Am I the only one with this....

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and stuff like that.

I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so many pics of your wife and kids.

What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all day...People looking and all that.

What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite things?Do you care about others watching you?

well, when my wife thinks I've been under good behavior, she lets me hire a model from http://www.onemodelplace.com and I shoot her in my studio or on a nearby beach. And, lots of people come to watch, so I bring reflectors and put them to work if they are going to watch me shoot my models.

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when
I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much
else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all
day...People looking and all that.
What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite
things?Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

Michael,

You've now reached the point where you are past the point of gaining familiarity with your equipment and are wanting to stretch.

What this really means is developing your style, your inner vision. This is the key factor that defines a photographer (even us amatures). You have to determine what it is that you want to accomplish with your mind and your camera, and how to bring the two together.

There will be some obvious choices around you. For me, I live in a nautical kind of town, so water, ships, trains, granaries, various birds, etc are plentiful. The challenge I have for myself is capture these in a non-standard, non-snapshot format. In this particular instance, I'm examining perspective, angles and the play of early/late day light.

For each of us, we hopefully reach a point where we take it to the next step. This process doesn't stop, either - if you don't want it to. As long as you desire to move on, you can.

Now, does this give you a roadmap on what to take pictures of next? Not directly. Just think about where you want to go, what's important to you personally, in relationships, your particular favorite interests (incorporating more than hobby is a great thing - don't try taking pictures of other cyclists with a 500mm lens while riding a bike yourself. Trust me.), and so on.

You could always explore the world in minurature i.e. macro lens. That always opens up a new perspective on things. Nothing like a 1:1 of a dog's nostril!

Enjoy and good luck.

Eric

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when
I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much
else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all
day...People looking and all that.
What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite
things?Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

--
*****
I'm pretty sure I've taken a picture of that...I just can't find it.

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot?

Click to expand...

Depends somewhat on where you live, weather and such.

I shoot near the beach in So Calif. But I mostly shoot when I travel (Sierras, Greece, New Zealand, Chile, etc.). Then I shoot a lot -- average 100 shots a day on a two week trip.

But for honing your skills and learning your equipment, anywhere will do. And the cost per shot is very low

And -- nice thing abt So Cal beaches -- no need for models; lots of subjects are eager to pose!

Phil

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.

Click to expand...

Hmmm. A quick review of my PAD gallery finds me with photos of:

Flowers, bugs, animals, people, trees, fences, water, grass, old stuff, new stuff, stuff that moves, stuff that doesn't, etc...

Walk the streets, the parks, the historic parks, tourist towns, your town. Take pictures of people, places & things. Ignore the people watching (they're not, actually) unless they object to your photographing them.

Look around you. If something looks interesting, photograph it. Figure out how to do a better job and try again. Pick a corner of your yard and find 20 different things to photograph. Once you get going you'll be hard pressed to hold it down to 20.

Set yourself a challenge.

Ignore what you think other people are thinking about your photography. They don't matter

Rob

I would love to get a pic of a dogs nostril up close.....hehehhe.....

I see thing when im driving that I think I would like to ge a picture of but I either dont have my camera or I dont like taking the time to stop and do it or I just feel crazy doing it.
I love taking pics of things but I really like taking pics of poeple.

I have a small studio set up and sometimes I get my niece and her little model friends to come over. I love doing weddings. I guess my main passion is people.
Of coarse there is art and beauty in everything......
Thanks for the words of wisdom...

Eric Bond said:

You've now reached the point where you are past the point of
gaining familiarity with your equipment and are wanting to stretch.

What this really means is developing your style, your inner vision.
This is the key factor that defines a photographer (even us
amatures). You have to determine what it is that you want to
accomplish with your mind and your camera, and how to bring the two
together.

There will be some obvious choices around you. For me, I live in a
nautical kind of town, so water, ships, trains, granaries, various
birds, etc are plentiful. The challenge I have for myself is
capture these in a non-standard, non-snapshot format. In this
particular instance, I'm examining perspective, angles and the play
of early/late day light.

For each of us, we hopefully reach a point where we take it to the
next step. This process doesn't stop, either - if you don't want
it to. As long as you desire to move on, you can.

