cloud hunter by subhrajit basu

187 Responses to “cloud hunter by subhrajit basu”

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• bodo (subhrajit)

  March 17, 2009 at 12:09 pm

  ALL…

  Since so many responses have been made, I think that if I go to answer each and every one of them separately, it would be repetitive and wastage of time for everybody. In stead, I would try to give my reply to the salient points raised in the responses.

  1. When I see a photo, I do not try to categorize a photo like ‘polished’ type or ‘travel’ type or ‘NatGeo’ type etc.. A photo either appeals to me or not. I try to enjoy a photograph without any preconceived notion of mine about photographer’s style/categorization etc.. Many times I do not understand a photograph at all. Then I try to come back to the photo some other day to see if I am able to understand it better. Many times it works.

  2. The same thing applies while I am taking a photograph. Assignments may be a different ballgame altogether, but when I am shooting for myself (which I am doing), I don’t pre-categorize something I am interested in photographing, like… “Oh! This is going to be a very good travel photo, I must take it.” – I am more interested in depicting as successfully as my photographic ability permits ‘the thing’ or ‘the event’ that made me interested in taking the photograph in the first place. Sometimes, I am successful, many times I am not. I am not perfect, and that’s why I am here. Had I been perfect, I would be GOD, and who cares about photography when I AM GOD!!!

  3. I do not want to be categorized as a certain “type” as a photographer. I am still new in photography and I am trying to learn and I want to remain so always. So today my photos may appear to some as ‘eye candy’ type, tomorrow my photographs may become what somebody calls as “messy, disheveled, imperfect” type. Or may be, with time, I will become more ‘eye candy’ type. I don’t know. Who knows! But please don’t drop the hint that my photographs are staged, it really hurt me.

  4. I don’t take photographs thinking about ‘what sells’ and ‘what does not sell’. No…please! And on the other hand, I will not be ashamed if somebody buys one of my photos. Why should I be? Yes, I am interested if my love becomes a self-sustaining profession and I shall try honestly to fulfill my dream – as far as possible on my own terms, whenever I can. I also want to say like Mr Harvey said the other day that he never goes ‘to work’ (or something like that), meaning thereby that his love is also his profession and he never needs ‘to go to work’. I thought it was cool. I remembered it. I also want to be one of those few rare guys who never need ‘to go to work’.

  Lastly, many thanks to you for your feedback. It was a great experience to be here. I am so happy about Mr Harvey’s offer. I shall try my best to live up to your confidence in me.

  With Warmest Regards to ALL

  Bodo
• Sidney Atkins

  March 17, 2009 at 12:50 pm

  Bodo,

  ‘Nuff said. Your simple yet profound eloquence cuts through the Gordion knot of comments. I look forward with great anticipation to your future work, your collaboration with David, and your contributions, both photographic and verbal, here on Burn. This place can get fairly claustrophobic at times, and you are a breath of fresh air.

  Cheers,
• david b

  March 17, 2009 at 1:04 pm

  bodogi

  brilliant.. i think jonathan, lassal and i are already hookup up together.. drop me an email and perhaps skype – which i’ll leave on all day tomorrow – and we can talk.. all help each other along with work.

  only skim read your comment just now and of course you are right.. shoot without selfconsiousness and continually practise.. forget whatever people say and do your thing..

  sometimes i think that for new photographers this place must be daunting.. probably true to say that some voices on here are not he best to wade through as a new photographer, but you have let it run off you like water off a ducks back..

  david@bophoto.co.uk
  skype name – bophoto

  you are 7 hours ahead of me, lassal and david h – 8 ahead of jon i believe..
  so.. i’ll be online working by 5pm your time (10am mine) tomorrow..

  david
• Patricia Lay-Dorsey

  March 17, 2009 at 1:08 pm

  Bodo, speaking as one who has been forunate enough to be mentored this past year by David Alan Harvey, I celebrate your new status as “mentoree”! You will work your ass off, be supported in ways you can’t even imagine, find your eye–both inner & outer–and shutter finger becoming ever more atuned, hear critiques that will push you forward not set you back, and have a faithful teacher at your side every step of the way. Trust me, you will go places you never thought you could go. I can’t wait to see where this chapter of your journey will take you! Judging from where you are starting, it will be a marvelous adventure for all of us to watch and learn from. Bravo to you, my friend.

  hugs
  Patricia
• panos skoulidas

  March 17, 2009 at 1:16 pm

  David B.:

