Actually taking photos...

[Mark123]

Anyone ever find themselves in the situation where they go through a phase of spending more time reading about photos than actually taking them (i.e. forums and magazines etc).

I feel recently I haven't actually got out and taken as photos as I would like too: maybe it's lack of time, terrible weather, etc, etc i dunno.

Anyway the meet on Saturday should change all that and hopefully kick start me into taking more again...

[stevegreen]

As I am at work most of the time, definitely!!!

If they blocked Flickr I'd probably suffer withdrawal symptoms!

When I do get a day off though I do try and get out, like I did last week. Hopefully, impeding voluntary redundancy will give me a bit more time

[senu]

We all go thru phases like that . Some more than others

Nature of my "Daytime Job" is such that my immediate acquaintances are amazed I have time for anything else

However viewing, thinking about photos is not nessesarily a bad thing ( occasionally)

It helps you be a bit more technically and artistically focused ( pun completely unintended) when you take yours and the process of self-criticism of your shots is probably more mature
Definitely viewing Photos can be an inspiring exercise as long as you don't let your camera gather dust!
The process of taking lots of photos ( when you first get a digital) is followed by " How can I take better ones?" : This reflective pause and reading up can be useful there provided the temptation to become a long term armchair critic does not take over

[pixelpixel]

Due to either being on flickr or on avforums I mainly only study photos and look at why that image looks so good and then when I am out with the camera I get the ohhhh look at that and snap one nice image. I sometimes do a search for places that I have been and see what others have done. You would be amazed what you would find.

Maybe not the best example but I will give it ago to explain.

The below image is from a place I visit almost everytime I go back home, I would never have seen this unless I had not seen the recent images I belive on either flickr or avforums someone is doing a view from a worm project. That made me think about looking at things from a lower angle. So I decided to do a few up close and strange and got the below.

Maybe not the best in the world but compared to a year ago in the same place a far better image for me and I feel like I can look at objects and see a picture rather than just pressing the button and finding something later.

[Biscuit761]

This seems to sum me up since I got my D50, although thoe counter is now over 1900 very few are keepers.

I think the FZ20 spoilt me, I am having to learn all over again.

Bill

[Mark123]

Well said pixelpixel

And an excellent photo by the way - inspiring

[Johndm]

Originally Posted by Mark123

Anyone ever find themselves in the situation where they go through a phase of spending more time reading about photos than actually taking them ...

Well....apart from photography, I'm an aviation enthusiast, computer nerd, have two powerful cars to play with, avid DIY'er, AV/ HI FI enthusiast, AND the missus makes me go to work...

I keep telling her I need just a part time job, can't repeat here her answer..

[Liquid101]

My photography goes through phases. Sometimes I spend all my time making photographs, carrying it everywhere I go, making night shots, leaving work early to catch the sunset on the beach, forcing my son to pose for me, even experimenting with torches on the kitchen table (don't ask)

At other times I barely pick the camera up, maybe even going weeks without touching it while I pursue other things. Then it'll be back to the camera again... and so on.

One thing is for sure, since finding this part of the forum I have been inspired to make more and (hopefully) better photographs. Seeing the fantastic work of all the regulars here drives me in a way like never before. Thanks all!

[Astaroth]

I am not very creative and therefore whilst I see photos on here, in magazines and on the likes of Flickr that I think are outstanding and all they are a set of railings or such I dont see the opportunity of the photo when I am out and about so living in a drab town just inside the M25 I dont feel too motivated to get out and take pictures.

Summer is fine as I go up into london but it is cold and grey at the moment so too easy to stay infront of the PC/ TV/ Stereo

[stevegreen]

Originally Posted by Astaroth

I am not very creative and therefore whilst I see photos on here, in magazines and on the likes of Flickr that I think are outstanding and all they are a set of railings or such I dont see the opportunity of the photo when I am out and about so living in a drab town just inside the M25 I dont feel too motivated to get out and take pictures.

I can relate to that too. Thats the beauty of Flickr as you can browse lots of different type of images and get inspiration. You may think you live in a drab town inside the M25, but, look for detail. I found loads of interesting images (well, I thought so) in a lane not far from me the other day whereas the overall image would have been horribly boring.

It's like I had found a third eye.

[Astaroth]

I am sure it is there as we do have railings

My "problem" is that I have always been technically very good at things but lack the creativity and it appears my photography is going that way too. Give me a sketch and I can recreate it nearly perfectly, a photo and I can duplicate it, a website and I can remake it (often technically better than the original) but give me a blank sheet of paper and you may get a few doodles after a few hours of me thinking

Ultimately I can see something on flickr and go out and copy it, and have received better comments/ scores etc than the original but I want to be able to "develop the third eye" as you put it. Whilst I am sure that others will say practice and it will come, I have been doing and selling sketches for over 10 years and yet to do more than a stick man of my own true creation

[Tobers]

I know what you mean, but try having a theme to work on. I'm currently looking for things with S-shaped curves in them - doesn't matter what it is but it really makes me look at things in a different way. It gives you more focus rather than just randomly wandering around looking for something to take a photo of.

You could pick any theme, and it gives you more purpose to take pics.

It's sort of like the monthly competition, but you can make it go along for as long as you want.

A couple of examples to show how one theme can result in very different pictures (= an excuse to show more pics!)

[electrolyte]

Originally Posted by pixelpixel

I belive on either flickr or avforums someone is doing a view from a worm project.

That was me here

I am honoured that I have inspired you. Nice shot by the way.

[salubrious_k]

I find that a lot of my inspiration comes from the new found feedback I get on my photos through Flickr. Before I used Flickr it was only really me that saw my photos often, but now lots of people see them, and positive feedback (and even negative!) work to spur me on to try to get an even better picture next time. Also, I find joining certain groups have led me to experiment in certain areas that I would not have thought to otherwise.

[Astaroth]

I like the idea of themed photographs and for the likes of the monthly competition here I will go out of my way to try and fit the theme.

I find if I decide to do my own theme (eg the suggestion of "S" shaped objects) that I do not commit to it properly and so if I dont find any suitably shaped objects will just end up abandoning it and ending up with yet more pictures of ducks.