Time

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recognise this?! seriously dude you are a lot better than you think!!

also i think I'm alot like you. i go to places then when i upload all the picts out of 500 picts i like about 20-30
 
Wow the original post could so have been me. I too went to the Lake District recently (last week) and the weather combined with no eye for a landscape resulted in lots of photos I can't even be bothered processing. Like you I just see flat/dull. Save making them B/W with a dramatic sky I can't see what prompted me to take most of them :)
Thankfully I shot across to North Yorkshire moors afterwards and things improved both weather wise and results wise raising my mood somewhat. If it wasn't for nailing a falcon in flight when it was bucketing down with rain I would be under the impression I am only successful in ideal conditions.

I also think my problem with composition with landscapes in particular is i) I never really tried it before and ii) I am not really into scenery anyway. So, I figure as I don't get overly excited about what I am looking at I capture uninspired views of it. Think I will stick to using it as the background for something else :lol:

Hope you get some good shots soon that show you that it is indeed worth the effort:thumbs:
 
looked at your flickr rubbish :eek::eek::eek: if i was half as good i,d be a happy bunny keep doing what you,re doing it aint half bad :thumbs:
oh and next time you get the doldrums let me know i,ll send my shrink round;)
 
Nictry...you spend a week on holiday and you come away with photographs that you are not happy with?

Well I'm sure that the weather had a lot to do with that. Just before opening your thread I looked at my camera bags in the corner and thought the same as you.... I am in the middle of a flat spot at the moment and I put it down to the weather. Autumn is just around the corner and I'm planning to visit numerous locations when the leaves start changing colours etc.

You live in Whitstable. My sister has a house there and a few weeks ago I visited the area. There were loads of photo opportunities and views .

Can I suggest that you look at where you live through the eyes of a tourist / visitor. I'm sure that you will then see your mojo returning;)
 
May I take the alternative view please?

I had a Nikon D80 with a bundle of lenses, really enjoyed the hobby and upgraded to a Nikon D300 and got a couple more lenses. The D300 was fantastic but I found I was loosing interest and rarely took pictures apart from when I was on holiday.

I flogged all my kit, bought a Canon bridge camera and never looked back. Sure, the bridge camera is not a DSLR and at times I have a pang for the quality of the D300.

There have been times such as a recent trip to the Farne Islands when I had a smile watching all those with tripods/camera bags/kit bags struggling to get off the boat and dragging it all up to the puffin sites. I thought about offering to help some of them, then decided to slip the bridge into my coat pocket and take some pictures instead.

I enjoy using the bridge and the 'pressure' of not having to perform and produce results is great. I also have the cash tucked away, if I decide that I want something more - and recently I have considered getting a secondhand DSLR - the money is there.

I am not suggesting that I am typical of the dissenting togging types. I still like lurking here (obviously) and still enjoy photography. Good kit will not guarantee a good photo but does possibly make the odds of a great photo better.

Make the right decision and try not to make any decision that is difficult to reverse if you are not completely sure.

Chris
 
interesting thread. 3 very good shots, looks like you've given yourself a kick up the backside ;). keep the gear mate your pretty good with it. :D

Scott
 
It's a phase I reckon.
I went through one before boarding the plane to Canada.
I've noticed I've got phases in guitar as well.
 
Willid1 said:
Best advice I can give it to put your camera away and get a copy of this book The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos .
Click to expand...

I've got this book too. While it cannot be considered a quick fix it's very good if you can put in the effort to understand it.

Also, how long are you prepared to spend to get the shot you want? I saw a BBC Countryfile programme recently where they followed a Pro photograher taking pictures in the Scottish islands. He researched his locations for a day, and then spent about 3 hours at each location to get the one shot he wanted.

Also the programme where Rankin was re-creating classic shots. There was loads of planning and hours of work to get the perfect picture.

If it was easy - everyone would do it! Don't give up.
 
nictry said:
For the last few months I have been feeling like Photography is a waste of time because I never seem to be happy with anything I shoot :( I don't have a particular preference in the shots I take as I just snap what I see when out and about or the odd 'day out' somewhere like motor racing, footie etc. but I still only come back and look at the photos and think the majority are rubbish

The nail in the coffin seems to be a trip I just had to the Lake District where despite spending a week (and yes the weather was pretty poor) I don't feel there is a single shot that I can be bothered to keep, other than a few family shots which quite frankly I could have taken with a point and click.

As you can see from my sig it is not through lack of kit as I have some pretty good stuff so by definition it must be lack of talent/ability (and I really feel a lack of ability to 'see' a shot :shrug: )

So I guess the reason for this post? Well I am seriously thinking of binning all the kit I have (well selling rather than binning) but my wife is telling me not to be daft as I will regret it and I suppose I am just after other's thoughts on whether enough is enough or am I just being hasty and will probably regret it later on? For reference I sort of got into photography about 4 years ago so not that long really
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I agree with your wife, i think you would regret it!! maybe you just need some fresh inspiration, maybe try something new that you havent tried before. At least if you keep your equipment and dont use it your not losing anything and you have it there if the urge takes you, if you sell it your stuffed! What would you do with the money from selling....unless you have something you really want to buy i wouldnt, it will end up going on food in tesco or petrol in your car and you will have nothing to show for it!
 
I had 4 years of very average shots but still kept plugging at it. Back in April I broke my 300D and got a 50D to replace. With the upgrade I decided I needed to learn how to use my camera properly and get it out of auto mode. In doing that I also discovered my niche, wildlife photography. Because I enjoy wildlife photography I've made the effort to use the camera properly and this has improved the other pictures that I take.

I now understand why most of my pictures were average previously. I kept trying landscapes but they never came out particularly well. I now know that the light needs to be just right to get the perfect landscape shot and ideally you need to spend time scouting out the perfect viewpoint, setting up the tripod, waiting for the right light etc. I really can't be bothered with all this but can now recognise when the light is right and I happen to be in the right spot for a good picture.

I've still not mastered portraits or street photography but I'm not really bothered. I'm not really that interested in looking at portraits or street photography so my lack of interest shows in any pictures I take.
 
Its a phase, I was feeling the same myself and actaully told all my family I was going to sell all my equipment... but then I had my engagement come along and camera got some serious use and I made a lovely dvd slideshow which I am still grinning about then I had my cousins wedding last week which I took my camera along just to do some candid shots and the pictures came in great especially now I know how to use apature mode and captured great pics in the dark... which has given me more confidence and ignited my flame for photography again!

But I do tend to get a bit carried away and just bought a A700 with a great sigma lens lol.... I personally go through one extreme to another :lol:
 
nictry said:
For the last few months I have been feeling like Photography is a waste of time because .....
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If I could have a penny for every time I've heard a photographer say that.

Almost every 'tog I know has gone through the same phase, and it is a phase. Sometimes we forget to 'rest' and instead we work even harder and never seem to get anywhere. A symptom of over doing it. If you cant take a small rest, try working on something you don't normally do. What about mono, Still life, abstract. It happens to me a lot. Yesterday in fact. I needed some location shots to put into a wedding book that is half done. Brain and camera not in perfect harmony, so I go off at a tangent and did this:

Straight from the camera, levels tweak only. Now I have some ideas for other images for the wedding book.

Try something different, it works.

