Why We Make Photographs - pressofAtlanticCity.com: Blog: A Photographer's View

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Why We Make Photographs

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” That’s a quote from Ansel Adams and is how I approach photography. Last week feature writer Martin DeAngeles talked to me about a story he was writing concerning a photography contest that had a beach theme. We discussed ways to illustrate the story and decided to put out an alert to our photo staff to head to the beach and make scenic images, the kind of image you would enter in a contest of this type. Most of the photo assignments here at The Press are rather specific: be at a specific place at a specific time and produce photographs that document the specific event or story. This assignment was different in that it’s open ended. I asked or staff to go to the beach and capture scenic beauty. For most of us this is where photography started, making pretty pictures (although that sounds simplistic). For me it’s the fun part of photography. You search for the right spot, with the right elements, that naturally compose themselves in the right way, at a time when the light is just right. The photographer’s job is to only include those elements in the scene that work together, find the angle and light that works best and ultimately result in making a photograph. Here are a few examples of Dale Gerhard’s beach images that I thought were outstanding. Dale explained to me that it was enjoyable shooting photographs for the reason he took up photography. There’s a joy of accomplishment when you can make great photographs. Dale said there was one downside that you don’t get from the images. With an air temperature in the low 30s and a stiff wind blowing in his face, Dale said he felt like his fingers were going to fall off. One more quote that comes to mind from Henri Cartier-Bresson. "Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity."

Images

A Photographer's View

Vernon Ogrodnek
  • Vernon Ogrodnek
  • Photographer
    The Press of Atlantic City
  • E-mail: vogrodnek@pressofac.com
  • Phone: 609-272-7222
  • Vernon Ogrodnek is the photography and multimedia editor at The Press of Atlantic City. He has been a staff photojournalist for more than 35 years, the last 25 years at The Press. The National Press Photographer’s Association, the New Jersey Press Association and other organizations have recognized him for his work. He was selected New Jersey Photographer of the Year two times. Over the last few years, multimedia has also been a focus including video, audio, audio slideshows, and 360-degree imagery. His approach to photography can be summed up in the words of Ansel Adams: “ You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

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