Frustration

Recently my friend adam and i have tried to be opened minded when coming to photographer. It started out pretty fun i guess, having a new camera, seeing the world in a new light. But now, photography is getting frustrating. It is coming to a point where it isn't as enjoyable as it used to be. I dont know if it is because of the town we live in or what, but we both cannot find anything to shoot. I was thinking of going into macro, but i guess that wouldnt be as fun, because you lose the time walking around and just the overall enjoyment of photography. Please help, because i really dont want to quit and i am not trying to think about doing that right now

Try only shooting from the hip, for a week.

Try only shooting wide open with the 50 for a week.

Try doing only self portraits, for a week. There, are you better now?

Speaking for myself, and probably many others, we all go through dry spells to the point where we contemplate leaving this hobby to others. Many do leave, some come back years later, some right away and some never. I have to wonder those that move onto something else and never come back, do they regret it.

I've been in your situation a few times where I thought I had hit the wall. I literally did nothing about it. I put the cameras away for awhile and when I felt ready they came out again.

You didn't mention what you liked to shoot. Perhaps there is something in this category but only a little bit further away than Gahanna. I googled your city and you are not far from Columbus. I've only been there once for a conference but from what I remember of it, it was a nice city. Is there nothing in this city of almost 1 million (according to the site I was on) that intriques you. Macro can be alot of fun, rewarding and frustrating all in the same minute. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, give it a whirl.

So out of sheer curiosity, what do you like to shoot in the normal scheme of things. Don't give up

i use photography to relax in general. what me and my friend do is walk around downtown and if we see something we think looks cool, or would make a shot, we take a pic. we dont take the same pics or w/e. we are their as company for eachother and a judge of our pictures taken i guess. My pictures range from flowers to homeless people to tall buildings. The problem is, i am not happy with my technique i guess. I wish i could see the world in a different perspective and learn some composition. Sometimes i feel i am just using an expensive point and shoot (no i dont shoot in auto mode ). I know i wont give up, i am just frustrated after seeing some peoples' pictures and see how beautiful they are, while mine end up dull and boring, uninteresting and common. I dont want to be common, i want to be able to take it to the next level. I want to beable to enjoy photography and taking pictures, and then enjoy what i bring home, and see on my computer. I know post processing is part of the pictures, and no that isnt what is wrong with my pictures. I just feel my pictures are empty and meaningless and stupid and unworthy of being called a picture.


btw, columbus sucks :P. I believe we have covered all there is to cover in this city. It is too big to get "small town" looking shots and too small to get "city shots". It just isnt forgiving when it comes to photography. We have tried going to the river, to german village, to high street, basically everywhere in columbus that looks interesting. I had to travel to chicago to get the shots i wanted, citywise.

maybe i need to read a book or something about composition, but i still dont know if that will completely solve my problems.

Garage bands? Rodeo? Sport?

bah. i think i am just trying to hard. all my good photos seem to be when "messing around".

there are weekly exercises that some of the POTN members participate in.. you might like to give it a try..

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=170603

Start shooting only at night. Done that yet? Get a pic of Mayor Quimby coming out of the motel.

go back to wherever you've frequented and take more shots of it but differently. capture it in a new light. find something new about something old.

A great way to try new things is a game called 26 things....google it...a monthly exercise in finding different ways to find and photograph 26 selected objects. Not as easy as it sounds, but can provide lots of chances to try out of the ordinary shots.

You have gotten alot of good ideas here. I feel frustated with myself and my photo skills more than anything else. I am lucky though in that I love to shoot different things that keep me busy through the changing seasons. I shoot for a newspaper, so cover alot of local fun and not so fun events. Sports, boxing, equestrian and ball. When the weather changes and people stay inside, I take to nature and spend outs stalking birds etc. Also do contemporary /abstract. I recently enrolled in a community college in a Photography Program. I find workshops very rejuvenating, because it gives me different perspectives other than my own. Sometimes my camera sits and i feel I've lost my MoJo...I just busy myself with something else and then something will catch my eye and the camera is again constantly in my grasp. Good luck, and I hope you can get reinspired.

What most people do on this forum is buy another lens

Ok, I'm slightly tongue in cheek, but you are quite limited by not having anything longer than 50mm. Maybe doing some research and finding a longer lens that would suit you would inspire you again.

You don't have to spend a fortune either, as there are many lenses that are fairly priced for the Canon EF mount. Buying second hand can be a great way to save some cash.

Sorry if you don't have a budget for a new lens, but you have had plenty of free suggestions that I can't add to.

Graham

blue_max wrote:
What most people do on this forum is buy another lens

Ok, I'm slightly tongue in cheek, but you are quite limited by not having anything longer than 50mm. Maybe doing some research and finding a longer lens that would suit you would inspire you again.

You don't have to spend a fortune either, as there are many lenses that are fairly priced for the Canon EF mount. Buying second hand can be a great way to save some cash.

Sorry if you don't have a budget for a new lens, but you have had plenty of free suggestions that I can't add to.

Graham

that is what i was thinking of doing. getting the 70-200 F4L and messing around with it a bit. I am just not sure yet. Thanks for the help guys. Ill try to think of something