Do you go LOOKING for photo opportunities?

[losfp]

... or more to the point... What is it that you do to indulge your photography habit? Apart from buying gear of course

- Wake up early and trek around to spots that feature great scenery or photo ops?
- Go out of your way to go to events where photos can be had?

I ask because I usually find that I don't have a lot of opportunities to take photos. At the moment I'm working a bit interstate, and when I am back home in Sydney, I only get home from work at 7pm, so not much time there either. On weekends, it can be a chore to find time in amongst shopping and the normal social/family obligations.

Many's a time where most of my photo ops are social gatherings in a candid situation, with wary and unwilling subjects.. Or at home, with a wary, unwilling, and ocassionally openly hostile subject.

How do you get into portraiture? As mentioned, most of my portraits are in a social situation, where I have no idea about posing models etc. It's mostly just snapping and capturing the moment.

I guess for landscape, scenery, city etc type shots, I just need to get off my arse and GO look for opportunities instead of sitting indoors and watching foxtel all weekend

This weekend, we are planning to go up to the Blue Mountains for a day and go on one of the walks, or maybe jenolan caves.. That can be a start!

[darb]

i find roadtrips, travel, sport, skiing, camping, 4wd'ing etc etc all provide for good opportunities for photos.

if i havent been away in a few weeks, theres usually some dust on my camera. (instead of gravel dust, mud, sand, snow, sweat.)

[LostDingo]

...
I guess for landscape, scenery, city etc type shots, I just need to get off my arse and GO look for opportunities instead of sitting indoors and watching foxtel all weekend

hmmm....that could have damaging effects on photographic opportunities

[Alpha_7]

This weekend, we are planning to go up to the Blue Mountains for a day and go on one of the walks, or maybe jenolan caves.. That can be a start!

Sounds like a good start.

What I do : Take my camera everywhere I can possibly bring it along with me, that way if a opportunity arises I have the gear to take the shot.
Tried to keep the camera handy in the car, I don't drive yet so its easy for me to keep it either in my hand or on the backseat. While it's not ideal to shoot from a moving car, I have gotten some interesting shots of various things you drive past.

For a while I was really bogged down at work, so had few opportunities to take shots (during daylight atleast). You really need to make the effort to check out events, go for bush walks, take a day trip, or a weekend away to somewhere you haven't been, or somewhere you love going but keep the camera in your mind when visiting these places.

If you are at home, there are still potentially interesting things you can do, makeshift studio, random household items in interesting composition, etc etc

Portraits are harder, I think I can relate to family member being sick, tired, or just not interested in posing or having their portraits taken, I haven't come up with a good solution to overcome this, but I found a few good chances are at the cricket with mates, or at parties. Given enough alcohol, a lot of people lose their inhibitions about cameras, its worked for me on more then one occasion.

[darb]

yeah non landscape shots you really need to be involved in situations where people are on social display. Ie, parties, weddings, events whatever ... only bother with portraits of girls / ladies when theyre done up, and smiling. (else they will want to kill you) and always make sure its flattering else they'll hide the next time.

good point about the old social lubricant alpha ... if theres going to be alcohol and its early in the night, put the camera away until everyones "lubricated" ... but well before that changes from a metaphorical sense ! (unless R rated is your desired effect!) Be confident and assertive but not pushy. (even though youre thinking to yourself that you quite possibly look like a dork)

Else the good old kids pics can be opportunity, but i think that kinda bores the pants of others.

[blacknstormy]

We're kind of lucky, we spend most of our time out and about doing fauna surveys - so running around the bush looking for animals/insects and getting to some pretty bloody nice spots .... even an idiot like me can get some half decent shots. But, I also spend my 'off' time running around looking for more stuff to shoot, or wander around the backyard- it's amazing what is around you under your nose.

It's just a matter of looking at things a slightly different way. I spose I'm also lucky as my other half is a willing (????) guinea pig for some of the stuff I try out .... and even let me post my efforts.

Just get out there and do it, it's a hell of a lot more fun than foxtell

Rel

[darb]

I spose I'm also lucky as my other half is a willing (????) guinea pig for some of the stuff I try out .... and even let me post my efforts.

share!

