Feeling down in the dumps about photography

[elise1030]

I spose this is just a little bit of a vent. I come here every day and I see the fabulous photos that everybody is taking with their cameras and I feel utterly jealous because I can't afford a DSLR and so I have to make do with my A610. Please don't get me wrong, the A610 is a great camera but it's no 350d. I want to post photos and share them and get feedback but I can't seem to find a photo that is worthy of getting feedback. I feel almost embarrassed to post even though I want feedback. I know they say you are your own worst critique and maybe I'm just too fussy that I can't see anything in my own pics that someone else could possibly find pleasing to their eyes. I feel I don't have any great subjects as I'm limited to what I can take in my house and my yard. I want to get out and explore but I am almost to scared to get out in my own community to take shots of interesting things because I'm worried I'd look silly taking pics.
So how does one get past the fear of sharing pics and also getting out and about taking pics of things of interest? How can I improve my skills with what equipment I do have, being the A610 and a tripod?

Thanks for reading.

[Az2Africa]

Lots of us feel that way. It's ok. I have decent gear and still dislike most of my shots even when others say they look good. Keep shooting until you get that ONE shot that makes you say "Wow, I did that?" Then you know you CAN do it. It re-energizes you to go out and repeat that thrill. There are guys and gals here that can blow me away with a point and shoot, but I'm not completing with them. I'm learning from them. Post your photos and listen to the help and ideas. Pretty soon others will be saying "Wow. You shot that?"

[Billginthekeys]

photography is certainly not all about the gear. It is first and foremost about having an eye for and learning composure and understanding exposure. Even a point and shoot can produce great images in willing hands. It might seem odd at first to go somewhere intentionally to shoot whatever it is thats going on. and although it might be awkward for a while, evertually people will come to expect and respect what you do. I have plenty of pictures from my S500 that i am pretty proud of for how little i really knew at the time. Certainly, on the technical side of things, a DSLR offers many features that enhance the ease and speed and which you can take shots, but it would be a far stretch to say that you cannot take a good picture with a point and shoot. Look at other's shots that you enjoy, see what meathods they used and try to replicate them to the best of your ability, see what compositions are most pleasing, and learn to use them in your photography, as soon as you can worry less about what people think of what you are doing, and focus on doing what you need to do to get the shots you want, the better it will be. And dont think that photographers are uncool either, sure ive gotten my share of weird looks from people walking around with my gear, but no one can take away the joy of seeing what i got at the end of the day, and everyone loves a good photo.

Just get out there and keep it up,
Billy.

[Livinthalife]

Well I have certainly got some nice shots from my older P&S camera! So that's no excuse. I agree with what everyone above has said. You just really need to get up, get out, and shoot! discover the subjects that work best for you! Try macro, the macro world is everywhere. If youhave kids, maybe shoot them when they are out playing sports, try shooting some local crows at the park, there is always something. Just be open, and don't feel embarrased. Your a photogrpaher! Be proud!

[elise1030]

:o Thanks guys! You gave me the kick up the bum I needed and I did go out and do some shooting. I got some 88 pics. Not all are brilliant but I got a few that I think are good. I found it really difficult when I was shooting a swan and this guy pulled up and asked me what I was doing and I just told him I had a new camera and was playing with it and he said " ohh look there the swan is showing off and putting his feathers up for you" I felt like a real idiot and I wanted to jump back in the car and go home. But, I stuck around and kept trying and he left me to do my thing. Then I got brave and moved on another location which was a memorial tower, and that went okay too. So, maybe I can do this after all. I plan to go to the botanical gardens here in town and try my luck there too, sometime this week.

[Pete]

Yeah, botanical gardens are always good for taking photos, no one there will ever bug you about your camera (in my experience).

My advice would be to take photos of things that interest you, not what you think other people might be interested in, it's your point of view after all, and people are generally interested in what you have to "say" for yourself.

Another suggestion might be to attend a local camera club for a couple of sessions. If it's a friendly club, they won't care that you don't have a DSLR, they'll be happy enough to help you out with the composition and getting the most out of your a610. Also, you'll be able to go out on trips with them, see new things and gain different perspectives.

[tlc]

i think you have taken some good stuff regardless of your camera! mmmm tastes good is really cute! you know, it could even take a prize in a baby photo contest!

have you looked on ebay for a used 300 or 350? that's how i got started with my equipment purchases, some of my lenses are used, but that's how some people have to get started.

i can fully understnad though with what your going through. i am getting bored too, i have started taking quick day trips throughout europe to broaden my portfolio - maybe you could get a babysitter for a day and do the same? you live in a beautiful country, i am sure it wouldnt be difficult to find some place scenic.

