awbphotog
Well-known
Spoken like a true Rochesterian. Are you affiliated with RIT?
Jerevan
Recycled User
In a way, I can relate to this "meaninglessness" - this feeling of why bother? Sometimes I feel like I am drowning in gear but I have nowhere to point it.
I am thinking one can attack this from various points:
1. just keep on pushing the button for the enjoyment. 2. put the gear down and see if the itch comes back 3. find some project to realise.
Or maybe just take up drawing? Or something else that is connected with a concentrated observation?
Am I correct in thinking that your main enjoyment is seeing the scene, being "in the moment"? This leaves everything else behind - maybe in a somewhat similar way to the man or woman climbing a mountain. It's certainly addictive if not always productive.
I am thinking one can attack this from various points:
1. just keep on pushing the button for the enjoyment. 2. put the gear down and see if the itch comes back 3. find some project to realise.
Or maybe just take up drawing? Or something else that is connected with a concentrated observation?
Am I correct in thinking that your main enjoyment is seeing the scene, being "in the moment"? This leaves everything else behind - maybe in a somewhat similar way to the man or woman climbing a mountain. It's certainly addictive if not always productive.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Exactly. What a waste of a life.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Ned,
When my relationship with my son's mother ended, she destroyed virtually every color print and color neg I had ever shot up to that point in my life, and all of my archive of silver-gelatin BW prints. The BW prints were not as big a loss, I still had those negs, but my early color work is gone forever. Nothing will ever bring back what vicious spite of a psychotic woman destroyed.
My digital files are backed up on multiple hard drives kept in different locations, to guard against natural disaster, burglary, fire, and psychobitches. They're much more secure than my film ever can be.
awbphotog
Well-known
Off topic, but I just wanted to say that I commend you for coming back from your losses.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
If I find myself being over-confident or indifferent when I receive a critic about my photos, it is usually a sign of a defence against what a consider to be an unpleasant attack on my ego.
I also don't do things without a reason. If i keep doing them, there is a reason why.
I also don't do things without a reason. If i keep doing them, there is a reason why.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Baby of Macon
Well-known
The desire to photograph but with no interest in the photographs seems to me to be reminiscent of Dali's definition of a Surrealist as one who dresses as a fencer but does not fence.
jky
Well-known
Thanks for sharing.
Photos are vaulable to me.
They're the tactile, visual reminders of my past - my memories.
I feel that I cannot replicate my photos again as my child will only be 3 once, a lady with a pink jacket may not step into the frame again and an awening will no longer appear as if draped over a mountain... so on & so forth.
People can positively or negatively critique my images - either is fine by me.
But in the event of a fire, after ensuring my children & lovely wife are safe.... I'm running back in to grab the hard drives (& negs)
Photos are vaulable to me.
They're the tactile, visual reminders of my past - my memories.
I feel that I cannot replicate my photos again as my child will only be 3 once, a lady with a pink jacket may not step into the frame again and an awening will no longer appear as if draped over a mountain... so on & so forth.
People can positively or negatively critique my images - either is fine by me.
But in the event of a fire, after ensuring my children & lovely wife are safe.... I'm running back in to grab the hard drives (& negs)
Godfrey
somewhat colored
If you love the process of taking pictures but don't value the pictures, well, take pictures and enjoy yourself. Note that you can save a lot of money with a film camera by not loading it, or by reloading it with the same used film over and over again. Or buy a digital camera and just erase the storage card now and then.
Not sure what value there is to posting a confession about what you like to do. If you like doing it, and it harms no one, just go for it.
G
Kinda odd approach you have. If you like it and it works for you that is all that counts.
I don't listen to critics. I have yet to hear from one critic that can out-shoot me. For me photos have a value of pleasure in viewing. I can't re-shoot my type of photos. Once most of em are gone they are gone.
Bille
Well-known
Huss
Veteran
This thread reminds me of the chef Giada De Laurentiis.
She likes to cook, but refuses to eat.
She likes to cook, but refuses to eat.
FrankS
Registered User
Hsg,
If you want to shake things up, try shooting film.
I'm willing to lend you a camera, give you a roll of b+w film, develop it, contact print the negs, and make an 8x10 print for you.
Ill be visiting downtown next week. Let me know.
Digital only would suck the joy and value out of photography as a hobby for me too.
If you want to shake things up, try shooting film.
I'm willing to lend you a camera, give you a roll of b+w film, develop it, contact print the negs, and make an 8x10 print for you.
Ill be visiting downtown next week. Let me know.
Digital only would suck the joy and value out of photography as a hobby for me too.
krötenblender
Well-known
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Am i the only one who doesn't enjoy the actual act of 'taking' pictures?
