Express or Selfie?

Greetings and welcome to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place!

Ansel Adams once said, “We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium.”

Given the self absorbed state of the world around us, evidenced by the "art" of the "selfie," it's time to start looking back and moving toward approaching the full possibilities of our medium.

The best "selfie" is made using the external to express something of the internal, allowing a fuller expression of the individual self than a cell phone at arm's length. When we make our photography expressive, as well as creative, we can approach closer the full possibilities of the medium.

Of course, that's just my two cents.


The lodge wall. Antique sleigh on the wall at the lodge.
ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/30, digital

A photo doesn't have to be fancy or artsy to be expressive, creative, and artistic. Look internally, and find the expression in something external!

Well, that’s enough for today. We want you to share your photos, especially of our place, with us on our Hohenfels Volks Facebook page, and we’ll get them posted here! Is there anything you’d like to see here? Do you have a question? Submit them and we’ll get them posted, also. We also welcome any tips, tricks, and ideas. If you’d like to write an article about something photographic or some place of interest, we’d be happy to post it here! You can also e-mail questions, photos, or comments to HohenfelsVolks(at)tks-net.com, and we’ll get them posted! Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too!

From the Soapbox

Greetings and welcome to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place!

Today’s discussion is a short one on a quote from one of the early greats in photography, Alfred Stieglitz.

Photographers must learn not to be ashamed to have their photographs look like photographs. Alfred Stieglitz

First, a little background on Stieglitz. He began photography in the 1880s, and campaigned hard for photography to be recognized as an art unto itself. In 1902 he held one of the first ever photo exhibitions to be judged solely by photographers. Prior to this point, exhibits were being judged by painters and the like, who’s influence led to a more painterly and less vigorous style holding sway in the art. Over the years he influenced many photographers, founded several asscoiations, clubs, organizations, and galleries. He was friends with many famous photographers, including Edward Weston and Ansel Adams. He worked with them to ascribe a new ideal to photographic artistry.

All this brings me around to the quote, and also to today’s message. As we all know, learning photography takes some effort, it’s a task that frustrates and rewards those who set themselves to it. We go through the various stages, and then we find ourselves making photos that can connect, communicate, and express on their own merits. Most of know the joy that somes from that achievement, we know the sense of accomplishment that we feel.

The issue we’re seeing is that too often, marketing tells us that our photos should look like paintings, or that we need to do things with software that we can’t do with our camera. We see plug-ins and products designed to sell us on the idea that our photos should be a little less like photos. My concern is that all too often, we’re being led into a path that doesn’t match what our vision or intent. Frequently, these products and techniques are either marketed or taught to folks to cover up or salvage bad shots, which undermines the learning process.


ISO 125, f/4.5, 1/25
This was shot in Munich at BMW World during a daytrip. I wanted to share something of how our world may be changing, but some things will remain timeless. Exposing and planning for black and white allowed a more readily grasped sense of that thought. I knew that any other rendition would create an association with different art forms, which I did not want. This is the final intent, to show that abstract use of lines, tones, and texture can still look like a photograph and be artistic. I have a print of this I find very pleasing.

Be proud when your photos look like photos. Show off your photos, share your photos, and let the world know you made your photos! That feeling of pride that comes from the successful matching of our vision, intent, and final product can’t be replaced, and if your intent is canvas, than be proud of that canvas! Jump for joy and shout Hallelujah if it looks the way you want, because that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.

Enough of the old soapbox. I don’t want to discourage anyone from trying something new, but those new ideas can become a crutch all too easily. I relied on some of those crutches myself early on, and I know how easy it happens!

So now, it’s time to get out and get shooting! Plan your presentation while your planning your shot, and you’ll be way ahead. Then, make your shot and share it with us on our Hohenfels Volks Facebook page. We’d love to see your work.

Is there anything you’d like to see here? Do you have a question? Share your thoughts here or at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page. Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too! Don't forget, we're on Google+, too!

A Tryst

Greetings and welcome to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place! Another rainy reminder that autumn is upon us. The colors and clarity of the season provide so much to intoxicate the spirit, and numb the body for the long cold ahead! Here, in Hohenfels, it’s no different!

It has been said that art is a tryst, for in the joy of it maker and beholder meet.
Kojiro Tomita

Again, another taste of the artistic and spiritual side. Kojiro Tomita was an early 20th century art expert from Japan. He had come to America to expose the U.S. to Japanese aesthetics and art. He was curator of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.

I chose to use this particular quote to express what our photography can do, and how we involve our audience in our work.

When we feel our shot is the right one, when we see the scene, and visualize our final image, we often feel something beyond our technical and expressive processes. If we stop and think about what we’re expressing, and who we’re expressing it to, we begin to see a relationship take shape.

