Frustrated

[Ares__]

So I have a fairly decent camera set up but I never use it.

I go to college full time and work full time, so I think up all these great things to take pictures of or to try when I have free time. The problem is I think up so many things to do I end up overwhelming myself with ideas and not being able to decide on one and end up doing none...

Any tips on how to focus on one area of photography and get started?

[CanonHowitzer]

Decide what areas you like. A process of elimination.

People
Wildlife
Scenery
Photojournalism
Ect.

You have to find you particular interests.
You may have to explore a few before deciding.

Good luck.
:)

[GoneTomorrow]

I'm a teacher, so I'm pretty busy myself (but not as you are, I recall the workload in college). I'll tell you what I do when I can't think of something to shoot. I don't know where you're from, but in Kentucky we have a lot of remote country roads. I drive down them for miles and stop along the way to shoot something if it looks interesting. I've found abandoned mill buildings from the 19th century, abandoned bourbon distilleries, etc. by accident.

Also, if you like shoot nature in general, go to closest area and just wander around. In close vicinity to my cities are about 10 or so nature preserves.

[BigStig]

Write down a list of your ideas.
Pick a day and just point at one of your ideas and shoot that for the day.

Also just go for a long walk with your camera and shoot what ever takes your eye.
Also as Howittzer said try to narrow down what you think you want to soot
For me its motorsports, Birds and wildlife. also trying a bit of Flowers anything nature that gets me outside.

Good luck

[H20boy]

Another idea is to pick a lens you want to (or need to use), and that will narrow down the 'type' just a little more. This often gets me to thinking, 'now, what could I take with this'. Exploring w/o any real destination in mind often yields the best results too. Sometimes i just say, 'I'm going downtown' or 'to the edge of this lake', take my one lens that I packed, and there's always something to shoot once you get there.

Try not to burden yourself by thinking the entire kit goes with you everywhere. That will make the trip feel like more work, and less appealing.

[photogirlmb]

Check out local photo clubs...they are always running outings...then you have some other people to shoot with as well...

[Kuma]

Chose something intriguing. A park that I had played tennis at in the past had some cool statues in it. It also has an Aviary (only national one in the US). It had a pond with a memorial and some cherry blossom trees. I had to run an errand that took me sort of close to this park so I stopped by and before you know it I spent 2-3 hrs peacefully checking out a really nice park in a kind of run down part of town.

Also I had always wanted to take pictures of the old Forbes Field wall (Forbes Field is where the Pirates played for awhile) that is now a memorial. They tore down Forbes Field back in 1970 so I never had a chance to watch Clemente play there. I did some internet research to find out where the memorial was located so I could drive there. Turns out its next to a conservatory (the kind with tons of flowers and butterflies) and a museum of natural history (full of dinosaurs). Sounds like a great little trip I can do in the near future.

While doing my research on Forbes Field I found a bunch of very cool photos from 1909 when it was first opened. I made some prints and showed them to some of the older folks at worked and it brought back a lot of memories for them. Pretty cool stuff.

Think about something you'd like to go see locally. I bet you run into a bunch of other cool subjects to take some snaps of. :cool:

[Kuma]

Check out local photo clubs...they are always running outings...then you have some other people to shoot with as well...


This is a good suggestion. I checked a little bit locally here. To my disappointment the only club I could find had a website made it sound a little snooty. Oh well maybe I'll come across another more casual club.

[DStanic]

I have a physically demanding job so I am beat after work. I try to set time on the weekend to specifically go out and shoot.

[Ares__]

The problem is that it all intrigues me... The highest idea on my list is I have always wanted to go to DC and take pictures of some of the homeless people and get their story in exchange for a meal or some money.

But thanks for all the great ideas - Im def. going to make that list and just randomly pick them I think that should work well. As well as the photo club, there is probably one at my college I just got look it up...

On a related but unrelated note - I got the 100mm Macro which is a great lens and sharp beyond belief but I have been thinking of trading it in for a 50mm 1.4... i just think it would be a better all around lens that i would get more use out of... true? (note: macro is fun but not my highest interest)