Just for discussion on a cold winter morn:

... I see some people take photos of Civil War reenactments and have no interest in them what so ever. (I am also flummoxed why people want to take photos of people depicting men being killed in battle. I saw quite a lot of violence in my career and want no more of it.)

No one dies - It is make believe, play pretend, and generally safer than polo. Those participating enjoy it at least as much at you do photography. If you can't make the distinction...on, well.

Your subject is an interesting one. I moved to a new area of town in July, just 15 short minutes from the previous neighborhood I lived in for the last 15 yrs, and I am having a VERY difficult time finding my mojo. Previously, I had a place I would go just 3 min. drive from my house, where I was in nature, could gaze upon a reservoir, see boaters, fishermen, kayakers in one swipe on occasion. Just 5 min. away, a small "uptown" area where I could always position myself on a corner or in a coffee shop window near the street, or just walk up and down the streets and have a target rich environment.
In my new neighborhood, there is NO uptown, and no similar place to go, to get my inspiration to go shooting each time. It seems the only places to shoot people is in the parking lots of grocery stores, big box stores and the like around here, which is disconcerting. I have already on SEVERAL occasions driven in up to a 20 mile radius in areas that are not my previous neighborhood, in an attempt to find new things to shoot and have so far been thwarted.
Because I love to shoot so much however, I will not stop, because I know I will find something and be able to create some personal projects. In fact, I think I see it now... is that it, my mojo coming down the street? I think it is! ....gotta go, I am picking up my Nikon D-750 and gonna shoot!

Well Thats the Wonderful thing about Photigraphy ?one can Follow ones own vision passion drives and Desires ! If everyone Liked The same things ? Art food and The world would Be Boring !!! I photograh whatever catches my eye ? Or i find Intersting , Be it birds ? , wildlife , Buildings, Insects, landscape ? Who says you have too limit yourself ? Look at the Art & Field of Photography as A Deluxe ,Buffet with All the Best and tastiest Gournet Dishes ever ? Why Go there and Just Eat baked potatoes!!! Shoot what you Are interested in Passionate about , or what Talks to you in the Metaphorical sense of The Word! If you're not Constrained By a Client's desires ! Your doing your own photography the only limit is yourself- don't limit yourself !!!

The Civil War, DEC 7th, 9/11, all fall into the group “Lest We Forget”. How we remember depends on the individual, but is not the same for all. Some may be too close to the subject matter, but that does not negate the subject for all.
That being said, I enjoy almost all types & subjects of photography. Some believe that a portrait must be done with a 5 box-light setup. Anything else is just a snapshot. I am not of that opinion. While in the Philippines, a restaurant owner asked me to photograph 2 traveling street vendors. Later, he told me that 1 of the girls liked her photo so much that she cried! I think we all want reactions like that.
The only problems I have with excursions are the numbers I have to compete with for a position & the lack of an original angle.
I have attended Show Clubs that had photo nights, & have enjoyed the experience and the results. (Some are in the NSFW Forum.)
My final word would be is to try them all, & go with what you like.

We got maybe 2 inches of snow last night with maybe another 1-inch coming this weekend. For a change, Chicago is not in the path of this weekend's weather events. If the light gets better, I might walk over with B&W film for some shots at the nearest three cemeteries. There's no 'planning' in that idea other than what focal length and which film in the fridge to put on the counter for an hour before I go.

That sums up almost exactly my style and approach. I plan to go someplace of interest to me, decide which limited amount of equipment to bring, and then head out to see what I can find. The last few years, I've tried to limit myself to just one lens, two max if I have predetermined reasons why I need both.

Every trip out the door with a camera is a "dedicated photo excursion". But again, with no more planning than the approach above.

I once had a neighbor whose only travel was on photographic trips led by a so-called expert. She came back with some great pictures but couldn't get a good one in her own back yard. Without the instructor telling her where to aim the camera and what settings to use, she couldn't come up with a worthy shot. In the process she never experienced the places she went to. You could ask her about the people, culture, and history of the places she visited, and she'd be unable to tell you anything. In other words, her photography got in the way of her travel. On the other hand, I've experienced some wonderful places, and I have lots of pictures that have documented those travels. Do I have a lot that I can display on my walls? I have a few, but more importantly, I have memories, knowledge, and better understanding of people, places, history, and culture.

Just for discussion on a cold winter morn:

Like many, I assume, I became more interested in photography when I retired. To start that journey, I went on led photo events where either instruction was provided or someone led a small group to interesting photo sites. (Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Prague) My photo club has outings where members meet and take photographs at local places. But every time I went on one of those outings, I realized I had no interest in doing so and no interest in displaying the photos. I got some great shots of star trails, iconic shots of Yosemite and actions shots of people (and horses) playing polo. I see some people take photos of Civil War reenactments and have no interest in them what so ever. (I am also flummoxed why people want to take photos of people depicting men being killed in battle. I saw quite a lot of violence in my career and want no more of it.)

So, my style has evolved to where I take my camera and catch as catch can, seeing in the moment what I find interesting and doing the best I can to make some sort of art. In group settings, it is fun to get photographs that people admire and subjects they did not even see. I still get decent shots once in a while, but not nearly as many good ones. Of course, this works well because we travel quite a bit. It is more fun and challenging for me. The only pre-planned photos I take are portraits of family. And just wonder how it is for you.

Happy shooting

In the South there is a traditional Sunday afternoon activity called “going for a ride”. As a child, I hated it unless the local Dairy Queen was somehow part of “the ride”. My idea of a ride was spending the afternoon with my horse. Going for a ride is simply getting in the car and driving around on back roads to see what you can see. Now I’m one of the “0ld” people and I have completely changed my tune and am happily carrying on the Sunday ride tradition of my ancestors. I always take my camera in case I see something interesting…and I almost always do. Sometimes if you just go for a ride, not looking for something, you might actually see what’s there.

Just for discussion on a cold winter morn:

Like many, I assume, I became more interested in photography when I retired. To start that journey, I went on led photo events where either instruction was provided or someone led a small group to interesting photo sites. (Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Prague) My photo club has outings where members meet and take photographs at local places. But every time I went on one of those outings, I realized I had no interest in doing so and no interest in displaying the photos. I got some great shots of star trails, iconic shots of Yosemite and actions shots of people (and horses) playing polo. I see some people take photos of Civil War reenactments and have no interest in them what so ever. (I am also flummoxed why people want to take photos of people depicting men being killed in battle. I saw quite a lot of violence in my career and want no more of it.)

So, my style has evolved to where I take my camera and catch as catch can, seeing in the moment what I find interesting and doing the best I can to make some sort of art. In group settings, it is fun to get photographs that people admire and subjects they did not even see. I still get decent shots once in a while, but not nearly as many good ones. Of course, this works well because we travel quite a bit. It is more fun and challenging for me. The only pre-planned photos I take are portraits of family. And just wonder how it is for you.

Happy shooting