Now, does this give you a roadmap on what to take pictures of next?
Not directly. Just think about where you want to go, what's
important to you personally, in relationships, your particular
favorite interests (incorporating more than hobby is a great thing

• don't try taking pictures of other cyclists with a 500mm lens

while riding a bike yourself. Trust me.), and so on.

You could always explore the world in minurature i.e. macro lens.
That always opens up a new perspective on things. Nothing like a
1:1 of a dog's nostril!

Enjoy and good luck.

Eric

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when
I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much
else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all
day...People looking and all that.
What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite
things?Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

--
*****
I'm pretty sure I've taken a picture of that...I just can't find it.

Click to expand...

I wish my town had like a photography group. Where you get together, talk, take pics, make challenges,ect. That would at lease help to ease the 'people looking' at just me and help for ideas.

Rob Philip said:

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.

Click to expand...

Hmmm. A quick review of my PAD gallery finds me with photos of:

Flowers, bugs, animals, people, trees, fences, water, grass, old
stuff, new stuff, stuff that moves, stuff that doesn't, etc...

Walk the streets, the parks, the historic parks, tourist towns,
your town. Take pictures of people, places & things. Ignore the
people watching (they're not, actually) unless they object to your
photographing them.

Look around you. If something looks interesting, photograph it.
Figure out how to do a better job and try again. Pick a corner of
your yard and find 20 different things to photograph. Once you get
going you'll be hard pressed to hold it down to 20.

Set yourself a challenge.

Ignore what you think other people are thinking about your
photography. They don't matter

Rob

Click to expand...

There are ongoing challenges in the Canon Talk Forum and the Canon EOS-10D/60D/30D Forum. Take a look at them and participate or not.

Pops
--
pbase.com/pops
pops.instantlogic.com
'Remember, the wind is your friend!'

Do you have one of her smiling, looking at the camera, her hair in place?

Do you have a picture of your wife that you would be proud to put in the cover of Time Magazine?

Do you have one of your wife that you would submit in an application for photo school?

Just some thoughts.

I will try somemore shots then of my wife. I just hate bothering her. She isnt in the best of shape and she knows it and hate it. She isnt much of a camera person.....
Maybe a six pack will get her...hehehehe

TugBoat said:

Do you have one of her smiling, looking at the camera, her hair in
place?
Do you have a picture of your wife that you would be proud to put
in the cover of Time Magazine?
Do you have one of your wife that you would submit in an
application for photo school?

Just some thoughts.

Click to expand...

Michael,

You are a good guy.

It is amazing how a few good pics of your wife will do for the camera budget. At least for me.

Good luck shooting.

michaelthorne said:

I see thing when im driving that I think I would like to ge a
picture of but ...I just feel crazy doing it.

Click to expand...

Don't worry about it. That's a major inhibition you need to get over. I felt the same way the first few weeks with my rebel. When I finally decided to just stop and shoot, nobody even gave me a second thought. I felt the same way for a while about carrying my camera with me to work...until we had our swarm of honeybees last week and my camera was at home. Now I take it to work every day. Just yesterday, I was heating up the leftovers when the spaghetti came out of the container in a block. I poured the sauce on top and grabbed my camera. My wife came in and laughed at me (and blabbed to her brother, who she was on the phone with), but I just said "hey, I'm just having fun, OK?" Anyway, I shot this pic:



At the time, I didn't know why I shot the pic (it's not even that good), but I knew there was a reason. Now I know the reason was to (hopefully) inspire you to let your guard down and just go have fun. People won't be as concerned with you as you think (and if they are, they'll forget about it in 5 minutes). I don't intend to let fear stop me from getting a great photo (or even a crappy one).

As far as what to take a picture of, besides the many things around the yard that people mentioned, I'm sure there has to be something you can go to not far away. Care to mention approximately where you are located? Maybe someone here will have an idea.

---
Ron Frazier
http://www.pbase.com/ldkronos

I live in Henry Co.TN..USA

ldkronos said:

ldkronos said:

I see thing when im driving that I think I would like to ge a
picture of but ...I just feel crazy doing it.

Click to expand...

