jeffrey wrote: >Am I in the minority by virtue of not planning out my photo outings? > > > Well, people, especially art critics, love to categorize. They want to be able to fit a work into broader contexts, because that gives them a lot to talk about. Moreover people who put up shows want themes. After all, being able to say something like "Contemporary Nudes" is much more likely to capture someone's attention than simply saying "Photographs". Moreover having a theme or project suggests sustained attention, and perhaps people link this with profundity. If you're main goal is to have shows, or have art critics notice you, then themes (whether imposed pre or post picture taking) are the way to go. If you're not interested in this type of recognition, then do what you'd like. Some people benefit from projects, and some don't. The only way to tell would be to try one. Personally, I usually have a general idea of the types of photographs I plan to make when I head out. You know, something like waterfalls, ice forms, an old house...but once in the field I go with whatever catches my eye. Today for example I went out hoping to photograph ice crystals which I saw yesterday on a nearby creek. When I got there, though, they had all melted. So instead of ice crystals I shot reflections of trees in the creek. To some up, do what you'd like. If having a project sounds fun, then by all means do it. They can be great learning experiences. If it sounds like a tedious boor, then give it a miss. -Peter ============================================================================================================= To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,) and unsubscribe from there.