Running out of enthusiasm..

Can anyone suggest a way to recover enthusiasm?

I've been in photography for years now, from Eos film camera doing weddings/portraits/gla​mour (and, yes, some nuddy ones too) to bridge camera, to eos 60D (which I did NOT like one little bit) and on to an Eos 5D2.

I've taken landscapes and macro, scenery, lakes, seas, sunsets, etc..

Then I look in the photo magazines and I see the type of pictures that they all "wow" over, and the type that win (almost) all the competitions, and they nearly all seem so wanky and rubbish. They are all trying to be 'edgy', like some crap restaurant that serves a plate with three piles of tiny food stuffs with a dribble of red sauce and charges $400.. Blurry shots taken off-the-cuff that win an award just because they are some urban-trash-candid..

The current "wow" photos are the sort of elitist junk that is turning me away from photography. If they are what it takes to make it nowadays, I'm starting to think I don't want to do it any more.

How can I recover my enthusiasm?

Road trip! Take an old body and your favorite prime, off you go.

Ever noticed that the great things, in art, music, and more stand the test of time?

Forget the trends. And if people don't get what you are doing, well, move on and keep going.

I would suggest to shoot for yourself first, if you are an amateur. Otherwise, if you are a pro you must get over it and shoot what your client wants/needs.

I don't see astro photography in your list. Give it go, nothing ignites the spark of life like taking photos of crap in the night sky.

rick_reno wrote in post #13347707
I don't see astro photography in your list. Give it go, nothing ignites the spark of life like taking photos of crap in the night sky.

LOL!

Fluffbutt wrote in post #13344050
...

The current "wow" photos are the sort of elitist junk that is turning me away from photography. If they are what it takes to make it nowadays, I'm starting to think I don't want to do it any more.

How can I recover my enthusiasm?

You have brought out some interesting points here.

Firstly, have strength in your own convictions. Know what you can do, know what people have seen of your work and how it has made them feel. All 'fads' eventually disappear over time.

Believe in what you have done and importantly, in what you CAN and WILL do!

Your self-worth is your greatest asset. So, remember:

"... that there are a million photographers who may be better than you AND that there are 2 billion others who are worse than you!"

Think of getting your own website made (if you have not done already).
Think about registering with FlickR/Photo Bucket etc (If you haven't).

If you and others know that your work is superior - then you have a duty to society (and yourself) to let us know !!

What you need to do is:
Play a self-challenging photographic game...... think of any photograph that 'riles' you. And either replicate it or improve upon it!

Look through your Archives and create your 'wonder album'. When ready show it off to family and friends.

Get yourself marketed! Do it quickly and do it in the right way.

Fluffbutt wrote in post #13344050
Can anyone suggest a way to recover enthusiasm?

I've been in photography for years now, from Eos film camera doing weddings/portraits/gla​mour (and, yes, some nuddy ones too) to bridge camera, to eos 60D (which I did NOT like one little bit) and on to an Eos 5D2.

I've taken landscapes and macro, scenery, lakes, seas, sunsets, etc..

Then I look in the photo magazines and I see the type of pictures that they all "wow" over, and the type that win (almost) all the competitions, and they nearly all seem so wanky and rubbish. They are all trying to be 'edgy', like some crap restaurant that serves a plate with three piles of tiny food stuffs with a dribble of red sauce and charges $400.. Blurry shots taken off-the-cuff that win an award just because they are some urban-trash-candid..

The current "wow" photos are the sort of elitist junk that is turning me away from photography. If they are what it takes to make it nowadays, I'm starting to think I don't want to do it any more.

How can I recover my enthusiasm?

Not that I am arguing with you here, but I simply do not see the same thing you are seeing. Would you mind sharing some links to show me what you are referring to here?

Don't get me wrong, I have seen many shots that make me scratch my head and ask 'what the heck', but I have seen even more that do not fit the description you are giving them.

Cham_001 wrote in post #13347773
You have brought out some interesting points here.