  “…sometimes i think that for new photographers this place must be daunting.. probably true to say that some voices on here are not the best to wade through as a new photographer..”

  its ok to use my name instead of “some voices”… i really dont mind…:))))))))))
  sorry i dont applaud everything i see…
• david b

  March 17, 2009 at 3:23 pm

  hey panos – if i mean’t only you i would say only you..

  your nemesis jim and many more voices on here can easily cause a stir and intimidate when thats not directly the intention..
  :o)

  i bloody hate photos.
  dxxx
• david b

  March 17, 2009 at 3:24 pm

  LIKE ME for example :o)

  lossaluv
  david :o)
• panos skoulidas

  March 17, 2009 at 3:36 pm

  love u2 David B.
  :))))))))))))))))
• david b

  March 17, 2009 at 4:29 pm

  in all seriousness, it’s great to have such a varied readership now.. some blunt, some less so..
  one aspect in which burn is training people unwittingly, (or perhaps knowingly?!), it is the thickening of the skin..

  as bodogi has found.. slipping through that produces results.

  d
• kathleen fonseca

  March 17, 2009 at 4:45 pm

  David B

  yeah, no shit!
• Katia Roberts

  March 17, 2009 at 5:10 pm

  bodo–

  congratulations on your new mentorship endeavor with DAH! :))
  i look forward to seeing how your work progresses from here.
  i hope you didn’t take my “good for the masses” comment in a bad way.
  i only meant that your image was easily digestible.
  it is what it is.
  there’s no emotional investment at all. for me anyway.
  i would very much like to see you get in Closer.
  this photo (again, FOR ME) would’ve been much more interesting
  had you stood 10 ft in FRONT of the man and snapped as he hurled
  his net toward YOU, capturing that OOMPH moment of arms flinging out.
  that would’ve made me feeel something, y’know?
  FEEL his exertion.
  anyway, i wish all great and good things for you and your work.
  can’t wait to follow your ‘work-in-progress’.

  good luck!

  k.
• david b

  March 18, 2009 at 10:03 am

  kathleen
  :o)

  from my experiance the criticals here are infact a great deal tougher than any i have heard from editors.. even those working on national and international publications..
  if they don’t like something i have done it’s very rare that things get personal.. at worst they are dismissive..

  perhaps that is a good thing.. that the training is much harsher – which results in people breathing a sigh of relief when they approach the real world.. just so long as the crits here do not prohibit people from sending their stuff out.

  so long as it just thickens skin all is well..
  :o)
• kathleen fonseca

  March 18, 2009 at 10:16 am

  David B..

  haha, that kind of reminds me of school when the nuns would hiss at us, “You think I’M tough on you, wait till you get to high school!”…ohmygod, i’d be standing there trembling in my patent leather t-straps. Then i got to HS and the nuns growled viciously, “WAIT TILL YOU GET TO COLLEGE”!!!..and i stood there trembling in my loafers. Well, i almost didn’t go to college because i thought Lord, how could it get worse than Sister Petula’s Latin class? So then college, and what? WHAT? Comparatively, a piece of cake. So to Bobo, i shake my gnarled and crook’d index finger in his face, bring my crone’s nose right to the level of his chin and snarl, “JUST WAIT TILL YOU GET TO NATGEO!!!”

  ;;))

  best
  kat~
• Patricia Lay-Dorsey

  March 18, 2009 at 10:55 am

  David B, I very much appreciate your observation about the harshness of the critiques here on Burn. It’s getting so I would be reluctant to encourage any of my less-toughened photographic colleagues to submit work here, and that is sad. Critiques are good and necessary but when they get personal they can become more harmful than helpful. An honest assessment of someone’s work can be articulated in such a way that it is not seen as an attack. I often wonder if we were doing in-person instead of online critiques, if folks would be more respectful of one another.

  By the way, back in the 1980s I used to write art reviews for local and regional publications. Looking back I cringe at some of the things I said. I was way too impressed with my “power & position” and my unnecessarily harsh judgements showed it. Perhaps that’s why I’m more inclined to speak positively of what I like about someone’s work here on Burn rather than harping on what I don’t like. There are two sides to the critiquing coin.

  Patricia
• kathleen fonseca

  March 18, 2009 at 1:53 pm

  Patricia

  Just so you know, i sent that e-mail to your other address and same thing, your IP´s filters, or whatever, kicked it back. By then the subject matter of the e-mail was long past it´s ¨best used by date¨and i just figured, aw forget it..didn´t want you to think i´d just dropped it. Sorry about that..next time i need to send you something privately i´ll go to your website..

