Something is missing...

[theboyfold]

I'm on the hunt for a little advice. I love photography and when I picked it up about 14 years ago I was always out and about shooting away and had loads of inspiration. However, now that inspiration seems to have dried up and I'm oddly not (and this might not be the right word) confident with my camera. I feel like I have lost my way.

I used to really enjoy taking long exposure stuff at night and trying to capture what I thought of as things that the eye can't see. Whilst I still enjoy that I'm looking for something a little different, and the only word to describe what I would like to try and capture is 'candid'. There is some really nice stuff here (I'm aware of that fact that it's been shot on a Leica 0.95 Noctilux!) where mundane and everyday street scenes become suddenly very interesting.

So does anybody have any advice as to where I can find this inspiration that I seem to be missing? How do you come up with ideas as to what to photograph?

Also in terms of my kit, a friend of mine lent me his Canon 5D Mk1 with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM as I have been looking to change my camera. One thing I loved about this setup was the 'warmth' of the photos it produced, something that seems to be missing from mine.

At the moment I have a Nikon D80, with a 18-135mm, a 50mm 1.8f and a 28mm 2.8f, but the difference in the quality of the lens was really telling today and it's left me thinking should I ditch the D80 in favour of a 5D or learn what I'm doing first?!

Sorry about the long rambling post, but I'm a little lost and could do with some advice on how to get the enjoyment back into my photography.

[-Pete-]

I don't think there's anything wrong with your equipment, although I tend to use a 28-75 f2.8 for almost everything these days. Nikon vs Canon doesn't really come into it, they're both very good.

I think it's more of a technique/confidence thing, why not fit your 50mm lens and go out to take photos of people?

[theboyfold]

I think it is mostly down to confidence, trying to think of somewhere busy to go tomorrow with the OH (Who is more than handy with a camera) to have a play...

[andy-xr]

I had that a year or so ago, and I put it down to subject matter. For me, it's a hobby, so if you're not enjoying it, why do it. Hills and bridges bored the arse off me and I was only shooting them because they were there and it didnt need much involvement.

I could never really get the hang of motorsport photography so I had a think about what I actually wanted my photos to look like. Last year I mainly shot portraits. I also had some tuition because I never really knew (and still dont in some cases) what I was doing with light, how it could be controlled and put into a photograph. I also like expressions so that makes me want to shoot more, find new things, experiment.

I'd never done any portraits before, and in a lot of cases my compositions are still really simple and straightforward. I'm probably not a photographer, more a camera owner who takes pictures every weekend, but I like the learning experience.

This years plan is to get the frames a bit more complex. I've also bought a film camera (2 actually). Sharpens the mind as to what you really want to shoot when it's costing you per click. Still wander around a power station etc every so often, and shoot other things, but trying to focus on one area that I really like has helped me enormously. As has having mates who share that interest. That the bds are much better at it than me also helps

ETA - this guy added me on Flickr last week and I've been rustling through his stuff recently. Same equiment as what you've got

Edited by andy-xr on Sunday 7th February 08:27

[Simpo Two]

theboyfold said:

Canon 5D Mk1 with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L

Nikon D80, with a 18-135mm

One thing I loved about this setup was the 'warmth' of the photos it produced

should I ditch the D80 in favour of a 5D or learn what I'm doing first?!

Lenses aside, it would be cheaper to try to define 'warmth' and see if it's a processing issue. Do you shoot JPG or RAW?

[sidaorb]

Keep with what you have, its a good set up. The main thing is get inspired, maybe consider a 'workshop', I have a friend who runs a few in North Wales, or have a look at one of the photography forums and see if there are any local 'meets' planned.

I know EPZ members are looking at doing something around the Bucks/Hertfordshire area soon, these meets are normally very good.

[theboyfold]

Simpo Two said:

theboyfold said:

Canon 5D Mk1 with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L

Nikon D80, with a 18-135mm

One thing I loved about this setup was the 'warmth' of the photos it produced

should I ditch the D80 in favour of a 5D or learn what I'm doing first?!

Lenses aside, it would be cheaper to try to define 'warmth' and see if it's a processing issue. Do you shoot JPG or RAW?

