Getting better at photography...

[Tye 1on]

I disagree with this whole thing. You shouldnt have to take a certain amount of photos everyday. Take them whenever you want. I did the whole 365 thing for like 2 weeks and ended up with a bunch of boring, uninspired photos.

BKLYN, have you ever posted anything up on here? I'd like to see your stuff.

My guess is you've never gotten really good at a particular skill. From photography to golf to biking to playing music to skiing to drinking, if you don't practice you don't get any better. B was just pointing out a particularly productive way to practice. And, to gain a better eye on what shots you like better or worse.

What's a bunch of boring uninspired photos say about the shooter?

[truth]

What's a bunch of boring uninspired photos say about the shooter?

That they can make a killing shooting weddings?

[gpcharles]

thanks mang. i actually really like your tips, especially the one about using the old camera. It's funny because I find myself shooting with my gen 1 iphone camera alot just to practice making it look good via composition only. Good to hear it coming from someone else.

That said, I do think the tone of judge and jury was a bit harsh... but whatever. it's the internet and you can be, do and say who/whatever you want

[nihiles]

Ok..


Yes.

still waiting on that heifer julio...

[dipstik]

My guess is you've never gotten really good at a particular skill. From photography to golf to biking to playing music to skiing to drinking, if you don't practice you don't get any better. B was just pointing out a particularly productive way to practice. And, to gain a better eye on what shots you like better or worse.

What's a bunch of boring uninspired photos say about the shooter?

I think singles point was that going out and shooting 36/frames a day just for the sake of it is not always beneficial. The 365 project is an example of that - he was shooting just to be shooting, and the results were meh. Yeah, practice makes perfect, duh, but you can't be creative everyday.

[truth]

Yeah, practice makes perfect, duh, but you can't be creative everyday.

EPIC FAIL

You just proved bklyn's point. Not only can you be creative everyday, you must be. To do otherwise is a failure on your part as an artist. That's persactly why there are so many camera owners and so few photographers.

[kidwoo]

That they can make a killing shooting weddings?

BOOYAH!!

[khakis]

dude not all of us are pro photogs or artists. most of us don't even want to be. the vast majority are just trying to get a little something more out of the pictures we do decide to take.

also, a lot of photogs don't even go through the 36/day or 1/day for a month or whatever the "make yourself be creative trend" du jour is until they've been pro photogs for a while and find themselves needing a "boot camp" to get their creativity back. The reason most people shoot is because we have moments when something catches our eye or we want to share something we think is interesting, and decide to learn a bit of technique to try and capture what we see. I would argue that for a budding photog it's more important to shoot 20 frames of the same thing (something you actually want to take a picture of) one or two times a week and really think about your settings, composition, etc and see if you can get one or two of them to come out right. Also photography might not lose its enjoyment if you don't act like you have to be the best at it or you're a failure

but WTF do I know, I haven't taken a good picture on purpose in a decade

[truth]

dude not all of us are pro photogs or artists. most of us don't even want to be. the vast majority are just trying to get a little something more out of the pictures we do decide to take.

also, a lot of photogs don't even go through the 36/day or 1/day for a month or whatever the "make yourself be creative trend" du jour is until they've been pro photogs for a while and find themselves needing a "boot camp" to get their creativity back. The reason most people shoot is because we have moments when something catches our eye or we want to share something we think is interesting, and decide to learn a bit of technique to try and capture what we see. I would argue that for a budding photog it's more important to shoot 20 frames of the same thing (something you actually want to take a picture of) one or two times a week and really think about your settings, composition, etc and see if you can get one or two of them to come out right. Also photography might not lose its enjoyment if you don't act like you have to be the best at it or you're a failure

but WTF do I know, I haven't taken a good picture on purpose in a decade

This has nothing to do with being a "pro", whatever that is. This has to do with making an effort to learn vs. snapping away and thinking your images are rad when they fail on almost every level, then getting butthurt when someone tells you they fail after you post them online. For every "pro" there's a 1000 photographers producing imagery as good, if not better, that no one will ever know or see. The point that Bklyn is making is that unless you go forth with a focused and concerted effort to learn the craft you will not get better. You may get lucky, but you might as well save you $ and buy an Elph then. Your odds are just as good. If you invested in a dSLR I think it's safe to say that on some level you fancy yourself a photographer. Blkyn is simply trying to point out a mindset that is required to actually be that photographer. There is no formula to sucksessful image making, but one thing that all great images share is that there were a shit ton of really crappy ones that came before it.

