srt101fan

What is the most difficult aspect of photography?

Seems to me there are two major parts to this:
(1) To look at or imagine a subject and understand what it is that attracts you and makes you want to create an image based on that.
(2) To then use the tools you have – camera, lenses, lighting controls, arrangement controls, background controls, etc, to create an image that photographically expresses what you see.

Maybe not everyone consciously thinks about the first one but I think it's a real challenge. And the second one, of course, has a gazillion sub-parts. I’m still trying to sort this out for myself. Any thoughts on what’s most difficult for you?

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I think I wrap both of your items into one word: composition.

For me, the challenge is not only the subject, but how to present it so that it "says" something.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

For me, the fascination with the gear, software, computers, etc. constantly gets in the way of the hardest part, which I call "creative composition".

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I'd say it's circumstantial. Sometimes it's easy to envisage a desirable result, sometimes it's difficult (i.e. elusive). Sometimes it's easy to achieve the envisaged desirable result, sometimes it's so difficult that the best you can hope for is a huge compromise.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Previsualization

It took me a while, years ago, to become competent at seeing the photograph while looking at the scene. I still work on that every day, even when I don't have a camera with me.
--Bob

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

For me, it's composition.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

For me it's ignoring all the people who tell me what they think I should be doing.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I don' find photography difficult in the least. I really don't give #1 any consideration at all, and as for #2 I just go about my shooting constantly changing my approach to all of it - I regard every time I pick up a camera to be an adventure, not a challenge. It's fun!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Well stated, Gene. I particularly like the adventure vs. challenge part of your statement.
--Bob

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID

For me it’s the gear. Your part one is no problem at all, which is what causes my part two problems to arise. My vision and curiosity push good gear to its limits and maybe beyond. So “good gear” is barely adequate, high end gear is unaffordable, and some of what I do would benefit from gear thaz just not yet available at any $$.

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Example of my gear limitations would be my latest project where I find myself using 1/100@f/3.5 at ISO 80k. Thaz dim conditions. My subjects have depth and motion, so 1/250@f/9 really looked much better but the noise at ISO 400k (or even 200k) was waaaaaaay too awful. I’d also like to get the MP up into the teens or twenties. Even 40+ would not be wasted.

Sooooo, the armchair experts can keep parroting “better gear won’t make better pictures” while all repeating their bogus Adams quote about the “12 inches behind the camera”. If your gear isn’t limiting you then that “12 inches behind the camera” isn’t really toadally energized.

So, again, I’m at part two. An unfettered no hey problemo take on part one pushes me into the part two group.

User ID

Daring to offer a suggestion ... you shouldn’t simply ignore them. Much better that you should pillory them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Haha. They still doing that?

Suggestion?
If they say "I ... ..."; "Consider ..."; "You could ...", no problem.

But if they say "You should get/use ..."; "... is/are better than ..."; "... is the best/worst." ... , well then.....
Since there are so many "experts" here.
Some actually ARE though, and I do value their opinion.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Fighting GAS attacks.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I finally got a hand on that!