Need photographic inspiration....

[alexd1983]

I bought a Canon Powershot G3 in September.. I've used it some, but haven't turned out with these amazing photos I see in this entire forum that others may have achieved.

I became interested in photography after watching the film "One Hour Photo" sounds silly I know... but it made me think about photography and what can be done with it. maybe from a philisophical or psychological standpoint.

Anyways, here I am and I haven't really used my camera all that much. I'm very disappointed because I feel very uninspired. I wonder if having a photographic "eye" is something you can "learn" or attain over time... or if it's just "in you, or it's not"

I really need help and I need to be inspired somehow. I live in a small town with no significant scenery in town and it just seems dull. now lately I've been blaming winter for my uninspired state... so maybe when it warms up and things begin to bloom it will be better.

But I am quite concerned and I need to get myself out of this slump.

any ideas?

I don't have much of an eye for photography... but I would LOVE to get it... I think the concept is incredible... I just need to figure out how to get my mind and my shutter going.

[Longwatcher]

Try one of these projects.

- Find a road sign, try to take a picture in such a way it tells a story, take several shots from slightly different angles.

- take a picture of a sunset or sunrise, preferably with some intertestign object in it, like a bridge, a tree, hill, animal or person.

- Shoot any animal that you see (with pictures)

- Take a barbie doll (or bratz doll) and try to make it look like a fashion model.

- Take the most interesting picture you can of every house on your block

- Go to a sporting event and shoot away.

- Hire a professional model with much experience and have her pose for you. It is even more fun if you are male and they are female model willing to do nudes (expect an escort) :roll: 8)

Lastly, just keep on taking pictures, lots and lots and lots of pictures; 1,200 pictures per year is the minimum I recommend. 12,000 is even better.

Just my suggestions, now I just need to remember to take my own advice occasionally.

[ssim]

I think that everyone has uninspired periods of time. Being winter, it can be a challenge to get inspired because it is kind of blah looking here.

When I get this way and I know that want/need/have to shoot something I just throw the gear in the car and off I go. I usually find something that is interesting. Might not jump off the screen at me but it has provided me with that "fix" that I needed.

That's the real nice thing about digital, you can go out and shoot hundreds of images and then evaluate them afterwards. One would never do that with film. So just go out and shoot, shoot, shoot. After awhile you will find that you either enjoy this or you have to quit watching shows that make you do things like this.

[Ferdinand]

Speaking of model how much do they normally charge? Like someone new and just regular poses, no nudes, no swimsuits. Just gotta have make up on and put on something decent.

Regards,
Ferdinand

[CoolToolGuy]

Get a book that teaches or discusses composition. Modern equipment handles much of the exposure and focus chores for you, but you have to point the thing the right way. Naturals exist, but composition can be learned.

If you want to stick with the G3, take a look at the work of Don Ellis, mentioned in the favorite photographer thread in this forum. I had never heard of him before he was mentioned here, but he does some pretty great things with a rangefinder.
http://www.kleptography.com/

Again with the G3, there are some famous film photographers who stubbornly resisted the temptation to go SLR and forced themselves to become creative within the confines of the fixed lens camera. Look around for some of their work. Many of them used Leica cameras, so searching for Leica on the Net might help.

You mention living in a small town as if it is a handicap. It may just be that you see the things around you as bland, everyday things. But I live in the suburbs of a big city, and I could probably shoot in your town for several days getting things that are different than I see every day.

Hope this helps

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[msvadi]

I would suggest to go to a book store and browse through the Photography section. I am sure you can find something interesting, something that you can try on your own.

For example, today I noticed that book "50 American Houses" (I'm not sure about the title, may be it is just "50 Houses"). Pictures one would take in a small town, and they were fantastic. Actually, they all were infrared, but it does not really matter. This book is a wonderful example that photo opportunities are everywhere ;)

By the way, may be you should try infrared. It gives the most unusual look to photos.

[alexd1983]

I just want to say thanks for your input :) You all have helped me :)

I feel inspired and ready to go!

:)

-Alex

[Longwatcher]

Speaking of model how much do they normally charge? Like someone new and just regular poses, no nudes, no swimsuits. Just gotta have make up on and put on something decent.

Regards,
Ferdinand

Disclaimer: all costs are US $, for SE part of Virginia, and my experience.

Prices for models start at TFP/TFCD - meaning their time for your prints or CD copy of the images. This might appear to be slightly unfair to the photographer from a balance standpoint after all you both spend the same time and then you have to provide prints which cost money, but remember most models have a limited duration career, whereas photographers keep on tickin
g well into gray hair.
TFP/CD is usually for new models trying to build their portfolios, thus experienced models start getting more expensive.

Some experience to an intermeadiate level of experience will likely run about $25 an hour for non-nudes, $75 for artistic-nudes, and $150 for adult models. You can usually get a discount like 4 hours for the price of 3 hours or a lesser day rate, although discounts usually only start if the rates are over $25 per hour.

very experienced models tend to start at $75/hour, but peak at $250/hour for adult sessions.

models with reputations will exceed all of the above to start.

Lastly age is big factor. younger models 16-24 tend to get about 50-100% more. At age 24-36 they basically hold at the stated level. Above age 36 models tend to get less, unless they have really kept themselves up or have some unusual quality about them, usually the career is over by age 40.

Adding to the above may be travel/hotel/meal expenses if they are out of area or the session lasts for more then 4 hours.

And finally it is not inappropriate to provide a tip.

My record so far has been $320 and dinner for 4+ hours modeling (nude/fetish category)

Just my experience,

[Ferdinand]

Longwatcher, thanks for the input, greatly appreciate it.

Regards,
Ferdinand

[pradeep1]

Anyways, here I am and I haven't really used my camera all that much. I'm very disappointed because I feel very uninspired. I wonder if having a photographic "eye" is something you can "learn" or attain over time... or if it's just "in you, or it's not"



Good answers and thoughts given in above postings. You not using your camera much itself leads to the blahs. Photographic eye is something that you can learn. Just look at my collection of motley photos to get an idea of how I progressed from being a crappy photography to a mediocre photographer:


http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=80330

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=368808

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=329507

It took me almost 10 years to go from the first folder of photos to the most current folder of photos. A lot of time, effort, and learning.

This site is also a good place for inspiration. Check out work by Scott Dommin, CyberDyneSystems, LongWatcher, RFMSport, and a few other regulars.

[bethesda]

I really need help and I need to be inspired somehow. I just need to figure out how to get my mind and my shutter going.

alexd1983,

Have you tried one of a weekly photo meme,
by 'Photo Friday' and 'Theme Thursday'

http://www.photofriday.com/
http://themethursday.com/


Check this one also:
Infectious Photo Projects:
http://www.photomemes.org/

[bethesda]

alexd1983,


'A photographer is assigned to shoot one photo a day for seven days. The photo can be of anything the photographer wants. The only guideline is that the photo that's posted has to have been taken within the past 24 hours.'

http://www.adayinthelife.org/