Are you satisfied with your shooting style?

When I first got a digital box I shot a lot more, but then I realised I would mostly feel I had shot too many of the same thing. I cut down to one or two similar compositions and I felt I was getting a lot more keepers per outing. A lot of it though had to do with confusion when looking at loads of the same thing. I now shoot my main work on 645 and only having 15 shots on a film makes me far more considered, again I get far more good shots on a roll of 15 than a couple of rolls of 36 (same cost). Now am I happy with my work? yes I am very happy with it, I got good grades for it. But there is always room for a lot of improvement and I am always looking to create something better than before, if I did not think I could create better then I would give up. I am applying to do an MA to stretch myself, the goal is ultimately to get a PHD but even then there would be room for improvement.
 
I may be very pleased with some of my results but I am rarely satisfied. It is usually shoulda woulda coulda after the fact. I think this is what keeps me striving to do better and push myself harder.
 
I have a long way to go in terms of style. After 5 years into this hobby, and yet I find my photos lacking that 'umphh'. I guess it takes maturity (I'm not young though!) in practicing, as well as working harder towards getting 'the shot'.
 
I'd need to be aware of a style before I could be satisfied with it. It's my 'vision' or lack of it that concerns me most and that for every positive I get from viewing other photographers pictures I also seem weighed down by having the most memorable of those stuck in my mind when out shooting. As a result I can find myself looking for a similar shot or trying to integrate their vision into my personal shooting.

In response to the original question; shooting more regardless of whether it's on film or digital will result in more keepers but only because it's a numbers game. If your favourite form of photography allows you to slow down and contemplate more then this will certainly help.

I'm in the midst of a personal project about Sizewell B, a nuclear power station just a few miles up the coast from me which came about partly as a desire to get away from the kind of thing I usually shoot. It's even allowed me to plan some specific shots and this approach has very much concentrated my otherwise scattershot mind. Whether my style or the pictures themselves prove worthwhile or interesting is another matter!
 
I'm relatively content with my shooting methodoligy, if that's style. I may be in a similar position as the OP... I could spend a bit more time and a few more exposures on subjects, in general, exploring the possibilities in more depth. I think the main lack at the moment is an inspiring project upon which to put it to good use.
 
Never.

When I'm shooting fast, I never see the background. Lots of lousy distractions I could have dealt with by moving a few feet to the side.

When I'm shooting portraits, I default to landscape way too often. I typically realize this after developing shots.

My exposures are usually recoverable but don't have the tonality I want. I'm really picky here but I'm usually low on light an unable to get what I want. Most of the time I'm pushing 400 speed film when I know the look I prefer involves shooting it closer to 250-300. Can't have it all though.

My over all style is boring. It lacks energy. Its dry and unemotional. My most common piece of feedback is 'technically decent shot but I don't care about it'. No edge or emotion for the most part.
 
Benjamin Oliver said:
I'm satisfied but not happy.
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+1!!!

Example?

When I did the shot (for explanation of the vue in a mail) I did look carefully to the framing.
When I got the developed film (and the scan) I was still satisfied with the result, even if it is far to be one of my better images.

But after uploading the scan and linking to it I became really angry: Where does this ugly street lamp come from, just in the middle of my shot? :eek:

It "wasn't there" when I was framing and walking around to get the right angle. I didn't see it when I got the film back... :bang:

I'm with all of you, who are statisfied, but not happy with the shooting style... How can one oversee such simple facts in the middle of the image?
 
Happy to be where I am, doing what I am doing, but never satisfied in the sense that I don't want to continue to learn and grow.

Put me down as happy but not satisfied.
 
It's a good question and one I'm struggling with as well. I've started reading "Within the Frame" a good book on helping you find your own photographic voice, or vision. And that's helping. I've also watched a few videos of professional photographers at work and that has given me ideas on how to improve my own technique for fully investigating a scene in front of me. There's plenty of those on YouTube.

Despite all of those, for me the most important thing I have to remember is that if i'm dissatisfied it's generally because I'm not taking enough risks, I'm sticking to the same old tried and true and it's getting stale. I need to push myself, to try new project ideas, new dark room methods, whatever interests you.
 
csg said:
It's a good question and one I'm struggling with as well. I've started reading "Within the Frame" a good book on helping you find your own photographic voice, or vision. And that's helping.......
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+1

Great book and not written like the usual stuff, really like his style of writing/teaching. Just wish I could remember it when I'm out shooting is all! {sigh} :(
 
Lately I'm pretty happy, some of the stuff I try comes out as nice as I hoped. I found myself repeating the same composition with 28mm lenses after shooting these primarily for a couple of years, so I'm now sticking to a 35mm for a while. But I keep searching, different scenes, perspectives, lenses, film, throwing in some with the iPhone, mixing it up.
 
No. Working on fighting "cliche" style. Doing 15-20 rolls a week to get out of the rut I'm in. Shooting with "She Who Must Be Obeyed" is good for me. A fresh insight and outlook helps to move me out of my comfort zone and explore/see in a new/different way.
 
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