other photographers with whom I shoot. I can drift back and forth in that gray area where the categories overlap. I like my images to be as technically good as possible but I do not covet gear. I like to share and get excited about nature. Normally I am more documentarian than artistic but I have no qualms about editing an image. Most of my editing is to make the scene look like how I saw it while out in the field. That may mean color correcting, some cropping. On any given day, with any given image I can be one or more. If absolutely forced to pick one I would be more documentarian/story teller. However, that is not truly representative of all my work.
I'm currently a sharer. Aspirations to be more artists and also storyteller, maybe when I retire and have more time.
I know the rules are to pick one, but these are gradients. Some people will be more technical while others will be more balanced.
I probably lean toward the technical wildlife photographer, but sharing the experience is one of the reasons I do this. If my animal is giving me a story to tell, that will kick in and be the priority. At the end of the day, I’m in the middle, with a lean towards the technical side.
I agree, we all have shades of each, just trying to see where the core is for the viewers
I'm definitely a documentarian.
You are so deadly right, I shoot 1/8000 with tripod with newest RF 600 L and update everything to best pixel peeping. I feel I need some more Artist touch
I have to say i think I'm a technician and a sharer. I've only been at it for 5 years. But I am trying to figure out how I can take my wildlife photography (especially right now bird photography) to the next level. I would like to learn how to take more artsy photographs.
Take a look at my patreon site. It really is a great value
www.patreon.com/wildlifeinspired
You may get some ideas with editing and field work that could help and its month to month under $10 a month and quit anytime.
I try to be my best in all these but I quess sharer fits best.
Artist, who recognizes that without technical knowledge as a basic tool set my creativity would be extremely limited. Much like a painter needs to know his brushes, color palette, and paint qualities we need to have an understanding of our camera, storage cards, stabilization tools, species knowledge, and post processing, even rules of composition like Golden Rule, or Rule of Thirds but not to be slavisjly hampered by them. Photography that can't be creative is drudgery. God"s creation is the inspiration to my creativity as a nature and wildlife photographer, from sunsets to macro there is beauty everywhere.
I think your categories are bang on and I couldn’t think of any to add. And you should know, by forcing me to identify one, you’ve really pissed me off.
Why? Because I’m a technician. A technician who wishes I were an artist.
lol thats funny. What I have learned about true technicians, they cant get out of their head!
Hi Scott, again a brilliant video, thanks for sharing. What advice would you give to someone considerig himself more like a "technician" and willing to become an "artist". Asking for a friend. :)
Focus on on light and color FIRST and worry less about shutter speed and technical perfection. Push yourself the OTHER way then come back and find the balance (Get up early lol)
@@WildlifeInspired Thanks!
Never thought I'd say this but I think I've transitioned to artist over the last few months. I was always very technical (not that I think I've finished learning that side) but I've noticed I go for shots I find unique or wall worthy.
thanks for the input!
Sharer 😎
Im a sharer...
Sharer but with a shrinking interest in sharing. We have become inundated with outdoor/nature photographers in my area. Photography has taken on a very competitive feel with many trying to out do the others. I find myself taking fewer shots and posting less and less. I’m now trying to avoid the other photographers and shots they are taking. I still enjoy photography and being outdoors but am far less interested in sharing. Is there a category for this?
the introspective?? i am working on a fifth possibly sixth archtype! relates a bit to this
Sharer