I'll try and get one of the snaps I took yesterday to show you what I mean.

I always shoot RAW + Basic JPG (for previewing), as much as I understand Photoshop I'm never 100% to get the results I would like to see, again I think down the lack of 'direction'

sidaorb said:

Keep with what you have, its a good set up. The main thing is get inspired, maybe consider a 'workshop', I have a friend who runs a few in North Wales, or have a look at one of the photography forums and see if there are any local 'meets' planned.

I know EPZ members are looking at doing something around the Bucks/Hertfordshire area soon, these meets are normally very good.

What forums can you suggest? I'm having a little look around EPZ at the moment, what are the other big ones?

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 7th February 10:42

[sidaorb]

I'm probably a little bias about EPZ as I'm one of the Moderators on there, but its free to join (although there is a paid upgrade with benefits), has a very active forum, good galleries and very helpful critique teams, not to mention monthly comps and other stuff too. I've learnt alot in the 4 years I've been on there.

[olimeads]

Get on flikr and do a load of searches until you have foud something that makes you want to get out and shoot

Edited by olimeads on Sunday 7th February 12:02

[racing green]

For me equipmment and processing is less of an issue (I've only got old Pentax kit!), its more about what you do with it that counts. Why shoot stuff you're not interested in? You obviously have an interset in cars, what else interests you? What are you passionate about because sometimes you need that passion to ignite your imagination and fire up enthusiasm. For me its cars and gardens/plants/nature. One is my hobby, the other is my work and career. I can't be doing with studio shots or architectural photography and the mrs would be narky if I shot girls. Projects are always good fun - set a goal and push yourself even if your not enthused. Bear in mind that it is Winter as well and light levels aren't great, maybe you have a photographic version of SADS? Good luck and look outward, not inward. Mark

[Major Bloodnok]

Changing your kit isn't going to help. It sounds to me as you're just lacking inspiration or direction. Try looking at the work of some pro photographers - it doesn't matter if you like or hate their work at first, look at it, decide what you like or don't like. Read about their motivation, what they're trying to say with their images. Find out what they use, how they do it, why they do it and try to emulate them. You'll be building up your knowledge and experimenting with different styles. In time, you may even come to like some of those you originally hated. And through all this, you'll be developing your own style.

Try the 10/10 challenge: go for a walk (randomly); every 10 minutes, stop and photograph something within 10 metres of where you are. Repeat until tired. This will encourage you to look at things that maybe you would have ignored in the past and shake of the burden of only looking for the 'photogenic' - there's an image to be taken almost anywhere.

Here's a quick list of photographers to look at, off the top of my head:

Eugene Atget
Man Ray
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Walker Evans
Jacques-Henri Lartigue
Edward Burtynsky
Anton Corbijn
Bill Brandt
Uta Barth
Andreas Gursky
Chris Jordan
Andy Hughes
Philip-Lorca diCorsia
Edward Weston
Irving Penn
Josef Sudek
Peter Fraser
Martin Parr
Lewis Baltz
Dan Holdsworth
Arnold Newman

Loads of styles there; some you'll like, some you'll hate, some you might be intrigued by. You can learn something from and be inspired by all of them, though.

[Simpo Two]

Well it seems as if there are two things here - one artistic and one technical.

I can't help you be more artistic, but I took your original post to mean that if you took the identical shot with both systems, one gave a 'warmer' look (which you prefer) image to the other. 'Warmer' to me means white balance, but maybe you're trying to describe something else. Can't do more without pix.

[theboyfold]

Cheers for the continued feedback, I'll have a look through the photographers listed and chase my mate for the photo I'm talking about.

Also going to try the 10 in 10 challenge, that sounds like the sort of thing I need to do.

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 7th February 22:10

[Chicken Pox]

theboyfold said:

Cheers for the continued feedback, I'll have a look through the photographers listed and chase my mate for the photo I'm talking about.

Also going to try the 10 in 10 challenge, that sounds like the sort of thing I need to do.

