Is there always something to shoot?

[zdav]

I took my camera for a walk during lunch today. I considered it 'practice shooting' because I usually don't take pictures without a special occasion ( special occasion = nice moment that I would like to remember later ). After 20 min I realised I was looking to hard to find something that cought my eye. I started to get annoyed by that.

So:

1. Do you think there is always an interesting photo to make?

2. More interestingly: do you play games or apply tricks to have a goal when practice shooting? After I got annoyed I decided to focus on shadows only and took 1 or 2 interesting shots with an interesting composition I think.

 

[dogbunny]

there is the other side of this... not having a camera and suddenly you see a good picture everywhere. I've experienced both sides. I think there is always a picture. why not look differently? stand on your head for your lunch break or go somewhere you've never been? I dunno, I'm just trying.

 

[Gumby]

1. No.

2. Sure, that is a good technique... as long as one doesn't let the "goal of the day" dominate in a manner in which other types of good images are not seen.

 

[zdav]

ok, why not make a list of themes for aspiring photographers. As gumby says, looking for something might actually clear your head and you might start seeing other things all of the sudden. (just to be clear, I don't want this to be an "I have no inspiration, please encourage me"-post, I'm just looking for some fun ideas, approaches). I think I 'll dedicate at least one roll to each of the items on my list.

themes:
- shadows
- textures
- patterns
- symmetry (reflection, translation, rotation)
- lines
- color (or maybe better, contrast, as I shoot mostly black and white)
- framing
- ...

other ideas 🙂

 

[ebino]

-Taking pictures on a full stomach is never a good idea. Your sense are not at their sharpest.

-Going out with pictures in your head is a bad idea, because you only want to see what you thought rather than whats there in front of you.

-Forcing yourself to take photos when you don't feel like it is a bad idea.


But then again welcome to the dark side of photography where you lack inspiration, you have run out of subject and ideas to photograph and the photos you take leave you cold.

Sorry, can't help you.

 

[swoop]

There isn't always something to shoot. Sometimes things are just boring. Yeah, you can take a picture, but those elements that make great photos don't always come together and that's where boring pictures come from.

I have to take photos everyday. And it's hard to not get tired of the same subjects over and over again and think of new ways to photograph things.

 

[jsrockit]

I don't stress it too much. I just go out and walk the streets of NYC. If I see something that needs to be photographed, then I photograph it. If not, then I don't.

 

[Damaso]

I always tell myself that there is always a photograph, the question is am I able to find it...

 

[morgan]

I think I've thought all of these things people have talked about. Lately it seems that when I have my camera I can't find anything and when I don't have a camera there's always stuff. Living in the city should be inspiring, but lately I'm really down on Boston. I find it uninspiring, despite the pretty buildings and gardens. I've been doing more nature shooting with my 7D, and that's kind of a new challenge, but it doesn't fill the hole for some reason.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sure, there's always something to shoot.

The question is, do you feel like shooting it?

I live in a beautiful village. It's been a warm, sunny autumn afternoon here, up to about 20C, 68F. But I haven't felt like shooting, so I haven't.

Ever since I was 16, and took up photography, I've been the same. When I feel like shooting, I shoot, and when I don't, I don't.

Further thought: If I go for a walk with a camera, I prefer to go for the sake of the walk. In other words, even if I take no pictures at all, I want to have enjoyed myself, and not to come back thinking that my time was 'wasted' because I got no pictures.

Cheers,

R.

 

[robklurfield]

I agree with this.

We humans spend an awful lot of time looking for dramatic subjects when sometimes the most mundane scene is begging for us to find it.

Of course, this doesn't mean that I always produce results worthy of a second look. I just need to see better.

I always tell myself that there is always a photograph, the question is am I able to find it...

 

[hipsterdufus]

Further thought: If I go for a walk with a camera, I prefer to go for the sake of the walk. In other words, even if I take no pictures at all, I want to have enjoyed myself, and not to come back thinking that my time was 'wasted' because I got no pictures.

Beautifully put. I no longer "work" at photography. I did enough of that in my college photography courses. If I don't enjoy the process, I stop.

 

[umboody]

As people have said, there are some days which are a write-off to begin with. I think you've just got to keep your eye out for something without building up one's hopes of it actually happening. You can lose a lot of motivation by going out and expecting to get great results every time. And you have got to be in the right mood, of course. Work's work, but when you go out to shoot something in your free time, you have got to be involved in the whole process.

 

[jsrockit]

I always tell myself that there is always a photograph, the question is am I able to find it...

Perfectly summed up in one sentence ...

 

[rbiemer]

Yes, there is always some thing to shoot, I think.
Similarly to Damaso, I figure my part is to see and recognize it.
And, yes, I do sometimes "play games" with myself to make things a bit more fun.
But, I'm not sure about "practice shooting"; for myself, I don't find that distinction useful. Every time I take a camera with me I hope to end with a photo--or several--that are good and something I'm happy to share with others. This is a hobby for me, so I clearly do not have to get the shot every time but I do strive for that as a way to keep learning and enjoying this.
Rob

 

[Bob Michaels]

Sure, there's always something to shoot.

The question is, do you feel like shooting it?

<snip>

Further thought: If I go for a walk with a camera, I prefer to go for the sake of the walk. In other words, even if I take no pictures at all, I want to have enjoyed myself, and not to come back thinking that my time was 'wasted' because I got no pictures.

Cheers,

R.

My views are the same as Roger's. I once realized that I was beginning to feel pressure because I brought no photos home in spite of having a great day. So I began to appreciate what there is without any concerns about the photography part.

I have learned that the basic process of photography does not really interest me. But, photographing something in which I have a sincere interest is very satisfying.

 

[robert blu]

Today I went out fro a walk along a local river with one of the last Kodachrome in the camera, hoping for autumn colors but I did not find anything visually interesting in spite of an excellent light...Only shot a couple of frames...maybe tomorrow...a little later or a different location...
It happens even if I think that there is always something to shoot...
robert

 

[gns]

There is material everywhere.

To me, the best pictures are often not those with the most obvious/dramatic content, rather the ones that seem made from very little. The ones where you ask yourself, "how did the photographer know there could be a good photo in that"?

Cheers,
Gary

 

[paulfish4570]

If there is light, yes ...

 

[Creagerj]

There is always something to shoot if you aren't looking for anything in particular.