  And about the critiques, i learn as much or more from the negative crits´ as from the positive. I apply these comments to my own work and think, ok, how would i respond? Is the criticism justified? Is it coming from out left field or is it seconded by others? Is the criticism well considered, does it have a grain or more of truth? Is the critic just plain negative or are they also pointing out the positives? Would i be able to justify my work/concept/technical quality in light of that same criticism? And if not, why not? Does it matter? How can i make my work better in light of these criticisms? A good example was a few things that Panos said to someone at one point that i thought a lot about and next time i went out shooting i kept his words well in mind.

  I am not much one for left-handed PC compliments that are so deftly crafted that they deliver a sugar-coated punch to the solar plexus along with a thick blanket to dodge the blow. I belonged to enough photo sites to both have received and made that type of comment and they invariably finished with ¨hugs to my good friend surfgrrl¨ or whoever submitted the photo. I can think of one partiuclar woman who was an expert at this kind of comment. She could rave about the photo and then in her very last sentence take you to hell with a comment like, ¨Just one thing, and this is really just me but what I MIGHT do if this photo was mine is crop out the subject altogether and leave the background which is absolutely gorgeous¨. Don´t laugh, she told me that once.

  So, thank goodness there´s lots of different submissions here from all sorts of photographers and there´s lots of different readers with all kinds of different tastes and expectations and some will challenge, some will grate and some will sugar-coat. Different strokes, eh? Vive la everything. And hugz to my good friend, Patricia :))

  kat-
• Gracie

  March 18, 2009 at 4:06 pm

  hi patricia,

  i emailed you a question, so far i havent gotten anything back… no timelines required anyway…

  with regards to what you said above, the critiques here are truly difficult and inflammatory at least some of them that mostly if i were the photographer it would be hard for me not to get personal too. however, such readership i think is much appreciated and it takes great skill as what bodo (solon for PRESIDENT) has shown to thwart them with such grace as in kung fu movies.

  not everyone though are as articulate in expressing their critiques and i much prefer panos to say what he says (less of the fs and sh’s of course) than someone who would not be direct with what i would need to change.

  you do have a great point. i would NOT submit anything to BURN the way my pictures are now. and anyway, i know so that DAH will not publish as i do not have any skill at all. but overall, it is a learning experience. i skip through the profanities quickly and some readers i value. but most of all, i value the readership and the regulars here as much as DAHs fortitude to get this going inspite of what else he has to do.

  so, necessary evil i should say. but no eberhardt 4Hs available here. not that many trees left in the redwoods. BURNing people would have to stand by what they write and say, hopefully taking into consideration the photos they are considering, positive or negative comments included.

  (i wish there was a place where people discussed technique – dont know if this is the crux of what other sites do.. do you know of any?)
• david b

  March 18, 2009 at 6:25 pm

  gracie – there are plenty of places online for getting heads round technical things – is there something specific you need to know? i would think anyone here would help out through personal emails if there was a specific piece of work you were curious of.

  patricia said
  “David B, I very much appreciate your observation about the harshness of the critiques here on Burn. It’s getting so I would be reluctant to encourage any of my less-toughened photographic colleagues to submit work here, and that is sad.”

  i tend to agree with that.. the fact of the matter is that some of the critiques on here are great – there is some really constructive stuff going on..

  people who shout the loudest / act the bluntest do not always have the most to say and so
  there is a certain amount of bollocks as well..
  to me that is much more about the writer than the work.. although that can be difficult to see and as a new or young photographer some may be put off and not interact or contribute..

  for every 10 good points raised there is a certain amount of bollocks.. yeps.. posturing.. self assuring.. ego.. for sure.. boiling down the bollocks and reducing it to a simple point there is often, but not always, a good point to be made.

  i hope people do see through the smokescreen and realize that it is better to contribute than not.. that’s my hope at least.

  we are here to learn from each other, for sure, although bear in mind the voice we were united here to learn from – DAH.. he is direct and honest but when has he been utterly dismissive? obnoxious?

  maybe there is a lesson in that.

  seeing bodo on burn after looking at his website a while ago was a real pleasure.. he’s new to photography and potentially has a real future..
  his sharp mindedness with comments has not gone unnoticed.. and i’m happy about that. perhaps the harsh crits worked out for him?
  :o)

  david
• Gracie

  March 18, 2009 at 6:50 pm

  thanks david b. i am very very new to photography with all its nuances, gidgets and processing software. i dont even have processing software because one, i dont have the time (i work a lot) and two, i dont have the money to indulge myself.

