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The Process of Photography

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Some of my photographs have always been a mystery to me in terms of how I arrived at them. Even with the technical ability to produce fine prints, I am hard put to know how it happens, yet unless technique and materials are seriously investigated and experienced, I see that moving statements are seldom made. The process of photography ever invites me. I hope never to lose this feeling. At times I make photographs for the sheer magic of its process, and the good feeling about the very stuff needed: light, chemical combinations, some imperceptible forces at work behind the scene. I am part of the drama which takes the guise of photography.

Paul Caponigro

I shoot very few vertical images, but with all these wide open spaces, shooting horizontal may be the preferred format. Maybe I need to look at that, take more time before pressing the shutter. Anyway, here’s a slideshow of a few vertical images over the past 18 years, all cropped to 8 x 10.

Retired. Having fun with photography. Journal daily. Meditate daily. Learning haiku/poetry. Have a love for fountain pens.

6 Comments

  • Faye

    This is a lovely collection. I don’t know if there are hard and fast rules for horiz vs very but if there are, I don’t want to know them. I prefer to try each and go with whichever speaks to me.

  • Tom Dills

    I’ve always found the 4×5/8×10 format to be appealing in verticals versus the now-standardish 8×12. I agree that landscapes often lend themselves more to the horizontal view, but you have collected a very nice set of verticals.

    From a mechanical standpoint, I like the slideshow as opposed to the multiple photo format that I usually use. I’ll need to check that out – I assume it is a plugin of some kind.

    One of my frequent workshop mentors likes to ask, ‘when is the best time to shoot a vertical? Right after you shoot the horizontal.’ We all need to remember to look at that option!

    • Monte Stevens

      I’m using Nextgen Galleries for the slideshow show. I would like the images to be larger. If I mouse over the image it pauses. Clicking on any image gives a larger image and one you can step through at your own pace.

      I’ve heard that quote before but had forgotten it. Thanks for the reminder. I also do not own a Really Right Stuff L-bracket anymore which made it easier to shoot vertical. And those plates are expensive!

  • Mark

    Nice slideshow Monte!

    I suppose I shoot vertical when I feel the subject “requesting” it. I know I need to personally explore the 8×10 aspect format more though.