Stuck In A Hole - How to find enjoyment in actually taking photos?

[brothernature]

I could never ignite my love for Photography by using a Sony, nor ignite my love for driving by driving a Hyundai Sonata.

A lot of us here are fortunate to be able to choose to not use a Sony, or whatever the equivalent of driving a Hyundai Sonata is.

The point that I'm getting at is that if your passion for photography is so great—the actual act of taking, printing, and looking at photographs—then whatever tool you have will be good enough to use to express the creative impulse inside of you, and if done passionately and with dedication, that can no doubt lead to something great and worth doing.

I’d particularly love to see the part where Yo-Yo Ma explains why he ditched his 1712 Stradivarius Cello in favor of a Synthesizer…

I don't understand the bitterness or why you seem to think I'm taking a jab at you or something. I'm simply stating that there is a spectrum where on one end all the care and obsession goes into the output and on the other the obsession goes into the object used to make the thing. My guess is that at a certain point if you skew too far to the object end the likelihood of making something boring and rote with that object is high.

30k darkroom prints? That's cool. A good silver gelatin print is a beautiful object. But a boring photograph, even if printed well on silver paper, is a boring photograph.

Look at Jeff Mermelstein. Made outstanding and interesting work with a Leica. Then made extremely interesting work with an iPhone in his book #nyc.

 

[Ororaro]

Me bitter? Not really.

I understand I’m not the right person to have a “the camera doesnt matter” kind of conversation with, though…

 

[jja]

I suggest you EDIT and PRINT work you have already produced. If you choose to do this in 100% analog or hybrid or 100% digital process, that's up to you.

In my own personal experience, I tend to take plenty of photos, but don't spend enough time really editing my work (and by "edit" I also mean culling the mediocre photos and cataloging/organizing the best work). I think you can find inspiration for future work based on the good work you have already done but that perhaps you need to revisit and reflect upon in the context of your overall photographic journey.

 

[Bill Clark]

What’s happening in here? Of course the camera most definitely matters.

I get it, in a post-apocaliptic world you’d see me walking naked, or using water bottles as shoes and someone else’s scalp on my head in guise of a hat. But in our present world, things are not as primal and basic.

This is why for a Tinder date you will wear your best clothes, and for a hobby to be successful, you want the most suitable object of desire to fit your need and personality.

I could never ignite my love for Photography by using a Sony, nor ignite my love for driving by driving a Hyundai Sonata.

Let’s get real for a moment, please, guys…

Really?

Doesn’t matter to me.

 

[Archiver]

My advice would be to document your everyday life! You've made life changes, it sounds like you and your girlfriend are on a trajectory, so be intentional about all of that and document it faithfully, and I think you'll fan the spark of photographic creativity.

There are some good examples of photographers of the everyday right here on this site, @Shab and @dourbalistar are a couple who come to mind, who create wonderful work out of their domestic lives, they're as good an inspiration as any I've seen for this kind of work.

Add @SimonSawSunlight to the list of RFFers who are very capable everyday documentarians.

There are a few clues in your initial post about what excites you in photography:

"I had been going to london fashion week to take photos since I was 16 so used to go every quarter - I even managed to somehow get in when I had absoloutely no buisness being there! I shot a lot of portraits, intresting people and also spent a lot of time in the live metal venues shooting gigs. Its honestly hard not to find something to shoot in london and I would bring my camera with me every single time that I left the house."

"However whilst working on that feature film I was handed an F6 and an unlimited supply of film and told to take BTS so when I wasnt scanning in the dailies I was shooting - and it was a relief feeling actual genuine satisfaction and fufillment again. I had 2 C41 minilabs on site and my Frontier SP2000 and was churning out the quality of work again I hadnt seen in ages!"

From this, it appears that you have thrived on interesting subjects, variety, and quality. It would be fruitful to explore what you deem to be high standards and quality, and consider how to bring that into the situations you encounter today, and what situations you can create.

It also appears that your photographic journey so far has been mostly with film. Have you considered a digital path? That's the equivalent of unlimited rolls, dev, and scanning on the best scanners. Perhaps find a decent digital camera that inspires you to shoot with it, and discover a look that you like.

I shot a lot of film in the mid 2000s until I got a Sigma DP1 which gave me a look that gave a look similar to slide film. Then I got a DSLR which allowed unlimited experimentation. Eventually, I found cameras that I could comfortably take with me every day, and life is full of photography. Everything from the most mundane arrangement of fruit in a supermarket, to portraits of family and friends, the way light plays on building as the sun sets, everything is available to be captured.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I was fortunate.

Discovered a person who was my mentor and coach.

Recommend you do the same.

It’s not about gear.

