Photography frustration

KryptoNeo

KryptoNeo

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Stephen
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I have had my Nikon D5100 for about two weeks now and I have not really used it much since getting it. Partly due to work hours. But I've had a good few hours to myself today and I decided to go out with the camera to the local nature reserve and also to the Seafront and whilst there I could not think of anything interesting to take a picture of. Everything I've tried just look dull and boring. Yet I can guarantee that if I were to go out without my camera I would see no end of interesting subjects to capture. Is this a regular thing for many people or do I just lack imagination?
 
It's any number of things, from having too high standards, to putting pressure on yourself to having no imagination.

The sensible answer is that it hits all of us sometimes. My guess is that you consider the camera an important investment and that you've internally promised yourself that it'll improve your photography. The result of which is effectively stage fright. You're afraid to fail because you'll feel that you've wasted the money.

The answer is to just do it. Get out and take pictures - they'll not be brilliant, but unless you shoot and learn from your mistakes you'll never improve.
 
Keep your eyes open as you walk around. Make mental notes of things that catch your attention, including the time of day, the angle of the light and the weather. Make a point of going out with your camera at the same times, to the same places and record the scenes that you saw. That way you stand a better chance of coming back with something that you like and it will encourage your photography rather than discourage it, which is what happens when you don't get anything that gives you a buzz. Having your camera with you all of the time is, of course, a great idea but it's not always practical. Making mental notes and going out with specific ideas and objectives is a good, productive, counter activity.
 
You need to chill out, relax, don't try to think of things to shoot when your out, plan ahead and/or just try things, look for shapes, look for leading lines and then think "how can I shoot that?".

I generally go out with 2 or 3 shots in mind, then with those done I just make the rest up as I go.

Woodland and nature reserves are very samey, very hard to find anything interesting, very hard to pick one tree over another. Use paths and animal tracks, shoot RAW, tweak the contrast and WB later. I've got some B&W woodland shots up on canvas print around my living room.

I guarantee that one thing stopping you (even just occasionally) is that little demon in the back of your head, saying "can't shoot that, i'll look like a weirdo". Well sod what anyone else thinks, you've got a DSLR, you'll look like a p*** dalek anyway :p
 
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ChrisGilbert said:
Keep your eyes open as you walk around. Make mental notes of things that catch your attention, including the time of day, the angle of the light and the weather. Make a point of going out with your camera at the same times, to the same places and record the scenes that you saw. That way you stand a better chance of coming back with something that you like and it will encourage your photography rather than discourage it,
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Good advice - I often go out with the camera because 'I've got an opportunity now', but I have no real idea in mind I just hope I'll find something :thinking:
It very rarely works - only if I have something specific in mind does it seem to work ... a visit to a cathedral/abbey, a local beauty spot/attraction etc.
 
Plan images before you even leave the house. Walking around hoping to bump into them is hit and miss as you've found out.

Is there anything locally that interests you? As an example... let's assume there is a really interesting building near you. Is there one? Great... that's step one. Even now, don't just go out to shoot it. Go out without your camera... look at it. If you have your camera with you, you'll just start shooting it without thinking about it. Why is it interesting? Is it it's shape? Colour? History? Think about what makes it interesting, or famous... what does that look like? Would any particular time of day get that message across? Any kind of light? Daytime? Night Time? Would it be a long shot showing the surrounding area, or a close shot nearby with a wide lens?

Start thinking about your subject and you'll realise there is actually a great deal of work to do before you so much as look at your camera.

You COULD just grab your SLR and go shoot it... but it will probably end up being yet another crap snapshot.

Think things through... that's where ideas come from.
 
Thanks for the replies and the advice guys. As i said, today was a rare day that I had all to myself as i have a day off work and my Better half was out with the kids for the day so I hopped on my bike and went out to try and get some use out this camera I just paid hundreds of pounds for and haven't used much since. So it was just a case of go out and get something. Unfortunately I had nothing.

When I'm in work (Taxi Driver) I see things I want to take pictures of all the time. My problem is I can't do it in work hours. So I will have to make the effort to go to some of these locations either before or after work.

As for today, the seaside was very scenic but I either felt awkward pulling a camera out in front of so many people or when I did have it out I couldn't capture what I wanted to capture. There I a great view of the lighthouse but I just couldn't capture it. I tried a few different angles, tried getting closer or further away but I just couldn't get what I wanted.
 
I used to go out and just walk and look for stuff to take pics of but like you said nothing really happens.

Now I go out with a mission in mind, like you said about the lighthouse, go out again and just concentrate on that, try a different time of day when the tides out/in depending or when you are driving round in your taxi make a mental note of "that looks good I am going to come back here and do that.

It works for me whether it be birds, a bit of makro or whatever
 
Set yourself a project; a place, a theme or telling a story can all be a place to start. Then start shooting (and editing) to fulfil that self-set brief. It can give direction and motivation for your work.

Have fun!

Mike
 
Well as someone that shoots on the hoof as opportunity arises, (wildlife) its sods law that if i forsake the camera in favour of my scope, a kodak moment will arise. :( :( :(
 
Cuddy said:
Well as someone that shoots on the hoof as opportunity arises, (wildlife) its sods law that if i forsake the camera in favour of my scope, a kodak moment will arise. :( :( :(
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This has happened to me quite a few times. Which is what prompted me to get back into photography after a while out. But this is also the reason I was originally going to buy a Sony NEX 5r as I would be able to take it around with me a lot more than a DSLR. But when I got to the shop to have a look I ended up coming home with the D5100.
 
Lots of good advise here already, but here is my 2p.

I often go out with my camera, just hoping to capture something. Some times it works, sometimes it doesnt, don't give up!

However, some of my best shots have came from planning. The shot below took a couple of days planning. I had seen this Pier a thousand times before, and tried shooting it many times but never quite got it right. So, I stopped and thought about it for a while. I realised that it had a bit of a story to tell, and lighting, positioning and time of day all had an influence. I had noticed the tide came in in a strange way leaving a little island of sand in the middle, which added interest to the foreground and the pier added a nice lead in line to the shot. I tried the shot using a normal exposure but it didnt look right, the sky tended to draw my attention away from the main subject... So, after checking the tide times online and waiting for a day with some wind to add cloud movement, I went back down later afternoon and tried a long exposure... Its one of my favorite shots, and I plan on having it printed and framed.

However, not everything can be planned, and the stick stuck in the sand in the water was a fluke and had not been there on previous trips out, but adds something extra to the shot. So ,remember planning is not always everything!


Stick It by dankellys, on Flickr
 
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Rockman said:
Set yourself a project; a place, a theme or telling a story can all be a place to start. Then start shooting (and editing) to fulfil that self-set brief. It can give direction and motivation for your work.

Have fun!

Mike
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This, I'm in the same boat as the OP. I have a theme in mind and I aim to go out with the aim to look for shots that comply with my theme.
 
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