Stuck On Repeat!

danny_bhoy

danny_bhoy

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I've just been flicking through some shots I've taken over the last few months and it appears, without knowing it, I've become a bit obsessed with seascapes! Almost all of my stuff has been taken at coastal locations!!

Don't get me wrong I really enjoy getting to the coast and working with water and long exposures, that's where some of my best shots have come from IMO, but I'm starting to feel like a bit of a one trick pony.

Has anyone else been stuck in this sort of repetition before? Almost subconsciously seeking out the same genre of shots on almost every outing? Sure it'll pass soon :)
 
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It happens. If it starts to make your images repetitive, then it's time to make a concerted effort to move on I think. Otherwise, go with it. Tim Flach shoots animals... Donovan Wylie is most famous for typologies of disused military and penal institutions... Tim Walker shoots Fantasy/Fashion editorial pieces. (shrug).

If all your images just look the same though... yeah.. find ways to evolve what you do. You don't have to stop shooting at the coast.... maybe just back off on the seascapes. Maybe start looking at seaside towns more holistically.

Look at the book "Cape Light" by Joel Meyerowitz. That's an inspirational book for someone like you I reckon.
 
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Have a serious look at your pics and see what you can improve. Go back to the same locations and retake them.
Any improvement in one field of photography will improve you in other fields.
 
Pookeyhead said:
It happens. If it starts to make your images repetitive, then it's time to make a concerted effort to move on I think. Otherwise, go with it. Tim Flach shoots animals... Donovan Wylie is most famous for typologies of disused military and penal institutions... Tim Walker shoots Fantasy/Fashion editorial pieces. (shrug).

If all your images just look the same though... yeah.. find ways to evolve what you do. You don't have to stop shooting at the coast.... maybe just back off on the seascapes. Maybe start looking at seaside towns more holistically.

Look at the book "Cape Light" by Joel Meyerowitz. That's an inspirational book for someone like you I reckon.
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Thanks David.

I suppose you're right in that people, after a while, do tend to find a niche. I'm certainly going to make a concerted effort to mix it up a bit from now on.

Maybe it's just too easy to keep doing something you're comfortable with.

Thanks for the book recommendation, definitely going to have a look.
 
I recommend that book because A) The photography is achingly beautiful, B) it's all shot in New England seaside towns, and C) It's the book that actually made me want to be a photographer.
 
Pookeyhead said:
I recommend that book because A) The photography is achingly beautiful, B) it's all shot in New England seaside towns, and C) It's the book that actually made me want to be a photographer.
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Just found it online, going to order it when I get home. :) Looks really inspirational. Always wanted to visit New England - Cape Cod in particular..

Hope it's as inspiring as his book documenting the aftermath of the World Trade Centre attacks - thats was really powerful/moving stuff.
 
I am finding that I am doing the same thing... I think part of the problem (for me in particular) is I am struggling to find any other interesting subjects to shoot locally. We are quite lucky to have such an interesting coastline in the North East (I have lived in South Shields for about 3 years now, originally from Sunderland though), and no matter how many times I head down the beach, I almost always find something new to shoot.

I think the thing I enjoy most about it is the more creative side of it, playing with settings and exposure times to get different results. If long exposures are your thing, maybe try light trails or wire wool? Thats my next project I think, but going to wait until later in the year, when the sun sets a little earlier. By 11pm I cant be arsed.
 
dankellys said:
I am finding that I am doing the same thing... I think part of the problem (for me in particular) is I am struggling to find any other interesting subjects to shoot locally. We are quite lucky to have such an interesting coastline in the North East (I have lived in South Shields for about 3 years now, originally from Sunderland though), and no matter how many times I head down the beach, I almost always find something new to shoot.

I think the thing I enjoy most about it is the more creative side of it, playing with settings and exposure times to get different results. If long exposures are your thing, maybe try light trails or wire wool? Thats my next project I think, but going to wait until later in the year, when the sun sets a little earlier. By 11pm I cant be arsed.
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You're spot on Dan. Even though I said I was a bit stuck on seascapes there is still quite a bit of variety within that genre.

Convenience is definitely a massive factor as we're minutes away from some great coastal locations.

Been looking into wire wool stuff for a while and I've bought all the required bits and pieces.....like you say, it's all about making the effort to get out there and do something different.
 
danny_bhoy said:
it's all about making the effort to get out there and do something different.
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Thats it. I plan on making a real effort over the summer to try and shoot things a little out of my comfort zone, as like a said previously, the light nights make it difficult for most forms of long exposure (although my 10 stopper copes fine with seascapes).

I live just off Ocean Road in Shields, and Bents Park is about a 30second walk from my front door, and over the summer South Tyneside have events on there pretty much every weekend (there was a classic car event on, on Sunday just gone, but I missed it). I aim to get to a few of of these sort of things, things which I have never tried to shoot before, and basically just have a go at it. (South Tyneside Summer Festival)

EDIT: There is an Extreme Stunt Show on there on the 19th June (http://www.extremestuntshow.com/) £12 to get in, but think it could be worth a visit.
 
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You could always force yourself to think differently; only go out with one lens, and not one you'd normally use. Or don't take a tripod (so no long exposures)... Something to make you break a habit.
 
dankellys said:
Thats it. I plan on making a real effort over the summer to try and shoot things a little out of my comfort zone, as like a said previously, the light nights make it difficult for most forms of long exposure (although my 10 stopper copes fine with seascapes).

I live just off Ocean Road in Shields, and Bents Park is about a 30second walk from my front door, and over the summer South Tyneside have events on there pretty much every weekend (there was a classic car event on, on Sunday just gone, but I missed it). I aim to get to a few of of these sort of things, things which I have never tried to shoot before, and basically just have a go at it. (South Tyneside Summer Festival)

EDIT: There is an Extreme Stunt Show on there on the 19th June (http://www.extremestuntshow.com/) £12 to get in, but think it could be worth a visit.
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Just had a look at that extreme stunt show and that's about as far out of my comfort zone as you could get!! :) Maybe just what I need.

I can see why you're drawn to the sea with the location you live in though, can't blame you. I'm planning to get up for sunrise on saturday (it's forecast to be nice) and head inland for a change.
 
Durbs said:
You could always force yourself to think differently; only go out with one lens, and not one you'd normally use. Or don't take a tripod (so no long exposures)... Something to make you break a habit.
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I like the idea of leaving the tripod at home. Hardly ever shoot handheld.....which I suppose is a crime in itself.
 
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