Right place, right time??

Toothie

Toothie

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Ruth
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Just a little rant really.

Ever fell like your never in the right place at the right time for your photography?

Recently I have been getting really poor results from my trips out with photography in mind.

It either rains, i get fog, you can garentee it will be over cast if i go anywere near my camera. and just to prove my bad luck the day i went to take pictures of ingelton waterfalls when i wanted it to be overcast, there was bright sunshine. The day it snowed i was stuck in work all day:suspect:

If i do get somewhere with the right light and intresting subjects then i will have flat batteries or no cf card, or the car will break down on the way, or dodgy navigating will hamper the proceedings.

Today i went out to take pictures of bluebells and there weren't enough of them to get the pictures i was looking for. Arghhhhh

anyone else suffer this problem??
 
I never ever ever ever travel anywhere without my kit (much to my wife's irritation) - holiday, work, days out, Sainsburys, Tescos, Garden Centres.

I've missed golden opportunities before as you describe Ruth and vowed never to do so again :D (a line of squids hanging up on a washing line in Kos still causes me to wince at the missed shot and as do the fireworks in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen!!!!)

I'm a bit sad Lol!!!
 
How about every time I take the dog on his early walk, I see Owls, kingfishers and Herons.

Leave the dog and take the camera and they all vanish.
 
to be fair the kit problems have only happened twice and both were my own fault:( Generally speaking i will put everything in the car and go out for the day to take photos, but the weather always causes issues when i go out, or i get to my intended destination and just can't find anything inspiring to take photos of. Really starting to think that kent just isn't all its cracked up to be when it come to taking photos.

Its not a case of missing shots, its a case of being unable to find any.
 
PsiFox said:
How about every time I take the dog on his early walk, I see Owls, kingfishers and Herons.

Leave the dog and take the camera and they all vanish.
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now that's the sort of thing i'm talking about. have you tried taking the dog and the camera??
 
if i go out in the garden.. sparrows.. robins and golden eagles land in the palm of my hand....
repeat the scenario with camera in hand.... only one distant pidgeon can be spotted... trying to aim him poo on my head!
 
Toothie said:
now that's the sort of thing i'm talking about. have you tried taking the dog and the camera??
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Bit difficult at the moment, he is an 8 month old GSD weighing as of today 73 pounds.

He was a rescue and we have had him 3 months.

He likes to jump a bit particularly when holding a camera and ignoring him.

Still he's lovely and training is progressing.

Oh he likes to chase birds too.:bang:
 
PsiFox said:
Bit difficult at the moment, he is an 8 month old GSD weighing as of today 73 pounds.

He was a rescue and we have had him 3 months.

He likes to jump a bit particularly when holding a camera and ignoring him.

Still he's lovely and training is progressing.

Oh he likes to chase birds too.:bang:
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Arh i see your problem, well maybe when he's trained.
 
Toothie said:
Really starting to think that kent just isn't all its cracked up to be when it come to taking photos.

Its not a case of missing shots, its a case of being unable to find any.
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:shake:how can you say that!!:lol:
 
will check back with you later...gotta dash off
 
Toothie, I feel the same at times. I lack inspiration much of the time and kick myself when I miss out on an opportunity. Did it on the weekend; thought about taking the kit when i walked to the shops on Sunday, eventually didn't and found there was a parade through the town centre for scouts and sea cadets - bummer. Okay, we ain't talking the assassination of Kennedy or owt, but it's a photo opportunity nonetheless. Still, waht's passed has passed - can't doing anything to change it.

I do carry my gear around a lot but on the flipside of the coin, doesn't anyone think that when you have your gear with you, you tend do do more 'snapping' than 'true' thoughtful photography?

My advice is don't get hung up on it. I expect pros spend ages waiting for shots and get frustrated. If the weather's against you, make the most of it. Do something different and you might be surprised :)
 
specialman said:
Toothie, I feel the same at times. I lack inspiration much of the time and kick myself when I miss out on an opportunity. Did it on the weekend; thought about taking the kit when i walked to the shops on Sunday, eventually didn't and found there was a parade through the town centre for scouts and sea cadets - bummer. Okay, we ain't talking the assassination of Kennedy or owt, but it's a photo opportunity nonetheless. Still, waht's passed has passed - can't doing anything to change it.

I do carry my gear around a lot but on the flipside of the coin, doesn't anyone think that when you have your gear with you, you tend do do more 'snapping' than 'true' thoughtful photography?

My advice is don't get hung up on it. I expect pros spend ages waiting for shots and get frustrated. If the weather's against you, make the most of it. Do something different and you might be surprised :)
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some wise words in there specialman:)
 
I have that at rugby sometimes, turn to talk to someone while there's not a lot going on and the action starts again and I miss it.

Or today, lovely sunny weather, I'm off work on annual leave and have to wait in for a Comet delivery, you can bet tomorrow it will rain.

The bluebells are out here :D
 
If you wanted bluebellls I would suggest Emmetts garden...do you know it? Its up high too so nice views.
 
Not sure if I'm allowed to add links but google it...its national trust, Ide hill, Sevenoaks. Ide Hills nice too....
 
I know how you feel,

I stroll across the park at lunchtime eating a sarnie and see a (to me) very pretty and unusual bird, put sarnie away, get camera out of bag and turn it on - 2 large dogs bounce across playing and bird flies off, never was able to find what it was :(

Row of posts with seagulls on them, change settings and something makes them all fly off.

