oceanarrow

Hi,been shooting and enjoying photography over 45 years.I am finding excuses for not bringing my beloved camera with me lately.just got back from FDRs library and home,upstate N.Y.Figured it has been photographed extensivly,you can google it and there it is.what am I going to do,that has not been done.thinking about that wherever I go.I like to keep it fresh,but after looking at so many beautiful pictures since Google,it all looks stale.nothing impresses me anymore.is it just me,or maybe a dull time of year in the northeast.I want new,different,something that has not been done to the point that it is boring.have any of you felt this way? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

Have you considered using a different lens - fisheye or macro perhaps? They give you a different viewpoint.

oceanarrow

When I travel I take 18-200 lens.I do see the merit in what you said,though.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I shoot photos to document where I've been and who I've been with. I look at them as a history of our lives that we can pass down to our children.
The photos we take represent "our time" and when my descendants want to look into my life, hopefully I have documented it well enough for them to understand what we've experienced.

Just my thoughts...

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

In todays world where non-artistic, unskilled, welfare recipients can buy high IQ gear
off the shelf at Walmart, on credit, and burst shoot their way into images that go viral;
it is easy to just throw your hands up in disgust
It sometimes seems as though all you can do is dial up auto, hold the button down
and prey for the fickle hand of serendipity to appear.

oceanarrow

Good point.yes I do that with our children and grandkids.I do enjoy that very much.I guess I am always looking for that exceptional shot,that seems played out.juat another example,We went to Hawk mountain,PA.when I got to the top,every camera and lens imagionable was there.That is where this train of thought started for me.then,of course I'm there with great equipment and someone standing next to me pulls out a phone and,snap,there done.I feel a little Overdressed. "

GaryI Loc: NY & Fla

Fine Art Photography is all about your interpretation of a scene. Try from that perspective.

oceanarrow

I think you touched a nerve there,regarding anyone can take this incredible cameras and just hit auto and hope for the best.I have seen this with wedding " photographers " .I love photography,but feel it has been dumbed down to the point that every one is a photographer and who cares about quality.I am published and care about what I shoot.I guess that's my problem.New to this site and love to read about different topics.
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speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

When I'm out (on a hike, walk,etc.) I always enjoy what I see, nature is just so beautiful, it always excites me, even the smallest things, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to take-in all these beauties. When ever I start taking a picture of it, it never enters my mind, if that has been done before, or how many times someone else has done the same thing, frankly, I don't care. To be able to take a unique, beautiful picture, it does not has to be new. Just look for angles/views that please you, don't just take a shot, work your subject, walk around it to see it from many different spots and just enjoy (mostly for yourself, disregarding thoughts about what others did or would do). Get the spark back!

oceanarrow

Thanks so much for that.the replies helped me greatly.time for a reboot.Love to hear from other photographers.And thank you for your perspective.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

First of all, taking a striking picture with any kind of camera by most amateurs is a rare occurrence. You have to take a lot of duds to get one gem.

Second, the comment about unskilled welfare recipients buying expensive gear on credit and having their pics go viral, was quite stupid. Nothing goes viral unless it is striking, and if it is done by a welfare recipient, what does that have to do with anything?

Third, photography needs to be done for yourself. If you get some likes on facebook, that's encouraging. But unless your livlihood depends on it and you are a pro, don't expect to win any prizes or compete with magazine covers.

Fourth, anything your eyes can see can be a photograph. For me, the fun of the hobby is learning how to capture ordinary things in a
way that gets me some facebook likes and complements. That involves experimenting with variations in lighting, depth of field, different focal lengths, different sensor sizes, different types of subjects (wildlife, flowers, objects, the moon and stars, etc.)

Finally, if you are in a slump, don't force it. Wait for that subject that is asking to be photographed, then jump back in.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Your comment is biased, bigoted and elitist. It doesn't matter where anyone gets his/her camera and the socio-economic status of the photographer is none of your business!

tdekany Loc: Oregon

May I suggest that you take your own advice and keep personal attacks out of the thread? He pays as much as you do to be on this forum, if Admin is ok with his reply so should we. AND, you can always report anyone for any reason to the Admin.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

in moderation those are good character traits to have. they help anchor ones self image.
I know spray and prey yields results but there is no law saying i have to respect the technique.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I think if you had said people instead of welfare recipients, no feathers would have been ruffled.