[khakis]

yeah but I think that you are projecting an inaccurate set of values upon someone by saying that they are an epic failure if they don't force themself to "practice being creative" (?!) every day

I know a lot of people who bought a dslr because they thought it would automatically take incredible pictures of their child, not because they want to learn something. Isn't that why the "interchangeable lens p&s" like the d5000 are so popular

[single]

EPIC FAIL

You just proved bklyn's point. Not only can you be creative everyday, you must be.

Depends on what you are doing, what you are shooting. Its much easier to be "creative" if you have a set subject or an end goal and are shooting photojournalistically, like you do. Its harder if you have nothing in specific to shoot. And by uninspired I just mean non-portfolio. Stuff not worth showing.

I make a point to shoot as much as I can, but I dont feel like shooting everyday is always beneficial, unless you are just starting out and need to learn camera controls. It isnt always bad to take a break. I think for some people, bklyn's ideas might help. It could give you a more solid base. But it isnt necessarily good for everyone who shoots recreationally, like myself, who might get burned out. I am not a pro, I have no aspirations of being a pro, I just like shooting.

Not wanting to shoot 36 pictures of something just for the sake of shooting something every single day for 36 days in a row doesn't mean that I don't have a passion for it. It means that I have better shit to do.

That said, I shouldnt have said I disagree with this whole thing, I just dont think it is helpful for everyone.

[truth]

yeah but I think that you are projecting an inaccurate set of values upon someone by saying that they are an epic failure if they don't force themself to "practice being creative" (?!) every day

I know a lot of people who bought a dslr because they thought it would automatically take incredible pictures of their child, not because they want to learn something. Isn't that why the "interchangeable lens p&s" like the d5000 are so popular

I don't think so. You're taking things a bit too literally. As I said there is no formula, bklyn just gave an example, but the point is that there is always the potential to be creative. Always. You find a way.

This isn't directed at someone that just bought a camera to document their kids. This discussion sprung from the multitude of people here asking for crits. That implies that they want to learn to make better images. There's nothing wrong with just wanting to snap away. The issue at hand is people snapping away that think they are artists or that they are going to become better without putting in the focused effort required to hone the skill. It's those people that reside in some sort of middle ground that tend to be the ones plastering shit all over the internet and getting butthurt when they get the honest crit that they were asking for.

[Lonnie]

The issue at hand is people snapping away that think they are artists or that they are going to become better without putting in the focused effort required to hone the skill. It's those people that reside in some sort of middle ground that tend to be the ones plastering shit all over the internet and getting butthurt when they get the honest crit that they were asking for.

^^^ This.

[splitter]

I have a d5000 so this doesn't apply to me

[bklyn]

Well, I'll probably never be a pro skier and I'm not as dedicated as some are to an exercise/nutrition regimen. But I do practice as often as possible, put in the time necessary to understand the gear, take classes etc. What this has done for me is make skiing so much more fun. Part of the excitement for me is the more I get better the more it gets better.

I ski on 'boring' and IMO 'uninspired' days and sometimes when I am thinking I would be better off at home doing laundry some "pro" goes by with a smile on their face or a little kid finds a "jump" on the side of a trail and for them it's the best day ever.

Then I am reminded that 'boring' and 'uninspired' is a mood you're in when you are out of practice for seeing the interesting. When you can't see the exciting around you in less than ideal conditions, then you may miss possibilities when the golden moment arrives.

Creativity is cultivated through practice and if you take time out of your day to see the interesting you will begin to see it more often.