Don't worry about it. That's a major inhibition you need to get
over. I felt the same way the first few weeks with my rebel. When I
finally decided to just stop and shoot, nobody even gave me a
second thought. I felt the same way for a while about carrying my
camera with me to work...until we had our swarm of honeybees last
week and my camera was at home. Now I take it to work every day.
Just yesterday, I was heating up the leftovers when the spaghetti
came out of the container in a block. I poured the sauce on top and
grabbed my camera. My wife came in and laughed at me (and blabbed
to her brother, who she was on the phone with), but I just said
"hey, I'm just having fun, OK?" Anyway, I shot this pic:



At the time, I didn't know why I shot the pic (it's not even that
good), but I knew there was a reason. Now I know the reason was to
(hopefully) inspire you to let your guard down and just go have
fun. People won't be as concerned with you as you think (and if
they are, they'll forget about it in 5 minutes). I don't intend to
let fear stop me from getting a great photo (or even a crappy one).

As far as what to take a picture of, besides the many things around
the yard that people mentioned, I'm sure there has to be something
you can go to not far away. Care to mention approximately where you
are located? Maybe someone here will have an idea.

---
Ron Frazier
http://www.pbase.com/ldkronos

Click to expand...

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when
I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much
else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all
day...People looking and all that.
What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite
things?Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

Many years ago I spent a winter afternoon shooting slides of stuff in the kitchen..cans of soup, dishes, even creme cheese..I had a great time and killed a cold afternoon... There is no limit...shoot stupid stuff, fill a glass of water and throw some food color in it and shoot that...lamps, light fixtures, the house is full of stuff...the crazier the better..does your faucet drip? take some shots of the water droplets. Let your mind wander.. I had a brainstorm a couple of years ago when I had my Sony Mavica... The photography is sucky but I had fun with this in the kitchen..It's called a PHILLIPS HEAD SCREWDRIVER.......

michaelthorne said:

Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

I look like a tourist anyway - so who cares.

----
http://www.pbase.com/antidote3

...went outside and spent 30secs looking for something to shoot.

I came away with these two shots. Neither are fantastic works, but I like them and it was fun.



and...



Mred32

--
For most PC troubleshooting, a .22 will do the job.

I feel the same way..... I walk around looking for things to shoot... in NYC no less... especially something that hasn't been taken before...

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when
I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much
else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all
day...People looking and all that.
What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite
things?Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

Mred32 said:

...went outside and spent 30secs looking for something to shoot.
I came away with these two shots. Neither are fantastic works, but
I like them and it was fun.

Click to expand...

SNIP

And that's the point!

Eric

--
*****
I'm pretty sure I've taken a picture of that...I just can't find it.

Do you have photos of the important stuff in your home - for insurance purposes? If you've got a mess around that you're going to clean up, shoot a before and after. (I enjoy looking at photos of my house torn up during a remodel. Certainly more fun now than it was then.)

How about interesting textures, reflections, shadows, patterns, etc. Getting up close to ordinary things, especially early or late in the day can make nice photos. Skies are another thing you might want to collect. You can use some of these things for backgrounds to photo collages.

Shirley

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of.

Click to expand...

Get down on the ground. Lay on your back and shoot at things as you see them from there. Roll on your side and shoot more subjects from there. I am being serious because what I personally have found is that for me or others to take an interest in my pictures, they need to be somewhat unusual. Our of the ordinary like a different perspective. We all know what a flower bed looks like from a standing posistion, but how about looking up at the petals from way down low? I am just saying you do this to inspire yourself to view the world from a different angle and you will begin to take an interest in shooting many of the things you just walked past before.

michaelthorne said:

I have this camera and all this stuff with it and I just dont know
what to take pics of. I like taking pics of poeple and weddings and
stuff like that.
I just sit here doing nothing all the time. You can only take so
many pics of your wife and kids.
What is there to really shoot? I have done some outside thing when
I first got my camera. Like a barn and some trees and not much
else. I just dont feel right walking around taking pics all
day...People looking and all that.
What do you people shoot when you cant shoot your favorite
things?Do you care about others watching you?

Click to expand...

--

Canon 300D w/ Sigma DG Super Flash, Sigma 70-300mm,Canon 50mm 1.8 and Canon's Kit Lens