An Old Man New To Your Site

[Politically Incorrect]

Hello, thanks for having me. I'm an old learner.
I shoot just about anything, so you could say I'm not genre focused.

I do have opinions though.
For example:

I reckon art takes precedence over technical ability.
Which is unfortunate for me as I'm the only one in my family
that missed out on the artistic gene.

Originality spins my wheels too, things unique seem to be rarer
and rarer as time goes on imho.

Train At Station

 

[Digger...]

G'day there, that would be the country lines at Southern Cross Station. I do believe that train is heading my way to Gippsland...

 

[otherprof]

Hello, thanks for having me. I'm an old learner.
I shoot just about anything, so you could say I'm not genre focused.

I do have opinions though.
For example:

I reckon art takes precedence over technical ability.
Which is unfortunate for me as I'm the only one in my family
that missed out on the artistic gene.

Originality spins my wheels too, things unique seem to be rarer
and rarer as time goes on imho.

Train At Station
View attachment 285016

Welcome aboard!

 

[cgw]

You'll be fine. Most tend to stay on their meds here. Some anyway...

 

[Jeff15]

Hello and welcome ...

 

[Politically Incorrect]

G'day there, that would be the country lines at Southern Cross Station. I do believe that train is heading my way to Gippsland...

Hi. that's correct Digger... It is Southern Cross station.

I wonder why they had to change its name from Spencer Street station... at least that gave travellers an idea where it's located... "Gacrux" the reddish star at the top the cross is the closest star of the Southern Cross... that's 88 light years away.

Anyway, thanks for your message

Alan

 

[Politically Incorrect]

Welcome aboard!

Thank you.

 

[Politically Incorrect]

You'll be fine. Most tend to stay on their meds here. Some anyway...

 

[Politically Incorrect]

Hello and welcome ...

Thanks Jeff.

Alan.

 

[greybeard]

Welcome

 

[Politically Incorrect]

Welcome

Cheers.

 

[JoeW]

First, welcome.

Second, I want to challenge your thinking about art. My favorite all-time quote about photographer comes from the great Dorothea Lange who once "a camera is tool for learning how to see without a camera." Making great art in photography isn't about being Picasso or having some amazing imagination. It's a little bit about technical ability (you need to learn how to use the damn thing). It's very much about understanding the principles and laws of visual imagery. For instance, your photo of the train station--that's a superb example of leading lines.

Someone will likely come on here and repeat what I believe is a completely false claim of "break all the rules." No, completely wrong. There are hundreds of rules about visual art. For instance, here's a basic one: our eyes are drawn to bright objects. And you can't follow all the rules at the same time. Well, the demand on a visual artist is to decide which rules to follow when they make the photo.

Let's take your photo for instance. The leading lines are superb. But what if instead you focused on DoF (focusing just on the initial rubber warning bumpers)? Or you cropped the photo so only the train was in the picture. Or you went with B&W (which would emphasize form). Or you put your camera on a tripod and then pulled the zoom lens back (ICM or intentional camera movement) to make it look like the train was moving? All from the same setting. Or a macro shoot that focuses on just one of the rubber bumpers. Or focus on the people with their back to you as if shutting you out or ignoring you. Or make it darker and our eyes will be drawn to the opening of the station (the bright light). And YOU, as the photographer have to look at the setting and decide what you're going to do.

So I said making art as a photographer is about some technical ability, learning about some basic rules for visual art so you can create photos that grab people because of the rule you followed. And the last point is my Lange quote: you need to be able to see. Otherwise, you're just taking snapshots.

So you may say that the art gene escaped you. And I say that's nonsense. So go out and see things differently from others and you'll create some cool art.

 

[DanOstergren]

Welcome.

Personally I love a good balance between artistic vision and technical skill/knowledge. I believe that technical skill is what allows an artist's vision to be realized.

 

[jeffashman]

Howdy and welcome!

 

[Politically Incorrect]

First, welcome.

Second, I want to challenge your thinking about art. My favorite all-time quote about photographer comes from the great Dorothea Lange who once "a camera is tool for learning how to see without a camera." Making great art in photography isn't about being Picasso or having some amazing imagination. It's a little bit about technical ability (you need to learn how to use the damn thing). It's very much about understanding the principles and laws of visual imagery. For instance, your photo of the train station--that's a superb example of leading lines.

Someone will likely come on here and repeat what I believe is a completely false claim of "break all the rules." No, completely wrong. There are hundreds of rules about visual art. For instance, here's a basic one: our eyes are drawn to bright objects. And you can't follow all the rules at the same time. Well, the demand on a visual artist is to decide which rules to follow when they make the photo.

Let's take your photo for instance. The leading lines are superb. But what if instead you focused on DoF (focusing just on the initial rubber warning bumpers)? Or you cropped the photo so only the train was in the picture. Or you went with B&W (which would emphasize form). Or you put your camera on a tripod and then pulled the zoom lens back (ICM or intentional camera movement) to make it look like the train was moving? All from the same setting. Or a macro shoot that focuses on just one of the rubber bumpers. Or focus on the people with their back to you as if shutting you out or ignoring you. Or make it darker and our eyes will be drawn to the opening of the station (the bright light). And YOU, as the photographer have to look at the setting and decide what you're going to do.

So I said making art as a photographer is about some technical ability, learning about some basic rules for visual art so you can create photos that grab people because of the rule you followed. And the last point is my Lange quote: you need to be able to see. Otherwise, you're just taking snapshots.

So you may say that the art gene escaped you. And I say that's nonsense. So go out and see things differently from others and you'll create some cool art.

Thank you for your sage suggestions Sir... Wilco!
I shot the station months ago with my phone; posting it here inspired me to go back
there yesterday with my Fujifilm X-E3 to shoot the scene again... It would have been good if I had of read your post before then
I'll be visiting that site again... It's a darn good subject.

Anyway, here's one of the station shots from yesterday. You may see some artifacts of unintended camera movement... it was a half second exposure: