When to specialize? And what in...?

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Samwise

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Hi all,

I've been taking pictures for about a year now (Nikon D40, for those who wonder about these kind of things ;) ) and am enjoying it a great deal; loving the sense of personal improvement, excitement of experimenting, the places it takes me etc etc But I feel like I may be approaching a juncture...

I think I want to specialize, or at least focus on a particular kind of photography for a while. Most of the pro photographers whose work I look at seem to have chosen to specialize in some way - i.e. sports, wildlife, landscape, street etc... I have a feeling concentrating on one thing for a while may elevate my photos to the next level.

Do you think it is possible to produce consistently exciting, quality images without narrowing ones' focus to a particular field? How far can an attitude of "I like to shoot everything and anything" get somebody? How long after first picking up a camera did you "specialize" and how did you come to that decision?

Thoughts...?
 
Few photographers can be fablious at everything, photography is just too damn big.
I'm a great believer in being the best you can be at one thing.
It's easy to spread yourself too thinly over everything, in the beginning we seem to take great strides of improvement in a comparatively short space of time, and then kinda plateaux, improvements there after are incremental.
Increments spread over everything, don't add up to much, but concentrated in one particular area, they are much more visible.
Its a sacrifice, to be the best you can be by exclusion.
 
guess I'll exclude photography then...

No, wise words, Mr Joxby. We can't all be good at everything, so find the field you enjoy most, and can produce good results in, then work hard at that !
 
Just see what happens and what sort of photos you end up taking...
 
I agree with Craikeybaby, don't put too much pressure on yourself and make sure if you do specialize it's definately in the thing you enjoy most.

BTW a lot of pro's will not completely specialize. Lots of sports togs will do bread and butter commercial work during the week etc etc
 
I'm really enjoying night photography at the moment, but after my recent efforts in Glasgow I've still a lot to learn.
 
As already said, just see what you enjoy most.

I've been doing lots of Mountain Bike stuff, so gear my website towards that. But just recently I've been really enjoying shooting derelict/dis-used buildings out in the countryside (mainly to do with mining). And I'm planning to 're-adjust' the focus of my website just slightly, to incorporate that too.

So for me it's just about what I enjoy most, and have an interest in. :thumbs:
 
Are you planning to earn you living from it/
 
Badger UK said:
Are you planning to earn you living from it/
Click to expand...

No, I'm a long, long way off anything like that (although did sell some pics to an extras agency last week, which came about by chance really - I work in TV/film, and happened to be taking some stills on set in quiet moments).

It's just that I do seem to have reached a "plateau", as mentioned above, and was wondering whether increased commitment to one field would help me get better images. Spreading myself too thinly, and never getting truly outstanding images as a result is what's worrying me...

but as is said above, it's probably something that should happen organically without my trying to force it!

The truth is I have enjoyed days out concentrating on wildlife just as much as trying night shots, architectural etc.....maybe I shouldn't limit myself just yet....
 
If you enjoy shooting it, do it. What are you in it for if not the enjoyment? :)

If ever I feel like I'm specialising it's because my personal tastes are changing. I'm getting a touch less snap-happy. A while back I found myself thinking "What the hell am I taking pictures of a duckling for? I don't want pictures of a duckling." so I stopped.
 
I've found that I don't find a specialism but it finds me, as you say, organic.
 
As other people have said, if a specialism isn't obvious yet, don't force yourself in one direction. First and foremost we are doing this for fun/enjoyment/pleasure, so the easy answer is to say 'whatever you enjoy shooting the most'.

I mostly shoot Motorsport, but only because if I didn't have a camera I would be there watching anyway. I actually get more satisfaction from animal/zoo photography, but rarely get a chance to do it because I attend nearly 30 motorsport events a year, and wouldn't give that up for anything.
 
I think your doing the right thing I'm in the same boat but not been doing it as long, my thoughts are give it 12 months and try everything, I love motorbikes and enjoy photographing them,but always said don't like landscapes having never tried them but when I did it was a whole new world, so I'm working my way through all aspects and then I'm going to pick one and go for it.
when i do pick it properly won't have anything to do with bikes so just run with what you enjoy.
 
I was thinking about this the other day and would say that probably the area where you can progress quickly in is portraits. Thats not to say that it is easy, for sure it is a difficult field to master. What I like about portraiture is that you have a lot of control, you can shift the model to alter the background and use flash to create certain effects or a mood.

I struggle with landscapes as I don't have the patience to repeatedly visit a site in the hope that the light will be magical. I am not a control freak but when something is continually beyond your control it does make progress difficult.
 
subseasniper said:
I was thinking about this the other day and would say that probably the area where you can progress quickly in is portraits. Thats not to say that it is easy, for sure it is a difficult field to master. What I like about portraiture is that you have a lot of control, you can shift the model to alter the background and use flash to create certain effects or a mood.
Click to expand...

This made me chuckle a little - not because I doubt anything you say, it all makes perfect sense - but because one of the things I enjoy most about taking photos is the getting away from people:lol:

That isn't meant to sound misanthropic, it really isn't meant to! My hobby has taken me to some beautiful spots and peaceful situations which I probably wouldn't have seen the point of going to before. There are some amazing portrait photographs which I admire immensely, and I admire it as an art form, but I don't think I'll be trying too much of it myself anytime soon - purely because one of the things I enjoy most about the way I approach my photography is the solitude.

Thanks for helping me narrow it down a bit though :lol: :thumbs:
 
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