Neither party may know each other; indeed, they may be separated by centuries. At the same time, though, we are brought together for a small moment, in some connection that shares our feelings and viewpoints with those of our viewer. We connect.

Just something to think about the next time your out. If you’re out to make a portrait, find a way to include your subject, as well as your audience and yourself, in that connection. You’ll find a photo that will touch lives for generations to come! When making a still life, try to visualize the final product, and put yourself in the shoes of the viewer. How does that visualization make you feel? If your reaction brings you deeper into the scene, then your audience will no longer be your audience; they’ll be a tryst you enjoyed while expressing your vision, and enjoying your creativity! Of course, that’s just my thought!


ISO 3200, f/5, 1/30
Flowers in Vase, my tryst. This was taken in a little Vietnamese restaurant in Bayreuth during my last day trip. I made the shot knowing that the flowers in stark isolation against the background would create a sense of isolation, especially with all the negative space. I also noticed, even in that sea of isolation, that the flowers were not alone. Their isolation created a balance that allowed their relationship to transcend appearances and become tryst like in its relation of tones, shapes, and placement. I knew this one would speak to someone as a reminder that we are never alone, even when we feel like it. To paraphrase Ansel Adams, "There are always two people in every photo." That seems to go along with today's theme nicely.

I hope all our Hohenfels Volks readers will get out and create something of a tryst in their photography, and share it with us on our Hohenfels Volks Faceboook page. We’d love to see your work.

Is there anything you’d like to see here? Do you have a question? Share your thoughts here or at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page. Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too! Don't forget, we're on Google+, too!

Inspiration and Quotes

Greetings, volks. Welcome to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place! A lovely afternoon spent taking photos made for an end of day ritual worth participating in.

Today we’re going to post some photography quotes followed by a quick thought from Hohenfels Volks. I hope you’ll find something to inspire you here!

Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph. – Matt Hardy
Remembering the inherent beauty in things can help change how you view a scene and aid in your visualization!

Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a point to carry a camera with me at all times…I just shoot at what interests me at that moment. – Elliott Erwitt
There are always photographic opportunities, the train station, the drive home, and even the quick dash out for milk. Maybe it’s a sunset or some interesting clouds, visualize, meter, and shoot it!

There is nothing worse than a brilliant image of a fuzzy concept. Ansel Adams
Remember, your photos should have some coherence in the composition. It takes a good photo and makes it great!

In photography, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality. Alfred Stieglitz
The object of taking a photo doesn’t always include a literal rendering of the scene, but a rendering of what you intended!

Food for thought is something we all need form time to time. Keeping our inspiration and thinking fed nourishes ideas and creativity. Feed yours today; see how creative you can be.

I’m hoping to post another ride along shot tomorrow, so stay tuned for that one!

Don’t forget to post any of your images you’d like to see here at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page. Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too! Don't forget, we're on Google+, too!

Quotes and Inspiration

Welcome back to Hohenfels Volks, THE place for our place! Given the lateness of the hour, I’ll dispense with the long post I had planned.

I’ll leave you here with some thoughts, quotes from some of the masters of photography. Some food for photographic thought!

Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes.
Henri Cartier-Bresson

To photograph truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature and humanity that live or are latent in all things.
Ansel Adams

It’s all so simple; no one believes me … you strike a pose, then you light it. Then you clown around and get some action in the expressions. Then, you shoot.
George Hurrell

Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.
Yousuf Karsh

Here’s one taken from Scott Kelby’s blog. It’s from David Ziser’s guest post from June 18, 2008, but it sums up our journey so nicely.

We can’t be an “I know it all” photographer. We need to be an “I want to know it all” photographer.
David Ziser

By taking that attitude we provide ourselves with that extra drive to move beyond our self imposed limitations. Show your work and seek feedback, learn from it, and feel good about what you’ve accomplished. It makes learning something new easier and more fun. Most of us are into photography as a hobby or passion, because we enjoy it. Wanting to know it all encourages learning and helps to make the photography we love, so much more exciting. Can you remember the first time you got that shot? The one that had it all, correct exposure, sharp focus, and great colors? Wanting to know more makes every step of your journey an opportunity to enjoy that feeling.

Don't forget to visit David Ziser and Scott Kelby by clicking their links on the right! You'll appreciate their pics and learn something, too!

I hope you have a great weekend, and keep enjoying your photos! Remember to cast your vote for next week’s theme. The deadline for voting is tomorrow night, and for submissions is Monday night. Don’t forget to get your pics posted at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page. Of course, commenting on both Facebook and here is always appreciated, too!

Bresson...

Hello, Volks! Welcome to Hohenfels Volks. I hope you’re all doing well, here in Hohenfels!

