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Manual of cliche shots?
I never knew until belong to this type of community that so many photographers were doing the same shots and so many models had them in their portfolios. I'm guilty of it too I guess, but I guess unless you look at the work of others you don't really know if you're doing something that's been done a thousand times before. It's great for me though because it's definitely going to push me to be more original. Or, is it that photographers are giving ode to some of the "classic" themes like the woman on the train tracks, the sand-on-butt bikini shot, or the shirtless guy in his undies pulling them down on one side (my vote for the most overused portfolio shot seen here)? I've been tempted to create a website of photographic cliches even if it's a reference tool for me alone so I'll avoid it down the road. Think about the opening of the MTV Movie Awards where they did a song called "Cool guys Don't Look at Explosions" and then showed clips from dozens of blockbusters to prove it. I never realized how many thousands of times that's happened in a movie I've seen, but it shows directors latched onto an effective shot and never think twice before using it in their art. Maybe Hollywood will come up with a new way to do that scene now? Lampooning the "norm" can shake people out of the "run of the mill". Jun 22 09 07:26 am Link To cliche or not to cliche? That is the question... or the fear... or the cliche lol what he said down there VVV Jun 22 09 07:28 am Link Nearly every pose on this site (ok, maybe NOT the girl shoving a tootsie roll into her crotch) has been captured before, . . .SOMEWHERE. Museums are filled with paintings, that have been painted for thousands of years, on paper, canvas, cave-walls. . .etc. and it's a pretty good bet that very few shots on the site are --or are intended to be-- attempts to "reinvent the wheel." There are so many ways to put your personal touch on a photograph. I don't think it's necessary to worry about a pose which has been photographed before, by a different photographer, of a different model. Jun 22 09 07:31 am Link People have been taking people/places/things and photographing them with all manor of lights/expressions/angles for a very long time. What is original? I say just stick a beautiful model in front of a brick wall, put a big softbox overtop of her, have her suggestively pull down on her bikini bottoms and be done with it. Jun 22 09 07:33 am Link Not to bite your butt but just think about this: any new or creative pose you can come up with will likely become a cliche shot. Every cliche shot every taken was once done by someone first. The only way to avoid it would be to never show your new pose/shot, but then, what would be the point? I sympathise with you and surely do not want to spoil someone's creativity, but it just seems to be the nature of the beast. I wouldn't worry about it too much because then you may miss some good shots by trying to prevent others. Jun 22 09 07:36 am Link I think 'context' is everything. You can spin an old idea and make it fresh. There's another point. The majority of images in the mass media are cliches. Anything really 'new' is bound to be 'subversive' by it's nature and therefore be controversial or regarded with suspicion. The whole history or Art is testament to that. Cliches are comfortable. It would be fun to come up with a list of cliche shots, however. Jun 22 09 07:39 am Link OmnyRa wrote: Seems you've already got a good start on the train cliches with no less than five in your port at the moment. Jun 22 09 07:40 am Link Don Reynolds wrote: Ouch! Jun 22 09 07:42 am Link OmnyRa wrote: You haven't even been here for one full day and managed to start one of the most cliche threads around here. Jun 22 09 07:47 am Link Don Reynolds wrote: Jun 22 09 07:48 am Link Everything in life in a cliche. Doing the cliche better than everyone before you is what makes it stand out.  