The "Next Level"
Discussion
I am conscious that I'm not really progressing with my photography at the moment. I seem to have hit a creative wall, if you will.
I can shoot aircraft until the cows come home (and do a reasonable job of it but it's rarely an artistic endeavour), but I'm starting to feel that anything else I shoot is no better than the previous 5 times.
I'm also constantly impressed by the output of others in this forum and sometimes wonder how a similar shot from someone else can look so much better than mine. As much as Bob gets a load of ribbing about stock, a lot of it is much better than I could manage (although I appreciate good lighting plays a part there, as well as ability). And as for some of the more lauded members...
I make no bones about the fact that I'm an enthusiastic amateur and have no formal tuition or training, and I'm certainly not fishing for compliments or am at all precious about any of the photos I've taken. So if anyone has any specific criticisms about stuff I've posted I would love to hear them.
But more than that, I'd be intrigued to learn if others have been here and done that. And what they did to move on.
For what it's worth, I suspect a lack of direction is playing a large part.
I can shoot aircraft until the cows come home (and do a reasonable job of it but it's rarely an artistic endeavour), but I'm starting to feel that anything else I shoot is no better than the previous 5 times.
I'm also constantly impressed by the output of others in this forum and sometimes wonder how a similar shot from someone else can look so much better than mine. As much as Bob gets a load of ribbing about stock, a lot of it is much better than I could manage (although I appreciate good lighting plays a part there, as well as ability). And as for some of the more lauded members...
I make no bones about the fact that I'm an enthusiastic amateur and have no formal tuition or training, and I'm certainly not fishing for compliments or am at all precious about any of the photos I've taken. So if anyone has any specific criticisms about stuff I've posted I would love to hear them.
But more than that, I'd be intrigued to learn if others have been here and done that. And what they did to move on.
For what it's worth, I suspect a lack of direction is playing a large part.
graham@reading said:
...Bob gets a load of ribbing about stock, a lot of it is much better than I could manage
You sir, are my new hero 
graham@reading said:
But more than that, I'd be intrigued to learn if others have been here and done that. And what they did to move on.
For what it's worth, I suspect a lack of direction is playing a large part.
Just take my opinion with a pinch of salt, from one enthusiast to another... For what it's worth, I suspect a lack of direction is playing a large part.
After my recent non-light-tent shots, it dawned on me. Ive only taken a few photos in several months which Im actually somewhat satisfied with. But all are flawed. Not perfect. Could be better. I can see clear as day how my food shots are no where near as good as Lou Mannas stuff, but Im not quite sure how to do much better. And reaching his level seems light years away (more likely, a certain impossibility!)
Praps the lack of direction (for both of us, or anyone) might mean we need more clearly defined goals. My burgers only improved because I had a very specific goal right from the start, ie a burger shot, but Im not sure what to focus on next, Ive had enought of burgers.
re: goals, is there anything you might especially like to get good shots of, or a renowed photographer who is an expert in the field whose work and techniques you might get inspiration from? Just a thought.
When it comes to photography, I spend 99.9% of my time trapped with no direction.
I find looking at GOOD photography helps. Search around Flickr/PBase etc for some nice stuff - there's loads out there
Barring that, buy some books I've just bought:
www.amazon.co.uk/China-Hiroji-Kubota/dp/0393022439/sr=1-2/qid=1163550813/ref=sr_1_2/203-0183775-1349554?ie=UTF8&s=books
&
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0393058433/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/203-0183775-1349554
I find looking at GOOD photography helps. Search around Flickr/PBase etc for some nice stuff - there's loads out there
Barring that, buy some books
I've just bought: www.amazon.co.uk/China-Hiroji-Kubota/dp/0393022439/sr=1-2/qid=1163550813/ref=sr_1_2/203-0183775-1349554?ie=UTF8&s=books
&
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0393058433/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/203-0183775-1349554
Post 10 of your pics from the last year . . .
I entered a camera club comp last week and had to select 10 images for that purpose . . . to be really honest I didn't really choose carefully or spend much time on it at all . . . but I found the whole experience quite interesting . . .
The competition was a knockout round kinda thing . . . which produced some interesting results, random image vs random image - what was missing was critique - why vote for one rather than the other . . . but that will come . . . there were a total of about 80+ images
Here are the 10 I chose with some comments . . . given the same chance again I'd probably pick a different 10 altogether for no real reason.
second place - much liked - I like the shapes
instantly hated - personally I like the spider on it's web on the lower rhs, but the projectors were not great and it was not obvious - whather that would have made any difference I dunno
5th place I think - again strongly liked - this was a relatively skill free shot - point clever camera with big lens at mate with tyres to burn . . . click . . . straight out of the camera with a mono conversion and slight crop - I like the series from a petrolhead POV and was surprised at all the range of people that also liked it.
strongly liked - went out in the same round as the caterham - close vote
instantly hated - I like the supersize sky and feeling of space and nice colours but I have several nicer images in a similar style which I like better.
no real reaction - lasted a couple of rounds - I think I like these because I found the landscape and enviroment very breathtaking (because I was there) - but that doesn't show on the image - same below.
no real reaction - lasted a couple of rounds
liked - again out in the second last round - I like this for the cool clouds and high colours - I think the rocks look too dull in this version - but they looked better on the projector. I'd crop it differently.
liked - but this is one of my faves - it looks baltic and it bloody well was - expect more cold pics this winter . . . I like 'em
strongly liked - again a second last round contender (this is actually a 100% crop from a 12Mpix image)
So . . . what does all this mean . . . dunno really - perhaps doing something similar could stimulate people to try something different - for me it's got me thinking more about the image - and not my memories of taking it . . . I guess . . .
