"Give up!"

[Paul Jenkin]

Yes.

I've been taking photographs since the early 1970s and, although I had a spell where I was shooting weddings and portraits semi-pro (i.e. in addition to my main, non photography related job) I have never felt that my photographs amounted to anything more than snapshots.

In all honesty, changing and re-trying cameras, lenses and subject matter is about the only thing that's sustained me down the years. As with some earlier comments, I have the urge to be creative but I am my own harshest critic and have never felt that I've achieved any recognisable level of creativity.

I've decided recently that I'd like to have a go at gaining an ARPS distinction as that supposedly adds the requirement for creativity to the LRPS distinction - which seems to concentrate heavily on the technical / craft aspects. If I don't get the ARPS, I think I'll flog most of my gear (keeping one for recording holidays and travels) and try something else instead - learn to play the guitar, gardening, who knows....?

 

[Michael Markey]

No ...
I seem to want to take photographs and its fun....that`s it really.
No driving ambition behind it .
When I take them for friends they seem to like them ,get them framed ,and stick them on their wall which is rewarding.

Without that however I`d still just take snapshots ...its all I`ve ever done since I was thirteen.

 

[williams473]

I don't understand why you would give up something you enjoy. Perhaps consider what (within yourself? within the world?) you are measuring your photography against. Maybe it is this "inner yardstick" that is making photography feel like work. I have "worked" very hard at photography but it isn't "work" in the sense of a vocation because it's pleasurable to me in a number of ways. I would expect I would quit if that wasn't the case. If you step away from it for a while, perhaps that might help clarify your feelings about it.

 

[Highway 61]

No. Why would I hear inner voices telling me what I'm supposed to do now and then ?

 

[hitmanh]

No inner voice telling me to do anything. Learn to get some perspective on your work. Learn to critique not criticise. Learn to let go. It's just some images, not a cure for cancer.

 

[jsrockit]

Learn to let go.

Yep, best thing I've done for my photography.

 

[Spanik]

Each time I get the rolls developed.

 

[Jamie123]

Do you sometimes hear an inner voice telling you "give up on photography!"?

I would stop if I could.

 

[Hsg]

I would stop if I could.

How do you live with that contradiction?



Isn't that like saying, I have a toothache but I don't know how to go to a dentist?

 

[nikon_junkie]

I excelled for sports photography, and won a handful of statewide PJ awards.

Jumped into wedding and failed miserably.

Didn't pick up a camera for almost five years... huge mistake.

These days, I chase sunsets more than brides. I signed up for a B+W photography class at my local college just to gain access to the darkroom.

My advice... make a bucket list of personal projects.

1) A longterm project is to become proficient at traditional printing and sell landscape prints. This led to my adventure into 4x5.

2) Covering the 2016 presidential race. I got my press pass back and look forward to the next year and a half. This led to me repurchasing a Leica film body.

3) After project 2 is complete... consider getting back into weddings.

 

[btgc]

I just gave up....and exposed first roll of 120 (hanging in bathroom)!

 

[Trooper]

Do you sometimes hear an inner voice telling you "give up on photography!"?

Almost every time I see the price on new digital cameras and compare them to the previous model's value. Fortunately, good glass maintains value and I convince myself that the old gear was the gold standard just a year ago...and I don't need the latest model.

I do get into a creative slump from time to time, and I force myself to take pictures of ordinary things around me. When i get a good one, it reinvigorates me and proves I don't need National Geographic settings or a supermodel.

Ultimately, all I need is a camera, good light, and proper motivation.

 

[KM-25]

The only way I would ever give up photography is if I could no longer do it as a full time living. I just can't imagine having to work for someone else and live for non-working hours to shoot photographs, losing the freedom I have now to fully *Live* life as a photographer.

I am truly blessed and very grateful for the life I have created for my self, my energy never wanes and it all just keeps getting better.

 

[Red Robin]

Give Up?

Give Up?

Don't think so. The closest I've come is earlier this year after three weeks in the hospital on my back. Weeks later still too weak to stand for more than a few minutes at a time. However now I'm back on my feet and all that equipment I was ready to let go . .. well its getting renewed workouts. To my eye my work will never come close to the work others do but then why give up golf if you can't beat Tiger Woods. I own some wonderful cameras as well as some great glass. Most purchased after the digital "revolution", I like it all. My dilemma is getting to use it all! There is some that is great stuff, good glass, but I seem to go back to some old favourites. But just think, I still haven't had money or time, to become disillusioned with digital photography yet! I am however still having fun. 😀

 

[Chris101]

No. Why would I hear inner voices telling me what I'm supposed to do now and then ?

Because that's what inner voices do.

 

[Kent]

Never thought about "giving up". I rather complain about not having enough time to use my gear.

 

[Michael Markey]

Don't think so. The closest I've come is earlier this year after three weeks in the hospital on my back. 😀

Me neither ...taken last week whilst in A&E on a gurney in a neck brace ...hence the rubbish framing 🙂

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I don't understand why you would give up something you enjoy.

Wise words and I wouldn't disagree with what you say, in the main. That said, we are on this little green planet for a very short space of time in relative terms. As far as I'm concerned, this is it; this is not a dress-rehearsal for anything. Therefore, if a hobby or passtime ceases to be enjoyable, my recommendation is to try something else that might be more enjoyable and fulfilling. For the majority, photography is only a passtime - even if they treat it as if it were their whole reason for existence.

I would add, though, that I'm not recommending we all charge aound trying this and that and giving up at the first hurdle. Most of us will persevere and try to make most things work. However, eventually, enough is enough for some people....