What kind of photographer am I?
When people see me carrying a camera, I’m often asked what kind of photography I do.
It’s often said that you should photograph what you feel passionate about, presumably only a couple of genres, or maybe only one. I can see that the benefit of this would be that because of this focus you can become extremely good at the areas you’ve chosen to focus on. The problem I have is that I’m not a born specialist. I like to learn new things, and this tends to mean that I “ping-pong” around from one genre to another. I accept that I will never become really good at any particular genre, but that’s just the way I am. I think I would get terribly bored if I had to focus on a single area. So, I wander around and when I see something that interests me, I photograph it.
Below please find the genres (in no particular order) that I, to a greater or lesser extent fall into. At the end of this piece, you’ll also find a short list of genres that are impractical or just don’t appeal to me.
Landscape photography
Back in the 1970s my wife gave me my first serious camera. At the time Ansel Adams was very popular. I saw some of his pictures and thought: “That’s it! That’s the kind photography I want to do. However, over the years my interest in this genre has waned. Do I still take landscape photographs? Yes, I do. I live in New York’s Hudson Valley and if there’s one thing we have it’s a lot of picturesque landscapes
Woodland Photography
I spend quite a lot of time walking in the woods, and I enjoy taking pictures there. However, I find it difficult. Woodlands are very busy, and it can be hard to find an obvious subject. Fog/mist helps a lot as it hides distracting elements. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to get much mist where I am. This may because it’s quite high. Or it might be that I just don’t find the mist because I can’t get up early enough i.e. before it dissipates. Still since I walk in the woods quite a lot, I occasionally get a good picture.
Intimate Nature Photography
I quite enjoy this. It’s a way of doing woodland photography with the downsides (e.g. the “business” of the woodland and the difficulties of finding a good subject). Just keep looking down and you eventually see something of interest.
Street Photography
I have a love/hate relationship with street photography. I’m not entirely comfortable taking candid photographs of complete strangers. And if I ask if I can take a photograph, the subject inevitably starts to pose, and you lose the “freshness”. I’m lucky that I live close to New York City and when I get fed up with taking pictures of trees I go into the city. I don’t enjoy walking around in the city as much as I enjoy walking in the woods, but I’ve found that I rather like the results I get. I think this is something I need to do more often.
People Photography
Similar to what I wrote about street photography except that I’m fairly comfortable asking for permission, and it’s rare that I’m refused.
Portrait Photography
Pretty much what I wrote about People photography.
Macro Photography
Love it, but I feel I haven’t yet mastered the genre and that I still have a long way to go.
Wildlife and Animals
I’m very fond of wildlife and animals (i.e. including domestic animals like cats, dogs and other pets). There’s quite a lot of wildlife around where I live: many types of birds, squirrels, chipmunks, possums, skunks, coyotes, bears (It’s rare that I see one) and of course deer (lots, and lots of deer - the one above was taken from my house). For more exotic animals I have to go to the Bronx Zoo, or on Safari (where the picture of the cheetah was taken).
Architectural Photography
I like to take pictures of old houses, particularly if they’re of historical significance or ruined - the more ruined the better. I’m not sure it this constitutes Architectural Photography though.
Travel Photography
I used to travel a lot for work and even though I didn’t usually have much time for photography (too busy working) at times I could get away to take a few photographs. And then there were the vacations…I don’t travel much internationally or long-distance within the US nowadays. Rather I limit myself to short jaunts in the vicinity of where I live.
Abstract Photography
I don’t usually go out specifically to take abstract images. However, if while I’m out I see something that I think might make a nice abstract, I’ll take a picture of it.
Black and White Photography
I’m passionate about black and white (actually monochrome) photography. I find it much easier than color photography. In many ways I see things in terms of tones rather than colors. I’m always looking for good monochrome compositions.
Infrared Photography
There’s something surreal about infrared photography that appeals to me. Since I like black and white photography so much it will be no surprise that I like black and white infrared photography. At first, I didn’t like false color infrared photography, but I’ve now come to love it: the way that you can play with the colors to create something which is rather “other worldly”.
Still Life Photography
I enjoy still life photography. It’s a great genre to pursue during freezing winter days, when even if you go out the trees are bare and it’s not much fun. I don’t do as much of it as would like. Still winter’s not far away. I’ll try to do more this coming winter.
Documentary Photography
I suppose that’s what much of my photography is: walking around and taking pictures of where I live at this particular point in time. However, while I take pictures of people and places, I don’t do social documentary photography e.g. I don’t go into New York City to take pictures of demonstrations (although on at least one occasion I bumped into a demonstration that was taking place where I happened, purely by chance to be).
Automotive Photography
I’m not sure that this is even a genre, but I like old cars and if I see one (which is fairly often) I’ll take some pictures.
What kind of photography do I not typically do?
Conceptual photography. I don’t understand it.
Sports photography. I don’t watch live sports at all, and I rarely even watch sports on TV.
Product photography (or for that matter any kind of commercial photography). I don’t wish to make money from my photography. I feel that that would take all the fun out of it. I’ve been retired for thirteen years and I don't want to run a business.
Astrophotography. It just doesn’t do anything for me.
Glamour/Boudoir photography. I’m not a prude and wouldn’t mind trying this (just to see if I’d be any good at it of course), but I haven’t a clue how to get started. Moreover, I don’t really have the time and it’s not one of my top priorities.
Aerial photography. I don’t have an aircraft, or a helicopter, or a drone so that pretty much rules that out.
That’s all I can think of for now. If anything else comes to mind I might update this page.