Would I do another . . . perhaps . . . it's a time thing for me - I can rarely make it to the evenings never mind be organised enough to pick pics . . .
I think you can be overly critical and also overly obsessed (?) with both peer review and competition . . . fine if that's your bag . . . not sure it's healthy . . .
Doe sit make you better or get out of a rut - dunno - perhaps . . . all learning helps I think
I entered a camera club comp last week and had to select 10 images for that purpose . . . to be really honest I didn't really choose carefully or spend much time on it at all . . . but I found the whole experience quite interesting . . .
The competition was a knockout round kinda thing . . . which produced some interesting results, random image vs random image - what was missing was critique - why vote for one rather than the other . . . but that will come . . . there were a total of about 80+ images
Here are the 10 I chose with some comments . . . given the same chance again I'd probably pick a different 10 altogether for no real reason.
second place - much liked - I like the shapes
instantly hated - personally I like the spider on it's web on the lower rhs, but the projectors were not great and it was not obvious - whather that would have made any difference I dunno
5th place I think - again strongly liked - this was a relatively skill free shot - point clever camera with big lens at mate with tyres to burn . . . click . . . straight out of the camera with a mono conversion and slight crop - I like the series from a petrolhead POV and was surprised at all the range of people that also liked it.
strongly liked - went out in the same round as the caterham - close vote
instantly hated - I like the supersize sky and feeling of space and nice colours but I have several nicer images in a similar style which I like better.
no real reaction - lasted a couple of rounds - I think I like these because I found the landscape and enviroment very breathtaking (because I was there) - but that doesn't show on the image - same below.
no real reaction - lasted a couple of rounds
liked - again out in the second last round - I like this for the cool clouds and high colours - I think the rocks look too dull in this version - but they looked better on the projector. I'd crop it differently.
liked - but this is one of my faves - it looks baltic and it bloody well was - expect more cold pics this winter . . . I like 'em
strongly liked - again a second last round contender (this is actually a 100% crop from a 12Mpix image)
So . . . what does all this mean . . . dunno really - perhaps doing something similar could stimulate people to try something different - for me it's got me thinking more about the image - and not my memories of taking it . . . I guess . . .
Would I do another . . . perhaps . . . it's a time thing for me - I can rarely make it to the evenings never mind be organised enough to pick pics . . .
I think you can be overly critical and also overly obsessed (?) with both peer review and competition . . . fine if that's your bag . . . not sure it's healthy . . .
Doe sit make you better or get out of a rut - dunno - perhaps . . . all learning helps I think
Fergus
I'm intrigued... how can a photo comp be judged using a digi projector? Was it calibrated in some way?
As for your's and others' comments - it's made me realise I need to break out of the box so to speak. Just spent a week up north in Ardnamurchan and didn't come home with a single shot I was particularly happy with... weather was desperate - which is a typical holiday luck thing for us!
ho-hum.
I'm intrigued... how can a photo comp be judged using a digi projector? Was it calibrated in some way?
As for your's and others' comments - it's made me realise I need to break out of the box so to speak. Just spent a week up north in Ardnamurchan and didn't come home with a single shot I was particularly happy with... weather was desperate - which is a typical holiday luck thing for us!
ho-hum.How much spare time do you have, and is it available at regular intervals ? I recommend one of two options: if you don't mind learning slowly and picking things up as you go along in a less formal way then a local camera club/photographic society is a good idea (that's the route I took); if you want to learn quicker then try a City and Guilds evening course at your local tech - one of our club members did this and was very happy with the outcome. The two are quite different and each has their advantages, I suppose its a bit like cameras in that you choose whichever suits you best.
I agree with comment re having a surf of pbase.com - lots of stuff to get you inspired there.
Also you could try something completely different, photogrpahically speaking. Trying this might give you a different viewpoint on what you naturally prefer to photograph.
Final one is to get some good books and work your way through. After this week's discussion re the Zone System why not get somehting on that and see if you can apply it to your style of images.
Cheers
Chris
Also you could try something completely different, photogrpahically speaking. Trying this might give you a different viewpoint on what you naturally prefer to photograph.
Final one is to get some good books and work your way through. After this week's discussion re the Zone System why not get somehting on that and see if you can apply it to your style of images.
Cheers
Chris
I'm sure after a similar post by someone a couple of years back the PH photography monthly comp was born. The idea was to inspire people to go out and photograph around a particular theme. A couple of my favourite photos came from trying to think up images for the photography theme - such as:
From the competition: "Shine on you crazy diamond"
and "Water"
When it turned into a free for all opportunity to post anything from the archives I kind of lost interest, but I can appreciate that it is a great place for people to post up pics who might otherwise not bother, so I wouldn't propose changing it.