I'm obsessed with photography, and feel compelled to create images. But, if i could go from conceiving them to exposed film without the actual intermediate steps, i probably would.
I don't understand the perspective of 'not valuing the photographs,' though. I understand that a person would be immune to criticism —*i am, as well. I appreciate constructive comments, but i feel like i'm a harsher critic than anyone else. But, if i were to lose all of the pictures i've taken, even the 99% that suck — i would be devastated. They're a product of my (pathetic) life and any moment i chose to save in a photograph is probably a memory that represents one of the few 'high' points. Perhaps if i had a better life, and good moments were so plentiful, it would mean less, though....
I'm obsessed with photography, and feel compelled to create images. But, if i could go from conceiving them to exposed film without the actual intermediate steps, i probably would.
I don't understand the perspective of 'not valuing the photographs,' though. I understand that a person would be immune to criticism —*i am, as well. I appreciate constructive comments, but i feel like i'm a harsher critic than anyone else. But, if i were to lose all of the pictures i've taken, even the 99% that suck — i would be devastated. They're a product of my (pathetic) life and any moment i chose to save in a photograph is probably a memory that represents one of the few 'high' points. Perhaps if i had a better life, and good moments were so plentiful, it would mean less, though....
Hsg
who dares wins
It is a difficult concept for some to grasp, how can someone only enjoy taking photos without any regard for the photos afterwards?
I wasn't like that. I used to spend a lot of time on post-processing, editing and so on, but at some point it occurred to me that I really disliked editing and post-processing, but more importantly, they did not give value to my photos.
After a lot of soul-searching and struggle (many threads in this forum), I realized that I enjoy the walk, the shoot, that's it. The photos are there and I treat them all the same, I don't edit or post-process, I leave them as they are.
Film. Well to me that is another illusion in trying to make something that essentially has becoming meaningless into something meaningful by bringing the discipline, the process and basically the extra work for the same stuff. Film is for those who care for photos, my affliction, I don't care for photos.
As I said, photos have no value for me and I say that very sincerely. I don't look at photos at all. Still photos bore me, even the works that I used to admire. I watch video and that satisfies me visually, although I have no interest in shooting video.
Am I a sign of the decline and fall of still photography? A photographer with no interest in photos he takes. Maybe.
I wasn't like that. I used to spend a lot of time on post-processing, editing and so on, but at some point it occurred to me that I really disliked editing and post-processing, but more importantly, they did not give value to my photos.
After a lot of soul-searching and struggle (many threads in this forum), I realized that I enjoy the walk, the shoot, that's it. The photos are there and I treat them all the same, I don't edit or post-process, I leave them as they are.
Film. Well to me that is another illusion in trying to make something that essentially has becoming meaningless into something meaningful by bringing the discipline, the process and basically the extra work for the same stuff. Film is for those who care for photos, my affliction, I don't care for photos.
As I said, photos have no value for me and I say that very sincerely. I don't look at photos at all. Still photos bore me, even the works that I used to admire. I watch video and that satisfies me visually, although I have no interest in shooting video.
Am I a sign of the decline and fall of still photography? A photographer with no interest in photos he takes. Maybe.
FrankS
Registered User
Harry S.
Well-known
I can see where the OP is coming from.
I like to take pictures...when I walk around and suddenly see a photograph its exciting to make that image work and capture whatever magic I liked about the scene. The excitement holds all the way through to editing and augmenting the picture, but after that its just a finished image and I have nothing to do with it other than store it on a hard drive.
I too wouldn't be upset if I lost all my pictures. It would just be news to tell people about.
I like to take pictures...when I walk around and suddenly see a photograph its exciting to make that image work and capture whatever magic I liked about the scene. The excitement holds all the way through to editing and augmenting the picture, but after that its just a finished image and I have nothing to do with it other than store it on a hard drive.
I too wouldn't be upset if I lost all my pictures. It would just be news to tell people about.
FrankS
Registered User
I'll go out on a biased limb and say that this is a digital photography malaise. Disregarding artistic/aesthetic merit totally, digital photography can take very little effort to achieve an inkjet print. Photography done with a manual film camera, develop film, wet darkroom print takes more effort and is potentially more rewarding.
Both digital and film photography can only be as good as the photographer's eye of course. I'm only comparing the process and how the process requiring greater effort can be more satisfying.
Of what use is an effortless hobby?
Both digital and film photography can only be as good as the photographer's eye of course. I'm only comparing the process and how the process requiring greater effort can be more satisfying.
Of what use is an effortless hobby?