Those who take and those who make

cliveh

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Those who take and those who make

Photography now seems to be more make than take. I am not just referring to digital, as there are many makers who use film. I realise it is not just a binary choice, but are you primarily a maker or taker? I think of myself as a taker.
 

Pieter12

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Even when I think I am just taking a photo, I am making the choice of angle, cropping and timing. So I guess I am always making a photo, not just taking.
 

Sirius Glass

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Yes I am taking and making when I am doing photography.
 

Alex Benjamin

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Taker with the camera in hand, maker in the darkroom. Making means working, and that long, hard work starts as soon as the film is out of the camera.
 

BrianShaw

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I'm not convinced that I know the difference between take and make regarding photography, other than the very reasonable distinction make be @Alex Benjamin, above.
 

Pieter12

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BrianShaw said:
I'm not convinced that I know the difference between take and make regarding photography, other than the very reasonable distinction make be @Alex Benjamin, above.
Click to expand...
For example, a studio still life is most probably made, as any posed shot like a portrait or fashion photo. Diane Arbus famously worked her subjects until she got what she wanted, her subjects sometimes saying that they had been "arbussed."
 

loccdor

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I prefer to use common parlance and the commonly understood phrase is to "take" a photo. I understand why people use the word "make", and I hope they continue to use whatever word they prefer, but if I'm honest it gives off an air of elitism and egotism to me. Just like the word "photograph" sounds more high-class than "photo". I don't want to go to wine parties or spend a lot of time in museums. I just want to spend time doing what I find engaging and thrilling, and that happens to involve cameras and film.
 

Chuck_P

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Wow, I'm an elite, I never knew...........I make a photograph as I take the word quite literally, it is what it is. To my meaning of "make" : I've done what I think is that important pre-work with my materials such as my film tests (my normal, my plus-minus times); I make, hopefully, the proper exposure, I plan the development, I try and secure the negative information as best I can and then I proceed to make the photograph as I saw it in my mind first. Hopefully I feel good enough about, that it's a paper-worthy negative, and to actually make it under the enlarger. The fact that my photographs are really of no interest to just about anyone but myself is irrelevant, so I am making a photograph. That may sound 'elitest', so be it.

If I do not want to spend my paper supply on a negative, then I work it up in LrC with the basic tools, sharpen, dodge, burn...........am I still making a photograph? Yes, but I'm much happier when I make it on paper.
 

loccdor

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Chuck_P said:
Wow, I'm an elite, I never knew...........I make a photograph as I take the word quite literally, it is what it is.
Click to expand...

It's only my own personal perception. I understand that people have different points of view about this and tried to make it clear that they should follow their own judgement. I hope you continue "making" photographs! It's good work and we need more of it.
 

BrianShaw

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Don’t take it too seriously… even some of us “takers” are elitist, egotistical, and pretentious. LOL. Happy New Year, folks!
 

Chuck_P

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I think all of us here make photographs. Upon looking at my post, I certainly could've put forth my sentiments in a much less sharp fashion.
 

RalphLambrecht

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definitely a maker. The image originates in my head before I go out or into the studio to make it. I find taking boring and just a matter of luck.
 

MattKing

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Some of us prefer photographic processes and approaches that have some similarities with foraging for our food.
Some of us prefer photographic processes and approaches that have some similarities with planting and cultivating our food.
Many of us mix the two.
For all of us, there is the potential of an enjoyable feast.
 

Pieter12

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Upon reconsideration, I am both a taker and a maker. A maker as stated in post #2, a taker as I consider every photo a slice taken from the scene presented before me.

And I guess anyone who works hard and is proud of their work could be considered an elitist and egotistical. As well as an imposter and a failure. Just depends on the moment.
 

koraks

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I take a photo. By doing so, I actually remove something from the original scene/object/person, and appropriate it. I then hide it away and do with it as I please, as part of the fetid, fermenting mass of images and technology that I culture up in my room in the attic, without ever giving anything back to the world. I'm a surgeon with the mentality of a thief and the dexterity of a drunk elephant.

Yeah.
 

joe bosak

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In the studio or in pretty specific circumstances outside where I know what I'm after - it's directed/driven by me. Guess that's "making", and it's where I'm most comfortable.

Sometimes I can get in the zone mentally and take unplanned pictures successfully - this is situational, needs a stimulus like an event or some sort of foray or visit. That feels like"taking". In part it's (personal) documentary.

What I have always struggled with is "street" photography the way it is portrayed by influencers/whatever... I have no idea or understanding or why on earth people do it, even though I can (pretty rarely) appreciate what they produce either artistically or as some form of documentary. Trying to understand it by viewing thousands of street photography "examples" hasn't yielded me any tangible empathy for the pursuit.

Apologies for any digression.
 

dpurdy

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I make decisions that often lead me to making an exposure on film and if all goes somewhat right I end up making a print and process it in developers that I make from scratch.
 

Carnie Bob

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Maker - 100% I actually do not like using a camera but love post so I grin and bear the experience of making images with a camera
 

GregY

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Agreed... i use the common parlance:
I take photos..... I make prints
People have enough difficulty understanding our obsession....
 
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BradS

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the question feels really judgmental to me.

Is one group better than the other?

if someone is doing what they want to do and they're happy...
 

Pieter12

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BradS said:
the question feels really judgmental to me.

Is one group better than the other?

if someone is doing what they want to do and they're happy...
Click to expand...

Is it really? No one has as yet stated that, except maybe the post about elitists and egotism, depending on how you interpret it.
 
OP
OP

cliveh

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It is not meant to be judgmental.
 

dpurdy

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It is an old thing taught that you should make photos not just take them. Implying that making photos is creative and taking photos is not. I was taught that in photo school in the 1970s and I am pretty sure you could find lots of quotes saying you need to learn to make photos rather than take photos. So maybe this discussion was not intended to be judgmental but you can easily see how it might be interpreted that way..
 
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