Motivation

[Laurie]

Lately I think my motivation to take photos has wanned a little.

A couple of nights ago when the moon was full, and the sky was cloudless I walked outside and was standing under a slatted awning, with some wisteria growing over it. The moon was shinning through beautifully, but I lacked the motivation to go get my camera and set up a shot. I just thought “I won’t be able to take a nice shot, I won’t know what settings to use, it wont turn out very nice and no one will like or even comment on it.” There have been a couple of times this has been the case, when in my mind what I am seeing will turn out very different once I’ve taken the photo.

It also took me a tremendous amount of motivation to even post this thread. Maybe I take to heart what people say online more than I probably should.

Is it possible that a better lens than the one I currently have will improve my photos? It might improve their quality (sharpness, brightness, speed) but it won’t change or improve my shooting technique. The only thing that can change that is taking more photos.

I am also very conscious of taking photos in public, like at dinner (in restaurants) or sometimes in front of family. Once I get going it’s ok, but getting out the camera, setting it up and shooting people just makes me feel uncomfortable.

Thanks for Reading

Laurie

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Laurie
I know where you are coming from in regards to being self-conscious taking photos in public. The only real solution is as you suggested - getting out there and taking more photos. The more you do it the more comfortable you will feel. As long as you're not doing anything illegal….why should you feel guilty ?!?

In regards to a better lens giving you better images, unfortunately, the camera and lens is only as good as it's operator. Buying an expensive pro lens will certainly give you more sharpness/resolution in your pics…but will you know how to utilise it properly ?

My advice, for what it's worth, is to stick with what equipment you have and learn from the many mistakes that you will make (as we ALL make them). Shoot everything and anything in attempt to learn from it and try to use all the different functions of your camera. After all, there's no film so it's only going to cost you time.

My bet is, once you start to get in a groove and realise that things are starting to work for you, the bug will bite you and all of a sudden, you'll find that motivation.

Also, the best critiques you'll find on this forum (or any forum) are the one's that highlight your mistakes. It's great to be told that the pics are great, but it's even better when someone shows you something you never saw before in your images and you can expand and become better from it……but don't take things too personally.

[gstark]

Laurie,

That is a perfectly normal situation. We all become bored and/or disatisfied with particular situations from time to time, and we need to learn to understand and accept this.

That's one reason why I consider myself to be very fortunate, in that I enjoy some different and diverse hobbies: I can always break out a guitar, or grab the bass and wander down to a jam session and play, or research a new/different programming environment, surf the net, prepare my radio show ...

or go to a restaurant and enjoy a meal.

What other hobbies do you enjoy?

[greg]

Hi Laurie
Your post has an emotional weight about it that made me feel like I could respond and perhaps offer you something.

When you are in the mental space that you are currently in, I know someone telling you to "lighten up" may sound harsh and simplistic, but it is really all you need to do. You are taking yourself far too seriously.

From your galleries, you have a great eye for beauty. This is a gift. Enjoy it. Remember that beauty exists whether you shoot it or not. Next time you see beauty and begin to give yourself a mental masturbation about your skill or lack of it, just smile and either take a picture or dont. The beauty is still there. I hope you continue to capture beauty in this world.

Take care of your sensitive heart. Your sensitivity is your double edged sword - it allows you to see beauty, but it also supports your melancholy.

I look forward to your next image.

Greg

[ATJ]

Laurie,

As the others have stated, we all pretty much go through something similar from time to time - even if we don't know exactly how you feel.

I have gone for months without even picking up the camera, let alone showing any interest. What I find helpful is my other hobbies (as Gary suggests) although in my case I combine the hobbies with photography. Maybe you could do that to help stimulate your motivation.

[Greg B]

Laurie, as you are probably gathering from other posts, you are not alone!

I catch the tram to work every morning and quite often see potential photos while I have no opportunity to take them. But when I have the time, I can't think of anything.

As for photographing in "public", when I was taking photos 20/30 years ago, I realised that I tended to try and be invisible, to hang back, because I thought I'd look like a dickhead. So I forced myself to take a more active approach, to get to the front, to take shots in the street without fear or favour, to feel confident and right. And it worked too. I need to get that back somewhat.

Keep at it, many of us are in the same boat.

(Oh yeah - the "I need xyz lens or equipment and then I could take good photos" is bullshit too, but who cares, buying stuff is fun. We have all done this one too)

[PiroStitch]

Laurie,

No need to be so hard on yourself. Seriously, sometimes the best medicine to photographer's block is to just get out there with your camera and start shooting. There's so much going around us at every single moment.

Don't worry about the whole if i get this it will make my pics look better mentality. That's just the first symptom of lens lust

Also be confident with yourself. I know these days, the ill informed will always try to challenge everyone with a camera just to stroke their ego. Ignore it and continue with what you do best and that's taking rad pics

[Glen]

Laurie, we all get it. Take a week off, try not to come to the forums even for a week, when you come back have a look at http://www.pbase.com or flickr then see if anything inspires, if so go for it. If not wait a while and it will come. I am sure Ansell Adams wasn't at the top of his game every day

[PiroStitch]

Laurie, also check out deviantart.com. There's some wicked stuff there as well.

[Laurie]

thanks for the kind words guys.
the next time i see that kind of shot im gonna spend as much time as i can afford setting up and taking the shot.
the only thing i hate is post processing.
and for some weird reason if i take a once off shot or maybe a small group of shots (say 5 shots) i dont want to put them in my album because they arent "big" enough to be albums. that probably doesnt make much sense.

since i started learning about DSLRs especially the lenses i have craved a 50mm 1.4. i am hoping that once i purchase one of these my photo quality will increase. when i bought the 28-105 lens i didnt put any thought into it, i knew nothing about lenses (or even DSLRs for that matter). i gave a list of 3 lenses to a mate who decided on the 28-105. basically i bought the camera, assuming it would come with 'a' lens, not knowing it was BODY ONLY. got the camera, crap no lens. spent 10 minutes researching one so i could quickly buy one so i had a camera to use over the weekend. i regret getting the 28-105 as my first lens.
oh well

[Raskill]

The 50mm 1.8 is a great lens, so the 1.4 will be great also.

I've gone through what your going through, unfortunately only after I bought a 70-200 VR.

The need and want returns, trust me. Happy hunting.

[Glen]

Laurie as Raskill said either of the 50 are great lenses, the 50 1.8 is easily the best value per dollar in the Nikon range. I have both and think yhey are tremendous

[PiroStitch]

Laurie, you could have chosen somethign first as your first lens the 28-105 ain't that bad.