My shots are boring

[ericgtr]

Now that I am learning more about my carema, it's settings, lenses, etc. I am finding that the quality of my pictures is increasing but they simply aren't interesting. I get ideas of how I think something should be but they never really turn out that way.

I often find myslef trying to find interesting angles and different perspectives on the subject to find I don't appear to have an eye for it. I just get a little discouraged sometimes but still continue to practice as much as I can, maybe its' something I can develop over time.

[kenyc]

Practice makes perfect ...or at least improves it. :)

KAC

[Scottes]

The A-Z of Creative Photography: Over 70 Techniques Explained in Full, by Lee Frost
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0817433139/qid=1127331082/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-9882991-1979246?v=glance&s=books

It's pretty good, and may spark some ideas for creativity.

[Snapman]

Perhaps they're not as boring as you imagine. Why not post a couple and find out what others think?

[Scottes]

Good point. You may get some comments on which parts of your shots are interesting. Then see how those bits work with your style, and if they fit, go shoot more of them and exploit them.

[ericgtr]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I'll look into that book Scottes. I sometimes post them into the photo sharing forums but you can check out my portfolio here http://www.ericsmedia.com/gallery/ it's pretty small because I am trying to build up a decent stock, all the others I post here http://www.ericsmedia.com/vb/

[Neon01]

I'm absolutely no expert here, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I really liked some of your nature shots. In particular the colorful bird and the butterfly. The use of color and depth of field in those are very nice. However, the angle on the colorful bird could be slightly different to better effect, I feel.

On some of the other shots, such as the ones in the mansion, the technical aspects are great. But if I could offer a suggestion, try to pick a subject and frame up the picture so that it's not in the center. Sometimes when the subject is perfectly centered in the image it looks a bit dull. For instance, the pic of the statue examining its feet looks like it has a grand staircase in the background that might look neat as a backdrop. Another great way to add excitement is with color, but of course this can't always be easily controled. Just my 2c.

[rdenney]

I often find myslef trying to find interesting angles and different perspectives on the subject to find I don't appear to have an eye for it. I just get a little discouraged sometimes but still continue to practice as much as I can, maybe its' something I can develop over time.

A picture doesn't have to be unusual to be effective. Don't look for innovation; rather, look for drama.

A photograph is two-dimensional and therefore you have to make the image rise off the plane to capture it's fully dimensionality. This usually requires creating some tension in the image. Tension results from a little instability, where everything is balanced, but could be toppled with just a nudge.

That's the basis for the advice to move your main subject out of the center of the image. In the center, everything is balanced, but it is also static with no drama.

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/aquarius_rainbow_lores.jpg

In this image, I could have shot it with the rainbow in the middle. But then, the plateau at left would be falling out of the frame, and the image would be lopsided to the left. I could have used a longer lens and just photographed the rainbow, but then it would have no context to give it the third dimension. With the rainbow on the right and the plateau on the left (brightly sunlit to make it a subject), the two balance each other, but also pull at each other, keeping the drama alive.

Many make images of people in such a way that the image tells a story. That story is the drama of the photo, and what makes it work. But even a still life of, say, a bunch of flowers in a vase can have drama, if the elements of the photos pull at each other instead of leaning on each other, if that makes any sense.

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/cedar-stump-crater-lake-lor.jpg

In this one, the subject is off-center, and by being off-center, it pulls you into the image rather than away from it. If it was in the center, your attention would draw away from the center looking for context.

I think the trick is asking yourself why you would point the camera at this scene. In the above example, it's because the starkness of the stump told a story of barrenness and aridity that contrasted sharply with the blue water, and it pulled at me. So, the question becomes, how to capture that dramatic pull on the image? Once you understand what makes you want to make the picture, capturing it is a lot easier.

Believe me, I have zillions of images that suffer from either my lack of purpose in making the image or my inability to express that purpose clearly. I made many of my images just to see if I could master some aspect of technique, which is not art but practice. I'm still trying to build that visualization of purpose into day-to-day technique after 40 years of photography, so don't feel like you are alone.

Rick "trying to learn to take pictures on purpose" Denney

[peacock]

I'm absolutely no expert here, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I really liked some of your nature shots. In particular the colorful bird and the butterfly. The use of color and depth of field in those are very nice. However, the angle on the colorful bird could be slightly different to better effect, I feel.

On some of the other shots, such as the ones in the mansion, the technical aspects are great. But if I could offer a suggestion, try to pick a subject and frame up the picture so that it's not in the center. Sometimes when the subject is perfectly centered in the image it looks a bit dull. For instance, the pic of the statue examining its feet looks like it has a grand staircase in the background that might look neat as a backdrop. Another great way to add excitement is with color, but of course this can't always be easily controled. Just my 2c.

I think you are right , the subjects are interesting , nice light etc just maybe they look too head on and cropped really tightly.

[charlesu]

Quit sweating all the damn rules and just make great images.

[ericgtr]

I appreciate all the comments. Rick, excellent way of putting it and thanks a bunch for taking the time to express your pictures as well as your view on it, very educational.

[rdenney]

Quit sweating all the damn rules and just make great images.

Well, Charles, that's a little like telling a learning piano player to "forget the scales and rhythm exercises and just play beautifully", don't you think? It might be good advice but it provides the young player with no direction to seek.

Rules, like the rule of thirds, are attempts by those who don't understand something to characterise the actions of those who do. But imitation of someone else's artistic purpose is a reasonable first step to developing your own.

Some people don't need to develop this purpose or the ability to visualize it; they have it naturally and don't need or want to try to explain it. But the rest of us have to think about it and verbalize it to each other to develop thought processes that don't come naturally. We may never get there, but, as they say, the reward is in the journey. It helps to have a road to follow, at least at first.

Rick "for whom none of this comes easily" Denney

[kwsanders]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I'll look into that book Scottes. I sometimes post them into the photo sharing forums but you can check out my portfolio here http://www.ericsmedia.com/gallery/ it's pretty small because I am trying to build up a decent stock, all the others I post here http://www.ericsmedia.com/vb/

Dude! The shots of the planes are amazing. Great work!

[Curtis N]

Rick Denney's advice is excellent. I'm sure glad I looked at this thread. And that rainbow shot is spectacular! Man, I gotta get out west someday.

I take a much simpler approach. Faced with a deplorable lack of talent and creativity, I just look for something interesting to shoot. Call me lazy, but if I want to catch a fish, I go to a well-stocked pond.

http://boonecounty.info/Fairegallery/Fairy1.JPG

[aam1234]

Great advice Rick Denney. Thanks.

[Jon, The Elder]

Rick - excellent sentiments. Like yourself, I've been "at it" for 40+ years. The best part is when you emerge from the "I know it all" stage, into true humility. Thats when the learning really begins. Speaking of which - learn the rules and then bend them to suit - "results may vary".