I am not a good photographer

As the years churn by, I look at "my art" in frustration.

A month ago, I spent 12 days in Alberta. I have 20, maybe 25 pictures that I would put on my top shelf. Looking back, I didn't take that many pictures. I suppose the trip was more about hiking. I do have a bit of heights fear that the trip was partially to start working through, and was I concerned about snow, bears, etc. Not having any experience with any of it to the Canadian Rockies degree, it all likely distracted me and exhausted me mentally. Some points in the trip, I'd see something awesome yet decide to skip it because of being tired of packing and unpacking camera and lenses and having my travel partner constantly waiting in the car for me. It was very cumbersome adding photography to hiking. The trip was almost a blur we packed so much in.

I've worked through my pictures and I almost want to weep. I'll probably never get back to Alberta, let alone for 12 days. On the other hand, I want to immediately go back now that I some experience with the area. On our trip, there was only one planned sunrise and it was a bust. Most days we where driving in the morning so we could fit the planned hikes in, and many things where shot in the absolute worst light. If I went back, I'd have a photography plan. but going back isn't reasonable.

How an I going to turn myself into an adventure photographer some day, when I do adventure photography once a year, and not all that well? I don't think I'll be in much shape to be a travel photographer when I'm 70. Phhht, the first day there I had to refresh myself on my camera setup, since I switched to the EOS R since my last trip.

Some random thoughts. You are probably better than you think. Become familiar with your gear and be able to think on the fly. Don't go out TO take pictures. Just go out and enjoy the moment. See the beauty around you. If you see something that catches your eye, or makes you think, "Wow, that is cool", then capture it. It is like fishing. Sometimes you catch a fish, sometimes you don't. It doesn't matter. It is all about the experience. I found that as soon as I took the pressure to take pictures off myself, things suddenly fell into place and photography became fun again.

I agree with Agged - ease up on yourself, relax. I checked out your gallery of photos, and they're fine. You can't force inspiration, it will come naturally.

So a good photographer is one who produces a hundred star-quality photos on a trip with a crowded schedule of hikes in physically and emotionally difficult terrain, heavily loaded with gear, while trying to hurry so as not to inconvenience a waiting companion? I don't think that's a fair test.

The trip was disappointing as far as photography goes, but your results don't justify a global judgment of being a bad anything, just as a misplaced set of keys or a mistake in arithmetic is no reason to call oneself a stupid person. A more productive kind of review would include thinking about what to do differently on future trips.

Agged wrote in post #18962696
Some random thoughts. You are probably better than you think. Become familiar with your gear and be able to think on the fly. Don't go out TO take pictures. Just go out and enjoy the moment. See the beauty around you. If you see something that catches your eye, or makes you think, "Wow, that is cool", then capture it. It is like fishing. Sometimes you catch a fish, sometimes you don't. It doesn't matter. It is all about the experience. I found that as soon as I took the pressure to take pictures off myself, things suddenly fell into place and photography became fun again.

Thank you Agged. I got through the camera settings thing pretty quickly. I get your point. The experience was amazing. I doesn't help that I'm checking out instagram photogs from the same area, hammering out top shelf shots every day.

TustinMike wrote in post #18962722
I agree with Agged - ease up on yourself, relax. I checked out your gallery of photos, and they're fine. You can't force inspiration, it will come naturally.

I am super hard on myself from what I've been told. It feels like such a wasted opportunity, but I do remember a lot high noon sun and snow. Some places felt just unphotographable at the moment, and little chance to return. Some of the keepers are locations I made a second trip to.. Thank you.

OhLook wrote in post #18962730
So a good photographer is one who produces a hundred star-quality photos on a trip with a crowded schedule of hikes in physically and emotionally difficult terrain, heavily loaded with gear, while trying to hurry so as not to inconvenience a waiting companion? I don't think that's a fair test.

The trip was disappointing as far as photography goes, but your results don't justify a global judgment of being a bad anything, just as a misplaced set of keys or a mistake in arithmetic is no reason to call oneself a stupid person. A more productive kind of review would include thinking about what to do differently on future trips.

I'm bad to myself for any mistake or shortcoming. I'm also not sure I will return (therefore glass half empty and what good what a productive review do?), although I may have to force it to try to make this right, lol.

Here's what I did if anyone is interested:

https://www.flickr.com …8205582/with/49​082233766/


Thank you for the kind words!

I recently saw a PBS program about Leonardo da Vinci. In the segment, they analyzed his paintings and they saw that INSIGHT that he had in what made for a painting that was more similar to what we SEE every day...for example, Lines of Perspective (to a Vanish Point), changes of contrast and color portrayal as items receded into the distance. In short, Leonardo had an appreciation for what ELEMENTS OF ART made for improved paintings over what pre-existed his own sketches and less sophisticated attempts at art...

Fast forward to Photography...there are ELEMENTS that can go (singly, or in combination) a photo to make for something more interesting to view and which attracts a viewer's focus. Learn to incorporate these elements into your photography and you will begin to improve upon the photos you take. It is NOT simply "aim the camera at 'something interesting/pretty scene' and get the exposure right".

