How does your love affair with your safari photos go?, This is a photo topic even I can participate in Options

[Atravelynn]

While still on the trip, as I check the view finder, I feel an exciting potential for the keepers and discard the duds sparingly.

Then back home up on the screen, the first time through is a thrill with all the wonderful memories flooding back. I love all the keepers and discard the inferior shots ruthlessly. There are usually a few wonderful surprises in the bunch.

Going through the third time, the honeymoon is over and I start to see the flaws and think of how I could have improved the shot or how I just missed a real winner. That initial rush fades and a slight melancholy of what could have been slips in.

In subsequent viewings I am amazed all over again at what I've seen, contented with the album.

When I look at prints from years ago or when the images pop up as part of my screen saver, it's like meeting up with an old friend.

[Atravelynn]

While still on the trip, as I check the view finder, I feel an exciting potential for the keepers and discard the duds sparingly.

Then back home up on the screen, the first time through is a thrill with all the wonderful memories flooding back. I love all the keepers and discard the inferior shots ruthlessly. There are usually a few wonderful surprises in the bunch.

Going through the third time, the honeymoon is over and I start to see the flaws and think of how I could have improved the shot or how I just missed a real winner. That initial rush fades and a slight melancholy of what could have been slips in.

In subsequent viewings I am amazed all over again at what I've seen, contented with the album.

When I look at prints from years ago or when the images pop up as part of my screen saver, it's like meeting up with an old friend.

[madaboutcheetah]

Hi Lynn,

On the topic of memories - You have my favourite star cheetah as your avatar. She really is Queen of the cheetah kingdom!!!

When I look back on photos of each of my trips, usually I have more or less similar reactions to you and think about how to improve etc etc.,

I also have some of my favourite pics organized on my iphoto albums on my MAC. Nice to view them from time to time and have it sync up with some nice music from the itunes library.

[Guest_John Milbank_*]

Lynn, most of us would feel much the same as you.

As I shoot film on safari, and file my slides as strips of film (not mounted slides), I discard hardly anything. But I scan only a relatively small proportion into digital files...I guess the rest could be classified as discards, except the strips of film remain in existence and I can (and do) go back sometimes and find something worth salvaging. I've done that with photos taken 10 or more years ago and misjudged or overlooked, and been most grateful that I hadn't thrown the original slide or negative away.

I've looked at the work of many fine photographers and admired their much superior skills...but you know, I don't like their photos as much as I like mine, because they are mine and they are my memories . Nothing beats that.

I can put it another way. You used the words 'love affair'. That's what it is. You can admire some amazing hunk or chick (depending on your preference ), but you only care about your partner and the memories he/she gives you.

[nappa]

I can put it another way. You used the words 'love affair'. That's what it is. You can admire some amazing hunk or chick (depending on your preference ), but you only care about your partner and the memories he/she gives you.

That's well said John.

I would also add
My pictures are my memories not my technical achievements!

[sniktawk]

Not as far as I would like, but I do like to share them.
I print some of my favourites and have them on the wall at home, I have given some away as gifts, and plan to have some on the wall in my office in the UK.
Some were on the wall at Zibilianja and in the guest photo book, since the change in ownership these have all disappeared, some are in an album at Lebala. I have one utilised on Predator Conservation Society and some were once used by Selinda on their website.
I also post some on my website and on critque sites, such as BirdPhotographers Net and Outdoor photography.
Other than that I am obsessed, not by the photographs but by the fact that I have seen all these things as well as being able to capture reasonable representations of what I saw. My only regret is not having a good camera or any skills when we saw the Selinda pride at their peak with the three large males. I have one rather fuzzy photo of a cub sitting on one of the Males backs which is on my wall, although technically it is rubbish, it brings back great memories.

[madaboutcheetah]

I agree, Ken - it's all about memories and the good times!

I have a couple pics of the old cheetah boys(when they were 3) on my office wall - to get me through the day! It's not great pics, but, they are top draw in my memory bank.

[Hebog]

My very amateur efforts are taken to help my fading memory and provide a few pictures for the wall. I use them as a screen saver on my computer which has led to an unexpected use, as a distraction for my clients. The animals are of course much more interesting than what I have to say

[Kavey]

Oh my goodness, I'm not alone!

As usual, it was my husband that pointed out my pattern. When I am on a trip, taking photos, I always feel positive about the photography, I am enthusiastic, I feel hopeful I've captured at least some of the beauty of the destination, I feel excited.

When I get home, especially now I'm digital, I go through the images for the first time. And I've actually been known to cry. Seriously. The images overall disappoint me, of course they can't ever (with my skill level) match up to the trip itself, to what I actually witnessed, to the magic I experienced. I'm disgusted with myself. Firstly, at all the obvious failures such as out of focus/ camera shake, something in the shot I didn't notice but which spoils it and so on. Then at all the missed opportunities, I look at what I shot and ask myself why I didn't also shoot this or that or do this or that differently to improve the shot.

Now I've learned to simply give myself a break from the images and then come back later. Sometimes a week or two is enough, other times a little longer works best.

