Mlehrman
Mlehrman
As many on RFF, I am seldom without some sort of camera. It's a joy a privilege to afford this hobby. Personally, when carrying a camera becomes an irritant, when that little machine begins to make a demand to "use me", I become aware that I need to leave it at home for a few hours or days, and figure out what it is that I am avoiding. But that's me. Sometimes I peruse the RFF archives for inspiration.
Takkun
Ian M.
Raid—I love that bit of advice. Most of what I photograph are 'big' things—buildings, cityscapes, vistas, and the sort. focusing on something tiny within that landscape is a fresh view.
There's a lot of great suggestions in this thread, and I'm trying to think what I can contribute. One quote I come back to is from Garry Winogrand, "I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed." That ethos bothered my professor when I was learning on LF, but reminds me of when I first picked up a camera and pointed it at literally everything. Sometimes it's not the subject that's interesting, but the contrast, tonality, texture that draws you. The subject could be anything, and could render itself abstractly in the final image.
I'm a lifelong city dweller, so you'd think I'd have a never-ending source of inspiration in the street, but it does get overstimulating and tired at times. I read somewhere that hundreds of photos of Pike Place Market are uploaded to Instagram a day, and when I visit I just want to grab some kale and a bottle of wine and get out, and think, "well, everything has already been photographed by now." I've carried a camera with me nearly every day for as long as I can remember, but the last few years I just wasn't shooting anything. Partly, I was more interested in experiencing whatever I was doing than futzing with a camera, but it can be both.
And with Seattle weather being what it is right now, stalking the streets for hours just makes you damp and cold. Travel is fresh and exciting, but simply out of the question right now. Lately I've turned to whatever I can find inside my house to burn film or batteries on. Sometimes it's experimenting with lighting on whatever I'm cooking for the day. This morning, it was chasing the cat around with an old Nikon D2. I know these aren't ever going to get printed, but it's in that spirit of seeing what things look like photographed. Lull times are time to experiment.
The other approach I'm fond of is that of Bernd and Hilla Becher, whom I learned of in architecture school: pick a single subject and photograph the hell out of it. You might get interesting images out of it, or learn something new on the subject, or develop a new interest to turn into a photographic idea.
A few things snapped me out of my funk, none of which required exotic travel or packing in a ton of gear. Last month I was at the state fair, and the sheer sensory experience was enough inspiration to photograph whatever caught my interest, even down to the bizarre hot tub displays. The last few weeks, I've been stopping by the zoo, and while there are plenty of guys with thousands of dollars of kit trying to photograph the animals through plexiglass (with flash!), I've been turning my camera away from the exhibits and towards them and the other characters that visit. Lastly, as I've started my final semester of grad school, I've made an effort of shooting social gatherings with my colleagues as a bit of a keepsake, but without withdrawing from the event. That one's been fun: I bring a Sunpak potato masher flash and everyone hams it up for the camera.
Sometimes you just have to give yourself an assignment, even if you know it won't be printed. And that's the fun of it.
There's a lot of great suggestions in this thread, and I'm trying to think what I can contribute. One quote I come back to is from Garry Winogrand, "I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed." That ethos bothered my professor when I was learning on LF, but reminds me of when I first picked up a camera and pointed it at literally everything. Sometimes it's not the subject that's interesting, but the contrast, tonality, texture that draws you. The subject could be anything, and could render itself abstractly in the final image.
I'm a lifelong city dweller, so you'd think I'd have a never-ending source of inspiration in the street, but it does get overstimulating and tired at times. I read somewhere that hundreds of photos of Pike Place Market are uploaded to Instagram a day, and when I visit I just want to grab some kale and a bottle of wine and get out, and think, "well, everything has already been photographed by now." I've carried a camera with me nearly every day for as long as I can remember, but the last few years I just wasn't shooting anything. Partly, I was more interested in experiencing whatever I was doing than futzing with a camera, but it can be both.
And with Seattle weather being what it is right now, stalking the streets for hours just makes you damp and cold. Travel is fresh and exciting, but simply out of the question right now. Lately I've turned to whatever I can find inside my house to burn film or batteries on. Sometimes it's experimenting with lighting on whatever I'm cooking for the day. This morning, it was chasing the cat around with an old Nikon D2. I know these aren't ever going to get printed, but it's in that spirit of seeing what things look like photographed. Lull times are time to experiment.
The other approach I'm fond of is that of Bernd and Hilla Becher, whom I learned of in architecture school: pick a single subject and photograph the hell out of it. You might get interesting images out of it, or learn something new on the subject, or develop a new interest to turn into a photographic idea.
A few things snapped me out of my funk, none of which required exotic travel or packing in a ton of gear. Last month I was at the state fair, and the sheer sensory experience was enough inspiration to photograph whatever caught my interest, even down to the bizarre hot tub displays. The last few weeks, I've been stopping by the zoo, and while there are plenty of guys with thousands of dollars of kit trying to photograph the animals through plexiglass (with flash!), I've been turning my camera away from the exhibits and towards them and the other characters that visit. Lastly, as I've started my final semester of grad school, I've made an effort of shooting social gatherings with my colleagues as a bit of a keepsake, but without withdrawing from the event. That one's been fun: I bring a Sunpak potato masher flash and everyone hams it up for the camera.