There is a book, still in print and available via Amazon, by Michael Freeman, Image: Designing effective pictures (Amphoto photography workshop series) it will teach you to more than can be done by a chimpanzee with a point and shoot camera! It goes thru Design Basics...the elements that can be in a photo to lend interest or theme to a collection of photos

• Points
  
• Lines
  
• Shapes
  
• Rhythm
  
• Pattern
  
• Textures
  
• Color]
  

Thank you Wilt! Looks like I snagged the last copy.


I'm finding that without a scheduled trip, I don't really touch my camera much any more. In the past I enjoyed taking pictures of nothing. Funny, I now have enough equipment to do just about anything, but the ambition is nearly gone aside from lansdscape. I suppose I do drag stuff out in between trips, but it turns into a sweaty, frustrating self portrait session just to use my equipment, which is more trying to not make myself look stupid than actual photography.

Except for a couple of hours where I went out on my own, everything was hurried or close to it. I did slow down when I went myself and actually had a great photo time in the rain. I love rainy, dreary photography.

Make short assignments for yourself, once you have received the book. Pick one element at a time, go into your backyard for two hours each weekend (whenever that is on your work schedule, if not Sat & Sun) ...it will force you to SEE what is is front of your face but look past all the time, in terms of photo opportunity, too look for and find the photo element being studied that weekend!!!

If you got 20 good photographs out of one trip consider yourself lucky. Having everything come together for a great photograph is somewhat rare. I watched a video from Mark Denney on youtube a few weeks ago, and (my numbers may be off by one or two) he spent 5 days on the Oregon coast and got 3 photos he was happy with and 1 of those he thought might be portfolio worthy. We are to some degree at the mercy of mother nature for getting the right conditions (mother nature is always disappointing me), so there are times when you just aren't going to get anything. I put a quote from Ansel below, keep that in mind.

I disagree with the Agged above, nothing wrong with going out with the purpose of taking photographs. You certainly help the odds if you work with the weather and pick your spots.


"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop."
Ansel Adams

OP, I often come back from photography trips disappointed, with very very few pictures to show for them. After the initial couple days of feeling sorry for myself, after each trip, I take notes of all that went wrong. From the gear that I took, to camera settings, and everything else that happened on the trip. After a few trips and subsequent notes, patterns started emerging. I rush too much, I pack too many locations in one day, I take way too much gear, and time the trip wrong as far as sky, clouds, sun goes. Of all the above, rushing is the biggest mistake I make.
You may consider doing something similar.
P.S., you trip pictures look very good.

Sibil wrote in post #18964206
Of all the above, rushing is the biggest mistake I make.

Like Jay Maisel says, "Walk slow".

I think the composition of your images look good. You might have wished for different light in some of them but timing has a lot to do with that and unless you are willing to wait, get up really early, etc. you don't have a lot of control over that, particularly when someone is "waiting" on you.

Personally I find it pretty difficult to concentrate on getting the shot I want, when I feel rushed either due to time itself or to feeling like someone is waiting around for me to get finished. That just goes with the territory I think.

I wouldn't sink into "I'm a bad photographer" by any means if I were you.

Sometimes it helps to narrow the scope to those images you really want to capture at the places you want to capture them. Concentrate on the time of day to be there, etc. in order to get those images and let the rest fall where they may. Some of the others work out and some of them don't, but you have put yourself in the position to get the images you really want at a time when the light has the most chance of being favorable.

While there is some great photography on IG, there are also a lot of manipulated images on IG (composites that change skies, selective coloring, etc. etc.) so I don't think it is always the case people go out and capture extravagant images every time they press the shutter.

samueli wrote in post #18962689
A month ago, I spent 12 days in Alberta. I have 20, maybe 25 pictures that I would put on my top shelf.

That's pretty good all things considered. Alberta is not an easy province to photograph. In the absence of luck, it takes serious time and effort to produce uniquely beautiful photos.

The photographers who consistently capture the breathtaking shots of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper spend countless hours getting up at the crack of dawn, going to the same spot day after day trying to get something great. I can't image how many frames they delete for every one they keep.

Even if you only got a couple of shots worth keeping you got a good work out, didn't get mauled by a bear or cougar and hopefully made some good memories with your traveling companion.

The only way to get better is to keep at it. The best photo opportunities tend to come when you least expect it.

This is why, when I go on holiday, I choose to be on holiday rather than on a photoshoot.

If you want to produce more/better photos on a trip, you have to more or less forget the 'holiday' and look at everything through an imaginary lens.

That's not to say you can't get some good shots. I have shots I'm proud of from most of our holidays. But I don't set myself an arbitrary target for 'keepers', nor do I expect to come back with something good enough to grace a gallery wall. In fact, I bought myself a decent compact camera specifically to avoid missing my holidays because my eye was glued to a viewfinder the whole time, but I nevertheless wanted half-decent photos as memories.

If you really want some top-shelf images from Alberta, don't go on another holiday; organise a dedicated photography trip.

You are probably better than you think. But it is good you are on the side you are instead of thinking you are a great photographer. Don't get down on yourself, but at the same time always strive to get better. The more you shoot, the more you learn and the better you will get. And never stop reading. The day you think that there is nothing left for you to learn about photography is the day you should sell your gear and go do something else. I have been doing photography since 1972 and I am still never really satisfied with my work, but that makes me strive to get better.