We have all heard the term ‘thinking outside the box.’ It is a challenge to try to think and interpret in new ways never done before. Of course the term is probably cliche now, and perhaps the bigger challenge is defining exactly what that box is. It is hard to think outside of something that is undefined to begin with.
So I started thinking about what box I typically work in when it comes to nature photography. I am pretty open minded when it comes to techniques, and have tried all sorts of concepts over the years. So I think my box is actually quite large, and really had to think quite hard to define some of the edges. After all, the entire purpose of defining the edge of the box is to do nearly the opposite, reach outside of it to expand your experience and work you create.
My box is going to be ultimately confined to the nature photography universe. While ‘going outside your universe’ is certainly another interesting thing to think about – the scope is just too huge. Certainly shooting people or cars would be completely new areas..or if I really wanted to torture myself.. a wedding! 
So here are some things I thought of as far as my box..within my universe..that perhaps impose some type of limits on my images;
So these are just four that I was able to come up with, I am sure there can be many more. But just listing these, and then thinking about their opposites puts some interesting ideas in my head. . If it ever warms up around here, I am looking forward to playing with these a little. Please share any box boundaries you might have consciously identified or broken.
Mark, I think this is a great exercise and one that I have begun trying to do myself. I began my list more to understand who I was as an image maker than to specifically determine what box I should work myself out of. But, that is also a clear benefit. It’s also a good way to help develop an artist’s statement dealing with appraoch and style.
Your blog is always a pleasurable experience. Your posts are very inspiring. Right now I am simply trying to shoot as a meaning maker, but I am continually fascinated by the depth of the art. There is so much to learn and to try.
Interesting, Mark. I know that I’ve gone outside of the box, or my comfort zone and started shooting people and some architecture, but there’s still no place like the woods!
I’m pretty much a WYSIWYG shooter. I rarely use the DOF preview button. In other words, 99% of the time, I’m going to shoot wide open. I have, on occasion, thought to stop down, but it’s overrated!
I, too, shoot ‘realistically’. On occasion, I do like to step out of this and try some motion studies. I especially am fond of time exposures and panning.
Night shots! I want to do those, too, but am a bit of a safety nut!
I’ll need a partner, although I love to do shots of the moon from the comfort of my backyard.
Mark,
Here are a few other out of your box type of photos:
- How about Black and White shots of Nature?
- How about selective color shots of nature? (Where the focus point is in color but the rest is in BW…here
is a recent example of mine).
I think it’s good that we all take a step back and try to push ourselves in new areas. We may not like them in the end, but at least we tried something new and it helps to keep photography fresh…
Mark – I think if you really want to create images “out of your box” why don’t you do exactly that what you said with the little emoticon of shuddering? Wedding images! Why not wedding images of some unusual sort – as f.e. example unusual snap shots of people attending, photos you would not expect to be taken at a wedding? There are plenty of possibilities and I am 100% sure you would have your fun!!! You could concentrate on pure body language f.e. without showing the face etc. etc. – there are plenty of various things I could think of.
The wonderful thing with a digital camera is that you need not think about costs regarding film material. You just need to press the button and start – heavenly!
I know that having simply some fun is taking me outside the box and taking myself not too serious is an important element too.
Thank you all for the comments.
Greg – I have already done a bit with B&W, I tend to do it already when I think it suits the image well;
http://www.grafphoto.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=17
As far as the partial coloration, I used to actually do that by hand with hand-tinting B&W prints many, many years ago. I should play with it more digitally.
Petra – no way, no how.
Grizzly bears, wolves, snakes – great… but people scare me.
I like your thoughts here and it’s nice to see photographers with an open mind. I feel a lot of them are so narrowly focused on what they’ve been doing that they shun all else. There’s nothing worse than a closed mind.
I think you’re definitely headed in the right direction. My strongest start shooting in the dark! Nature has the advantage of standing still (if its not wildlife) so you have all the time in the world to setup and expose your shots. Moonlit nature scenes can look quite beautiful. I’m not a huge nature photographer but when i’ve seen elements of nature in my night shots I’ve always liked how they looked… here’s an example:
http://www.shutterscript.com/2007/06/01/east-boston-from-dusk-till-dawn/
Stay away from wedding photography – it is the dark side.
Mark:
I appreciated this thought provoking post.
Here is my box:
Nature. Avoid flash. Work alone in situations with no or few people around. Nearby subjects (little travel). Limited patience (hence, not waiting for the right light). Minimal post processing. No new lenses for now (kit lense, so-so macro, 50mm). Have fun. Continue learning. Not sure why I photograph or what to do with those I like.
Some of the items defining my box are actually challenges to improve: such as using my current lenses. The one I want to push beyond is: working alone. I have recently started taking photos at Longwood Gardens, with people around, as a way of helping me become less self-conscious. Some day, I hope to be able to take photos of people. (But never weddings.)
Kalim, that’s what I was thinking – trying to take advantage of moonlight more. Thanks for stopping by.
Anita – I think exploration into all of those things can help anyone grow.
Interesting post.
I like to think that I am pushing to expand my box all the time, but then maybe I’m deluding myself. I’ll use this post as a reminder to keep at it.
One thing I used to never shoot was junk that I run across in the woods. I would always avoid any evidence of human activity in my nature photos.
Over the last couple of years however I’ve taken to seeking out things like old pieces of farm machinery rusting away in hedgerows. I’m not advocating purposely trashing the woods, but relics inadvertently left behind can often become quite beautiful after wind and weather have had their way with them for twenty years or so.
MDW
That is a good theme – nature reclaiming areas that were once taken from it.
I have also intentionally avoided hand of man elements.