Sometimes you just have to give yourself an assignment, even if you know it won't be printed. And that's the fun of it.
lynnb
Veteran
I usually manage to get out of the house once a day for about 30-45mins, for a coffee with my wife. I noticed the light through the carafe and water glasses on the cafe tables in front of me, and this started a project on cafe tables.
daveoo and Raid's suggestions are useful, look for the light and the small things. Do you have a macro lens? Most of these were taken with a normal lens.
The other thing is, what feelings do you have when you're out in your local area? Is there any way you can express those feelings in photographs?
David Hughes
David Hughes
If you normally shoot with a WA 28 or 35, say, then taking a longer lens like 85, 90 or 100 will give you a new way of seeing...
Regards, David
Regards, David
Ste_S
Well-known
For getting closer to your subject I find Giacomo Brunelli's stuff quite inspiring for when I'm in a creative slump and not sure what to photography in the city. Just something simple like a man in a hat can make an amazing photo
http://www.giacomobrunelli.com/works.php
http://www.giacomobrunelli.com/works.php
karateisland
Established
I have recently purchased Adam Marelli's Udemy courses on the elements of photography--have already gotten a fair amount of his lecture/homework assignments about figure/ground relationship.
https://www.udemy.com/a-room-for-improvement-the-art-of-figure-to-ground/
Practicing composition is a good motivation for getting out there. Like shooting hoops.
https://www.udemy.com/a-room-for-improvement-the-art-of-figure-to-ground/
Practicing composition is a good motivation for getting out there. Like shooting hoops.
narsuitus
Well-known
There is always something to shoot for free.
Finding someone who is willing pay me for shooting is more difficult.
Finding someone who is willing pay me for shooting is more difficult.
olifaunt
Well-known
Road trips, even day trips, can help. Byways in upstate NY yesterday and saw tons of very dramatic scenes. Lots of the type of American gothic stuff you'll find in Maine too, even more dramatic in winter probably, plus old drive in theater, deer running up a hill, landscapes with "melted" houses, deer carcass hanging in front of a house, etc., etc. Incidental things you notice that you don't necessarily expect; you just have to get out.
muser53
MUSER53
If you embrace the notion that you are the eyes of the world there is always something calling out to be seen. Minor White put it well.
“I have often photographed when I am not in tune with nature but the photographs look as if I had been. So I conclude that something in nature says, ‘Come and take my photograph.’ So I do, regardless of how I feel.” – Minor White
Substitute anything you want for nature and you'll see the world will call out to you.
“I have often photographed when I am not in tune with nature but the photographs look as if I had been. So I conclude that something in nature says, ‘Come and take my photograph.’ So I do, regardless of how I feel.” – Minor White
Substitute anything you want for nature and you'll see the world will call out to you.
creenus
Established
I have two or three projects I'm working on, and something visual usually catches my eye as I drive along. Sometimes not. These can include handpainted signs, lawn ornaments and other odd bits of roadside detritus. Some little weird detail can call to me. I can't always stop and photograph it, but I try to mentally file it for later.
I always carry a rangefinder loaded with black-and-white film, and a DSLR for color. And a tripod.
I live in NW New Mexico, which is fairly scenic - if you enjoy rocks, dust and tumbleweeds, that is. Lots of low clouds, as it is a mile above sea level. Not much greenery here, I'm afraid.
We're in a fairly bad drought, so when it rains lightly at the college where I work, some of the ceramics/pottery people come out and dance - artists. =) It's a New Mexico thing.
I always carry a rangefinder loaded with black-and-white film, and a DSLR for color. And a tripod.
I live in NW New Mexico, which is fairly scenic - if you enjoy rocks, dust and tumbleweeds, that is. Lots of low clouds, as it is a mile above sea level. Not much greenery here, I'm afraid.
We're in a fairly bad drought, so when it rains lightly at the college where I work, some of the ceramics/pottery people come out and dance - artists. =) It's a New Mexico thing.
Sega
Established
I know this might sound backwards but why not just take a break?
Sometimes when you sit and think 'Oh I must do this' you can put too much pressure on yourself and take they joy and passion out of it, if you don't worry about it for a while you may suddenly one day go 'You know what I'd like to take some pictures today' and start seeing inspirations in things.
By all means leave a Camera in your bag or car but don't have the mindset of I must use it and you may find soon enough it'll be in your hand just photographing a passing moment that caught your eye.
Sometimes when you sit and think 'Oh I must do this' you can put too much pressure on yourself and take they joy and passion out of it, if you don't worry about it for a while you may suddenly one day go 'You know what I'd like to take some pictures today' and start seeing inspirations in things.
By all means leave a Camera in your bag or car but don't have the mindset of I must use it and you may find soon enough it'll be in your hand just photographing a passing moment that caught your eye.
