Which ones to keep?

[blackudder]

So... with my P&S, I take a ton of pictures. I'm not an artist when it comes to photography (and I don't mean that as a slight, I really have no experience as I do in music or writing), so I basically keep all the photos I take - yes, I am ashamed to say even some of the blurry ones. No point in losing a memory because the photographer sucks. Anyway, primary purpose is I have the rotating as my screensaver, so no money lost.

On to the question though! Having a digital camera allows one to take many, many pictures until you get what you want. However, for many of you, I imagine that might be thousands more than I take. Do you have something in mind when you are taking photos? You take pictures until you get what you want, delete the rest and make any necessary post adjustments to get what you wanted.

Or in situations when it's something you just found - i.e. turn around and there's a photo opportunity - do you take a bunch, and, again, weed out the ones that don't grab you and just keep the one or few you like best?

Just curious.

I've been trolling through the sunset thread and there are some magnificent photos there.

[TheWengler]

If you don't have something in mind before you shoot then why take the picture? That's my take. I'm finding that the more I get into photography, the longer it takes me to take each picture.

[TenD]

I have a very strong idea of the photo I wish to take before I take it. I take far less photos than a lot of photographers take. I bought my 10D in March of 2004 and I have only taken 3500 photos with it in 4 years.

I usually scout the location at a previous time, set up for the light I am shooting, and shoot as the light changes. A typical photo shoot for me is usually under 50 shots, with a couple of keepers in that group.

I take opportunity when it comes, but still with a specific purpose in mind. Like one day there was thick ice fog, the fog was coating everything with a thick hoar. I immediately thought of a location with an interesting barn. As soon as the fog started to break up I headed to the location and took a few shots of the brilliant red barn with the grass, bushes and trees covered in heavy frost. I had one or two I was pretty happy about.

[SpecialK]

I might take a few different shots of say, landscapes. If it is a timing thing with people, etc, maybe more. Keep the best and toss the rest. I'll keep a near-miss if it is not reproducible.

[JTL]

Wow...interesting...I'm a selective shooter as well.

For me, each shoot is a specific mission with specific goals. And most individual shots are well planned. I'm sure there are lots of happy-snappers who aren't like this, but it's encouraging to know that others here operate this way and that I'm not an oddball...at least as far as this is concerned! :D:p:D

[blackudder]

If you don't have something in mind before you shoot then why take the picture? That's my take. I'm finding that the more I get into photography, the longer it takes me to take each picture.

For me, I shoot to preserve moments in time. Sometimes I get an idea or a shot that comes off really well. I'm just barely getting into the aspect of photos that you appear to be entrenched in right now. I don't think I'll ever slow down, hard drive space is cheap, but I hope to get some better (or at least planned) pictures in the future. One of the reasons I'm looking at a DSLR is to be able to capture photos in the low light situations (which my P&S just doesn't do well).

Now, most of you seem to be very selective in your shots - does this mean you're only selective with your DSLRs and you shoot other events (family shots, occasions, etc.) with more reckless abandon? Or you treat photography largely as an artistic venture? By that I mean what you produce you attempt to make the very best you can and throw away the scratch.

[TenD]

Now, most of you seem to be very selective in your shots - does this mean you're only selective with your DSLRs and you shoot other events (family shots, occasions, etc.) with more reckless abandon? Or you treat photography largely as an artistic venture? By that I mean what you produce you attempt to make the very best you can and throw away the scratch.

I guess when I am snapping off shots I am a little more reckless, I might shoot a few extra frames. I still try to get it as right as possible in the camera. For example: if I see something worth taking a photo of I'll compose then wait for the right moment to shoot, to get the peak of the action while having the photo in focus and with proper exposure.