Dionysus - I guess we're both talking about the same thing, just worded a little differently. I've been there - I was completely bored with it all and thought I was just wasting my time. Now, I think I might actually know what I'm doing (sometimes), lol.
in any activity it comes back over and over as well, so even if you get over this, and carry on, you'll probably face it again in another few months, and again, and again, etc. You just have to evaluate it all again each and every time it happens.
Haha its funny that you mention martial arts Dionysus because I am currently a 1st dan in Taekwondo and definitely know about sticking with it. As for some of my work.
I tried nude photography...but it really made the models nervous seeing me naked like that. Seriously though...is it a matter of not enjoying the shooting, or is it that you are not getting the exact results you were hoping for? If that is the case then it will take alot longer than 3,4,5....12 months to be satisfied with your shots. Its an evolving thing, that can always be improved on. Look into what your camera can do, or different styles of photography and experiment with them for awhile. If your interest isn't renewed after that, then I really doubt it was there to begin with. Whatever you decide, at least let it be after some effort. You can't learn it all in a few months. If you move on to a new hobby, will you be mad and give up on it after a month or two if you don't have it perfected? If so then I see a long disatisfied life of "could have beens"
i'd sell the stuff and buy a decent point and shoot so you can go back to having fun with your kid or whatever you are doing, and if you want a foto then you can just reac in your pocket click on the power button, point and click - done, then back to doing what you were doing.
I'd suggest to you not to worry AT ALL about your not feeling the urge to always and at all times be out and about with the camera to take photos of just about EVERYTHING you see. I've been surrounded by cameras and the opportunity to use them for 35 years now, and have gone through long patches in which I did not feel like using any of them ever at all. And then there's an event, a nicer season with better light than this one just now, some holiday, new things for the eyes to see ... and - it is a GOOD feeling to have a decent camera around to capture it. You know, your camera is not eating any hay, nor do you have to clean up after it while it is sitting in the shelf, so why not acknowledge that just now photography is not quite so "pulling", but be prepared with it being there for the times when you feel a new "urge"?
ya thats why i know about the 3 month hump very well. I've been in martial arts for almost my whole life. the longest stretch has been chen taiji and yin bagua at 10 years. Then iaido, and shinkendo. I've seasoned throughout the years with various other arts as well like muay thai, hung gar, and aikido but not as long. point is, there will always be times where you question the time and effort you put in, regardless of the activity. like lafoto says, you dont have to have that urge to go out all the time to like photography. but i'm sure there will be moments where you wish you had a good camera, and will regret it if you sell yours. i have the opposite problem as you...i WANT to go out all the time, but with work, and two kids, i find myself never having enough time in the day.
To the OP, you're on a photo forum surrounded by obsessed photo geeks, but that doesn't mean you have to be one too. Hold on to your camera; use it when it sounds fun, leave it behind when it's not.
As stated in some earlier posts, winter sucks for taking pictures, yes there are great opportunities and you should jump on them all. But it's so discouraging when there isn't a "pretty sky" or trees with new leaves, or a nice warm sunrise to welcome you in the morning to take a picture of. But I think this is really time that should be spent trying to improve technical skills, and learning some lighting techniques. I honestly can't imagine not having my camera. It grows on you, you just gotta give it some time. Some it grows faster than others. Just keep shooting, and keep trying to fill your brain with information that is really going to be useful to you. Find something you really LOVE to shoot and focus merely on that. If you love it it wont ever get boring. Just keep it up and hopefully you'll decide that photography is right for you. Im 16 and I have a dying passion for this, and don't ever want to give it up. Good luck. -Rob
Look... if you thought buying a higher end camera would help you get women naked, photography ain't for you. That said, I've taken my share of nudes... some less... umm... artistic... than others. I've just never seen photography as a way to see naked women. Now, if you're interested in more than that, as others have pointed out, winter isn't a great time for outdoor photography... the light is watered down, even on a sunny day. You're unlikely to get "Kodachrome" type photos during this time... I think you've taken some nice images (based on what you posted here)... keep at it a while, summer will be better to you.
if you don't absolutely love it, don't push yourself into it. keep a camera around for those times when you are inspired. we all have creative days and those that you don't even want to touch the camera. for me, photography is a passion and i couldn't imagine not having that outlet.