Losing interest

[Dr Jekyll]

I'm relatively new to digital cameras, still using film until about 5 years ago. But lately I've found that I'll take pictures of some interesting scene, then get home and find I can't be bothered to load them into the PC. I can see roughly how good they are from the screen on the camera, and if I really want to see something on my laptop screen I can always find an image through Google. So I end up not bothering to load them up, then not bothering to take pictures in the first place.

It's partly just not having prints to look at I think, a print felt like a tangible souvenir. The cycle of waiting for them to be processed, being initially disappointed because the images didn't have the impact you'd imagined, then realizing some were actually quite decent and knowing how to improve next time was much of the fun. Obviously I can get prints of digital images but it seems a bit artificial and pointless.

Has anyone else found this?

[covboy]

Join a Club like I did. Regular competitions - both prints and digital images - gets abit of enthusiasm back.

[Dan_1981]

I went through it, I now go out less but when I do I make it a little more special - nice location, ensuring the weather is going to be suitable etc.

And finally - get things printed - no use having 20k digital images on your pc thats turned off most of the time.

I love coming home and seeing my stuff hung on the walls.

[Simpo Two]

I bought a digital compact in 2003 and a DSLR in 2004, and suddenly realised that I'd taken my last frame of film. So my experience was exactly the opposite to the OPs. The pack of prints, which I had been perfectly happy with before, was now the end of the process, fixed, immutable things that right or wrong couldn't be changed. All you could do was look at them and put them back. But a digital image was not an end point but a start point. Suddenly I could get far better results by touching up exposure, or cropping, or cloning out little bits. I became much more critical, much more aware of colour/light/shadow, and learned to see in tones. After 30 years of taking packs of 6x4 prints, digital opened up whole new avenues of learning, creativity and provided an extra career.

Dr Jekyll said:

But lately I've found that I'll take pictures of some interesting scene, then get home and find I can't be bothered to load them into the PC. I can see roughly how good they are from the screen on the camera, and if I really want to see something on my laptop screen I can always find an image through Google. So I end up not bothering to load them up, then not bothering to take pictures in the first place.

If you want a photo of the Taj Mahal I'd agree, but are your personal/family memories on Google Images?

[GetCarter]

O/P

I assume you haven't got Adobe Lightroom. it's a free 30 day trial. Download it. Then watch a few Youtubes as to how to use it.

I spent 10 years in darkrooms, and Lightroom is even more fun (stop sniggering at the back)

As for printing, I make books these days with online printers.. an even better way of viewing prints.

[Kermit power]

Dan_1981 said:

And finally - get things printed - no use having 20k digital images on your pc thats turned off most of the time.

I love coming home and seeing my stuff hung on the walls.

Absolutely this for me. I've taken thousands of shots on DSLR, but it's the dozen or so that I've got hanging on the walls as A1 canvas box prints that inspire me to go out and take more.

Even when I add in the cost of the stretcher bars and the electric stapler for mounting them, it's also a really cheap way to cover the walls, which is an added incentive!

[Lucas CAV]

Simpo Two said:

I bought a digital compact in 2003 and a DSLR in 2004, and suddenly realised that I'd taken my last frame of film. So my experience was exactly the opposite to the OPs. The pack of prints, which I had been perfectly happy with before, was now the end of the process, fixed, immutable things that right or wrong couldn't be changed. All you could do was look at them and put them back. But a digital image was not an end point but a start point. Suddenly I could get far better results by touching up exposure, or cropping, or cloning out little bits. I became much more critical, much more aware of colour/light/shadow, and learned to see in tones. After 30 years of taking packs of 6x4 prints, digital opened up whole new avenues of learning, creativity and provided an extra career.

Dr Jekyll said:

But lately I've found that I'll take pictures of some interesting scene, then get home and find I can't be bothered to load them into the PC. I can see roughly how good they are from the screen on the camera, and if I really want to see something on my laptop screen I can always find an image through Google. So I end up not bothering to load them up, then not bothering to take pictures in the first place.

If you want a photo of the Taj Mahal I'd agree, but are your personal/family memories on Google Images?

Absolutely this.

I don't miss film one bit -

I enjoy the editing process as much as actually taking the picture.

[FidoGoRetroGo]

Learn something new. This year I learned about photographing the Milky Way and then light painting the foreground. Off to Glastonbury Tor soon to see what I can achieve with this new knowledge.

(Might not be much, light pollution from the twin will be quite compromising I think)

Having said that there is something exciting about heading out on a moonless night with a clear sky knowing that a great picture awaits.