  i would like to learn to photograph bodies and output in black and white. i have a project that has been singing to me for the past two months and i cannot sleep. i have to keep it secret to make it a surprise.

  i dont think burn critics have burned me. i just know i dont have anything to show. but until then, i will not submit. i think i dont mind if i am called KMA with DAH. already, he has shown exemplary mentorship in such encouraging words and so eloquent as to turn down some bullocks(?) as you say it with such lyrical niceties often times i have to look up.

  i do read all the comments and as above, i skip-to-da-loo through the profanities. i dont think anyone has any right no matter who they are in what capacity to bring anyone down. but opinions are only opinions.

  might need to take this elsewhere… on another thread. dont want to hijack Bodo’s thread already as it has been for a while…
• david b

  March 19, 2009 at 1:07 am

  gracie

  that sounds like a simple enough process.. photography is simple really and the very best way to learn is to take photos.. today with digital it is easier than ever..
  david@bophoto.co.uk feel free to email if you want to talk more about what you are trying to achieve.. photography is more difficult in peoples minds than it is in reality – thats what i think anyway.

  regarding tough crits on here – what i mean to say is that it has worked out for bodo.. and maybe more on here..
  the students at collage i teach had some homework the other week – to submit to burn for a single image – for the simple reason that the crits are tough..
  one way or another everyone who sticks their head above the parapet and shows work will be shot at, so better to get used to it right from the off .. learn how to take it..

  none of my students have made it to the front page as yet.. hopefully one will :o)
• david alan harvey

  March 19, 2009 at 3:43 am

  ALL…

  tough critique will take you much further than a token pat on the back…if you have any desire whatsoever to actually do a book, work for a magazine or have a show, then you need to have the ability to withstand an honest appraisal….it is your belief in what you have to say visually that will carry you through come hell or high water…HOWEVER, of course, you must have something to say!!!

  there is a difference between an obviously insecure and jealous attack than a true critique…it is not hard to tell the difference between educated and helpful critique and a cowardly blast…always consider the source….

  yet, i actually think there is very little here on BURN that is not honest critique or a true opinion…blunt is way different than an attack…you must be able to handle blunt…it is a form of honesty minus diplomacy…..

  cheers, david
• ian aitken

  March 19, 2009 at 4:44 am

  Very well put David, honest appraisal can be challenging to deal with, at the end of the day your belief in your work will be stronger and you might even take on board some suggestions and improve your work. “No Man is an Island……”

  I passed your info to Chase Jarvis, turns out you have already met up, he was very complimentary.

  cheers

  Ian
• Gracie

  March 19, 2009 at 8:31 am

  david b,
  i shall take you up on your offer. i have so very much to learn. i won’t be any less difficult than any of your students but at least i know where i am in the continuum of this hobby i have put on hold for too long.

  DAH,

  it is all a learning curve. the great photographers have great pictures but i am sure there were picture thousands more in one day that sucked. i just dont get to see them.

  i shall KMA. this is what brings me back to burn. your wisdom, your honest appraisals, your encouragement, zest, fortitude… that if i will put my heart, time and all into a project, i know you will not be disappointed.
• Anindya

  March 19, 2009 at 10:36 am

  A beautiful picture Subhrajit and I enjoyed it. The discussions/critique on your photo was equally hard and blunt and I look forward seeing more work from you. I would see every photo here and every comment on them as those helps me to learn (I am pretty new to photography). I really really hope one day one of mine would make it here.
• david alan harvey

  March 19, 2009 at 11:31 am

  GRACIE…

  the learning curve is never over….your place on that curve does not matter, for it is your own place…

  you are quite correct…even the best photographers have mostly pictures that do not work…percentages however do not matter….all that matters is sometimes it all works….some people do seem to have more “sometimes” than others….

  i will be pleased to view whatever project you decide to do…

  cheers,david
• bodo (subhrajit)

  March 19, 2009 at 11:49 am

  FRIENDS…

  i am grateful to you guys for coming out open with your views and really valuable insights on many aspects. i never hoped that so many interesting discussions would come up and you may not realize how valuable it is for a guy who is genuinely interested in learning the craft. it has really opened my eyes in many respect: i had many misconceptions which are cleared now and some of my beliefs have been reaffirmed. it was really helpful and since this was my photo, i could personally relate to each and every comment as it affected me directly.

