"That shot has been done to death"

[MattUK]

Hi guys,

I've seen a few of these comments here and there, not intended in an offensive manner I'm sure . I'm just not sure of their relevance, and wanted to discuss.

If a popular and interesting place or object has been photographed lots, is it really such an issue when someone comes along with yet another shot of it?

I'd imagine that statistically, there's probably a minuscule percentage of this planet that hasn't already been photo'd. If Bob wants to take a picture of something that everyone and their mum has already taken, then why not? bob hasn't taken it before... maybe Bob wants to add it to his collection.. tick that box.. Or maybe, just maybe, Bob can show everyone else an angle that hasn't been seen before, and get people to view it in a completely different light..

After all:

There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt - Audre Lord

I look forward to everyone's views

[GeoffWessex]

I look at it in two ways....

1. The 'postcard' shot of a well-known location..... it's worth trying the same shot for yourself, just to prove that you can make pictures as good as many that have gone before. You may not necessarily want to show it off, beyond Flickr, for example.

2. Finding an alternative view of the same location is definitely worth the effort. Maybe some places really have been 'done to death' but not by you... so you can be proud of finding something different. That could be shown off widely, used in competitions, put in your portfolio.

People who are on this forum also probably read several of the magazines and are clearly enthusiastic photographers, so they should have the advantage of knowing a lot more about how to bring the best out of the shot and are probably better equipped. So if you're at a location that's been photographed thousands of times before, you will undoubtedly get a better shot than 95% of the other visitors.

The biggest drawback of going to popular 'sights' is that you'll probably have time constraints of some sort and lots of people there at the same time. That would mean you may not have the chance to work out when and where the best light for 'your' shot comes from or to visualise what you want to record.

[dan123]

i now ive said this, never to cause offecnce, but to make a point of always trying to better a scene, by using new viewpoints/techniques/ etc ect, im not saying dont take those classic photos of a scene, but dont let them be the only ones you take, im guilty of taking these types of shots, and they all have a place in a portfolio, such as a slow speed shot of durdle door, a lot take this shot its been done a million times, i have and its there in the book, but ill continually search for a different angle, but really aslong as you are happy with what you take and how, thats the only thing that matters, what we all say is opinions, hope this makes sense,

dan,

[ABERS]

When I look through the viewfinder and say to myself, "This has benn done a million times before" I usually press the button consoling myself with the thought that a 1,000,001 won't do any harm, and then usually delete it!

[Drew Smith]

If a shot that has been taken a million times before it's probably because it's an interesting/photogenic site or view. So why not add it to your collection?

It's a really great shot and you took it! Plus there are probably millions of 'normal' people that have never seen that picture and you can be the first to show it to them.

I think this issue may be more relevant to those of us that want to push the envelope and step outsdie our comfort zones. For example; capturing a portrait model in slightly different surroundings and with different lighting in a different pose should be something we can all try, rather than just defaulting to a standard acceptable composition.

[KeithT]

When people say that to me, I reply and say yes, but not by me. There is nothing new under the sun, and even though some subjects produce more cliches than others, the challenge is always to find a fresh approach. Just enjoy and do your own thing, that's my motto.

[GeoffWessex]

A bit like this one..... probably been done to death and I'm very unlikely to 'use' it (club competitions etc) but sometimes you've just got to get your record shot!

[Drew Smith]

Great idea for new Thread - Post shots here that have been 'Done to Death!

Here's mine:

[GeoffWessex]

Well, OK, we've seen that swan heart shape before..... but, be fair, sometimes you can get the "definitive" shot - like you have here! Very nicely done, Drew.

So that also proves that you CAN improve on what's been done (many times) before.

[The Littlest Hobo]

As a total beginner living near the Lake District i was aware that Ashness Bridge and Surprise View were heavily photographed. TBH this was more reason for me to go there and snap them. Gave me something to reference against to see if my pics were at least in some way borderline 'good'.

I suspect a lot of it is the chance to compare your abilities against others