The more I learn, the less I shoot.

[waday]

Im with you! I hate taking time away from DH. He always says hell watch the kids so I can do stuff, but I feel way too guilty every time.

My wife says the same thing, "go ahead and do your thing", but I feel so bad! One of her main hobbies is knitting, so she knits while we talk/watch a movie/etc. I feel guilty for having to leave in order to take pictures. Every now and then I do get away either on my own or with her, so at least we can spend the time together.

 

[Buckster]

There's a quote I once read by a government agent who worked on counterfeit money crimes. He said, in effect, that he never studies counterfeits. He only studies the real thing, and that way, the counterfeits jump right out at him.

In a way, it can be that way for people who develop an artist's eye. As we look around us, what we normally see can seem rather mundane to us. There's a sameness about it to our eyes that can be completely underwhelming - like the agent's "real thing".

But it's also because we keenly recognize that rather homogeneous nature of our surroundings due to the fact that we're really looking at it, that we also have the ability to see the extraordinary suddenly and without warning jump out at us, just like when the counterfeit agent spots a fake.

It is at that moment that we reach for that camera and capture it.

You simply can't do that if you don't have your camera with you.

You might've heard this one somewhere along the way: "F/8 and be there".

I would add: With a camera within reach.

“Of course it’s all luck.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

I would add: But only if you have your camera in reach.

I like to keep my camera within reach. I never know what I might see while driving down the road on the way to the store:

Don't give up. Keep your camera within reach.

You don't always have to find inspiration. Let it find you instead for a change.

 

[pgriz]

@JustJazzie : Yup, I get your OP. My priorities in terms of photography are: Family, work, friends, household duties, and then hobbies (of which photography is only one of several). When my daughter was getting married this winter, I did not take a single photo, because being the father-of-the-bride was more important (ie, present, interacting, being there) than taking images. But then, when I go to dinner with my wife, I leave the phone(and camera) in the car, because the point of going out to dinner with her is to spend time with her, undivided and without distractions.

As for image-making, it does take a certain amount of work to get all the components to come together. That's fine. If it doesn't happen, I already know what the end result will be, and then the thought is that perhaps this time it's in the practice category - try something different just to make it into a learning opportunity. Image-making for me is like fishing - being out there fishing is the real benefit, actually catching a fish is a bonus.

 

[MSnowy]

This is what I immediately thought of.

Of course when we get our first camera we are just so excited to shoot and shoot. And as our equipment evolves, as our knowledge, we realize we don't need to spray and pray anymore. We carefully select our subjects and wait for the prime moment to capture it.

I agree with your quote completely. I just spent 8 days in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and took less then 800 pictures. I believe if I had taken this trip 3 years ago I would haven been a lot closer 8000. Quality not quantity is what it's all about.

 

[astroNikon]

Jazzie,
I feel your pain.
I've just ended soccer season in which a lot of my time was devoted to my kids and soccer.
I changed my photography to allow short times available. Essentially to aircraft (i'm in the mix of 4 airports) and local small birds (I set up feeders around).

I was getting into portraiture last summer but priorities threw that out the window plus I started hating my background (I really prefer seamless paper but have no way of storing it). But I've shifted and it's kinda fun, and keeps my interest in it. Of course there's also astrophotography but the weather around here (clouds at night) makes it hard, and it directly competes with SLEEP !!

I was going to go on a real hiking trip (haven't in ages) but my hip acted up a couple weeks ago which puts that trip in doubt. ie, Pennsylvania mountains. So maybe just more local state park stuff now.

The camera will still be there and with your higher standards as Derrel has mentioned you'll love it again once the opportunity shows itself.

I have other hobbies too, but at times I wish I brought my camera.

 

[Fred Berg]

@Fred Berg I DO see your point. However, that assumes that I am considering most everything on TPF an amazing shot. I am at a place where I know I can take a "good photo" but I am still underwhelmed. My inner turmoil stems from the realization that "good" has become boring. Ive got a good analogy, but its surly inappropriate for a public forum. ;-)

Then maybe you need to leave your comfort zone to find some new inspiration. My on-going thread Occasional Street Stuff Photography Forum is what I am doing to freshen up a bit.