Play a self-challenging photographic game...... think of any photograph that 'riles' you. And either replicate it or improve upon it!
<snip>

I like this idea!

(I used to be pro, then my 35mm film cam lens died, taking the camera computer with it, $1000's gone in a micro second. Would you believe a piezo motor can fire back into the cpu? Well, it can, according to the tech who investigated it..

That was, oooh, 8 years ago, then about 4 yrs ago I got a fuji bridge cam, just for fun.

Now I'm somewhere with beautiful scenery, I have the 5d2 but am struggling to recapture my enthusiasm and love of photography.

I really can't stand this urban-grunge pretentious rubbish that is infesting things. The photos aren't particularly good or interesting, but they seem to be everywhere.

OK, yes, I'm a dinosaur.. I accept it..

Lol....

Man.... if you live in a scenic environment that alone would be inspiring.
The 5D2 is an astonishing camera able to render fantastic detail.
So, the above 2 reasons MUST compel you to shoot.

I wouldn't worry at all about what is currently 'hip'. Bloody-youngsters hey, what do they know?!

I would just concentrate on capturing my own timeless photos of what is available to you.

I today's world there is:
photography
artography
photoart

With newer technologies emerging all the time -everything has become a 'blur'.

So, use a nice 'L"-series lens and make your images crystal clear.

Have fun amigo.... Sunset/Dawn beckons

It is interesting that you have discussed how you see the photography around you "stagnating".

Have you considered that it could be your own photography that is stagnating?

mtimber wrote in post #13348243
It is interesting that you have discussed how you see the photography around you "stagnating".

Have you considered that it could be your own photography that is stagnating?

I don't see it as stagnating - I see it as becoming like some executive-top-heavy corporation, full of pretentious tossers and elitists, whose photos are award-winning dross.

It's becoming very much like the movie industry - making movies that win awards, but are absolute rubbish to watch!

Maybe I was spending too much time on DPreview forum.. I KNOW they epitomise the elitist morons I have come to despise.

My last post there, weeks ago:

"When I see people raving over pictures like this, I feel depressed - if photography has become this rubbish, I really don't want to do it any more.
People were saying that they were moved and 'still buzzing'..
But it's just pretentious drivel in picture form, if this is what gets people raving, it's time to hang up my camera."

And the post I was responding to was pointing to exactly the sort of photo that is turning me away from my camera.

"When photography meets Art, it really does so in a wholly crushing, breathtaking superior level. I am speechless and bowing in reverence."

I haven't posted the picture, I don't even know if it's still up, some urban grungy thing.

All I could think was "If that is what it takes to get someone 'speechless and bowing in reverence', then I really don't want to do photography any more".

I'll see how I feel after winter, if I still feel this way, I'll sell the 5d2, 17-40L, 24-105L, 120-400 and the 100L macro, along with the tripods and stuff, make a clean break, get out completely.

I was just hoping for ideas to shake of this feeling.. thanks for the responses.

If one really has something to say via their craft, one shouldn't be caring too too much about what others think or what makes them clap.

Advice: talk less, show more. Show me, show us what good photography is or should be--show this by doing.

I just shoot my shots and take it from there.

I posted the following picture in this forums critique section and lots of people did not like it because it was too dark for their taste.

But I love it, so whilst I know it does not appeal to them, I do not allow that to stop me exploring my own style.

I am always looking for images I do like and when I see one (that includes urban fragments), I take the time to figure out "why" I like it.

Here is the afore mentioned image:

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What other people are shooting should not drive our own inclinations to shoot is what I am trying to say...

And it seems you are allowing that to happen to you, or expressing that anyway.

mtimber - I actually like the picture, it's very nice. It looks 'Bonnie and Clyde'-ish

I'm not allowing what people shoot to "drive our own inclinations to shoot" - I see many many types of images out there. Many good, many bad (my opinions, I accept)..

What has started to bother me is that some brilliant images get ignored or even cried down, and what I call "the wanky ones" are the ones getting all the accolades.
To get anywhere or to get noticed means becoming something I despise, the photo-elitist-tosser.