To experienced hobbyist photographers: Do you stick to one genre?

minniev · May 29, 2013

I do spend a lot more time reading, studying and working at landscape photography which is my primary interest.

But I take photos of anything - grandchildren, dog, birds in the feeder, street photography when I'm visiting a city, macro of anything interesting, wildlife, whatever. I've even tried taking picture of the sun, which is a little challenging. Who knows, I may develop a new interest from all this or learn something new that helps me with my main interest. It's, kind of like sampling new dishes in restaurants instead of ordering the same old thing. Yesterday I did some graduation portraits for a friend who couldn't afford a "real" portrait photographer, and they came out pretty good. The young man and his mom were happy, so I was too.

ultimitsu · May 29, 2013

xxbluejay21 said:
xxbluejay21 wrote:

To people who don't make money off of their photos and do photography as a hobby/for fun, do you cover many different types/genres of photography or do you stick to one and try to get better at it? Just wondering.

There are types of photography I have tried but decided it is not my thing:

- street photography, where you just walk up to random people and shot their face off.

- macro water drops

- buildings from funny angles

- lomo

rsn48 · May 29, 2013

My experience is that who have a passion and stick to one genre - with that passion learn -photography much faster than those who bounce around. By the way, I'm a bounce arounder.

The benefits of bouncing around a lot is that eventually, assuming your passion is still alive, you become much more of a well rounded photographer, able to take good photos in shifting conditions. And your abilities in shifting conditions like travel photography, are much higher than the specialist in one area.

xxbluejay21 · May 29, 2013

For me I didn't really have an urgent need for a camera. I just got one to pick up photography as a hobby for fun. Of course if you specialize in one area of something you'll get better at it than if you spread yourself too thin. That's just common sense. But that doesn't mean you can't shoot anything else. I shoot portraits (candid/outdoor/studio) and travel(landscapes/architecture/people). I eventually realized that through limitations I was set free. I chose to shoot with only a 50mm for everything (not because I couldn't afford more lenses), including landscapes, with the mindset that for every shot of a scene that can be taken and made to look beautiful with a super wide angle lens (In this case I'm referring specifically to landscapes, since normal lenses are typically not used), there is a photo opportunity with the 50mm that can be made to look just as beautiful. It improved my photography greatly, helped me learn so much about artistic perspective, and eliminated my desires for more equipment.

Ultimately, however, photography as a hobby is just that, a hobby. A hobby is for fun. If limiting yourself to improve makes photography less enjoyable, then you shouldn't do it. Just go out and have fun. Don't worry about what other people think of your images. Thanks for the answers everyone!

nzmacro · May 31, 2013

xxbluejay21 said:
xxbluejay21 wrote:

To people who don't make money off of their photos and do photography as a hobby/for fun, do you cover many different types/genres of photography or do you stick to one and try to get better at it? Just wondering.

Interesting question

43 years of macro only and 2 years ago I decided I needed a new challenge, yep took me 43 years to realise it, LOL. Wanted the dead opposite of macro and the other end of the spectrum, enter birds and what a challenge its been. Great fun. Trying a little sports now and again, but nothing serious.

All the best and just macro and birds now days. 99% would be birds now.

Danny.

--
http://www.birdsinaction.com

DavidPonting · May 31, 2013

Ron Poelman said:
Ron Poelman wrote:

(NT)

Sounds about the same as me, though I don't do street photography either (in the classic sense; if I'm in a pretty town I will of course be taking pictures of the buildings &c)

I'll carry the camera and a few primes to a wedding, since it's my camera, but when friends ask if I will be the official photographer I refuse - it's just too much of a hassle/risk.

I take the long and macro lenses for wildlife stuff, the long lens for sports, the primes for social events, lightweight & wideangle lenses into the mountains, the camera goes with me when I travel.... I shoot whatever takes my fancy!

I've made a bit of a specialisation of sports, admittedly, but not to the exclusion of all else.

SirSeth · May 31, 2013

nzmacro said:
nzmacro wrote:

nzmacro said:

xxbluejay21 wrote:

To people who don't make money off of their photos and do photography as a hobby/for fun, do you cover many different types/genres of photography or do you stick to one and try to get better at it? Just wondering.

Click to expand...

Interesting question

43 years of macro only and 2 years ago I decided I needed a new challenge, yep took me 43 years to realise it, LOL. Wanted the dead opposite of macro and the other end of the spectrum, enter birds and what a challenge its been. Great fun. Trying a little sports now and again, but nothing serious.

All the best and just macro and birds now days. 99% would be birds now.

Danny.

So only 41 more years of birds Danny? I'd recommend still life after that.

Cheers, Seth

rurikw · Jun 8, 2013

On my job I shoot buildings. My favourite subject is manmade surfaces worn from use or eroded by nature such as walls, pavements, manhole covers, containers, signs... Being 2D and immobile they are so easy to shoot and yet satisfying if the light is right

I don't stray much but sometimes I try the occasional photo of near and dear though I am absolutely terrible at people photography

Osvaldo Cristo · Jun 8, 2013

I prefer landscape but I go for wildlife and macro, also. Travel and events. Family and studio.

You can have an idea from my subjects in my local gallery: http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/2233860974/photos.

Regards,

happysnapper64 · Jun 8, 2013

At the moment I have my fingers in many pies! I took it up because of macro, that is still my favourite genre. I like architectural photography also, like ancient buildings, castles etc. I don't live in a very attractive area, I would love to photograph mountainous countryside. Street is bottom of my list, along with portrait photography. Car racing [saloons] car shows & zoos will become more my thing in future along with air shows. So, a bit of everything really. Perhaps explains why I am no good at anything? :-(

happysnapper64 · Jun 8, 2013

AlbertTheLazy said:
AlbertInFrance wrote:

Anything. Anything at all.

Maybe because I'm more interested in the technical challenges involved I tend to get bored with shooting similar subjects after a while.

In the last couple of months, for example, I've shot ants and long range panoramas, and all sorts of stuff in between.

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To experienced hobbyist photographers: Do you stick to one genre?

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