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10/30/2014 02:04:03 AM · #1 |
I have almost stopped taking pictures on my DSLR and I somehow feel bad for her (5D classic). Work has come between us, but mainly it´s the shiny new smartphone I have that has gotten my attention. I take pictures using that thing every day and I love it. It´s just so damn practical.
But. It´s not photography. I just have to get motivated. Take her to places. See things. Like it used to be.
Maybe dpchallenge is the answer? Just force myself to take more part.
How do you balance your life together? |
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10/30/2014 02:13:24 AM · #2 |
Originally posted by bogulo:
...but mainly it´s the shiny new smartphone I have that has gotten my attention. I take pictures using that thing every day and I love it. It´s just so damn practical.
But. It´s not photography. |
I don't see why it's not photography. You're still making images of compositions and light and form and such. Certainly sounds like photography to me. I say don't worry about it and just enjoy your shiny new camera that just happens to make annoying ringing sounds every now and then.
Originally posted by bogulo:
How do you balance your life together? |
Well, i earn a living from photography these days and there is a worry that it'll burn me out and drag the fun out of photography. Hasn't happened yet but i make sure i have a couple of ongoing personal projects on the go - photo essays and such. As i work weddings it means work is quite seasonal so after a busy summer i have a very quiet winter to look forward to for those projects. Works well so far.
Message edited by author 2014-10-30 06:19:13. |
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10/30/2014 04:03:50 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by bogulo:
Take her to places. See things. Like it used to be. |
I like the way you phrase it. |
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10/30/2014 04:07:44 AM · #4 |
It's a constant roller coaster. Motivation to shoot runs in peaks and valleys, and you never know how long they're going to last. Places like this can help, but I tell you they can also infuriate you when you've promised yourself you're going to shoot something for a particular challenge and you either can't get inspired to shoot something, or shoot something that just isn't coming out right, and particularly when you shoot something, feel really good about it, and then have voters sh*t all over it.
That said, the recent "Something New" challenge got me out of a funk by making me get off my butt and go out and discover some place different to shoot. I decided on a place I'd been to but not explored or shot fully, got up early in the morning on a day I knew would have decent light and just went. It was refreshing as heck and I came back with images that weren't just good but were different than what I'd been shooting because I knew the place would present me with things I hadn't shot before - or at least in a long while. Now I want to go out and find similar places to shoot, and go back and further explore this one. I'll ride this peak for as long as I can, but I know the doldrums will hit eventually.
Plain and simple, sometimes you need to shoot your way through it. And if that bright, shiny smartphone has your attention right now, go with it. I spent a summer shooting with nothing but my iPhone, and while I look back and regret not having my Nikon with me on many of those occasions, what I learned using that little fixed focal length beast for 3 months helped me a lot. |
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10/30/2014 04:29:55 AM · #5 |
Stating that it isn´t photography is probably too harsh. I like how I now take more pictures of my cats, my dogs, my immediate surroundings, quirky sudden moments, people in my life. Selfies. Many selfies.
But it´s all just so automatic, I can only influence the composing - which is probably just a good exercise in itself. Maybe what I mean is that, if I were to make a great shot the quality is just not as good. No trotting down the beautiful path of raw and silver efex.
Damn. I just realized I am a candidate for a first world meme. "My big, shiny LG G3 smartphone is so excellent in taking pictures that I don´t use the sweet fullframe DSLR and all the lenses as much". Quite pathetic really.
Originally posted by rooum:
Originally posted by bogulo:
...but mainly it´s the shiny new smartphone I have that has gotten my attention. I take pictures using that thing every day and I love it. It´s just so damn practical.
But. It´s not photography. |
I don't see why it's not photography. You're still making images of compositions and light and form and such. Certainly sounds like photography to me. I say don't worry about it and just enjoy your shiny new camera that just happens to make annoying ringing sounds every now and then. |
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10/30/2014 04:42:36 AM · #6 |
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10/30/2014 05:09:30 AM · #7 |
Do something that you haven't done before that excites you. It's hard to know what it is when you're in a funk -- but I like going to 1x.com to find an inspiration. They do so many things of which I would have never thought. Or go to deviant art and look around.
I'm bored stiff with photography, until I find something that intrigues me. Right now it's lighting. I'm having a lot of fun trying to discover what to do with it. However, I don't have a model anymore since my daughter went to college. So when I can borrow one, it's fun and exciting.
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10/30/2014 05:18:34 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Do something that you haven't done before that excites you. It's hard to know what it is when you're in a funk -- but I like going to 1x.com to find an inspiration. They do so many things of which I would have never thought. Or go to deviant art and look around.
I'm bored stiff with photography, until I find something that intrigues me. Right now it's lighting. I'm having a lot of fun trying to discover what to do with it. However, I don't have a model anymore since my daughter went to college. So when I can borrow one, it's fun and exciting. |
Checked out 1x.com. Confused. I don´t get this site - seems to have something to do with photography, but exactly how and what?
Edit: Never mind. Found the FAQ...
Message edited by author 2014-10-30 09:24:04. |
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10/30/2014 05:29:32 AM · #9 |
| 500px is better for inspiration. |
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10/30/2014 05:41:23 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by Mike:
500px is better for inspiration. |
+1
I also feel that 500px has more variation. |
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10/30/2014 05:43:07 AM · #11 |
I think  Garry was falling into the same rut and he started taking pictures of his neighbors wives to get his mojo back, I haven't heard back so not sure how thats going for him. |
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10/30/2014 06:11:32 AM · #12 |
Oh good, I'm not the only one experiencing a rut.
I will go look for inspiration. |
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10/30/2014 09:29:22 AM · #13 |
"Ruts" are a part of the creative process. Ride it out.
That being said, try to control "automatic" photography - tons of articles are written about how people are missing life because they're too busy taking pictures of it. This is particularly true of photos using cellphones, which we wear as appendages :)
Lots of us use this site to help us keep goal-oriented and motivated to shoot with the challenges. I think it helps to identify your goals for your photography (lighting/technique/etc.), and then use your camera to achieve those goals. Leave the cellphone for the fun, spontaneous stuff.
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