when do you go out and take pics?

i havent been taking pics lately because i haven't been out much

i know there are tons of picture opportunities but to me it seems like i have to go someplace nice/interesting to take pics

i'd like to hear what you guys have to say so maybe i can be motivated to pick up my camera and take a walk around the block or something

If you live in LA there are thousands of places to take pics.........the beach, the tourists on Hollywood Blvd., McAurthur Park downtown, some of the older building in downtown LA and East LA.........the list could be huge.

skimmilk68 ,
If the weather's nice I feel more prone to want to go out with the camera. Personally I'm starting to feel stuck in a rut. I've gone around my block heaps of times and getting tired of it! Need some new surrounding to feel inspired.

I love trips for pictures....I walk around my block all the time and get the odd interesting one but nothing compares to taking a trip....

Well, I go out whenever the kids, the wife,the job and the weather let me go out...

Many years ago in a high school photography class my instructor made this challenge: shoot 20 rolls of film over the weekend, and if you don't think you're a better photog at the end, I'll reimbuse you the money you paid for the film. The exercise forced me to look carefully around me. I took many bad pictures, but I took some great ones I would have never seen without being forced. (I didn't ask for my money back).

With digital this is a cheaper proposition. If you're not in the mood to shoot, that's understandable. But opportunties are always near; we're just walking by them. My advice: challenge yourself to get outside (or inside) and shoot 100 pics, 500 pics, 1,000 pics -- whatever would be a stretch for one day. You'll find great shots right where you live; you don't have to go anywhere special. It's a great way to get out of a rut.

Greg

do you guys go by yourself if you're not shooting a certain subject such as family member?

i went to go take pics with my girlfriend and she got kind of mad because i was so focused on getting a great shot and she was getting bored by herself

Well, that sounds familiar ! What I recommend is - to find a friend, or even a stranger who is interested in photography and go shoot together. There is a saying in Russian - "one head is good, but two heads is better" (by "heads" they mean "brains") - you both can learn
so much from each other ! That's how I found a friend who became by fellow photographer - one day we were chatting over the ICQ (we knew each other from a local photography forum, just like this one) and I proposed to go out and take some photographs. Since then the guy became one of my best friends and we spent hundreds of hours shooting together.

I plan trips to take pictures.. try to find a place where I can shoot more of my interest & go. However being bitten by serious photography bug lately, I tend to carry my camera long with me so as to practice more.... even on my way to office

When do I go out? ... At night, when my wife and kids are sleeping

Best regards,
Andy

been working a lot lately so i haven't been out shooting much!

i have got a friend who's into photography too and that makes it much more fun to shoot.

Daytime and occassionally nighttime as well.

Andythaler wrote:
When do I go out? ... At night, when my wife and kids are sleeping

Best regards,
Andy

Good point, during the last two weekends, I've been going early in the morning to catch the sunrise. Main Advantage: Kids and wife are sleeping.

As for them getting bored.... well, most of the time I go by myself but in some cases one of the kids offer to join me. Those ones turn to be really interesting too....

Leo.