What makes you get out and shoot?

[PJRiley]

I'm a news photographer, so I shoot every day at work. But, for my personal work, I decide on a theme (I try for once a week) and must get off my butt, pick up my M6 and get out there. I'm never sorry.
What inspires you to get off the couch and 'Go RFing'?
Mary

 

[Keith]

Quite often I'll be driven by the desire to try a new combination ... of maybe lens and film ... or perhaps trying something different in my shooting approach with a combination that takes me out of my comfort zone a little. I can always find things that interest me that I want to photograph but sometimes it's good to photograph them with a lens that wouldn't be my first choice and force myself to think a little more about the outcome I'm trying to achieve.

Often it will be a complete disaster but win or lose I always seem to learn something and gain from the experience. The joy of only having picked up a film camera seriously a couple of years ago, is that there's so much new ground for me to travel over! 🙂

great subject for a thread by the way!

 

[BillP]

There's a few things at work for me.

Firstly, I always carry a camera, most often my little IID these days. So in some regards I am an "opportunist" photographer.

Secondly, I don't have huge amounts of time thanks to the day job to really focus on photography, so when I travel, a large part of the enjoyment comes from capturing what I see, and the novelty of it.

I rarely set myself a theme, as such, but themes do seem to surface in my work from time to time - I went through a period of doors/doorways, with people silhouetted therein. It wasn't until someone else pointed it out that I realised the (subconscious) theme, and then worked to it more consciously.

Other, lesser drivers include trying out new kit, or finishing a roll of film!

Regards,

Bill

 

[RML]

I go out because I must. I shoot because I bring my camera.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

One thing that often inspires me to go take some pictures is looking at photography books. "Common Sense" by Martin Parr arrived in the mail yesterday and I instantly wanted to go take some pictures of stuff around town.

 

[tritiated]

obsession with being creative I guess
I think I could do with following themes, to focus my enthusiasm ​

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I go out every time I see somebody online talking camera bags.

 

[projectbluebird]

If I don't do something creative regularly, I start getting antsy. Short-tempered, even.
One of the reasons I like photography is that it is more immediate than many other art forms, though I still draw on occasion (my avatar for example).

I definitely carry my camera around with me almost everywhere. Lately its the IIIf and the canon 85/2. This past weekend I did something different, a day trip to a distant corner of the lake. While I was shooting, I had at least a few frames of "knowing" I had just taken a good photo.

A wonderful feeling, as good a reason as any to shoot.

 

[elude]

I live first I shoot second. I document my life and its events that's all.

 

[chris000]

On another forum I include the following quote in my signature:

The most beautiful thing under the Sun is being under the Sun - Christa Wolfe

It just about sums up my motivation, I just need to get out and the camera (or more than one!) always goes with me

 

[swoop]

The paycheck.

 

[tripod]

It's an inexplicable creative compulsion.

 

[mackigator]

Good light.

 

[PetarDima]

Because shutter sounds like heart beat 🙂 - that means that I'm still alive?

 

[Todd.Hanz]

gotta say, great idea for a thread!

for me, it's about expressing myself. looking at art and shooting stirs this passion.

Todd

 

[ibcrewin]

The film! If I have it.. I just want to burn it in pursuit of a great picture to show my wife, family, and friends.

 

[varjag]

No idea what is it, but am serious about it.

 

[shadowfox]

To take pictures that has been taken millions of times ... my way 😀

 

[Spider67]

Good Question

Good Question

- My habit to go out for 20 Minutes and return 5 hours later and have a Camera with me
- Seeing patterns of some sort in my surroundings. Like reading the motives. If that would be a bit more intense it equal madness
- the expectation to see how it all turned out

A fraction of my motivation
Thanks for asking!

 

[alan davus]

If I stay at home I feel guilty for not being outside weeding the garden or mowing the lawns, so overall it's just a whole lot more fun heading off for a hike with a camera and a couple of lenses in tow.