It’s about posing, lighting and composition and connection with your subject if you’re making photographs of people. And a few other ingredients are necessary in order to be happy and successful.

Yes, a mentor/coach at the beginning of one's photographic journey is a wonderful thing.

Back in the '80s there was a guy where I worked that was an incredible photographer. He wasn't a very popular guy at work, he thought he was smarter than everyone and his people skills were lacking. But, if you got him on the subject of photography he was a completely different person. Anyway, after I'd get a roll of film developed I'd take the prints to him and we'd go over them one by one and he'd frankly and honestly critique them. He'd explain how compositions could have been better, he'd point out things in the pictures that I hadn't even noticed, he'd ask me question like "where is my point of view" and what do I want other people to think about when viewing my images?

I learned a lot from him. After a visit with him I'd feel energized and motivated. It's hard (IMO) to get frank and honest critiquing on the internet. Nothing beats a face-to-face session with the right person.

“When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready... The teacher will Disappear.”
― Tao Te Ching

All the best,
Mike

 

[Bill Clark]

Thank you Mike..

 

[rfaspen]

Jake, you're lucky to have a kindred spirit in your girlfriend. I did find that helpful with my photo adventures in life....she's now my wife 🙂

 

[CMur12]

Well, while it isn't about equipment, per se, when I try to recapture the wonder of my early days in photography, I choose a camera and lens similar to the ones I had then. It serves as a tangible anchor to that experience.

- Murray

 

[JeffS7444]

Inspiration for me comes and goes, and sometimes I just muddle through the fallow periods, or distract myself with new toys (sometimes actual toys). I like checking out novels by authors I've never heard of before, of genres I may not know, music which didn't exist during my formative years, and movies in languages I'm not fluent in, with storylines outside of my own experience. And true, some stuff I simply don't "get" (is it bad, or is it me not understanding it?) But sometimes, I experience amazement, as if I'm glimpsing an unfamiliar reality.

And sometimes I get a kick out of creating photos which may be technically bad, but which resonate with me on an emotional level.

I've also had odd thoughts bouncing around in my consciousness (ouch) for awhile, like wondering what sort of are-bure-boke results I might get, using my usual hi tech wonder camera with it's nano-coated optics, in color, and without resorting to a lot of Photoshoppery.

 

[brothernature]

I can use any imaging device and come up with a winning photograph.

I think great photography is often very closely aligned with humility.

I am not the regular hobbyist you are mistaking me with… a simplistic take on the subject doesn’t work with me.

I don't see it as a simplistic take, only one that places the importance on the end result of the photograph, not on the process.

Has anyone ever loved a photograph because it was made with a specific camera or process? Like I said, a silver gelatin print is a beautiful thing, but would I love Winogrand's World Fair photograph equally if it only ever existed as an inkjet print? Yes.

To get back to the original topic, as someone else mentioned, "reinventing" your approach to photography by purchasing new gear only lasts for so long in terms of holding your interest. It sounds like finding a subject you are truly interested in, or a place in the world you love to be, would be a better, longer lasting, spark.

 

[Jake Mongey]

Lord, just going through these responses from the last few days, theres been some really insightful things here. The point of this post wasnt really about gear, just how to deal with the changes of life dislodging my previous passion and getting back into it.

However Im easy either way film or digital, its more finding the motivation and joy. Looking at all of this, the fact that ive come far enough to realise this and ask for advice is a good step. I dont think its realistic that I am going to have picked everything up before the new year. However my plan is to buy some film in the new year and keep it in the car, my rover will be on the road in jan and that will likely lead me to explore more places and take more pictures.

I think its time to hang around here and although I wont likely contribute much talking to all of you will help me keep it going, should I find that itch to keep going on film I can set up processing - I have an ATL2500 stripped to pieces in the shed alongside a spare frontier from my lab days that can keep me busy and help with the cost. But thats not really the point.

I am definately a technically minded person and that has transferred into my photographic interest, Im definatly more of a problem solver than a through and through artist - both make art in the end but start at different points! Im going to try to take all of this on board, take it easy and just see where it leads me, hopefully I will be chatting with more of you around here in the coming months!

 

[mdarnton]

Chet Baker, who personally I like better than Miles, hardly even owned a trumpet, constantly losing them to pawn shops to pay for drugs. Often he used whatever he could borrow and for a while he used a common student horn . . . and it didn't matter a bit. He was a musician, not a jewelry collector

 

[boojum]

My personal recommendation, according to what I understand from you, is that you are a craftsman more than a simple button pusher.

Therefore, film is for you.

I’d definitely start all over with only one Rolleiflex, the ultimate camera for slow, contemplative and poetic photography, and darkroom work.

The whole philosophy of film + Rolleiflex will open doors to a world of unique imagery and away from the digital, the fast, the worthless visual pollution that 35mm cameras tend to provide in larger quantities.