[checkmate91]

Or heading out to the Blue Mountains after a Sydney business trip on a glorious sunny day to find my images were atmosphere-hazy then discovering the clarity slider - hurrah! Blue Mountains were there after all!

[countzero]

I fought hard to stay analog but the amount of times someone has stepped in front of me at a car show when I am taking a photo convinced me digital was the way to go - no more wasted exposures - just delete and move on. Being able to rescue images using software is also a bonus or simply having several different versions of the same image.

Like most have said if you miss the prints, get a decent printer or use an online service - printer ink is hideously expensive

[covboy]

Slightly OT but how many people remember Victor Blackman, the Express (I think) photographer who did a column in Amateur Photographer. I remember when digital was in it's (very) early stages and he'd seen an example "It'll never catch on- Grain as big as golfballs" was his comment. Wonder where he'd stand now ?

[Dr Jekyll]

covboy said:

Slightly OT but how many people remember Victor Blackman, the Express (I think) photographer who did a column in Amateur Photographer. I remember when digital was in it's (very) early stages and he'd seen an example "It'll never catch on- Grain as big as golfballs" was his comment. Wonder where he'd stand now ?

I distinctly remember VB predicting the rise of the digital camera back in the early 80s. His view was that video cameras stored images electronically so why on earth couldn't still cameras. That sounds more like a comment on a specific early digital camera than on the concept.

[andy-xr]

Send them to Snapfish and wait a few days, then look through?

TBH, when I had a lull, it was because I was taking photos for the sake of taking photos, rather than being interested in what I was shooting. Changed my aims, happy again.

[Arif110]

I'm conscious that the Original Poster may well not be checking in on this thread, but the subject hit home, I've experienced the same, and my reply may help others.

My backstory is coming from 35mm for landscape, going to compact digital for family-snaps (all 35mm gear stowed and forgotten), returned to 35mm film for some landscape stuff and family snaps (realised that for me, digital records may as well not even exist, given that I don't have the time or patience for multiple layers of backup and regular rotation to new hard drives) - and also losing interest in photography. I went down the route of family snaps on 35mm to also force me to use and interact with all of my fantastic gear (Canon EOS 1V, L-lenses, etc).

So what I suggest is two things that are now beginning to work for me:

1) Macro photography. This is the equivalent for me of moving from mountain biking (always need to go to a specific place, looking for quite specific circumstances), to road cycling - a myriad of options right on your doorstep. Now one thing I've always found a bit off-putting is that 99% of people who hear of or think of 'macrophotography' - think of insects!! I personally find these amazing in term of technique, but not overly imaginative. Instead however, I find myself inspired by and seeking to learn from those who can see the extraordinary in the ordinary - e.g. finding a rusty nail in a shed door, or right inside a raindrop, or somesuch. For the first time in a long time, it's occurred to me that a whole new world of photography has opened up to me. Also, having learned some key lessons from before - I'm not going down the route of tripod/focusing rail - instead will go for things well-lit naturally, and using an image-stabilised lens - this will help remove those mental obstacles we create for ourselves sometimes, leading to not even bothering with the mission in the first place (mountain-biking syndrome again - attaching it to the car - versus simply cycling out of your doorstep/garage).

You could go for a 20-minute walk in the woods - and find a plethora of things to photograph from the macro standpoint - whereas said walk may only have yielded two or three 'landscape' shots.

2) Use your large-screen telly as your display-system!! It seems everybody and their dog has a large telly in their house - or a few! Just load your favourite pics up and run them as slow slideshows. It will serve as a screensaver - and will also mean you and others get to experience your work. Just watch the reaction when guests come around!!


Good luck - and maybe use this thread also to report back on enthusiasm once-waning, waxing again - and how you did it!


Arif

[Dr Jekyll]

Interesting idea.

I remember once someone suggested that if you are walking around a strange town and can't see anything worth photographing just try looking at one street, if that doesn't work one building. I think there's something in that.

[rich888]

And for a source of inspiration take a look at the 'macro photo thread' on PH which is truly awe inspiring: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

EDIT: Oops, should have replied to the post made by Arif110

[muppetdave]

Dr Jekyll said:

Interesting idea.

I remember once someone suggested that if you are walking around a strange town and can't see anything worth photographing just try looking at one street, if that doesn't work one building. I think there's something in that.

A couple of times I went for a walk of undetermined length around my local town. Every five minutes (or whatever you choose), I *had* to take a photo within a couple of feet of where I was. Made it quite good fun. I also limited myself at Le Mans to only using my nifty fifty and 'not allowed' to take my usual million photos of cars going through the same corner. Made it really fun and more challenging.