“Your first 10,000 photos are your worst” ~ Henri Cartier Bresson

As mentioned yesterday, Bresson said that well before digital cameras.

My thought on this quote, being in the digital age, is that it’s no longer your first 10,000, but your first 100,000 to 1,000,000 that qualify for his comment. It’s easy to understand this, given the widespread use of DSLRs and computers. We no longer have to pay for each shot, we don’t have to wait for processing, and we can see it instantly. We now shoot 10-100 times what the old masters did. They had to pay around $10 for one 8x10 piece of negative. Shooting one shot therefore cost quite a bit and they made sure they made it count. Today we don’t. Another downside of the digital age, is that those same worst shots, are also our best.

The reason is simple, when you see your first pic from a nice camera, you think “WOW! This is so cool!” Of course, all your friends tell you how good your pics are, too. Of course, like the old days, you’re learning without even knowing it. You start showing your stuff online and posting to Facebook, people are leaving good comments and life is good.

Then… you start looking at other photographers and their works. You start asking “Why isn’t mine that good?” Maybe they have a better camera! Actually, they’re just a little further down the road. However, that question leads you to the next step, conscious learning. You’ve awoken to the reality of Bresson’s basic statement about your first photos being your worst. You now seek to improve and learn. You start asking for criticism and advice. You read everything, you learn the rules, you start shooting AV or TV, and now your photos are getting better. You can see the improvement, so can others. Still you see all the rules you broke, and think, “How can I do this right?”

Here’s the short answer- you don’t. Photography is art, and adventure, and fun, and frustrating. It’s all about the rules, and breaking them on purpose. If you’re breaking them and not knowing it, not knowing how, and not knowing why, then you’ve not moved on. Learn the rules, and learn when, how and why to break them. You’re images will speak to your art, and start telling volks the story you want told. Learning to use your camera, in AV, TV, or manual mode is a big step. Adding light and flash is another step, knowing about framing inside the image, and other compositional tips, will all improve your work. You’ll still be critical, but in a way that leads to something nice. Asking how to make it better is positive and can be a great way to master your art.

We all learn, all the time, as long as we don’t let ourselves get stuck in the negative thoughts. Don’t be too hard when looking at your work, look more for the technical side, like exposure and sharpness. Let your visualizations and compositions lead you to new rules and to breaking those rules. Whatever you do, don’t stop loving photography or the art. Keep your love and don’t let your criticism of yourself take away the joy you felt at your first few shots. Trust me, that feeling will return, each and every time you learn something new and make it work in your photography.

Enjoy the rest of you week, keep shooting, and remember to share your pics and post your questions at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page, and or by commenting here!

Photography and Quotes

Hello, Volks! Welcome to Hohenfels Volks. I hope everyone had a great Halloween, and got plenty of goodies! For me, the goodies consisted of almost 1000 photos and some of my wife's delicious cake balls! Today’s post is going to be a short list of quotes, followed by a picture that shows your compositions don’t have to be like everyone else.

A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into. ~Ansel Adams

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

The departure of our boys to foreign parts with the ever-present possibility that they might never return, taught the real value of photography to every father and mother. To many a mother the photograph of her boy in his country's uniform was the one never-failing consolation. ~Louis Fabian Bachrach

Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. ~Edward Steichen

“Your first 10,000 photos are your worst” ~ Henri Cartier Bresson

Some food for thought regarding the last quote, Bresson said that well before digital cameras. Film was expensive and shooting 24 shots per roll made 10,000 photos quite an expensive task. That’ll be another topic later this week.

Here’s a pic to show you that visualizing your image, even on the fly, leads to some cool images.


This shot was taken after one of the Halloween parties we attended. By putting the princess on the ground and shooting from up high, I was able to create a picnic like scene. Her smile and costume made the magic. By placing the flash off camera  and slightly to her left, we have a nice loop light on her pretty little face.
ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/125

Enjoy the rest of you week, enjoy our Hohenfels, enjoy your photography, and remember to share your pics and post your questions at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page, and or by commenting here!

Some Inspiration

Below are a few inspirational quotes about photography by some of the greatest photographers of all time. They really add some perspective on what we enjoy so very much, at least for me!

Enjoy...

Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.
Yousuf Karsh

There is a brief moment when all there is in a man's mind and soul and spirit is reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record.
Yousuf Karsh

Those people live again in print as intensely as when their images were captured on the old dry plates of sixty years ago . . . I am walking in their alleys, standing in their rooms and sheds and workshops, looking in and out of their windows. And they in turn seem to be aware of me.
Ansel Adams

The negative is the equivalent of the composer's score, and the print the performance.
Ansel Adams

A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.
Edward Steichen

Photography is a major force in explaining man to man.
Edward Steichen

Here's wishing you loads of images and a wonderful weekend!