As a sidenote, nothing beats the rolleiflex for documenting the family and kids. Years of piled up square 4x4 prints is an unmatchable testament of life.
And no, digital can never match this.

The Rolleiflex is a magical device that keeps on giving and giving.

This is fatuous. If it were true we would all be slaves to our gear and our output would vary with gear. But a good shooter will get good results with whatever is used. Obvious exceptions would be a wet plate 8x10 for sports action or similar. It would mean that if I went out and bought an expensive camera my work would be significantly better. The same for everybody. If someone needs a Rollei to contemplate their shots they are like Dumbo thinking the feather makes it possible for him to fly.

 

[Jake Mongey]

This is fatuous. If it were true we would all be slaves to our gear and our output would vary with gear. But a good shooter will get good results with whatever is used. Obvious exceptions would be a wet plate 8x10 for sports action or similar. It would mean that if I went out and bought an expensive camera my work would be significantly better. The same for everybody. If someone needs a Rollei to contemplate their shots they are like Dumbo thinking the feather makes it possible for him to fly.

Honestly both of you are completely correct, I enjoy the technical side and the darkroom is still magic for me, the process is amazing and I enjoy pushing the boundaries. But also where I am now gear really doesnt matter - believe me the one part of my brain that is still active is to do with gear and I spent all day thinking of converting various film processors to do odd and wonderful things.

I have a nikon F2 and Olympus Pen EP3 - both work and I love both but what I am really looking for is help in inspiring myself to get back into the creative side and how to switch that urge to photograph and to be inspired by others work again. Ive owned a hasselblad and used to repair and upgrade rolleiflexes as a hobby/ payday loan when I ran out of money at university. I can assure you the camera at this stage is not really a concern!

I just want to find myself actually shooting again and being inspired, the technical side of how I get there afterwards and during is well sorted in my slightly autistic brain!

 

[Ororaro]

Please go on guys, trying to convince me that the gear is unimportant.

 

[Jake Mongey]

Please go on guys, trying to convince me that the gear is unimportant.

Gear is important, especially for me and in how Iike to work, but for the issues I am facing gear doesnt matter if Im not motivated to take photos. I have all the gear needed for film and digital regardless of which way I go, but right now I need inspiration and to get my head straight enough that I am actually taking photos and enjoying it.

i LOVE gear, I love working on ancient and unreliable machines and my heart lies with darkroom printing, but I am unlikely to set up my gear and I really am well sorted in both analogue and digital thanks to my previous efforts in previous ventures unless I actually have a desire to shoot. To an extent if i were to set up a killer darkroom I would most likely shoot more, but its not worth the money and time if I am not inspired to shoot and still feel stuck in a rut. I want to feel the passion again for actually making work, I have all the gear but the feelings behind it are lacking despite this

I really wish this hadnt have gone this way as I really do resonate with both sides here, its just not really helpful to my current situation as this is the one area where I will have no problem at all in sorting.

 

[JeffS7444]

I’ve printed over 30,000 darkroom prints during the pandemic. Yeah, north of thirty thousand

😗 Wow! Even at my most productive, I was never cranking out 27+ darkroom prints per day, let alone every day for 3 years. The cost of the paper alone could easily exceed 7000 USD even with quantity discounts applied. I might have ramped up my production by using resin coated paper and making only minimal adjustments, but even then, even, I'd have felt proud to have gotten 100 really good prints in that time.

 

[Keith]

One of the things that has been apparent for as long as I have been at RFF (and I was a severe victim of it myself) is the assumption that you can re-ignite the flame with a camera acquisition! To a point you can as everything new in life has a honeymoon period but eventually you find yourself back in that same lull contemplating your navel once again and not taking photographs. It's a slippery slope that I decided to get off a long time ago ... I have a few basic cameras and lenses these days and that's it. If I don't want to take photos it's not the gear that's the problem ... it's me! 😕

 

[Jake Mongey]

One of the things that has been apparent for as long as I have been at RFF (and I was a severe victim of it myself) is the assumption that you can re-ignite the flame with a camera acquisition! To a point you can as everything new in life has a honeymoon period but eventually you find yourself back in that same lull contemplating your naval once again and not taking photographs. It's a slippery slope that I decided to get off a long time ago ... have a few basic cameras and lenses these days and that's it. If I don't want to take photos it's not the gear that's the problem ... it's me! 😕

Hi Keith,

I wholeheartedly agree here, trying to balance other newfound interests and huge life changes, Just want to find a way to get back into my original love in life! I have a massively technical mind which continues going, but its the creative urge and enthuiasm thats missing. I want to make work again and feel inspired. Find the passion that used to absoloutely devour all of my thoughts.