Yesterday out bug hunting, tried behind and in a manure heap, under stones, in bonfire heap, in rubble heap and not a bug in sight, any other time there are beetles and all sorts of things around

Today finally have camera with me sitting waiting at a time and place I have seen deer a lot nothing in sight :bang: :bang: :bang:
 
Why not stop chasing the "finer" subjects, and instead focus on putting a new twist on photos of a more common subject? I was feeling similar to you - taking 101 trips to all our nature reserves/national parks etc...only to find swans and ducks and dull landscapes! So I decided to try a little closer to home - either sit in my garden for a while and snap flies/spiders/try my hand at bees - or if the weather's awful then I get a flower or two, set up a makeshift studio inside and shoot away. My more successful photos recently have all been taken within 8 feet of my house, on days where's I've literally had an hour to spare and decided I may as well have a play with the camera for a bit.

Having said that, sods law does often come into play when you plan for the big things, so you've got my sympathy for that!
 
Most recent one for me was in Birmingham City Centre. Protest going on about Scientology (you've probably seen it in the news) and the protestors had these awesome V For Vendetta masks on. Would've kept me entertained with my camera for awhile but didn't have it with me.

Since then I take my little Canon A560 with me anywhere I go. Obvious drawbacks to that but at least I've got SOMETHING - pretending the camera phone don't exist of course. Besides, its starting to iritate the boss at work and that's always a bonus :)

Sod makes up his own little Law's though so he'll get you one way or another.
 
LauraF said:
Why not stop chasing the "finer" subjects, and instead focus on putting a new twist on photos of a more common subject? I was feeling similar to you - taking 101 trips to all our nature reserves/national parks etc...only to find swans and ducks and dull landscapes! So I decided to try a little closer to home - either sit in my garden for a while and snap flies/spiders/try my hand at bees - or if the weather's awful then I get a flower or two, set up a makeshift studio inside and shoot away. My more successful photos recently have all been taken within 8 feet of my house, on days where's I've literally had an hour to spare and decided I may as well have a play with the camera for a bit.

Having said that, sods law does often come into play when you plan for the big things, so you've got my sympathy for that!
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You make some very good points. My problem being, i don't have a garden, i live in an area where if i took the camera out i'd probably get mugged for it:( and its a heavily built up residential area. and im board of taking photos indoors i want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine - when we have some:)
 
I feel for you Toothie. I was similarly frustrated last year wanting to take photos in Sussex yet not seeming to find anywhere. You can jump in the car and just go for a drive, but you often miss a lot due to having to maintain speed or find somewhere safe to stop. Also, it's not always a wise idea to park your car up in a deserted country lane.

I used to live on a busy road and thought there would be nowhere nearby to find shots, but I found a bridle path by looking on Google Earth. I followed it on foot and it brought me out into open countryside where I got some of my best shots of last year.

If you live in a built up area, look on Google Earth or a map for an rural area then maybe you could jump on a bus to a village and explore some of the public footpaths. They really can lead you to stunning areas of natural beauty that you just can't get to from the road (make sure you take some food and drink and waterproofs for you and your kit).

Another thing about landscape shots is the light. Some scenes will look really bad on a hazy sunny afternoon, but in the morning or just before sunset the angle and colour of the light can make it look incredible. Even if it rains where you're out and about, there may be that magical moment when the sun just starts to shine on a rainwashed landscape that will make the shot brilliant.

Unfortunately it is a lot about perseverance and timing. I found a scene I wanted to capture and waited around for 2 hours for the light to be right. Food and drink really come into play here, as can an MP3 player with an audiobook or suitable music on it. Staying in an area for a reasonable amount of time can also help as you become attuned to it and it becomes easier to spot the parts that will make a great shot.

Hope some of that helps! Good luck!
 
redeyeshev said:
I feel for you Toothie. I was similarly frustrated last year wanting to take photos in Sussex yet not seeming to find anywhere. You can jump in the car and just go for a drive, but you often miss a lot due to having to maintain speed or find somewhere safe to stop. Also, it's not always a wise idea to park your car up in a deserted country lane.

I used to live on a busy road and thought there would be nowhere nearby to find shots, but I found a bridle path by looking on Google Earth. I followed it on foot and it brought me out into open countryside where I got some of my best shots of last year.

If you live in a built up area, look on Google Earth or a map for an rural area then maybe you could jump on a bus to a village and explore some of the public footpaths. They really can lead you to stunning areas of natural beauty that you just can't get to from the road (make sure you take some food and drink and waterproofs for you and your kit).

Another thing about landscape shots is the light. Some scenes will look really bad on a hazy sunny afternoon, but in the morning or just before sunset the angle and colour of the light can make it look incredible. Even if it rains where you're out and about, there may be that magical moment when the sun just starts to shine on a rainwashed landscape that will make the shot brilliant.

Unfortunately it is a lot about perseverance and timing. I found a scene I wanted to capture and waited around for 2 hours for the light to be right. Food and drink really come into play here, as can an MP3 player with an audiobook or suitable music on it. Staying in an area for a reasonable amount of time can also help as you become attuned to it and it becomes easier to spot the parts that will make a great shot.

Hope some of that helps! Good luck!
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Thanks for that, think im gonna try and get out to the play park down the road this evening its right by the river so might get some intresting shots if the sun set plays nice:)
 
I find this very annoying, especially if your working to a deadline for a client ect. But you've just got to make the best of a bad situation sometimes.

Tonight was a nice sunset, but i didnt have my camera with me :bang: .

Sometimes it can go the other way, where you've got nothing to do and the weather is beautiful.
 
Toothie said:
lol sorry BeHappy i just can't seem to find anywhere to take stunning landscape photos. All suggestions welcome...
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Hoo Peninsula (You can walk along the see wall from Hoo Marina to Kingsnorth).

Rainham Marshes

Cliffe Marshes

See, and I live by Heathrow :lol:
 
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