Jun 22 09 07:50 am Link I guess the photography Divas dont sleep in late like the models. hmmmm Jun 22 09 07:50 am Link That's the exact point of my post, and why I admitted I was guilty of the same thing. I shot those 3 years ago. I thought it was unique at the time I shot it and didn't know it wasn't until I looked at other portfolios here. Jun 22 09 07:50 am Link Stephen Markman wrote: That's the exact point of my post, and why I admitted I was guilty of the same thing. I shot those 3 years ago. I thought it was unique at the time I shot it and didn't know it wasn't until I looked at other portfolios here. Jun 22 09 07:52 am Link OmnyRa wrote: At least you did it well. That's all that matters. Jun 22 09 07:52 am Link New Dawn Photography wrote: And yet again. The point is, unless you look at what everyone else is doing and change it up, you're doomed to repeat it Jun 22 09 07:53 am Link What is it with models and trains anyway? I don't get the whole gas mask thing either! Jun 22 09 07:56 am Link OmnyRa wrote: I don't think it's a matter of others not looking around and therefore repeating a style of shot. It's just the opposite. Cliche's are cliche because they have something about them that appeal to the masses. Unfortunately very few, as you've said, add their own spark to them. Look around for a while though. You'll find thoes who have added there own tough to them here and there. Not many though. Jun 22 09 08:02 am Link yea, if i see another gas mask or kiwi on the face with green eye makeup, Ill puke. LOL Jun 22 09 08:02 am Link GSin Photography wrote: Hmmmm...one model with a gas mask and one with a kiwi on the face and green eye makeup, being puked on...wheels spinning now... Jun 22 09 08:05 am Link for my models i look at their portfolio to see what has worked well with other photographers (so i'll ask them to bring along their blue dress) but i'll also try to do something with them that i don't see in their portfolio. but to keep coming up with things that are unique/original does seem like quite a challenge. Jun 22 09 08:05 am Link There is nothing so Cliche' as the average photographer turning out the usual Schlock. The answer is to do it better. Average photographer using Angel Wings = Typical Cliche' Great photographer using Angel Wings = Awesome unexpected Image. Nothing is new..... Typical Cliche's are usually simply a result of weak vision and poor execution. Jun 22 09 08:07 am Link Life's too short - Just shoot! Jun 22 09 08:08 am Link New Dawn Photography wrote: Seee..... Now that's what I'm talking about. Jun 22 09 08:10 am Link Don Reynolds wrote: So the mere location makes it cliche? I thought it was the shot itself. Jun 22 09 09:08 am Link FACT: Threads ABOUT cliche's are now cliche'. Jun 22 09 09:26 am Link In the seventies there was this photo book (Handbook of Photography-which actually was pretty good), it tongue and cheekedly talked about "photographer's prop box"...it went on to name a few of the seventies photo-stars and said, "yeah. they use one." Some of the suggestions were for "broken doll"-throw down artifact suggesting "pathos". Another "idea"-wig, thrift store dress, heels and a make-up kit for when things get slow have a buddy be "queen for a day." I thought suggestions were hilarious because sometimes it really does get that slow, or a least seem like it. Sometimes when trying to be unique we often turn to the cliche... Jun 22 09 09:37 am Link CLICHE WARNING: Posts stating that posts about cliches are cliche are sooo cliche! Jun 22 09 09:46 am Link Cristian Townsend wrote: Crap. It was just a matter of time I suppose. Jun 22 09 10:16 am Link Cliches are cliches because they work. It's that simple. Any "personal touch" would also need to be CONSISTENT to generate income, as clients need to know what they can expect for their money. Then individual touch also becomes cliche, after using it a dozen times. To put it bluntly, most photographers get paid to do cliche shots, as artists are supposed to be starving. Jun 23 09 06:48 pm Link I'd like to know who 'the people' actually are. 'The people want cliches because they work? Taste is fickle. 'The people' get bored quickly and move on to the next 'thing'. Whatever that is. I think the line between 'commecial' and 'artistic' has blurred so much no one knows what the hell is the difference anymore. Also, new ideas get 'absorbed' quickly into the mainstream. It's a good way of diffusing the 'avant garde' or 'subversive' ideas into something more palatable. That's how the mass media works. It has to seem 'edgy' without disrupting the status quo. Jun 24 09 03:16 am Link  Jun 24 09 03:22 am Link PYPI FASHION wrote: Very funny!! I like the bit about applying baby oil! Jun 24 09 11:13 pm Link Do people really pose models on toilets? o-o Jun 24 09 11:19 pm Link Felicia Sun wrote: Well ... there's a right way and a wrong way to do everything! Jun 24 09 11:23 pm Link Felicia Sun wrote: Jun 24 09 11:28 pm Link Paul Bryson Photography wrote: yup... Jun 24 09 11:31 pm Link Felicia Sun wrote: I have, but the lid was closed and she was wrapped in toilet paper: Jun 24 09 11:33 pm Link It's a cliche if it's dull or badly done. It's a classic if it's well done. IMHO Jun 25 09 08:47 am Link Chris Macan wrote: Kind of like having Wolfgang Puck cook you a burger. Jun 25 09 02:11 pm Link |