[elise1030]

Thanks Pete and tlc. I think there is a camera club in town from memory when asking about a photog course that was going to be held but got canceled because only 3 people were interested( how sad is that?). The botanic garden is really small but being spring there's got to be something to shoot that's nice.

tlc, I look on eBay almost everyday hoping that I'd score a bargain but the 'normal' price would be around $600 for a used 300d and $800-$900 for a 350d and so on. I don't have quite that much money right now but I am trying hard to save. Honestly I'd be happy to get my hands on a D30( yes, d30) and a kit lens, just to start me off!

[cosworth]

Elise, go to your local blockbuster and rent Born Into Brothels. See what some kids with P&S film cameras can do with some inspiration.

Go buy a month or two of National Geographic.

Look for inspiration offline. You'll find that wow picture in no time.

[thomascanty]

Another tidbit to show that P&S cameras aren't all bad. I've sold a number of prints and licensed several photos to publishers to use in various books. About 80% of my sales so far have been for older photos I took with my Olympus C-3000Z and Olympus C-4040Z cameras.

It isn't necessarily the gear that makes a photo work...

[Lightstream]

Try the big city at night as well. You can get some spectacular looking shots with just a straightforward A610, the key of course, being that you bring the tripod.

I've realized that night shots are not exceptionally demanding on the hardware, and apart from my choice of ultrawide angle lens, everything else could be done on much less sophisticated hardware. Just park the camera on the tripod, set it to P mode, frame and click. I use Av only because I have specific requirements but if you are just starting out, P will do a fine job.

If not for the fact I wanted to use my 17-40mm lens, my Canon A530 would be lighter and easier to haul, too ;)

As for the people, I just ignore them and generally they ignore me, which is a good thing. Small cameras are easier to explain away. Large cameras tend to be more visible. It's tougher to stay out of sight when shooting a swan with a gigantic 300mm Big White that sticks out like a lighthouse ;)

Another story that I hope inspires you...

At an event, I ran into another photographer who saw me carrying my 350D.. we've known each other (same organization) prior, so I let him check out a few of my shots, even though I felt they were mostly snaps. He looked at them and he asked me how many years I'd been shooting. Nine months I said (at that point). He told me there was no way I could have been shooting for such a short time and gotten (in his words) such good photos. Then he paused and asked me how many years I'd used a point and shoot. Me and my film P&S and digital P&S go way back, almost ten years. What he said left a lasting impression on me.. "That explains how you already have the vision". In that moment I realized it was not the hardware, but all those years I had spent with the P&S had trained my eye to 'see' the photos around me, and that my migration to a SLR system was largely a technical conversion.

[lakiluno]

Hi

A) Get out! Once you get over the fact that your out with a camera, its not a big deal. I find in a bigger city like Edinburgh nobody questions you, although it may be different in Aus.

Looking at your photos, some of them are fantastic! I could only dream of taking photos like you do :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elise1030/243030158/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elise1030/231725852/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elise1030/234773703/

Those photos are my favourites - I especially like the first! Keep at it - the first picture linked is worthy of a blown up framed picture on the wall.

Well done!

[SamFishlock]

The latest Digital Photo magazine (UK) has a women in the 'reader section' that uses a Canon P+S camera, and I tell thee, I couldn't believe the colourful, and amazingly constrasting and well-composed shots she came out with using it, makes you wonder why you spend soooo much money on equipment, when photo's like that are possible on a sub £200 point and shoot....:cry:

[surfologist]

your pics are good, stop beating yourself up over it. When i started, i sucked. I took pics of everying in my room and yard too, but that is good practice for when you save up and get an SLR, you konw what you are doing....

just keep it up, and dont give up. Ask us all questions, thats what we are all here for to help eachother.

Read mags too, they really help. i like popular photography, and shutterbug, they have GREAT info

[txdude35]

Go easy on yourself- as others have pointed out, you have some great shots there. Just keep shooting.
If it makes you feel any better, I have a DSLR and it seems to me sometimes that I'm getting worse instead of better. More options= more opportunity to screw it up. Just keep shooting, you'll be fine.

[elise1030]

Thanks again everyone :) I feel like I have a different perspective on things photography wise and am trying to not be so darned critical of myself and my photos. I have been trying different things and different angles and coming up with what I think are pretty good shots! I have already shared a couple in the birds forum and have a few more to place in their respective forums.