Post by Saknika on Sept 22, 2009 22:35:20 GMT -5
As many of you may see now in your mini-profile (what shows up next to all your posts, where your avatar is), there is a field called "Photo Specialty". This is to help everyone understand where you're strongest in photography, so that we can see how diverse we are, and so if you're looking for specific help, you know who best to turn to.
The biggest thing though, is that many of us will end up specializing in a certain field, and as such we'll learn things only about that field, and maybe not others as much. This doesn't mean you don't know anything about commercial photography because you are a portrait photographer, it simply means you're better versed in portraiture. What this means though, is when you're receiving conflicting advice (because it's bound to happen), knowing who specializes where may help you to decide which advice you'd like to take.
For example, you shoot a great portrait, but at an odd angle. You're almost birds-eye, and that can be a little unusual. Two photographers come in and comment. The first says the angle is horrible, and that you shouldn't make it so harsh. That straight on is best. The second says it's a very creative angle for capturing the person, and that they feel it works well. Both could be good advice, but who do you listen to? Upon looking at where each specializes, you notice that the first person is better at architecture, and the second person portraits. As such, while the first person isn't necessarily wrong, the second person probably understands portraits more, and therefore it helps ease the confusion you may have felt.
If you're having trouble decided on where you feel strongest, don't panic. You can always ask someone [via PM] to help you figure it out by going over your portfolio of photographs to help you. The following people are willing to help with this:
-Saknika
If you'd like to be added to this list, please PM me, and I will add you. Please don't ask to be added to the list if you don't feel confident in critiquing artwork though, since you need to be able to see where a person's strong points are.
So once you know what you feel you are strongest in, your specialty, it's time to contact an administrator. The administration are the only ones with access to this feature so that:
A) You can have up to two choices and
B) It's uniform.
If you feel you've changed and grown stronger in a different style, contact an administrator to change it. We're here to help, after all.
These are the specific areas you can specialize in:
-Action: Photos that capture the essence of movement being frozen. Usually this is of sports, but can also pertain to panning.
-Aerial: Photos that are taken from the sky to capture the ground.
-Architecture: Photos that capture the essence of both the interior and exterior of buildings or monuments.
-Commercial: Product-type photography meant for things like magazines and businesses.
-Conceptual: Photos created to convey a specific message, often with symbolism.
-Fine Art: Photos done to be artistic and aesthetic.
-Landscape: Photography geared towards capturing the natural art of mother nature.
-Macro: Close-up photos taken to bring something small and make it appear clear and large within a frame.
-Photojournalism: Candid photography meant to document or record an event taking place, or to tell/accompany a specific story.
-Photomanipulation: The art of combining photos and other graphic elements to create a different piece of artwork.
-Portraiture: Photos of posed people (sometimes pets), either indoors or outdoors.
-Special Effects: Photos that are surreal due to specific usage of filters. For example, infrared photography.
-Stock: Photos taken solely for others to be able to use at their own will.
-Street: This is a form of photojournalism that has become a style itself. These photos are taken of people on the street, candidly, to tell some sort of story about them, or to evoke emotion.
-Underwater: Photos taken beneath the surface of water by using special equipment.
-Weddings: Documentary photography taken of a special day. Will usually include bits of architecture, portrait, photojournalism, and commercial photography.
-Wildlife: Photos of animals in their natural habitat that are not domesticated.
If you think that something is missing from this list, please PM me so we can discuss it, since there are many subcategories to these ones.
The biggest thing though, is that many of us will end up specializing in a certain field, and as such we'll learn things only about that field, and maybe not others as much. This doesn't mean you don't know anything about commercial photography because you are a portrait photographer, it simply means you're better versed in portraiture. What this means though, is when you're receiving conflicting advice (because it's bound to happen), knowing who specializes where may help you to decide which advice you'd like to take.
For example, you shoot a great portrait, but at an odd angle. You're almost birds-eye, and that can be a little unusual. Two photographers come in and comment. The first says the angle is horrible, and that you shouldn't make it so harsh. That straight on is best. The second says it's a very creative angle for capturing the person, and that they feel it works well. Both could be good advice, but who do you listen to? Upon looking at where each specializes, you notice that the first person is better at architecture, and the second person portraits. As such, while the first person isn't necessarily wrong, the second person probably understands portraits more, and therefore it helps ease the confusion you may have felt.
If you're having trouble decided on where you feel strongest, don't panic. You can always ask someone [via PM] to help you figure it out by going over your portfolio of photographs to help you. The following people are willing to help with this:
-Saknika
If you'd like to be added to this list, please PM me, and I will add you. Please don't ask to be added to the list if you don't feel confident in critiquing artwork though, since you need to be able to see where a person's strong points are.
So once you know what you feel you are strongest in, your specialty, it's time to contact an administrator. The administration are the only ones with access to this feature so that:
A) You can have up to two choices and
B) It's uniform.
If you feel you've changed and grown stronger in a different style, contact an administrator to change it. We're here to help, after all.
These are the specific areas you can specialize in:
-Action: Photos that capture the essence of movement being frozen. Usually this is of sports, but can also pertain to panning.
-Aerial: Photos that are taken from the sky to capture the ground.
-Architecture: Photos that capture the essence of both the interior and exterior of buildings or monuments.
-Commercial: Product-type photography meant for things like magazines and businesses.
-Conceptual: Photos created to convey a specific message, often with symbolism.
-Fine Art: Photos done to be artistic and aesthetic.
-Landscape: Photography geared towards capturing the natural art of mother nature.
-Macro: Close-up photos taken to bring something small and make it appear clear and large within a frame.
-Photojournalism: Candid photography meant to document or record an event taking place, or to tell/accompany a specific story.
-Photomanipulation: The art of combining photos and other graphic elements to create a different piece of artwork.
-Portraiture: Photos of posed people (sometimes pets), either indoors or outdoors.
-Special Effects: Photos that are surreal due to specific usage of filters. For example, infrared photography.
-Stock: Photos taken solely for others to be able to use at their own will.
-Street: This is a form of photojournalism that has become a style itself. These photos are taken of people on the street, candidly, to tell some sort of story about them, or to evoke emotion.
-Underwater: Photos taken beneath the surface of water by using special equipment.
-Weddings: Documentary photography taken of a special day. Will usually include bits of architecture, portrait, photojournalism, and commercial photography.
-Wildlife: Photos of animals in their natural habitat that are not domesticated.
If you think that something is missing from this list, please PM me so we can discuss it, since there are many subcategories to these ones.