And then, when I look through them again, whilst I still can't help but see all the failures and missed opportunities I can suddenly also appreciate the successes and realise that, hey, you know what, I got some good shots!

Some I love purely for the memories. They aren't great shots from anyone else's perspective but they were taken to remind me of sights and experiences and work just as intended. And some I realise I'm proud of as strong images too. They might not be as great as some of the images that take my breath away, both on the internet, in galleries, in books, in competition exhibitions and so on but they are good, strong images and I took them!

I'm finally getting to that stage with my recent Africa images, thank goodness. There are still many failed shots and many that are merely mediocre but there are many I'm really rather delighted with too.

[sniktawk]

Kavey,

I always delete all of my bad ones in that way I do not remind myself of the silly mistakes I have made, and continue to make.
Just keeep the good ones it will leave you far more space for the good ones you will get in the future.

[Kavey]

Ken, I tend to do the same for the really bad ones, anything completely out of focus or, worse still, of the car floor or such (an accidental exposure) I delete. But I find I like to keep some of the crappier ones, even a couple that aren't perfectly in focus, because they are the only ones I happen to have of something or the other, and so they function as memory shots!

But what I'm currently doing is working through my Africa photos flagging them as follows:

X Rejected (Deleted)
1 Not worth processing but am keeping for reference/ memory
2 Not a brilliant image but acceptable, worth processing either for memory/ sharing or for potential stock sales (have a lot of these)
3 Good, will definitely process, could be suitable for print sales, stock sales etc. (have a reasonable number of these)
4 Very good, one of my favourites, am really pleased with this (only have a handful of these so far and am 2/3 way through my 3800 photos)
5 Excellent (don't have any of these yet)

[russell]

I do the same as Kavey...........

I have been surprised at the number of other photos I have found 'working' following a revision of my images even six months after my safaris. Especially a number of attempted pans.

In addition, I have more a love hate relationship with post processing!

[Atravelynn]

Kavey,
I believe you were crying when you left Wolvedans and now we learn you were crying at the photos. These safaris are tearful affairs for you.

Those surprise photos that you never expected to be much are always a nice--surprise.

[madaboutcheetah]

Same here. I still haven't given a detailed look at many pictures from my Mara visit back in June. I'm sure I can salvage quite a few images from my recent safari also. I guess I got to get out of these chat sites to do that

[Guest_John Milbank_*]

I guess I got to get out of these chat sites to do that

But you've still got a serious job, Hari. My photos are the main reason why I'm here...working on images nearly all the time, hitting a key to check on the ST latest several times a day stops my eyes from glazing over.

[Kavey]

Russell, I have a love hate with processing too.

On one hand, it's an essential part of the art. Those who claim that digital is some kind of death knoll to the truthfulness found in film have no idea of just how much traditional manipulation can be done in a darkroom, and was performed by greats such as Ansel Adams!

On the other hand, it takes bloody ages and I'm YEARS behind!

[Guest_John Milbank_*]

On one hand, it's an essential part of the art. Those who claim that digital is some kind of death knoll to the truthfulness found in film have no idea of just how much traditional manipulation can be done in a darkroom

Not with my slides Kave You're thinking of print.

[Kavey]

I am indeed talking about print but most of those who make the shiller arguments against even the most basic digital processing don't really differentiate.

Besides which, I recall one lady decrying the concept of warming up colour tones (slightly) in digital processing. I asked how she then felt about all the thousands of traditional photographers (using both film and slide) who achieved exactly the same results using warm-up filters infront of the camera lens?! She made odd strangled noises, tutted at me and strutted off!

Even with slide film selecting a slide film such as Velvia over a more neutrally colour-balanced slide film is not disimilar to the decision to boost saturation just a touch in digital processing. Velvia records colours as more saturated than they actually are, DSLRs are programmed to not to add any extra saturation at all (on default settings) leaving that step to the processing stage. Both photographers are choosing to present the scene as slightly more vivid than in real life.

[Guest_John Milbank_*]

I am indeed talking about print but most of those who make the shiller arguments against even the most basic digital processing don't really differentiate.

Yes. People on both sides with little or no experience of the other side often do that. As I work with both film and digital, I could say a lot more but we don't want to hijack Lynn's thread.

[madaboutcheetah]

When viewing pictures years down the road,

do you view them for,

A.) Memories or B.) To analyze your pics C.) To look up specific animals

Are you more likely to first

A.) Re look at pics from most recent safari or B.) Older trip or C.) A fav destination/location

Are most of your family/friends curious to see your pics - Yes or No

Do they think you are nuts?

[Guest_John Milbank_*]

When viewing pictures years down the road,

do you view them for,

A.) Memories or B.) To analyze your pics C.) To look up specific animals

Are you more likely to first

A.) Re look at pics from most recent safari or B.) Older trip or C.) A fav destination/location

Are most of your family/friends curious to see your pics - Yes or No

Do they think you are nuts?

A) sometimes B ) sometimes C) sometimes

x2

Friends who are just as interested in Africa as me, yes; family, no (apart from wife).

Possibly, but they are too polite to say.

Hari, sorry I couldn't be more helpful.