[Matt. K]

Just take the damned thing everywhere I go. My life is a photo opportunity.

[radar]

I usually try to get a few hours in the week where I just go around here in Redhead. I'm lucky that there lots of outdoors here, close at hand.

Also try to get up early for the sunrise, got a nice one on Sunday, still need to PP

Just got a new puppy, so plenty of photo opportunities there.

Basically, like others said, just get out and do it, even if it is only for an hour. Sure beats anything on the TV.

Cheers,

André

[xerubus]

every second is a photo opportunity

my kit stays with me everywhere i go... in the car.. work... etc etc etc.

I listen to my scanners and pager continually to see "what's next" to photograph... if i'm driving from a to b, i'm also looking out for something interesting to capture.

cheers

[Grev]

OMG!! So I'm not the crazy guy that takes his camera EVERYWHERE afterall.

There are many more crazy guys like me!!

[sydneywebcam]

Like others have said TAKE your camera everywhere. There is always something just waiting to be photographed, you just need to keep your eyes open and of course have that camera with you. Last May I started a photoblog where I post a different photo every day. The idea for me was to force myself to take more photos and try to improve my photography. It's not easy trying to find something different everyday, but it is fun.
________________________
Cheers,
Paul.
http://www.sydneywebcam.com.au/

[Sheila Smart]

Like others, I lug my camerabag (and contents) everywhere I go. I worked out once that 80% of my shots were taken on my way to work, during lunchtime and on the way home. The shot of the schoolgirls in their hats (Sea of Hats - Black and White Spider Awards winner) was taken on my lunch hour. No camera, no would-be masterpieces

Cheers
Sheila

[Nosh]

Take atleast one vacation a year. And dont forget to take your camera along.

Cheers,
Nosh.

[BT*ist]

Stuff that helps:

1. Have a pet (or kid, I suppose...). They don't mind being photographed.
2. Check your backyard (if you have one) - plants, animals.
3. Take it to events, sporting contests, etc.
4. Definitely agree - try to take a holiday a year to somewhere and go totally nuts (photography-wise)
5. I don't take my camera in to work every day (not my SLR at any rate, but I do have a 3mp P&S that's always in my bag), but if I know there's something on in town (Christmas, some sort of parade) I will. On rare occasions, I might put aside an hour at lunch.
6. Check out dslrusers daily (helps with the motivation), and ensure you enter every Exercise in Style exercise.

[Dug]

Do I make photo opportunities? YES YES YES!!!!!


Make time for things, you don't get a second chance at this. Get out and Commit Photography. Talk to people, ask them "May I take your photo please?"

A friend was working 80 hours a week, putting everything into a future fund, for kids, family and himself, to do things together in "the future"

It did not happen, he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a few months later, he was less than 40.

I have had fit healthy mates die or be killed way to often to worry about "the future". Live for today, love for today, if you want to do it, do it TODAY!!

Smash the TV, take the foxtell out, get out and do it.

There is a Stephen Biddulph book called "Manhood"

find a copy and read it.

[Grev]

Do I make photo opportunities? YES YES YES!!!!!


Make time for things, you don't get a second chance at this. Get out and Commit Photography. Talk to people, ask them "May I take your photo please?"

A friend was working 80 hours a week, putting everything into a future fund, for kids, family and himself, to do things together in "the future"

It did not happen, he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a few months later, he was less than 40.

I have had fit healthy mates die or be killed way to often to worry about "the future". Live for today, love for today, if you want to do it, do it TODAY!!

Smash the TV, take the foxtell out, get out and do it.

I like your attitude.

I'm mostly immensed in my stuff like photography, playing guitar and being a physicist. I really don't like the "popular" way of life.

Can't imagine myself sitting in an office all day for 50 years and be miserable and then think what I've done in the past 50 years.

The "normal" jobs are REALLY soul destroying.

[losfp]

Thanks for the suggestions guys

I guess it is always a balance between doing the work thing to ensure that I can provide for myself and my family, doing the usual housework etc obligations.... and remembering to spend time with loved ones, and doing things I love (like photography, music, etc)

We'll see about this weekend for a start. Big day out in the blue mountains, then the A-League final on sunday night.