Exercise: Escaping Triteness!

[andiebfreeman]

Okay everyone!  I want to do an exercise that will help you to take photos that photobuyers will purchase.  This exercise has to do with escaping the trite photograph.  You know, those photos that we've all seen a hundred times.  In order to appeal to photobuyers, we all need to be taking those photographs that aren't trite.  And I'm not talking about abstracts and weird angles.  That would be pretty trite too.  I'm talking about photographs that make you see something in a different way. 

EXERCISE:

You've just been given an assignment to take photographs of the CIRCUS.  I want you to write down 10 photo opportunities at the circus and post them here.  Then we will analyze which one are trite and which ones are new and original so think hard! 

[sunnymom3]

My hometown of Sarasota, was the home to the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Baily circus...many moons ago. Oh, and the Flying Wallendas! But, we do not currently have the circus in town.

I might be able to visit the Ringling museum for some interesting shots...but that's about it.

:(

[andiebfreeman]

I don't actually need shots :-)  I just need a list of shots that you WOULD get IF you had an assignment to get circus shots.  I don't actually need shots :-)

Quoting sunnymom3:

My hometown of Sarasota, was the home to the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Baily circus...many moons ago. Oh, and the Flying Wallendas! But, we do not currently have the circus in town.

I might be able to visit the Ringling museum for some interesting shots...but that's about it.

:(

[sunnymom3]

Oooohhhh, okay! lol. So I have to actually put on my thinking cap for this one! lol

Quoting andiebfreeman:

I don't actually need shots :-)  I just need a list of shots that you WOULD get IF you had an assignment to get circus shots.  I don't actually need shots :-)

Quoting sunnymom3:

My hometown of Sarasota, was the home to the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Baily circus...many moons ago. Oh, and the Flying Wallendas! But, we do not currently have the circus in town.

I might be able to visit the Ringling museum for some interesting shots...but that's about it.

:(

[marihand]

Well let me post just one, and you tell me if I'm doing this right to what you want.  (hopefully, it's not trite!)  The ring leader's top hat propped up against the ring on the floor in the dirt with the ring making a c curve in the photo?  Or what about the ring leader's hat just sitting on the empty bleachers?  I'm I way off? 

[sunnymom3]

Quoting marihand:

Well let me post just one, and you tell me if I'm doing this right to what you want.  (hopefully, it's not trite!)  The ring leader's top hat propped up against the ring on the floor in the dirt with the ring making a c curve in the photo?  Or what about the ring leader's hat just sitting on the empty bleachers?  I'm I way off? 

Ooohh, great ideas! Those do not sound trite to me! :)

[andiebfreeman]

No those are some really great ideas.  For stock photography though, you would want to make sure that you use that formula that was mentioned earlier.  I think the only thing you are missing is a person or persons.  So maybe if the ring leader was in the photo sitting on the floor resting or something like that.  Or maybe the ring leader sitting on the empty bleachers with his hat beside him.  I think those are some great ideas though!!  Keep up the good work!  We'll sell some photos yet :-)

Quoting marihand:

Well let me post just one, and you tell me if I'm doing this right to what you want.  (hopefully, it's not trite!)  The ring leader's top hat propped up against the ring on the floor in the dirt with the ring making a c curve in the photo?  Or what about the ring leader's hat just sitting on the empty bleachers?  I'm I way off? 

[msunderstood]

Maybe a child, face filled with wonder, clutching a box of popcorn(foreground), background slightly out of focus of others, circus act (also slightly out of focus) in ring.  Please excuse the elementary drawing, but to give you an idea of what I mean:
Ummmm, the "cloud" is actually the circus act--use your vivid imaginations, ladies!!!!

[sunnymom3]

That's a fantastic idea too!!! Like the sketch! :)

[andiebfreeman]

I like the second idea.  That one is really what this exercise is going for.  I like the first idea and I think it would make a really cool series, but I'm not sure magazines would buy it to illustrate the circus ;-)

Quoting MissInnocent:

FIRST IDEA:

A "mom", ... the same mom... in the middle of a three ring circus, pictured again and again, doing 10 different things. holding up a piece of strange laundry, pointing at her dirty, mud covered boy with a bat in his hand and muddy cleats on....  her again on a cell phone with her hand in the air, like she's fed up,
And the blurred, dark background of what appears to be an audience.... and probably a poodle in a circus outfit getting it's bath too....  maybe the mom could even be wearing the ring leader costume demanding her son take off those muddy cleats.


NEXT IDEA:
one row of kids, about 8 years years old..... one busy looking at his popcorn,  one talk to another and one listening, maybe one looking at a circus ticket casually, as if reading it.... and then the mom and the dad, in total awe w/ their mouth wide open as if watching some fantastic act, being like kids again!





LAST IDEA:
A ring master dressed to the hilt w/ the top hat, whip and what not.
many kids in the audience, but the picture would express the child disbelief that he'd just been chosen to "help the ring master" w/ the next act!
I'm not sure on on the background, but it would display at least some shadows of animals, and acts going on...  Maybe the ring leader pointing to the child w/ his whip, like "yes, you there, young man in the red shirt"... and the kid in disbelief.  A couple kids looking at him like "aww, you're so lucky"...


ok, that's all I got~

[andiebfreeman]

You're more than welcome to try again :-)

Quoting MissInnocent:

ahhh, ok!  I think I get it now.. 
"this is for the circus".... Which now re-reading I see, more clearly...
and my idea 1 sounds more like an "Edited" ad for "Tide" or "Cheer"~

I want to try again, now!  8)