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 7th February 22:10

part of the reason I did the One photo a Day Challenge (thread in this section that got the idea from) http://www.flickr.com/photos/16388901@N02/sets/721...
, although that 10 in 10 sounds like a good idea too hope you find your mojo

[itsnotarace]

Simpo Two said:

Well it seems as if there are two things here - one artistic and one technical.

I can't help you be more artistic, but I took your original post to mean that if you took the identical shot with both systems, one gave a 'warmer' look (which you prefer) image to the other. 'Warmer' to me means white balance, but maybe you're trying to describe something else. Can't do more without pix.

Could be white balance but to be honest I find the colours that Canon's produce to be slightly warmer at default settings than Nikon's, perhaps this is what the OP is describing.

IIRC the menu structure for the D80 is the same as the D200, so I'll list my default settings to see if that helps:

Shooting Menu: Optimise Image > Custom

Image Sharpening : Auto
Tone Compensation : 0
Colour Mode : III
Saturation: Enhanced
Hue Adjustment : 0

Also set colour space to sRGB if it's set to AdobeRGB

White Balance is left on auto for outdoors and I use a grey card indoors

What looks good to my eyes may not look good to yours so experiment and see what works best for you. Perhaps try the Vivid settings and see how you get on.

[Major Bloodnok]

theboyfold said:

Cheers for the continued feedback, I'll have a look through the photographers listed and chase my mate for the photo I'm talking about.

Also going to try the 10 in 10 challenge, that sounds like the sort of thing I need to do.

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 7th February 22:10

I did a 5-5 walk yesterday (like a 10-10, but you walk for 5 minutes and take a photo within 5 metres, because I didn't have time for 10 minute gaps). The set is here. There should have been 12 images, but the first two are missing because I buggered up loading the 'Blad...

[theboyfold]

Major Bloodnok said:

theboyfold said:

Cheers for the continued feedback, I'll have a look through the photographers listed and chase my mate for the photo I'm talking about.

Also going to try the 10 in 10 challenge, that sounds like the sort of thing I need to do.

Edited by theboyfold on Sunday 7th February 22:10

I did a 5-5 walk yesterday (like a 10-10, but you walk for 5 minutes and take a photo within 5 metres, because I didn't have time for 10 minute gaps). The set is here. There should have been 12 images, but the first two are missing because I buggered up loading the 'Blad...

I'm thinking of doing a 2/10 just see what happens.

itsnotarace said:

Useful stuff

I think you've understood me here, I'll have a play with the settings once I'm back with the camera.

Chicken Pox said:

part of the reason I did the One photo a Day Challenge (thread in this section that got the idea from) http://www.flickr.com/photos/16388901@N02/sets/721...
, although that 10 in 10 sounds like a good idea too hope you find your mojo

I started a 365 in 365, but failed! I'm going to restart it soon. I notice you have a little person at home, that must provide loads of inspiration!

Edited by theboyfold on Monday 8th February 17:20

[Chicken Pox]

Chicken Pox said:

part of the reason I did the One photo a Day Challenge (thread in this section that got the idea from) http://www.flickr.com/photos/16388901@N02/sets/721...
, although that 10 in 10 sounds like a good idea too hope you find your mojo

theboyfold said:

I started a 365 in 365, but failed! I'm going to restart it soon. I notice you have a little person at home, that must provide loads of inspiration!

Two little persons so plenty of "sports portraits", but early doors in the 365 decided without kid pics where possible* or if I can find a detail to pick out. Don't be too hard on yourself, I'm finding 365 tough going and if you're not enjoying it there really isn't any point, finding carrying a compact for commute/work days quite liberating too.

• well the mrs doesn't like me putting up our kids photos online *sigh*

[theboyfold]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I was in Paris yesterday for a meeting and took an hour before catching my flight to wander around and snap away. So I thought I'd post the results here, they are all straight from the camera. Any CC would be welcome

[andy-xr]

I'll be the bd then. Doesnt tell me anything about you taking a trip from or too anywhere interesting.

Show you know what you're doing with a camera, well lit photos, technically good. But where's the theme? The cute hottie? The hustle, the general feel and mood of the place?

Also, you're shooting down a lot. Try changing your vantage point

And have a look at this site: http://1x.com/

Edited by andy-xr on Saturday 13th February 07:56