 

[minicoop1985]

The better you get, the higher your expectations. I found this to be absolutely true. Every now and then you need to take some time and take some snapshots. Just take some pictures not for art, but for the sole purpose of taking photos. Don't have high hopes or expectations that these are going to be award winners-just have fun with it!

 

[robbins.photo]

Ok, so paper plates and plastic silverware. Dishes problem solved. As for the kids, find a nice family of wolves, preferably some that actually live in a barn. Two birds, one stone, etc

And finally of course, keep shooting. My best shots are usually not planned but rather just happen when they happen

 

[BillM]

Try putting the camera away for a week and forget about photography, it's kind of like hitting the reset button. Then just go enjoy it again.

 

[JustJazzie]

There's a quote I once read by a government agent who worked on counterfeit money crimes. He said, in effect, that he never studies counterfeits. He only studies the real thing, and that way, the counterfeits jump right out at him.

In a way, it can be that way for people who develop an artist's eye. As we look around us, what we normally see can seem rather mundane to us. There's a sameness about it to our eyes that can be completely underwhelming - like the agent's "real thing".

But it's also because we keenly recognize that rather homogeneous nature of our surroundings due to the fact that we're really looking at it, that we also have the ability to see the extraordinary suddenly and without warning jump out at us, just like when the counterfeit agent spots a fake.

It is at that moment that we reach for that camera and capture it.

You simply can't do that if you don't have your camera with you.

You might've heard this one somewhere along the way: "F/8 and be there".

I would add: With a camera within reach.

“Of course it’s all luck.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

I would add: But only if you have your camera in reach.

I like to keep my camera within reach. I never know what I might see while driving down the road on the way to the store:

Don't give up. Keep your camera within reach.

You don't always have to find inspiration. Let it find you instead for a change.

Fantastic shot, Buckster! Yes, my very best shots have "found me" but Ive never been a terribly patient soul. I suppose I should work on that.

@JustJazzie : Yup, I get your OP. My priorities in terms of photography are: Family, work, friends, household duties, and then hobbies (of which photography is only one of several). When my daughter was getting married this winter, I did not take a single photo, because being the father-of-the-bride was more important (ie, present, interacting, being there) than taking images. But then, when I go to dinner with my wife, I leave the phone(and camera) in the car, because the point of going out to dinner with her is to spend time with her, undivided and without distractions.

As for image-making, it does take a certain amount of work to get all the components to come together. That's fine. If it doesn't happen, I already know what the end result will be, and then the thought is that perhaps this time it's in the practice category - try something different just to make it into a learning opportunity. Image-making for me is like fishing - being out there fishing is the real benefit, actually catching a fish is a bonus.

This is what I immediately thought of.

Of course when we get our first camera we are just so excited to shoot and shoot. And as our equipment evolves, as our knowledge, we realize we don't need to spray and pray anymore. We carefully select our subjects and wait for the prime moment to capture it.

I agree with your quote completely. I just spent 8 days in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and took less then 800 pictures. I believe if I had taken this trip 3 years ago I would haven been a lot closer 8000. Quality not quantity is what it's all about.

I feel you! I went to SC for almost 3 weeks in april, and took less than 200. Most of those were snapshots of the kids. Went on a "date night" with DH and left the camera behind. There was a SPECTACULAR sunset. it was super cloudy and the entire beach/sky lit up in an eerie smokey orange. :-(

Jazzie,
I feel your pain.
I've just ended soccer season in which a lot of my time was devoted to my kids and soccer.
I changed my photography to allow short times available. Essentially to aircraft (i'm in the mix of 4 airports) and local small birds (I set up feeders around).

I was getting into portraiture last summer but priorities threw that out the window plus I started hating my background (I really prefer seamless paper but have no way of storing it). But I've shifted and it's kinda fun, and keeps my interest in it. Of course there's also astrophotography but the weather around here (clouds at night) makes it hard, and it directly competes with SLEEP !!

