Subjects to shoot - help?
Discussion
I really enjoy macro photography and living subjects. I went to South Africa a year ago, and spent hours chasing after things in peoples back gardens. A praying mantis, some kind of yellow beetle (little chap had a great taste in colour 
), peacocks, dragonflies, a spider bigger than my hand 
an interesting multicoloured cactus; I got so close to the baboon below I could have pulled his tail. I clambered down and lay on my stomach on those rocks with the penguins, was within 1-2 feet of their faces, and had to zoom out to get a full frame photo. It was great!
I only have a lowly Canon G5
The shutter bug has got me again, and Im thinking about upgrading to a 30D (whatever is announced in Feb) or praps a 5D. But I just cant think of anything or anywhere to shoot.
The last time I took my camera out to shoot in the UK, I ended up trapsing off the main path going deeper into the forest and couldnt really find any interesting subjects at all. A few shabby cobwebs, but not much else. What inspires everyone here to grab a camera and head out the door? I dont even own a dog which I could use as a subject.
I prefer spending a lot of time with one subject and hopefully coming away with one single photo which I'll keep, rather than taking a larger quantity of average pics. My best pics are average anyway
but they are not going to improve unless I can find some in inspiring subjects to photograph.
), peacocks, dragonflies, a spider bigger than my hand an interesting multicoloured cactus; I got so close to the baboon below I could have pulled his tail. I clambered down and lay on my stomach on those rocks with the penguins, was within 1-2 feet of their faces, and had to zoom out to get a full frame photo. It was great! I only have a lowly Canon G5
The shutter bug has got me again, and Im thinking about upgrading to a 30D (whatever is announced in Feb) or praps a 5D. But I just cant think of anything or anywhere to shoot. The last time I took my camera out to shoot in the UK, I ended up trapsing off the main path going deeper into the forest and couldnt really find any interesting subjects at all. A few shabby cobwebs, but not much else. What inspires everyone here to grab a camera and head out the door? I dont even own a dog which I could use as a subject.
I prefer spending a lot of time with one subject and hopefully coming away with one single photo which I'll keep, rather than taking a larger quantity of average pics. My best pics are average anyway
but they are not going to improve unless I can find some in inspiring subjects to photograph.
simpo two said:Nice pics!
Flowers are always good subjects for macro:
Is this your gallery? www.autograph.uk.com/bloke/gallery.htm
simpo two said:All hail simpo
Is this your gallery? www.autograph.uk.com/bloke/gallery.htm
Might be
Im feeling inspired aleady. Nice work!
Andy Mac said:Yup, inspiration definitely helps.
Some fantastic piccies in there Simpo... It gives us novices something to aspire to anyway, even if it's one of those impossible goals!
Reading dpreview, it seems quite a few people find inspirational subjects at their local zoo which
The same goes for butterfly centres - its just a shame ours closed down in recent years.
Mrs Fish said:
I just take my camera wherever I go, some of my best phtotos are happy accidents. Such as these
Wow! I have a long looong way to go before I start taking accidents like yours
Fantastic photos!!
Show me more 
Diddyman has some stunning photos, proper exotica, its very colourful underwater, admitedly he has to travel to get his underwater shots though. The trouble is, 70% of the time in the UK, I cant find subjects like the ones in your photos which are summertime shots.
V6GTO said:Erm.. he's in that profile pic of mine, but nowhere else?
Bob...I see you're in Sussex, what about a trip to the beach?
Martin.
PS - does Clarkson follow you everwhere?
I live a few minutes walk from the beach, but the sun sets the other side of beachy head so there are no glorious sunsets to be had, its just a sea of grey, no waves, no colours, and not very exciting really.
Im quite the optimist arnt I?
>> Edited by UKBob on Monday 6th February 10:53
UKBob said:
V6GTO said:
Bob...I see you're in Sussex, what about a trip to the beach?
I live a few minutes walk from the beach, but the sun sets the other side of beachy head so there are no glorious sunsets to be had, its just a sea of grey, no waves, no colours, and not very exciting really.
Rob, you're right about the grey...
.... but, if you like landscapes you are spoilt down there. The cliffs, lighthouse, pier, bandstand, the Long Man of Wilmington, Alfriston, the Downs etc. Might not get any sunsets but how about a nice shot of the lighthouse from the beach at sunrise? A dawn walk along the beach at this time of the year... nice and bracing
.Bacardi said:Sod off, its cold out there
.... but, if you like landscapes you are spoilt down there. The cliffs, lighthouse, pier, bandstand, the Long Man of Wilmington, Alfriston, the Downs etc. Might not get any sunsets but how about a nice shot of the lighthouse from the beach at sunrise? A dawn walk along the beach at this time of the year... nice and bracing
Im trying to hide behind my excuse that I prefer macro photography or living subjects 
Stunning photos!! Im inspired enough to consider giving black and white landscape photography a go. (Its a sacrilige though. I'll bet even the ghost of ansel adams frowns B&W in this age of colour and multicoloured peppers ) I just cant wait till after MPA (or whatever its called) so I can upgrade to a proper camera
edited to add exclamation marks
>> Edited by UKBob on Monday 6th February 16:11
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