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D80 1/3 sec. f something, hand held.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
 
It is just a phase I reckon what you need to do is look around you see what others are doing and inspiration will strike most of what I have learnt is from seeing what is done then finding my own take on it... however I do not make a living for togging but would love to make some on the side eventually for landscapes this means doing homework I have two O/S maps with circles and times and a notebook to return when light etc may get the shot I am wanting trouble with a week in the Lakes is there is sooo much to shoot yet so little time to plan and do start local to you find things whether in town or more rural then return at differing times to the same spot you may think oh I hate that as it is dull so go back when brighter or maybe it lacks dramam so go back shooting B&W when it is dull soon inspiration will strike then your partner will be a lens widow... chin up you have the potential now go put it to work
 
i have just had a look through your flickr and personaly i think you have some amazing shots there so u def shouldnt be so hard on yourself, dont sell your gear and just have a break and hopefully youl find your spark again.
all the best i hope you find some resolve:)
 
nictry said:
These are probably the better ones and still very poor, flat and boring in my mind

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Original: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2647/3841524985_ec5218a8d8_o.jpg

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Original: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3842315050_ac981a410a_o.jpg
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I don't see what is the problem. The 2nd image is good. You exposed the sky well & you got the foreground detailed. A bit of photoshop & you can bring it up more.
Look from time to time I go through the same doubts. What am I doing here?
But then I know, I can't sing, paint, draw, write(novels, thoughts, poems) or act & direct. But I can create a bit of an art in taking a picture. And that keeps me going.
 
get out in the country and lie in the turf or moors and watch the birds and insects
the clouds going overhead and the soak in the general peace...
man made stuff can become boring to photograph
 
I'm going through a similar phase at the moment, as much as I enjoy photography and love photographing animals :), the past month I've been more self critical of my photos and have been putting extra pressure on myself which has taken the fun out of photography. I would never sell my camera (I can't imagine my life without photography), I probably sound sad saying this :lol: but my life would stand still without my camera. For now, have a break from taking photos and do other things that you enjoy and one day you will get back into photography. When you start photographing again, photograph what you enjoy, have a passion for and what inspires you, that should help you get back into it :), that's my 2 pence worth of advice :lol:.

Natasha
 
wasper said:
I don't see what is the problem. The 2nd image is good. You exposed the sky well & you got the foreground detailed. A bit of photoshop & you can bring it up more.
Look from time to time I go through the same doubts. What am I doing here?
But then I know, I can't sing, paint, draw, write(novels, thoughts, poems) or act & direct. But I can create a bit of an art in taking a picture. And that keeps me going.
Click to expand...

lighting is the most important element in any photograph
thats why its called photography

your lighting is just what mine would be...flat and boring
wait for better lighting/seasonal changes
make notes of sites and what lighting would be good for them
then go back as the situation changes
digital cameras were made for boring shots...you can delete them easily ...like taking pola's before a shoot
stick in
:)
 
nictry said:
Cheers Natasha and certainly does seem like I am not the only one that feels this way from time to time!
Click to expand...

Certainly not, been there too with quite a few "hobbies" If you are really thinking of binning the kit, I know a nice clean bin just around the corner......;)

I think these things come in phases. I have been into astronomy for years and about 18 months ago went through the same sort of feelings you are having now about photography. So, I sold all my kit and bought a D300, a few lenses and stepped up my photography.
Now, I miss the astronomy and have just bought a couple more scopes and mounts. The camera kit is on the back burner for a while while I renew my interest in the stars.
I could sell the camera gear and get better astro equipment, but I know a few months down the line I will miss the D300 etc, so it stays.

I reckon you should take a break from the camera. Do something else for a while, then when you get the urge, get the camera out again.

Those sunsets were terrific by the way, you havent lost the knack, just sit back and wait for inspiration and keep the camera batteries fully charged.

Allan
 
Yep, I agree, flat lighting makes for flat photography.

That's what these are lacking. If I'm on a family holiday TBH I take a compact and photograph them having fun because, like you, I'm not happy to bring back flat dull pics.

I just spent a couple of days in the lakes with some good TP folks. And we got up at stupid o'clock, watched the light, read maps and planned to be in the right place at the right time.

Very occasionally a good landscape will fall in your lap, unusual though, most good ones have to be planned and often mean a very early start or a late finish. Midday light is best for snoozing in :)
 
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