canon Lee

Here is my perspective from a business standpoint; I have never taken photos for the pure excitement and creative experience. I started photography as a career. It took many years to learn. I work in studios as well as locations. Photography has always been about making money and excelling in my craft. When I do a shoot it is like going to work, & fortunately I love my work and the company I created. I only wish I had the desire to go out on my own and take a walk on a beach or forest and just take photos for the pure love and excitement of it all. I can't say that the excitement has gone, but is indeed a good feeling to serve my clients and make them happy. I don't think that type of excitement will ever go away.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Perhaps you should give yourself a different challenge. Table top or studio photography where you can tinker with the lighting and the 'set'. Setting up the shot being important rather than post processing. You can keep deleting the wrong shots until you get it exactly right in camera.Try tethering so that you have a live and instant view of what you are changing/adding etc One challenge - one shot! rather than hours at the computer. Look at Macro of inanimate objects. Still Life, Patterns. People...if they will sit long enough.

I've just had 18 months without photography. Moved house, had a computer die, got rid of Windows and started using Linux. Perhaps like you, fed up with trying to make better using PP. This year I am going to devote much more time to getting ONE shot rather than many, Taking much more time with composition and lighting and simplifying what happens after the shot.

I hope you find your MOJO
Have fun

canon Lee

canon Lee

canon Lee

Obeone... Just a suggestion, have you ever considered taking on a client, & satisfying their needs with your skills? When you are shooting for someone else it takes on a whole different level of excitement.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Obe, I hate to say it, but you sound a bit depressed to me.
When people are out-shooting you, or even coming close with a phone, the problem is NOT the camera!
To me, capturing with film is exactly the same as digital. NOTHING is different. The difference is what you do once the film has been developed, and you're gonna digitize it. From that point on you will be the same old tired technician and you're right back into photoshop, so the end results are exactly the same. Unless you break out the enlarger, what's different?!?!
If somebody out-shoots me with a phone, it has got nothing to do with the gear...., believe me.
I'm gonna suggest you reinvent yourself. Go to school and get yourself retrained. Maybe get a set of lights and take up portraits. Start shooting products until you are so good people will buy them to hang on their walls. Shoot some Models, nothing more exhilarating than working with the most beautiful women on this planet!! You want a new drug, that's it!
We can't help you re-excite yourself, only you can do that. Many ways to skin the cat of life that don't even involve a camera, find it!! Good luck. ;-)
SS

canon Lee

It would be a shame for you to abandon all of the skills you have acquired. Perhaps it is time to find another outlet for your photography, like working for a magazine or news outlet. If you travel, why not start compiling a file of photos and start your own coffee table book. I know a photographer that travels and love to eat out, and has acquired quite a travel log of restaurants. I suggested that he approach the owners and publish a write up as well as photos for their web. Then there is the retirement homes where you can photograph families loved ones, bring along a pet of some type. Approach realtors, because frankly they could be more successful with better photos than they publish. May be you have outgrown what you have been shooting and need a new direction to get excited about.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Don't be swayed.

Digital and Film aren't the same; even the end result isn't the same. The experience certainly isn't the same that's for sure.

Some folks get a charge out of digital shooting, some don't, some do both, some don't.

Do what you like, have fun. And by all means...please post your shots...I'd love to see them.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Good for you, but don't give up. I never stopped shooting film (doing both) and I really like both, film and digital (film sure has waaay better image quality, but digital sure is more convenient! I too shoot with the 5D (MII & M III), with film, I use the EOS1v HS and a Pentax 645nII, as well as shooting movie (occasionally).

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I think everybody has covered this, and I think the OP expressed it best himself. It's the challenge and what motivates each of us.

Although I don't use film much these days, I've always enjoyed the developing and darkroom process, the smell of the chemicals and so on. It's like a Harry Potter potions class. I enjoy my old film cameras, and although I don't use them much just picking up my old AE-1 or T90 has a visceral buzz to it. They handle so well.

I get a lot of enjoyment out of using old manual focus lenses on modern digital camera bodies. I like the process of creating an image that I want to print, frame and hang on the wall. The route it took to get on the wall doesn't matter.

I like to get a good result or eat a good meal. I also enjoy the process of creation. Images, cooking, when the orchids bloom or whatever. Perhaps that is the issue here, the challenge of creating the right result and how to engage with that process.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Funny you should mention "challenge".
I'm all about film also, but for me it's only for special film projects, not about the "experience" but about the look!
What I find a bit comical about you're wanting to go back to "film basics and slow down and compose", is that you choose to do it with a Canon 1V!! :lol:
That camera is one of the most sophisticated professional tools ever made, even by digital standards. The 1V is my film DREAM camera! I shoot film with a 1n.

The Only thing that camera lacks is the chimp screen!! :lol:

I guess that to me, film is not about recording in film, but about using the real skills to wet print!!

But this is not about whether you are a purist if not, it's about you getting excited again, and to that end, do whatever gets you there!!!! Again...., good luck. ;-)
SS

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

I am not surprised that thrill is gone. Usually some sort of depression comes as a result of wrong expectations. A lot people here pay way too much attention to the equipment, buying high end cameras like 5DMIII or D810. Nothing wrong with that, if you want it and comfortable with the price-buy it and enjoy using it. But don’t expect to become better photographer. If I can’t take interesting photos with my D5100 very likely my photos with D810 will be just as boring, poor composition and so on.
We worry too much about technical aspects of the photo, like more details in the shadows, less noise at high ISO and yes, these things are better with better cameras, but it still does not improve my photography. Technically my photos are better but photography is not just about that. The challenge to lift more details in the shadows will keep me excited only for a while.
I think photography starts with idea, vision in your head and then you worry about technical stuff, the tool you need to fulfill your idea. But when things like sharpness, ISO IS the idea-you’ll lose the thrill.
obeone, you have an excellent camera, use it and enjoy it, but try to look at the whole idea of photography differently; maybe it will help to bring some thrill back.

obeone

I'd like that, will keep it in mind. My ability to travel is limited, as my wife has a serious illness; maybe some day ---

obeone

Thanks. The 1N is a great camera. I remeber when it came out and then the 1V. I could only drool. I never thought I'd own either one, let alone the 1V. It was and is the ultimate in film cameras. But, it's not about the equipment, I also bought a Rebel Xs. I just feel natural to put an 'L' series lens on a $10 camera.
Will the 1V make me a better film photographer? NO! But, it will allow me to explore all my creative options.
Thanks, for your comments.

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

EXCELLENT!

In a way it reminds me of another hobby I have -- racing sailboats. I've been doing since around 5 years old with my dad. So that would be some 68 years. I am a very good sailor - not the best, but who is? Anyway, I am at least smart enough to know that not a day on the water goes by that I still don't learn something new. To put it another way, I continually amaze myself at some of the stupid tactics I create or mistakes that I make.