If you are looking for direction, why not join somewhere like dpchallenge.com - weekly challenges where the standard is often very very high, and because the theme is defined it forces you to photograph things you might not otherwise bother to even look at much less take a picture of.
From the competition: "Shine on you crazy diamond"
and "Water"
When it turned into a free for all opportunity to post anything from the archives I kind of lost interest, but I can appreciate that it is a great place for people to post up pics who might otherwise not bother, so I wouldn't propose changing it.
If you are looking for direction, why not join somewhere like dpchallenge.com - weekly challenges where the standard is often very very high, and because the theme is defined it forces you to photograph things you might not otherwise bother to even look at much less take a picture of.
fergusd said:
Post 10 of your pics from the last year . . .
I entered a camera club comp last week and had to select 10 images for that purpose . . . to be really honest I didn't really choose carefully or spend much time on it at all . . . but I found the whole experience quite interesting . . .
I entered a camera club comp last week and had to select 10 images for that purpose . . . to be really honest I didn't really choose carefully or spend much time on it at all . . . but I found the whole experience quite interesting . . .
how many times did you think - that judge is going to get a kicking when he leaves here lol
I hate camera club compitions they are all the same. its far too anal for my liking. the majority of people that view your pics don;t give a donkey's ass that there is 3mmm too much sky lol
Graham@Reading said:
Thanks folks, plenty to get me thinking. I'm familiar with the phenomenon of having stints where you don't use the camera, but this seems to be more than that.
I am going through a similar stage with the model photography, in that i cant be @rsed. Got asked to do something a week ago that a year ago i would have jumped at the chance of doing, but turned it down.
I think it could be something to do with the weather/time of year too.
Graham,
I am just coming out of this phase and its a tough one. I suppose the best place to start is trying to find out what has caused progress to tail off, and work from there. I couldnt find inspiration and became disenchanted with the digital medium for a number of reasons (my photoshop is poor, and I found eventually that I didnt like the 1ds2 because there was too much in the way (if that makes sense).
I have found that the new formats have really re-ignited an interest in photography. The panoramic format just feels so right to me (I am beginning to see like I'm looking through a letterbox) and I love the compositional options it opens. I am also really enjoying the challenges presented by working with the square composition.
The other big thing for me is shooting film. I love how tangible it is and having to wait to see how things have come out, not to mention the sharpness and colour. I also love the approach it requires: more thorough and considered, although I have to say at Steve's the weather was so bad I just wanted to get back in the car before everything blew away, so there was plenty of hit and hope.
To get inspired I've been buying photography books that look interesting, there are so many great photographers out there to shake you out of your lull. Also, flickr.com has some amazing photographers. If you register an account and mark those people whose photo's you like as contacts everytime they upload something new it comes up on a screen in your account, which keeps everything fresh.
You might want to try getting a ropey old slr and some film and having a crack at that for a while and see if it opens your eyes..
Matt
I am just coming out of this phase and its a tough one. I suppose the best place to start is trying to find out what has caused progress to tail off, and work from there. I couldnt find inspiration and became disenchanted with the digital medium for a number of reasons (my photoshop is poor, and I found eventually that I didnt like the 1ds2 because there was too much in the way (if that makes sense).
I have found that the new formats have really re-ignited an interest in photography. The panoramic format just feels so right to me (I am beginning to see like I'm looking through a letterbox) and I love the compositional options it opens. I am also really enjoying the challenges presented by working with the square composition.
The other big thing for me is shooting film. I love how tangible it is and having to wait to see how things have come out, not to mention the sharpness and colour. I also love the approach it requires: more thorough and considered, although I have to say at Steve's the weather was so bad I just wanted to get back in the car before everything blew away, so there was plenty of hit and hope.
To get inspired I've been buying photography books that look interesting, there are so many great photographers out there to shake you out of your lull. Also, flickr.com has some amazing photographers. If you register an account and mark those people whose photo's you like as contacts everytime they upload something new it comes up on a screen in your account, which keeps everything fresh.
You might want to try getting a ropey old slr and some film and having a crack at that for a while and see if it opens your eyes..
Matt
Been on Flickr for yonks - in fact I tagged your account earlier after you posted the film bordered Landy pic But yeah, I don't often look through random stuff on there - I tend to use it more as a personal album/storage/hosting. Hence there being so bloody many.
The book suggestion is becoming a common theme, so I'll start perusing on that front too. I have considered the film angle recently as well - I've got an old Minolta SLR kicking around somewhere that I can dig out - so I think I'll follow up on that now you've reinforced my thinking on that.
Ta
But yeah, I don't often look through random stuff on there - I tend to use it more as a personal album/storage/hosting. Hence there being so bloody many. The book suggestion is becoming a common theme, so I'll start perusing on that front too. I have considered the film angle recently as well - I've got an old Minolta SLR kicking around somewhere that I can dig out - so I think I'll follow up on that now you've reinforced my thinking on that.
Ta
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