I was going to go on a real hiking trip (haven't in ages) but my hip acted up a couple weeks ago which puts that trip in doubt. ie, Pennsylvania mountains. So maybe just more local state park stuff now.

The camera will still be there and with your higher standards as Derrel has mentioned you'll love it again once the opportunity shows itself.

I have other hobbies too, but at times I wish I brought my camera.

Other hobbies? I do have those. But only because Ive run out of things to photograph.

Ok, so paper plates and plastic silverware. Dishes problem solved. As for the kids, find a nice family of wolves, preferably some that actually live in a barn. Two birds, one stone, etc

And finally of course, keep shooting. My best shots are usually not planned but rather just happen when they happen

Woah there! I just made DH invest in fancy dishes for me. I couldn't possibly switch to paper plates now! But if I ditched the kids, I would have half the dishes..... I haven't seen many wolves around here. We have bears, coyotes, deer and elk....will any of those do??

 

[f2bthere]

Raised by wolves has been done to death. Raised by elk sounds good....

Are the kids old enough to be involved in photo projects? Seems like a great tool for home schooling.

Document projects, create art, document experiments, create scenes from books and plays... Once the kids are into image creation, you will have tons of fun stuff to do and show Dad, too, so he can have some participation in what he missed.

 

[JustJazzie]

Raised by wolves has been done to death. Raised by elk sounds good....

Are the kids old enough to be involved in photo projects? Seems like a great tool for home schooling.

Document projects, create art, document experiments, create scenes from books and plays... Once the kids are into image creation, you will have tons of fun stuff to do and show Dad, too, so he can have some participation in what he missed.

They are still pretty young. Their interest lasts a whole 5 minuets. I'm hoping that changes as time ticks on!

 

[dennybeall]

KIDS - You just have to start them young. (see logo to the left....)

 

[OrionsByte]

I've hit a similar slump recently for similar reasons. When I just had one kid, getting the camera out and getting artsy was still fairly easy, but once #2 and #3 came along (within a year of each other!) life got a little more interesting.

I'm also similarly backed in to the "box" of "this is what all has to be in place to take a good photo" that so many on this thread have pointed out is a very limiting attitude. I love shooting with a couple speedlights set up and trying to figure out what light mods to use, where to position everything to get the effect I want, and all that, but when it gets in the way of taking photos simply because I don't want to (or more likely don't have time to) go to all that "trouble", well it might be time for an attitude change.

The other day I was looking for a specific photo of mine that I had taken years ago for a friend to use on her son's school project. I found it and resisted the urge to go a couple rounds in Lightroom before giving it to her, but then an interesting thing happened... the process of finding that photo led me to some of my other older photos that I hadn't looked at in quite some time. Some of them that I remember thinking were good at the time looked just horrible to me today, but there were also a lot of them that I appreciated more than I think I used to. And many of those photos were taken without the lengthy setup and planning process that I tend to subject myself to nowadays.

It made me decide that I need to get back to getting the camera out for fun more often, not with the intention of landing "the perfect shot", but just to keep in practice, and just to perhaps chance upon a shot that a decade from now I'll look back on and say, ya know, that's oddly compelling...

 

[The_Traveler]

Focus:

Like a professional athlete, I think the best work is done when one focuses on one specific subject.
Forget shooting everything.
It takes waaaaay too much concentration to get the most out of the one thing you can do - and then thinking about some others avenues also, nope doesn't work for me.

I don't shoot birds, landscapes, Nature; all that not for me.

If I'm lucky my hit rate is 1 or 2 decent photos if I shoot for an entire morning.
I shoot best away from home, so I go into NYC or into Baltimore and I try new areas, trying to work those places.

I'm lucky in that I've settled on what I like and know how to go about it.
Figure out what you can do and how you can find the time and space - and then do it.
It's no good deciding you want to be a street photographer but you live out in the country and you have 7 or 8 kids shackled to your ankles.

Find what you can do that you like to do.
Don't worry about success, worry about doing it well.