  as far as facing criticisms are concerned, for my part, i can say that knowing or unknowingly, i have had a very tough training in my life in this regard, although it was not related to photography.

  some of the comments like those of sidney and others related to the advice how could i try to make the photograph more effective, more interesting by changing my position, by showing more of the face of the fisherman etc. i have kept a mental note of those advices. good…never to get satisfied with my work…i believe very positive thought indeed as far as photography is concerned, it shall help me keep myself on the edge always.

  some of the comments related to my ’style’ which appears to some to be too digestible and thus not so interesting. in this respect, i can only say i don’t have much choice in this regard. some may like it, some may not, what am i supposed to do about it other than hoping for the best in future?

  i am not a very ’style’-concious viewer of photographs myself, and i sincerely don’t believe that i am supposed to hate a ’style’ to love another. all sorts of photographs attract me, whether of old or modern ’style’ – i simply don’t care and i don’t let such a thought influence my enjoyment of a photograph. if it has greatly appealed to me and given me happiness, i am all for it. i have met some guys who are fashionably anti-natgeo. i refuse to be one of them. nor i think that natgeo is the last word in photography. is photography so frivolous? i refuse to believe so.

  may be i am talking too much. but you must admit, the provocation was too good to refuse. :)

  best regards

  bodo
• Gracie

  March 19, 2009 at 3:32 pm

  bodo,

  will you ever consider running for president? again very well spoken. you represent what i think as well, fired up but controlled. i am glad you did get published in BURN. very very nice pictures… like i said, so, so much RESPECT. oodles. that is your style and hopefully that is who you are. kudos again (i am jealous).

  DAH,

  thank YOU. it will be a long while until i am ready. i am fired up but controlled ;) the day job needs much attention now. photography is my tumbleweed. but i cannot chase me tumbleweeds with my d.parton shoes… not just yet. haha
• david b

  March 20, 2009 at 2:25 pm

  gracie

  david@bophoto.co.uk anytime.
  d
• david b

  March 20, 2009 at 2:27 pm

  bodo

  provocation can be a fantastic thing.. and always feeling like you can do better..

  brilliant to be in touch
  d
• bodo (subhrajit)

  March 20, 2009 at 2:41 pm

  David…

  true…

  and as regards the ‘brilliant’ part, the feelings are mutual… :)
• bodo (subhrajit)

  March 20, 2009 at 2:43 pm

  GRACIE…

  bodo 4 president…hmmm!!!

  suggest a good campaign slogan, i might take the bait ;)
• Gracie

  March 20, 2009 at 2:52 pm

  i am not smart enough to take smart photos
  that knock anyone’s socks off
  like you have.
  so i cannot think of a slogan.
  i can sing tho…… tralalala

  me a-walkin in miss parton’s dotted shoes
  i swing my awesome bodacious curls
  this tune i hope can help you choose
  from BODO-licious presidente! i get me pearls!
• bodo (subhrajit)

  March 20, 2009 at 3:05 pm

  ha ha… i wish i was as talented as you in writing poems that fast!!!

  but, honestly, i’m yet to learn how to knock others’ socks off…
• Gracie

  March 20, 2009 at 3:09 pm

  hmmm….
  it might be you SOLON i might love next.
  everyone has left me…
  maybe space cowboy, civilian, kat should not ever come back….
  (so i could love more and more)

  hmmm….
  maybe i can love you ALL

  (pssst… your pictures are really great… hmmm..if you needed any mentorship… then i (poor me) should probably go back to planting potatoes… or rice… sighhh)
• david b

  March 20, 2009 at 4:39 pm

  gracie – do you have any photos online?
• Gracie

  March 20, 2009 at 4:48 pm

  unfortunately no. i am so very, very very much so new to photography. i traded years of bday gifts, etc etc for my little gidget camera that i so love now and sleep with.

  this line david@bophoto.co.uk is now tattooed to my heart close to my bodacious. i will drop you a line and my kerchief.

  david b, should i love you now too?
  :))))))
• david b

  March 20, 2009 at 9:48 pm

  only as a watchmaker loves his springs, my dear :o)
• Gracie

  March 20, 2009 at 11:31 pm

  david b,

  hmmm…
  my bodacious marigold curls are springy
  also BODO’s greenish living petrified socks
  and maybe civilian’s octopus hurls
  and kitty-kat’s stealthy words
  and homer black’s nike max
  young tom’s runaway tumbleweed

  will you please be our watchmaker?